weblink1:http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/308287/bertha-peak.html

I had not ventured up to Big Bear lake for several years, and wanted to do that along with a hike.....so a little research later resulted in choosing the Cougar Crest trail to local highpoint Bertha Peak, starting at the Big Bear adventure center located off of Highway 38 on the north shore of the lake about 5 miles east from the dam. I had hoped for a long-awaited heavy snowstorm for some classic "postcard quality" photos of the Big Bear area, but only light to moderate snow up to this weekend point in time. The extended weekend following this visit and hike, January 4-7, was the first major snowstorm of the season, 1-2 feet worth above 7000 ft elevation. However, for the hike, sunny weather and temperatures around 45 degrees at the lake level, and natually slightly cooler moving up into the surrounding higher mountains.

The hike started out as scheduled, other than the extra full hour it took to get there, 2 1/2 hours total driving time from Corona.....the rest of SoCal was out to sightsee and sled with the kids this weekend as well. Temperatures were around 48-50 F at the adventure center, with a stiff breeze of about 20 mph blowing from the south. A short interpretive ranger hike was gearing up about the same time as I started my hike to Bertha, approximately 7 1/2 miles roundtrip from the center. Views were excellent over Big Bear lake as stated in the LocalHikes.com and summitpost.org website hike summaries. Just about the time I intersected the PCT, there was a distinct snow level line of about 4-6 inches that hung with me the balance of the hike, especially on the north facing sides of the mountains. I brought, but did not put on any crampons for this hike, although the thought crossed my mind in several of the icier spots. The peak has an FCC air traffic control station and several other government relay stations on it, along with great views of both Big Bear lake and the Mt San Gorgonio complex (10,600-11,500 ft elevations). Temperatures had dropped along the way and hung around 35-36 F at rthe peak with the wind still blowing, so a final wind chill reading of approximately 26-28 F. I made it down just after dark having started at around 12:30 pm, and did not end up needing a headlamp. There was still a man, his son, and a large Irish setter headed up at the point I was already a mile down, and about 20 minutes or less before sunset. They did not have any lights, extra food, or footgear for ice, so I sincerely hope they made it down safely. I told the rangers after loading up the car that there were still hikers on the mountain, in the event they called or were not soon seen and accounted for. Overall, a beautiful day at a high lake (7000 ft elevation) and a nice hike to view the entire area...!