[pct-l] Big Bear

[twolegs at roadrunner.com]

Speaking of Big Bear, it was mentioned on the list a few weeks ago that there would be a bicycling event through Big Bear toward the end of May, and that the town would be jam packed for a few days ... I didn't notice any followup to that piece of info (sorry if this has been expanded on and I just missed it) so I thought I would add to the item.

The Amgen Tour of California, which is fast becoming a very major pro bicycling competition, has scheduled Stage 6 on Friday, May 21, starting somewhere TBD and ending in Big Bear.  The original plan was to start in Pasadena, wind through La Canada Flintridge, travel along the Angeles Crest Highway to Wrightwood, then over to Hwy. 138; then through Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, along the Rim of the World Highway, and into "the Big Bear area" on the northern route around the lake, finally climbing to the finish at Snow Summit ski area.

Of course, that route no longer is feasible, and the website explains:  "Due to severe road damage on the Angeles Crest Highway (Route 2) above La Cañada Flintridge caused by the recent winter storms, we have been forced to change the route for Stage 6 ... . This change is being made at the direct request of Caltrans, which has notified us that due to the potential safety hazards, the road will be unable to accommodate our race. Stage 6, scheduled for May 21, 2010, will no longer start in Pasadena and we are working to secure a new stage start ... .  Stage 6 will still finish in Big Bear Lake as planned and we look forward to a challenging stage in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains."  Note that Stage 7 the next day is an individual time trial in Los Angeles, so I doubt that the teams or even race management will be housed overnight Friday in Big Bear, but others will in the day or days prior.  

The race, with its attendant road closures, traffic, crowds of spectators, and other hoopla (there will be a "Lifestyle Festival" expo at the finish area up at the ski area in Big Bear on Friday), no matter where it eventually starts in that general area, will most likely have an impact on hikers venturing through Big Bear at the end of that week.  So stay tuned for updates:

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage6.html

Happy Trails,

Two Legs

  However, there