Big Bear Climbing Season!

This is the perfect time of year to climb in Big Bear Lake. The weather is pretty much perfect every day...sunny and 70's and the summer crowds have long left the valley, meaning we get the mountain to ourselves again until ski season! This has always been a bit of a surprise to me as I would argue this is the best time of the year in the mountains. Cool crisp mornings. Blue sky days. Mandatory hoodie in the evening. Awesome.

 

While I enjoy all different styles of rock climbing I am definitely into bouldering the most. Bouldering involves climbing rocks up to about 25 ft with no ropes for protection. Crash pads (3" thick foam mats) are used at the base of the climbs to help soften the landing when we fall. Climbing shoes that have sticky rubber soles help tremendously when climbing harder routes, but are not necessary to get started in the sport. For me the best part about bouldering, or climbing in general, is that it never really gets any easier/harder. It's all about pushing your own limits so as you get better you will find harder stuff to climb, making it a life long journey....there is no end.

Climbing in Big Bear is outstanding. It is really diverse meaning you can find bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, even some mountaineering all in the area. There are some amazing areas with a high concentration of quality rock and some lonesome boulders sitting all alone in the middle of the woods. Some of the areas have amazing views of the lake, other of the desert. Exploring the different areas is half the fun! If you are new to climbing Big Bear has some great areas with lots of beginner friendly climbs including the North Shore Bouldering Area and Castle Rock (sport/trad). If you're a seasoned vet head out to Holcomb Valley to find the most established routes (250+) in the area and some amazing highball bouldering. Free camping too! All in all Big Bear is a great place to climb and now is the perfect time to be out doing it...hope to see you out there!

For more information on bouldering in Big Bear Lake check out the Big Bear Bouldering Blog!

Polar/Conquer the Bear Directors Award!

Conquer the Bear symbolizes the very essence of the multisport and adventurous athlete. A challenge that begins in February, with a snowshoe race, resumes in June with high altitude mountain bike race, comes along in July with a grueling 20 km circumnavigation of Big Bear Lake on kayak, then resumes with the 30 km of Endure the Bear Trail run....this is no easy multisport challenge.

Polar, the world leader in Heart Rate Monitors is a new supporter of Open Air Big Bear, and is a perfect match for the athlete that is facing the the multiplicities of this year long challenge.

This year, the Polar /Conquer the Bear Director's Award goes to a male and female athlete that represents taking on the challenge with full heart and passion, to Conquer the Bear: Dave Lawrence and Cathleen Caulkins are this years winners....and take home beautiful monitors to help them prepare for 2012 challenges. Congrats!

 (Karen Lundgren, Dave Lawrence, Cathleen Caulkins, Paul Romero)

More information on Conquer the Bear HERE!

Conquer the Bear 2011 Recap

(2011 Conquer the Bear Podium)

The 2011 Conquer the Bear High Altitude Multisport Challenge is a wrap...and what a great challenge it was! For the details on Conquer the Bear and Conquer the Cub check THIS out. Here is how my series went...

(Start of the 2011 Snowshoe the Bear 10k)

Snowshoe the Bear - 10k Snowshoe Race - Trained hard all winter for this race while also rehabbing a bum knee. The knee got better by race day which was a great sign. With no snow on the ground the race ended up basically a 10k trail run. I managed to grab 3rd place, behind Ted Devito from Mountain Fitness Center and ultra runner Jesse Haynes.  Great race which is extremely different year to year based on the conditions. The year prior was the nastiest day of the year, dumping snow and rain. This year we ran on dirt. Great vibe in the village on a winter day.

 (Starting the uphill on 1E01 during Ride the Bear)

Ride the Bear - 27 Mile Mtn. Bike - Lots of mountain biking in preparation for this race including completing the 12 hours of Temecula solo race. I knew Jesse and Ted were faster than me so I really just wanted to try and do well and fend off any challengers behind me. This is the toughest event for me as I am not a very strong mountain biker but the course is super challenging and has some really fun downhill sections. I managed to hang onto third in the Series but dropped a good bit of time to 1st and 2nd place. This race is tough for part time mountain bikers but lots of fun!

 (Open Water during the 2011 Big Bear PaddleFest)

Big Bear PaddleFest - 20k Kayak Race - Thanks to my good friends at North Shore Trading Company I was paddling a 19' Seda Glider which is a sweet boat. I spent the two weeks prior paddling almost everyday trying to get used to the boat as its pretty narrow and not too easy to paddle. It's not hard, just takes some practice if you want to go fast. The race was great. I paddled hard for the first 5k and then settled into 2nd place about 100 yards behind Ted. I stayed here for most of the race and then suddenly with about 5k left I came around the corner and Ted was gone. Crossed the line in 2nd just a few minutes back and gained some more time on the rest of the competition. This was the first year PaddleFest was at Meadow Park on the South Shore of the Lake and it was an outstanding venue. Great day on the water!

(With Overall Series winner Ted Devito at the finish of Endure the Bear)

Endure the Bear - 30k Trail Run - This is the biggie of the series. There is no easy way to cover 18 miles on your feet, especially on this course. I wanted to do well but the bear got the better of me on this day. I ran hard for the first 20k and then slowly fell apart, dropping from 4th to 10th place in the race in a matter of 5k. I even got chicked maybe a mile or so left. In the end though my time was good enough for me to hold onto 3rd Overall in the Conquer the Bear series. And despite not having the best run of my life the event was such a blast I really couldn't be bummed. Perfect day for running in the mountains. Great vibe in the village and tons of community out to support. Awesome.


The Conquer the Bear Series is a great way to challenge and motivate yourself for a good portion of the year. I think it also opens you up to other disciplines, ones that you might not have tried yet. It has been an ever changing series through the years so I am really looking forward to the announcement of next year's challenge, which is rumored to include a road bike event!

Endure the Bear Race Recap

(The scene at Friday night registration)

Endure the Bear 2011 was an outstanding day of trail races in Big Bear. Here's how my day went. 

I woke at 4:30 to the sound of thunder but fortunately the rain held off and we had a perfect day for running. After watching the 50k start and getting a good warmup in it was time to go. I knew the 30k course well and also knew the guys that I was running with...and that they were fast. My goal was to push myself though and try to keep up.

The first 5k is straight up hill to the top of the ridge. It's tough. By the time I got to 2N10 I was in 4th place and could start to feel the beginning of what we become a downward spiral. The conditions were outstanding though and despite not running as well as I had hoped I was have a blast out there. The ridge line is always a tough run. There are some big hills to go up.

As I neared the turnoff onto Plantation I could still see 3rd place in front of me but that wouldn't last for long. Plantation is a great single track to run. It even has a big ol puddle right in the middle of it! This section was tons of fun and then it was back to the uphill. 2N17 is a brutal hill and it put a hurtin on me. As I got to the top I could hear the footsteps of 5th place behind me. I wasn't ready to give in yet though and though I'd make one last surge. I flew down Cabin 89. It hurt but it was so much fun. I love running down hill...up hill, not so much. I knew I was in for a hard time as I still had to go up 1E01 but though there was a chance I could maintain. It broke me. I got to the top in rough shape and soon after that was passed by a steady stream of guys...and one girl!

(Post Race I was a mess but still tons of fun!)

I managed to hobble across the finish line in 2 hours and 57 minutes which was good for 10th overall. My hips and knees were trashed but I'm going to chalk that up to post Ironman fatigue. The finish line was outstanding as was the race venue. Really the whole day was a blast. The course was well marked (partially by me!), the aid stations were great, volunteers were awesome, vibe was just right. Really was the best race of it's kind that I have participated in!

Masters Marathon World Champ Tony Torres absolutely crushed the course, and the rest of the field, clocking in at 2:14 for the demanding course. 2nd went to Jesse Haynes in 2:26 and 3rd to Ted Devito in 2:33. Wendy Marshall went 2:55 to win the Women's race and was followed by Kim Ammons in 3:05 and Robbin Conlon in 3:12. Complete results and photo links below.

Looking forward to next years race...might take on the 50k!

Results

Photos

Great video of the race and photos by Mountain Fitness Center Here!

VIP Runners for Endure the Bear!

Perhaps the most successful and charismatic ultra distance triathlete to walk the earth, Suzy Degazon will make an appearance and be lining up for the  Grizzly, the 50km of EtB (7 am start.). If you are lucky to get a glimpse of Suzy, you’ll catch her in Hammer kit and sporting Brooks, Fuel Belt, Polar and Rudy Project.

Mexican born, and Big Bear resident, World Masters Athletic Championship medalist Rosalva Bonilla is confirmed! Recently back from scoring amazing results at the blazing hot world championships in Sacramento, Rosalva will line up with the other dragsters to have a go at the 15km of EtB. 

There are more....Check out the rest of the VIP runners HERE!

(Endure the Bear 2010 runners enjoying the beautiful course)

Who will top Conquer the Bear?

The competition is tough...and the challenge is big. The 2011 Conquer the Bear Series will wrap up next weekend with the running of Endure the Bear Trail Run. After three awesome events it's still too close to call the lead for this years overall meaning there's lots on the line when the gun goes off next Saturday. I'll break down the top podium contenders and give you my thoughts on who's gonna win... Remember. Endure the Bear is a 30 kilometer trail run on a VERY challenging course at serious altitude. This is no joke. No time is safe here. Have a good day and you could make up some big time on the field...a bad day could spell disaster. Here we go!

Conquer the Bear - Men

Ted Devito - 5hr08min - I've been running with Ted and he's been on top of it. He's got the power to climb the hills and the speed to break away, plus he has the mental advantage of holding a sizable lead over the rest of  us. Being number one comes with pressure though...and thats not to be taken lightly. I think his game plan is going to be just to stay close to the rest of us, if somebody gets away from him his day could unravel.

Jesse Haynes - 5hr16min - Jesse has be killing it lately. I think he has raced 4 50k trail runs this year and either placed 2nd or won each of them. Being the "non-local" in the running I think he wants to come take the title off the mountain but not sure if he'll have the speed to make up 8 mins on Ted. I know he's gonna go for it though and expect hime to start fast and try to break the field early.

Matt Smith - 5hr32min - I'm a long way off the lead here but hopefully will be able to keep up with the two guys in front of me and stay on the overall podium. I know the course well and while I may not be able to make up much time I'd like to fight for the race win. I'm coming off a tough Ironman race though where my body took a decent beating. Recovery prior to this race will be key just to make the distance.

Ramon Escobar - 5hr59min - Ramon needs somebody to have a rough day if he wants to climb back up into the top three but in a race like this thats entirely possible. Not to mention this guy is extremely talented and has the balls to go for it. He's young though, and distance running is a tough game for the kiddies. I bet he stays consistent...goes out fast and fades hard.

How I see it playing out....I'm giving Jesse the race win. He's just been absolutley stellar in his recent race results and I think his need to make up time on Ted gives him the drive to finish first. But Ted's a fighter and I'm guessing he'll be within 5 minutes of the lead keeping the Overall Conquer the Bear Title with a "local." I'm going to push the first 5k and try to take home the FRS King of the Mountain and $50 in cash.

Conquer the Bear - Women

Heather Devito - 6hr04min - Heather is absolutely dominating the series, period. Not sure what else to say. She is fast. Maybe if she is nice she'll slow down a bit as to not make so many of the guys look bad. The real race is for 2nd/3rd place as Heather has this thing all but wrapped up.

Cathleen Calkins - 7hr18min - Cathleen has been super consistent all series and I don't see why this will be any different. She has a nice buffer on 3rd and 4th place but like I mentioned, it's a long race. She's an old pro when it comes to endurance but does she have the speed to hold off the charging girls behind her? This is going to be good to watch!

Rachael Ghrist - 7hr51min - (disclaimer: Rachael is my girlfriend!) Rachael wants 2nd place bad and has the speed to make up the time. She's been training on the course and knows when and where to go for it. She's in the same boat I am in. Having the big question of if she can fully recover from Ironman in time to dig deep and really go for it.

Angela Meyers - 8hr05min - Angela is competitive as hell and that plays a huge role when it comes down to a battle like this. I know she wants on that podium. The only question I have is if she enjoys trail running enough to really push hard out there. She has to run a solid race to climb back up to the top three and the ladies in front of her don't want to give an inch.

How I see it playing out....Heather walks away with the Race Win, Overall Series Win, and FRS King of the Mountain Award. Clean Sweep! and very impressive. In the battle for the podium I think Rachael puts down the hammer and makes up the time on Cathleen taking over 2nd. And while I'm going to give Angela a strong performance in the race I dont think it'll be enough to get back on the podium.

In the end though, this series only crowns 2 champions. One Man and One Women. They split the pot each taking home $500 in cash money. I'm giving the win to my good friends Ted and Heather Devito! Incredible athletes and great friends as well. It's fun to compete against people who push you to your limits and make you feel good about your effort...even if their's was much better!

Everybody who stepped up to take part in Conquer the Bear is a winner though as it's all fun and a great way to enjoy Big Bear...and life in general.  Check out the overall standings going into the last event and then sign up for next year!

Overall Standings

Endure the Bear on the Horizon!

Open Air Big Bear’s Conquer the Bear, and Conquer the Cub High Altitude Multisport Challenges presents participants with a yearlong race series covering multiple disciplines including snowshoeing, mountain biking, and kayaking. Since mid-February athletes have trained and prepared themselves for all the challenges, we now call 'Big Bear Mountain Skills'. It all started with the Snow Shoe race on a nice sunny winter day, moved onto the incredible trails for the Ride the Bear Mountain Bike, then the white sand beach and placid waters of Big Bear Lake for the PaddleFest Kayak race. Now, the ridges and single track just above the village of Big Bear will host hundreds of trail runners, for the Endure the Bear.

The series concludes with the Endure the Bear Trail Run challenging competitors to tackle a 4th discipline along with the difficult terrain and thin air found in the mountains surrounding Big Bear Lake. In just its second year, Endure the Bear is proving itself as a premier trail run of the western U.S., with events to suit the novice on up to the elite/ultra-adventurer.

The event starts and ends in The Village of Big Bear Lake where athletes can count on blazing sun, mild alpine temperatures and a resort with all the resources for a comfortable adventure getaway. Those participating in the Conquer the Bear series will be competing to split a $1000 cash prize as well as the FRS King of The Mountain Award worth $50 cash to the first Conquer the Bear, and Conquer the Cub Athletes each to reach the designated point on their respective course.

Race director Paul Romero is getting excited for the event and notes that “The real show down to watch is the Conquer the Bear challenge, these athletes that have tackled all the Open Air Big Bear events, in a challenge for accumulated time throughout the year. It all comes down to the run for the champion to be crowned, and race for the $1000 cash, winner takes all!”

Along with the Conquer the Bear athletes, Endure the Bear Trail Run offers something for everybody with a variety of race distances. The family fun run 5k presents the shortest challenge for participants while the 15k serves up a small taste of big mountain running. For the more experienced athletes the 30k provides a mix of long distance and stunning vistas and the 50k offers those prepared with an exciting ultra-endurance challenge.

Open Air Big Bear and sponsor Big Bear Vacations will also be teaming up to provide one lucky participant with free lodging for race weekend. Those athletes who are pre-registered for any of the trail run distances by September 2nd will be entered into a drawing to win 2 free nights lodging on the South Shore of Big Bear Lake. In addition, those athletes who are registered prior to September 1st will receive a free race shirt.

(Stunning Views await those brave enough to Endure the Bear)

 

Volunteers are also needed. Come get an inside view of the course and race activities. Cheer your friends and family from an aid station. Get involved, email karen@teamsole.com

For more information on Endure the Bear, Conquer the Bear or Conquer the Cub Race Series, including registration details or contest information visit http://www.openairbigbear.com/.