Hi! I've wanted to put this video together for months now! I'm so happy to finally be able to edit it into what I hope is a fun, educational and somewhat playful experience for all. Often times, if I were to mention to someone visiting Big Bear Lake that there was another lake to enjoy for its scenic beauty, hiking and paddling opportunities they would look at me with confusion. Well, not after watching this video! As you will see, Big Bear is indeed a valley of lakes, not just LAKE. Sure, Big Bear LAKE is an amazing gem that millions have enjoyed over the years, but VERY FEW people know of the other major lake in the valley: Baldwin Lake. It's quite noticeable if you were to fly in (the landing pattern downwind takes planes right over it) or drive in from hwy 18 from Lucerne Valley...as you literally drive right by/around it. However, there is a slight issue with Baldwin Lake and a major reason WHY people aren't familiar with it: is is usually dry as a bone! In most years, the lake is just a dusty alkaline lakebed that looks like a perfect place for.....non-lake activities! Luckily though, after a rainy and snowy winter, the lake is able to replenish itself with flow from nearby springs and water flowing down from the wet slopes. Baldwin Lake is usually starting to see significant water in it by March after a wet winter, but this season we just had was a particularly heavy one and the rain/wet snow the Big Bear area received had this sometimes "not a lake" looking like a lake once again...in January! I first went out to the northwestern banks on January 27 2023 to take documentation, with additional plans to return every 1-2 weeks. Well, not only did life get slightly in the way, but also the series of insane snow storms that pummeled our area kept me busy shoveling, snowboarding and working. I didn't return to further document the lake level until early March, but was shocked to see how much Baldwin had come up! There isn't a weekly or even monthly reading listed anywhere I could find online, but for the heck of it I had attempted to use landmarks (rocks, boulders, bushes, stakes) to approximate the measurement. This might have worked but didn't have the desired outcome...the water came up so fast the "landmarks" were now "underwater marks"! Doh!
In this video we will go back to 2017 and 2019 to compare how Baldwin Lake looked now vs then. It's wonderful to stroll around the public land surrounding the lake, but even more fun to actually take a paddle board or kayak out there. And how else are we supposed to get an accurate depth reading??
This video also displays some of my drone flying skills, please let me know what you think of the shots. I wish to include more drone work in my videos, and if I get some feedback I will know if it's something I should continue pursuing.
And now to address the "monster" in the room! "Baldwin Bessie" or "BLB" (Baldwin Lake Bessie) as the locals like to call it, is a mysterious creature that can somehow stay alive in some state of dusty hibernation during dry lake years, but can be rarely spotted swimming or sunning itself when the water level returns. A strange creature this is! If you've seen Baldwin Lake Bessie please let me know in the comments section!
My buddy Bryan and I did some paddling just a week or so before I published this video. It was a blast! This was my 3rd time paddling this lake, and it may be small and shallow (along the banks) but makes up for its lack of watercraft with motors, not to mention it's sheer beauty. There was about another 1 foot of water in the lake this time, and if the wind hadn't come up severely at the end we could have stayed out there all day.
I have a ton of more info to share about Baldwin Lake, but that's for another video that will come out in the near future, as long as THIS video gets good views and feedback. For now, hope you enjoy this video, please subscribe to see more content from "DANMO_FLOW", and drop a LIKE and a comment! See you soon!
-Daniel Morello aka Dan Dan the Paddle Man 😆
Youtube.com/danielmorello
Instagram: @danmo_flow
#bigbear #lake #nature
