Trip to Big Bear - Part 2.5

I'm calling this Part 2.5 because this next activity was done during the other half of our sledding day :-)

And this was sort of an impromptu adventure that Bobby and I decided on the morning of.  We figured since we weren't going to a snow resort, there was no way we were going to sled all day. After doing an internet search - this is what we came up with: A Jeep Adventure Tour!

Oh boy, I hope they give us a clean Jeep??!

Nope! Almost all the cars were caked with mud!!!

Trying to figure out these racecar-style seat belts was a bit of a challenge, but a little while we were all buckled in and waiting for other groups to arrive to join the tour:

I wish these other groups showed up on time! We are already about 15 minutes behind schedule! By the way,... Hi! Ya, that's how dirty the Jeep is:

After a quick lesson on how to change from high gear to low gear and back by our tour guide, we are off!  We hit the streets of Big Bear:

Oh ya, forgot to mention - there's some mud inside the Jeep too.  So I'm guessing they didn't sanitize the vehicle either??! What happened to all those Covid regulations???

Not far off the main street, we drive onto a smaller street.  Who knew these trails existed!

So basically anyone that has a 4WD is able to take their vehicles into these trails. Charlie wasn't too keen on those slopes though and thankfully, they were optional - after we did the first few of course:  

Our first muddy puddle!

It is beautiful over here!  We are going to go towards those rocky mountains:

This whole area used to be a mining area. Right up Graham's alley with his social studies! 

And this hut was used by blacksmith back in the 1850s:

More muddy puddles!

Bobby said he needed to go through the puddles fast so he could clean his windshield.  Hmm, okay...?

Well, he managed to get some muddy water inside the Jeep too! Thankfully just a few splatters on our pants.  And more mud on the side windows!  Graham and Charlie were already having a tough time seeing out the window:

After a little while, the landscape changes. More large boulders here:

And evidence of lightning strikes.  Poor trees!

I forgot the name of this green plant - suppose to have medicinal purposes.  It's a good thing I was paying attention (somewhat).  Ha ha!

It's crazy how this one tiny tree is growing waaaaaay up there on the very tippy top of the rock:

See, I told you it's there :-)

Looks like we are getting close to "The Squeeze":

But first, time for photo ops!

Who knew mistletoes were parasites!

Boys are busy climbing the rocks as usual:

Kissy-kissy photo op under the mistletoe.  I love Graham and Charlie's expression in this photo.  And even the tour guide was laughing. LOL!!!

It is getting dark so quickly!  Soon enough, we can clearly see the moon and the boys' silhouettes.  I love this photo: 

Okay, back in the Jeep and time to get through "The Squeeze".  Can you see the boulders? Yup, this name holds true as we have to squeeeeze the Jeep in between these boulders! 

I was actually recording while the first Jeep was driving through "The Squeeze":

Still waiting for that first Jeep to get through.  Should we mention that it was a lady driver??? I wonder how I would have done.  We couldn't help laughing through the 2nd part of "The Squeeze" as the tour guide kept telling her to slow down!  I'm just glad no one got hurt and we weren't stuck for the night!

Okay, it's our turn! Click the link below to view Bobby's AWESOME driving skills :-D

https://youtu.be/LWdM_ZrKTCI

Yay for Daddy!  We were the 4th and last Jeep, so once we were through, it was time to leave the trail.  Too bad it's super dark now.  We couldn't really see anything around us:

Although, the stars were amazing! Can't quite see that in the photos but trust me, there were so many! And the boys missed out on it too.  I wish we could have stopped for a little while instead of driving straight back to base.  

We did see some lights from the snow resorts. My camera work was not so great here:

None of us were tempted to test the "Sasquatch Lights".  We were afraid it would actually attract the Big Foot. LOL!!!

What a fun adventure!  Although, the night was not done yet. Graham wanted to try out the manual window of the Jeep.  Ahhh, the good ol' days of actually having to put some muscle into winding the window up and down of your car door.  Too funny!

This car is a mess! I wonder how much mud is stuck underneath that window pane.  Oops!

Definitely one for the memory books!