By Melissa McCue

The celebration of the New Year in many ways symbolizes hope and change, and this year we have some numbers that can give homeowners in the Big Bear area a real basis for that hope. The 2012 sales volume for single family residential (SFR) units came in at an increase of 28.6% over 2011. This is far above the California Association of Realtors projected statewide average increase of 5.1%.

The increase in sales volume is a positive sign, but to give an indication of real market change it should be accompanied by an increase in price, and for the first time in 5 years, it is! The median SFR price  for 2012 came in at an increase of  3.63% over 2011.

If I were a gambler, I would bet good money that the number of units sold and the increase in prices would have both risen even more if our inventory had not been so low. Since mid-year 2012 it has steadily declined from around 500 homes to around 350 homes.   

Years ago when a friend asked me to try snowshoeing, I was instantly hit with the amusing visual of trudging through the snow, feet strapped awkwardly to a pair of glorified wooden tennis rackets. Luckily for me, the image I had of snowshoeing turned out to be wrong. Modern snowshoes are comfortable and lightweight, made of materials ranging from plastic to carbon fiber, making the otherwise arduous task of navigating through snow completely enjoyable.

If you enjoy hiking in the summer, I can fairly well guarantee that you will like snowshoeing in the winter. Here are 5 reasons that I'm pretty confident in that guarantee.

#1 Peace and Tranquility
The peace and tranquility are palpable. By that, I really do mean that you "feel" it. The snow has an insulating effect that quiets the dull drum of background noise normally present in the world while amplifying the sounds of nature. Birds singing, chipmunks and squirrels chirping their alarms, the sound of your breath and the soft snow gently compacting beneath your feet become the only sounds in the world. You may well return from a snowshoeing adventure feeling as though you've had a mini vacation.

#2 New Perspective
The forest becomes nearly unrecognizable shrouded in it's blanket of white. If you happen to venture out on a clear blue day, you will see the snow literally glitter like millions of tiny diamonds. Trails that are familiar to you will suddenly be slightly foreign when dressed in their costume of white. It's like seeing a familiar face at a masquerade party, you recognize them, but the change in look adds an element of fun.

#3 Revert to Childhood
You can pretend you're a tracker. Yes, I said pretend...you know, that thing we all used to do as children..the one where you turn everything into an adventure. When you see unfamiliar animal tracks in the snow it's hard not to imagine yourself as a tracker, using nature's clues to accomplish your task. I'm no expert but I am pretty sure I've seen bear and deer tracks, and I've seen many more that I've been unable to identify. If you find tracks that you can't identify, try snapping a picture and taking it to the folks at the Discovery Center for their opinion.

#4 Brilliant Photography
The photos are fantastic. The snow creates a beautiful backdrop that covers all the background "noise" that can make landscape photos bland. The beautiful contrast of white snow and blue skies can make even amateurs snapshots worth framing.

#5 Cure to Cabin Fever
There is nothing like a little exercise to ward off cabin fever induced blues. Snowshoeing can range from a nice meandering walk to a heart pumping workout. If you set the pace quickly and go straight up a hillside, you can skip climbing on your treadmill for the day. According to Fitness Magazine, snowshoeing burns approximately 45% more calories than walking or running at the same pace.

Hopefully, my top 5 reasons to snowshoe convince you to give it a try. If they have, use the this link http://www.bigbearinfo.com/snowshoe.html to find information on snowshoe rentals and trails and then get out and have some fun!