April 2021 Big Bear Today Magazine

Page 2—April 2021
From the Publisher
Two years running,
marking Earth Day
means getting creative
T
he
first Earth Day was on April 22,
1970 and I actually remember it
well, all these years later.
I was in middle school and for students
it was a day’s reprieve from the usual Three
R grind of reading, riting, rithmetic. There
were ecology-themed films and outdoor
fun and games, dedicated to this great blue
planet and more fun than classroom stuff.
Earth Day got more people than just
us students involved. It’s estimated that 20
million took part that first year, about 10%
of the country’s population back then. Now
each Earth Day, at least pre-pandemic, mobilizes
a billion people around the world
into some sort of environmental action in
over 190 countries.
Democratic Wisconsin senator
Gaylord Nelson came up with the idea of
a teach-in on college campuses and enlisted
the support of Republican congressman
Pete McCloskey. The pair engaged Denis
Hayes who created an 85 person staff to
launch events across the country. The name
was changed to Earth Day which immediately
resonated with the press and public.
Within a few months of the first Earth
Day, the Environmental Protection Agency
was created, along with first-of-their-kind
laws. Like the National Environmental
Education Act, Occupational Safety and
Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Those
who remember the bad smog days of the
1960’s in Orange and Los Angeles Counties
know how valuable the latter law is.
More action continued to follow as
Earth Day became an event that brought
both political parties together along with
business and faith groups, educators, really
everybody. Two years later the Clean
Water Act was passed followed a year after
that by the Endangered Species Act.
Then the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide
and Rodenticide Act.
In 1990, 20 years after the first event,
Earth Day went global. Over 200 million
people participated in 141 countries. The
event gave the worldwide recycling effort
a huge boost and helped lead to the 1992
United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro. For his idea in founding Earth Day,
senator Nelson was awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest
civilian honor, by President Clinton.
Last year marked 50 years since the
first Earth Day, a half-century, usually a
big deal and golden anniversary. Earth
Day’s was hardly even mentioned. Of
course, in April 2020 we were in the early
throes of this novel coronavirus and people
were being told to stay indoors, not out.
Now comes the first Earth Day since
the milestone one that flew under the radar
last year. 2021 seems to be on the same
trajectory. Visitors to earthday.org find a
scattering of events across the country including
a couple in the Southland. That’s
for in-person events, which is kind of the
whole purpose of Earth Day to begin with.
There are additional virtual events if you’re
content to do Earth Day online.
Locally Earth Day has never received
the attention you’d expect. Bear Valley
Electric Service annually hosts an expo
with environment-related vendors but it’s
a no-go for the second year in a row. Nothing
at Big Bear Discovery Center either,
closed till Fall 2021.
Sometimes there’s been a hike or
cleanup tied to Earth Day but never the
kind of annual event that would get listed
on earthday.org to begin with. Surprising
given that Big Bear is surrounded by National
Forest and home to a stunning lake,
with species found here and nowhere else
in the world (story page 4). There’s not
even a hike or cleanup this year.
There are two volunteer Saturdays
around Earth Day to get involved with if
you’re so inclined. The long-running
Greenthumbs is expected to return April
17 but the scheduled March date was canceled
so who knows. Restoration days return
a week later on April 24, but only five
people are needed. Read about both events
and how to participate in this issue.
Otherwise it looks like a quiet 2021
Earth Day, both in Big Bear and around
the country, even globe. Of course, any day
featuring environmental engagement can
be Earth Day. Whether you pick up broken
snow toys and trash in the forest, explore
rare pebble plain terrain, take a hike,
there’s lots of ways to mark Earth Day.
At least people don’t look weird at you
anymore when you step out of the house,
unlike a year ago during official lockdown.
Though I do confess to having busted out
of confinement last year to mark Earth Day
on the Pacific Crest Trail, which while
closed to thru-hikers trekking the whole
2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, was
open for day hikes.
Along with a ski day at Mt. Baldy,
probably the only resort in the world open
at the time with all others shut down.
Which makes me one of the very few who
skied to celebrate Earth Day 2020!
Have a good one.
Marcus
ON THE COVER: See wildflowers that grow here and nowhere else in the world on the
Pebble Plain, in Baldwin Lake and other areas, with great hiking to boot.
Volume 32, Number 10 April 2021
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5
7
8
16
Publisher
Marcus G. Dietz
Associate Publisher
Sandra L. Dietz
Publishing Consultant
Bret Colson
Technical Consultant
Charles Dietz
Photography/Distribution
Steve Dietz
John Daskam
Mark Gauger
In This Issue...
Big Bear Today
Walk on the Wild(flower) Side
Big Bear’s favorite spring trail isn’t long, but packs a big
wallop as it winds through Baldwin Lake Ecological Preserve,
home to rare wildflowers found here and nowhere else. The
visitor center at the trailhead won’t be open and there’s no
guided tours as in past years, but the trail is open showing off
a real “super” bloom.
More Than One Pebble Plain to Explore
The main expanse of this terrain unique to Big Bear in Baldwin
Lake gets most of the attention, but there’s other areas to
explore too. A great trail network winds through Sawmill,
Dixie Lee and other Pebble Plains smack in the middle of Big
Bear City, but with remote feel.
In-Person Bird Walks, Online Talks at Chirp
Monthly bird walks and talks return to Chirp Nature Center, a
chance to explore birding hot spots in Big Bear and learn about
our winged friends. Bird populations have seen shocking
declines in the last 50 years and this is your chance to give
avian assistance.
4 Dozen Beers on Tap, Spirits, and BBQ
The new outdoor patio with cornhole and other games has
proven handy at the Bone Yard in the Village, with plenty of
seating and kid and dog-friendly. Just another reason to visit,
as if great barbecue, nearly four dozen beers on tap, and
hundreds of spirits and bottles of wine weren’t enough. Plus a
special Cigar & Whiskey sampling event coming soon too!
Hike Pacific Crest Trail to `Eye of the God’
It was a sacred site to the Serrano Indians and a rock pile to
dynamite to subsequent miners looking for gold. Eye of the
God is still an impressive sight despite the desecration and a
great destination reached by hiking Pacific Crest Trail.
Mark Earth Day with forest volunteer
efforts. See pages 7 and 10 for details
DEPARTMENTS
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From the Publisher
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Area Map/
Calendar of Events
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