In 1845 Benjamin Davis Wilsonathe future first mayor of Los Angeles and thegrandfather of Gen. George S. Pattonaled a 20man posse into the San BernardinoMountai... » 

In 1845 Benjamin Davis Wilsonathe future first mayor of Los Angeles and thegrandfather of Gen. George S. Pattonaled a 20man posse into the San BernardinoMountains in search of Native American raiding parties that had been attackingRiverside ranches. But what they found in a particular highaltitude valleywere instead large and furry. Wilsonas men soon roped 11 bears bringing thecreatures into camp and the valley the Serrano Indians knew as Yuhaviat oraPine Place a received a new map designation. Wilson named a nearby body ofwater Big Bear Lake now Baldwin Lake with the presentday manmade lake coopting the bruin moniker. Today at elevations between 6000 and 9000 feetthe city of Big Bear Lake is an hour and a half from Los Angeles and a millionmiles from the rat race where hiking sports and the absence of exertionthrive in a vacation atmosphere. «