By Miguel Padilla
A gopher snake basks in the morning rays, as sunshine beats down across the northern Badlands area of Loma Linda, California. A mountain biker zips nearby. Now interrupted, the snake slithers into a hole left behind by one of the many critters who inhabit these rugged, sun-stroked hills.
Nestled behind Hulda Crooks park in Loma Linda lies an expanse of land that twists, and turns in its branching paths very much like a snake would. The south hills are a staple to Loma Linda’s landscape, serving as a backdrop to the suburbs and medical center south of Barton road. Hikers, mountain bikers, and those seeking shelter from the bustle and tussle of life take refuge in the dirt roads that begin behind the park.
There, you’ll find yourself swallowed by a series of steep hills that can reach up to 2,500 ft in elevation as you continue down what is known as the main enduro loop.
Once you continue down the main thoroughfare, you have a variety of paths to choose at your disposal. A seasoned mountain biker might choose to continue down to the dubiously named “Monkey Puzzle” trail, chasing a brief downhill explosion of energy with a small wooden bridge to fly over at the end. An intermediate hiker on the other hand, might turn left and begin their ascent up Beaumont Ridge, with sprawling suburbs visible at a moment's glance.
The wildlife is abundantly rich as well, with squirrels and lizards alike stopping to greet the odd human explorer. Donkey’s–left behind by Southern California miners in the late 1800s and 1900’s–are long term residents of the area’s hills, making their presence known with their braying cries and trails of dung. The Burros' presence is a testament to this wild, and beautifully kept area of Loma Linda.
Hulda Hoehn Crooks, the sprightly mountaineering woman to whom the park was named after in 1991, was a dominant force in alpinism. She ascended Mt. Whitney a total of 23 times between the ages of 65 and 91; not only were her personal feats grand, she was also grand in personality as well. Lovingly regarded as “Grandma Whitney '' in the surrounding community of Loma Linda, she served as a proud Seventh-Day Adventist and as a living example of the area's health-conscious, centenarian community. By the time she passed away at the age of 101, her legacy had been cemented; thousands upon thousands of outdoorsmen and women continue to ascend the hills that hold her very name to this day.
The south hills behind Hulda Crooks park are quiet proving grounds; testing the determination and physical durability of those who choose to seek its splendor. The numerous benefits given to those who traverse her lands are evidenced in the surrounding San Bernardino county communities. Traveler’s, explorer’s, and weekend warriors are always welcomed. No matter your length of stay on these rugged lands, you are rewarded with some level of mental or physical benefit. Both Hulda Crooks’ mountaineering spirit, and mother nature’s cradling embrace, are there for you amongst Loma Linda’s south hills.
Amazing article! You really painted quite an image in my mind as I read on. Can’t wait to read what you write next!