Walking Up A Steep Trail

The other day I went about a hundred feet up a hiking trail in the Loma Linda hills, but it was too steep for me to continue walking with the bike.  I decided the next time I came back to the park I would lock up my bike so I could walk to the top of the hill.  So I do plan on going back to walk on that original trail, but right before I left the park I noticed there was another trail that I wanted to walk on.  Today I went back to the park to explore this trail, and I discovered it was quite steep.

I grew up in the San Bernardino Mountains, and I have gone on hikes up sharp inclines inclines, but I have not been doing this type of hardcore hiking in the last few years.  I am in pretty good shape because I walk and bike about five days a week, but this trail really demands a lot out of a hiker.  I noticed a people probably walk their dogs up this steep trail since it was littered with dog poo, but I am guessing some of those dogs might be running up the hill off a leash because I had to focus on balancing myself on the trek up and down. My intention was to go to the very top of the hill, and I almost made it there, but became deterred as the trail became more precipitous. I might go back another time, but I think I would honestly prefer to try hiking on the other trail first. So I know I could get back into the more rigorous type of hiking by going up these trails a couple of times a week.

Here are some of the pictures I took during my little jaunt today.

Looking up to the top of the trail.
Looking up the hillside.
The dead tree trunk in the foreground is quite fascinating.
The dead tree trunk in the foreground is quite fascinating.
Starting to walk up the trail.  I always turn back to look at the view below.
Starting to walk up the trail, b I always turn back to look at the view below.
The pylons are closer now that I am walking up the trail.
The pylons are closer now that I am walking up the trail.
Turning around to look down the hill.
Turning around to look down the hill.
I spotted a prickly pear cactus going up the precipitous trail.
I spotted a prickly pear cactus going up the precipitous trail.

I captured a little video of the prickly pear cactus as I was walking up the trail.

A view of the San Bernardino Mountains in the distance.
A view of the San Bernardino Mountains in the distance.
View of Mount San Gorgonio in the distance.
View of Mount San Gorgonio in the distance.
Another View of The San Bernardino Mountains
Another View of The San Bernardino Mountains
Viewing the San Bernardino Mountains from a slightly different angle.
Viewing the San Bernardino Mountains from a slightly different angle.
The view of Mount Baldy from the Loma Linda hills.   It would be amazing on a clear day.
The view of Mount Baldy from the Loma Linda hills. It would be amazing on a clear day.
Now I am even closer to the two pylons.  However, I decided not to go all the way up the hill since the trail is pretty steep.
Now I am even closer to the two pylons. However, I decided not to go all the way up the hill since the trail is pretty steep.
Another view of the two pylons.  I usually become a bit fixated with a certain  focal point, and photograph this area multiple times.
Another view of the two pylons. I usually become a bit fixated with a certain focal point, and photograph this area multiple times.
The yellow pole marks the bottom point of the trail, although there was one area that was a bit steep after that.
The yellow pole marks the bottom point of the trail, although there was one area that was a bit steep after that.
Bushes and Trees On the Hillside
Bushes and trees on the hillside.
A tree that I wish I knew the name of.
A tree that I wish I knew the name of.
Almost at the bottom of the steep walking trail, but there are still one last difficult area to navigate at the bottom.
Almost at the bottom of the steep walking trail, but there are still one last difficult area to navigate at the bottom.

2 Replies to “Walking Up A Steep Trail”

    1. Loma Linda set aside large amounts of land back in the 1930’s. I had gone up to the main park years ago, but never tried exploring the trails. This one trail is particularly tricky, and even walking it was challenging for me. I am sure I could work up to feeling at ease on it, but I am in awe of the mountain bikers and people walking dogs who go up and down this thing with ease. I think coming up to this area be the perfect place to see and photograph the fireworks, though. This way a person would be able to see all the fireworks going off around Inland Valley.

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