04/14/2006 | 28m 6s | Video has closed captioning.
Looming 1339 feet above Riverside is Mt. Rubidoux. The very first Easter Sunrise service was held at the top of Mt. Rubidoux in 1909 and has continued to be a local tradition ever since. Join Huell and a group of hardy souls for this early morning adventure.
Aired: 04/14/06
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VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER, IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M PARSON'S FOUNDATION.
>> Huell: MELLOW EVERYBODY I'M HUELL HOWSER AND HERE IN BEAUTIFUL RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA.
OUR TOUR GUIDES TODAY.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> I'M VINCE MOSES, MUEEçNICIPA MUSEUM.
>> I'M PRESIDENT.
>> I'M CHRIS MOORE HOUSE PARK RANGER.
>> Huell: YOU'RE THE OFFICIAL GUY IN THE UNIFORM.
>> YES, SIR.
>> Huell: AND VINCE GIVE US A TASTE OF WHAT'S IN STORE FOR US, THIS DOES NOT LOOK VERY EXCITING.
IF YOU WERE JUST LOOKING DOWN THIS LITTLE ROAD HERE.
BUT WE'RE REALLY AT ONE OF RIVERSIDE'S TRUE LANDMARK?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT, WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE IT BY THE GATE, THIS PLACE IS FULL OF HISTORY, OF RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OF PEOPLE'S STORIES.
THE GREAT, AND THE NEAR-GREAT AND THE ORDINARY.
>> Huell: AND EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS Mt.
RUBIDEAUX.
>> YES, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST USED AREAS THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE CITY.
>> Huell: DO THEY USE IT AS A WAY TO FIND DIRECTIONS.
>> THEY CAN DO THAT, THEY ALSO USE IT FOR BIKE CLIMBING, BICYCLEING, REGULAR HIKING, SPARKING, YOU KNOW.
>> Huell: SPARKING?
>> YOU KNOW.
>> Huell: YOU'RE SHOWING YOUR AGE.
>> FOR QUARTING.
>> >> Huell: NOW IS QUARTING ALLOWED.
>> YES.
>> Huell: WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE DAY GOING TO THE TOP OF Mt.
RUBIDEAUX.
WE'RE TALKING UP Mt.
RUBIDEAUX, AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO GET AN IDEA OF JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL AND BIG IT IS.
IT REALLY--THIS ROADS WINDS ALL AROUND AND TAKES US--DO WE GO TO THE TOP?
>> WE GO TO THE SUMMIT OF Mt.
RUBIDEAUX.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE SPECIAL MONDAY UEMENTS.
>> Huell: I THINK ONE IS HERE.
>> YES, SIR.
>> Huell: AND LOOK WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL SITE OF RIVERSIDE.
>> PEOPLE LIKE TO COME AND MEDICINE DATE--MEDITATEINGING O TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
>> Huell: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE MEDITATING OR CATCHING YOUR BREATH.
ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY UP OR DOWN.
>> HUELL, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE 1927.
>> Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.
>> NO, I WORE OUT MANY OVERHAULS ON THESE ROCKS, AND WE STILL COME UP.
>> Huell: SO THIS IS IN YOUR BLOOD.
>> THIS IS MY RECREATION.
>> Huell: REALLY, YOU DO THIS EVERY DAY.
>> EVERY DAY.
>> Huell: IN THE MORNING OR AVERAGE.
>> IN THE SUMMERTIME IN THE MORNING, AND AT THIS TIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> Huell: AND DO YOU JUST HAVE PLACES ALONG THE WAY.
>> WE HAVE GOT PLACES.
I TELL YOU, IT'S A LOT SLOWER THAN IT USED TO BE.
>> Huell: WELL YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT 70-80 YEARS.
>> 57.
E'÷ú>> Huell: WOW, WE'RE GETTI THE 5-DOLLAR TOUR.
>> THIS IS FINE, THANK YOU.
>> Huell: YOU'RE GOING TO STAY RIGHT HERE.
>> ARE YOU GOING UP THE SIDE.
>>.
>> Huell: NO ON THE MAIN ROAD.
>>Eç NOT ANYMORE, WE GO UP THE ASPHALT TRAIL.
>> Huell: THERE IS ANOTHER TRAIL UP HERE?
>> YES.
>> Huell: WHERE IS THE TRAIL?
>> IT STARTS RIGHT THERE.
>> Huell: RIGHT HERE?
>> RIGHT HERE AND YOU CAN GO UP TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS AND TAKE A SHORTCUT, OH THAT'S WHAT YOU USED TO DO.
>> THAT'S WHAT I USE TODAY DO.
>> Huell: WELL YOU'RE STILL GETTING TO THE TOP.
LET'S LOOK AT THIS FIRST MONUMENT.
>> SURE.
HUELL, THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE FAMOUS HUNTING TON, HE WAS AN ORIGINAL PARTNER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOUNTAIN WITH CHARLES LOWERING AND FRANK MILLER.
AND WHEN HE DIED IN 1922 THIS PLAQUE WAS DEDICATED TO HIM BY THE PEOPLE IN RIVERSIDE.
>> Huell: AND A SAYING HERE FROM JOHN MUER.
>> YES.
>> Huell: CLIMB THE MOUNTAINS AND GET THEIR GOOD TIDINGS, NATURE'S PURE WILL BLOW TO YOU.
AND THE STORMS THEIR ENERGY WHILE RAIRZ WILL DROP OFF LIKE AUTUMN LEAVE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MOUNTAIN WAS MEANT TO DO.
TO HELP YOU GET RID OF THOSE CARES.
>> Huell: AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S DOING.
THIS WAS PROBABLY USED BY THE NAIF I HAVE AMERICAS.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
LEGEND HAS IT THAT IT WAS USED BY THE NATIVE-AMERICAN TRIBES.
THE ATTEMPT WAS TO BUILD ON THAT AND GROW THE WHOLE CONCEPT.
>> Huell: SO THESE MOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN CLIMBED FOR LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
>> Huell: AS WE HEAD UP THE MOUNTAIN, WE KEEP RUNNING INTO PEOPLE.
WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE.
>> HI.
>> Huell: IS THIS A REGULAR WALK.
>> YES, IT IS.
WHO IS THIS GUY HE JUST KEPT ON WALKING.
>> HE'S A REGULAR HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON TV.
WE ALWAYS NOD HEADS AT EACH OTHER.
>> Huell: THIS IS A REGULAR DAILY DEAL FOR YOU.
>> YES.
>> Huell: WHAT'S JUST TO STAY IN HERE--OR WHAT WAS IT YOU SAID PEOPLE DO.
>> TO LOSE ALL OF THEIR DAILY CARES.
>> Huell: ARE YOU LUCIAN YOUR DAILY CARES.
>> YES, THAT AND WORKING ON MY CARDIOVASCULAR.
THIS IS AN AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL--AND LOOK OUT HERE, WE'VE GOT A CLEAR DAY.
CLEAN AIR.
WE'RE LOOKING OUT AT THE MOUNTAINS.
>> YES, EVERY DAY I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I LIVE NEAR Mt.
RUBIDEAUX.
>> Huell: DO YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE IN RIVERSIDE KNOWS WHAT IT CAN DO AND WHAT IT CAN MEAN INEç THEIR LIVES.
>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT 6 PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE NEAR HERE, THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT PLENTY OF PEOPLE DO.
>> Huell: WE MET A COUPLE FURTHER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 07--70 YEARS.
>> YES, AND ONCE A YEAR, ON THE HOLIDAY THAT THEY CELEBRATE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, THEçERE IS A LOT OF CACTUS THEY REENACT EVERYTHING.
>> Huell: BUT YOU'RE HERE EVERY DAY.
>> YES.
>> Huell: AND YOU'RE NAME.
>> KATHY.
>> Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WE'D MEET UP HERE.
>> ISN'T THAT GREAT.
WE THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
>> Huell: ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH.
LET'S KEEP ON GOING, HOW FAR DO WE HAVE BEFORE WE GET TO THE TOP?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT HALF A MILE--ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM HERE.
>> Huell: SO THE WALK TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
>> YES FI, YOU'RE WALKING A NICE BRISK.
>> YES, A NICE BRISK LEISURE WALK.
>> Huell: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'VE LEFT THE PAVED ROAD FOR A MINUTE, BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BRING US UP AND SHOW US THE NEXT LITTLE MONUMENT.
RANGER, WHAT IS THE DEAL HERE.
>> THIS IS THE MONUMENT BY CHARLES, HE DIED IN 1922, SO THIS IS THE WAY THEY DECIDED TO MEMORIALIZE HIM.
>> Huell: IT SAYS ON THE PLAQUE THAT HE WAS A TREE LOVER.
>> ABSOLUTELYE AS YOU CAN TAKE A VIEW HERE, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE TREES.
CHARLES WAS A PART OF THE GROUP THAT STARTED THE TREE MOVEMENT.
>> Huell: WOW, SO THIS PLAQUE HAS BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT IN RELATION SHIP--.
>> WELL ONE OF THE THING IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE A PLACE TO REST AND MEDITATE ON THE WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN.
AT TIMES THEY HAD CANDLES BURNING HERE AND EASTER LILLYS AND BENCHS.
AS YOU CAN SEE--.
>> Huell: THIS LOOKS ORIGINAL.
THIS OL' CONCRETE FENCE HERE.
>> THIS IS SUPPOSE TO REPRESENT AN EUCALYPTUS LOG.
>> Huell: IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE RESTORING.
>> WE'VE DONE THA.
WE'RE CLEANING THE PLAQUE AND LOOKING TO PUT THIS BACK IN THE ORIGINAL FORM.
>> Huell: AND YOU'RE ALSO LITER CONTROL.
>> WE'RE ALL KINDS OF CONTROLS.
>> Huell: SO YOU HAVE OVER HOW MANY MEMBERS.
>> OVER 300.
EC÷ú>> Huell: AND ARE THEY HELPFUL OR DO THEY GET IN THE WAY.
BE HONEST.
>> VERY HELPFUL.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITHOUT THEM.
IT'S A GREAT EFFORT.
>> Huell: WELL YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND WHEN YOU'RE IN Mt.
RUBIDEAUX, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> I'M ROBERT.
>> Huell: AND YOU'RE HERE.
>> I'M GOING TO DO SOME CLIMBING.
>> Huell: IS THIS GOOD CLIMBING?
>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO COME, THE WEATHER IS GREA AND THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S HOT, IT'S STILL SUMMER.
>> Huell: YOU'RE A LOCAL.
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: HOW OFTEN ARE YOU HERE.
>> AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.
>> Huell: SO YOU'RE ALL KHAUKD ALL--CHALKED UP.
>> I'M GOING UP THERE THAT WAY.
>> Huell: OKAY, HERE WE'RE TO WATCH.
IN CASE WE NEED TO IDENTIFY FAMILY MEMBERS.
>> ROBERT AGUIRRE.
HOECHFULLY I'LL MAKE IT.
>> Huell: YOU WILL.
AND--OH MY GOSH.
>> THIS IS TYPICAL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S DONE ALMOST EVERY DAY UP HERE.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A TIME THAT I'VE BEEN UP HERE THAT SOMEBODY IS NOT DOING SOMETHING OUT HERE.
RAIN OR SHOW.
>> Huell: CLIMBING T PICNICING, JOGGING, BICYCLING, AS VINCE SET, SPARKING.
>> WE DO HAVE THAT FROM TIME TO TIME.
>> Huell: OH MY GO, RIGHT UP THE SIDE OF THE ROCK.
>> THAT'S EXCITING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S FOR ME.
>> Huell: LOOK AT THAT.
TAKE YOUR TIME DON'T WORRY ABOUT US DOWN HERE.
OH MY GOSH.
WOW, NOW THIS IS PART OF IT TOO.
>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY PART OF IT TOO.
IT'S THE MAGIC cy AND MILLER WOULD HAVE NOT DREAMED OF THIS.
>> Huell: I BET THE NATIVE AMERICANS COULD HAVE DONE THIS.
>> WHAT IS HE GOINGING ONTO.
HE'S JUST KIND OF FLYING ALONG.
>> Huell: GOSH, I HOPE HE MAKES IT.
>> I DID.
>> YAY,Eç GIVE US A WAVE.
>> Huell: YAY WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG IN THE BACK, YOU MADE IT.
THAT'S PART OF THE STORY TOO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Huell: WELL WE'RE ALMOST TO THE TOP, AND WE HAVE REACHED ONE OF THE REAL LANDMARKS OF Mt.
RUBIDEAUX.
>> ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
HUELL, THIS IS THE FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL PEACE TOWER WHICH WAS DEDICATED FROM THE PEOPLE OF RIVERSIDE TO FRANK MILLER.
HE WAS THE ONE WHO BUILT THE MISSION IN AND WAS AN ADVOCATE OF WORLD PEACE THROUGHOUT HIS LIFETIME.
WHILE HE WAS OUT THE COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, BUILT THIS TOWER AND DEDICATED TO HIM.
>> Huell: HE WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN NOT ONLY DEVELOPING THE MISSION IN IN RIVERSIDE, AND BY THE WAY WE'VE GOT TO STOP AND LOOK DOWN HERE.
THIS IS DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE.
AND LOOKING OUT AT THE MOUNTAINS, THIS IS AN BEAUTIFUL SITE OUT HERE.
>> IT'S A TREMENDOUS SITE, IT'S NOT ONE THAT I GET TIRED OF SEEING.
>> Huell: WE'RE LOOKING OVER THESE MOUNTAINS OVER HERE.
>> THIS IS SAN GREGORNIO AND THEN THE SAN BERNARDINO'S ACROSS HERE.
>> Huell: AND WHEN FRANK MILLER WAS HERE, HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING NOT ONLY THE MISSION IN BUT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE ITSELF, AND WAS VERY INTERESTED IN Mt.
RUBIDEAUX.
>> YES, HE WAS HE SAW THE WHOLE CITY AS HIS VISION AS A PLACE TO CONSTRUCT A WORTH-WHILE PLACE TO LIVE.
ON THE MOUNTAIN,--.
>> Huell: HOW DID HE HELP DEVELOP THE MOUNTAIN?
>> HE DEVELOPED THE MOUNTAIN WITH TWO PARTNERS, WITH CHARLES OWNING, HE PURCHASED THIS LAND AND BEGAN TO BUILD A VISION OF THE MOUNTAIN AS A PARK.
>> Huell: SO IT'S BEEN A PARK SINCE THEY BOUGHT IT BACK IN 1906.
>> IN THE BEGINNING DEEMED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE TO BECOME A PUBLIC PARK.
>> Huell: BOY, THIS IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL.
AND THIS HAS BEEN HERE SINCE?
>> 1925.
>> Huell: I LOVE THE WAY THE TREE COMES UP HERE AND THERE IS THE SIGN RIGHT THERE.
WORLD PEACE.
>> AND YOU NOTICE THE FLAGS OF ALL THE COUNTRIES HERE.
>> Huell: SO THIS IS KNOWN AS THE--.
>> THE PEACE TOWER.
>> Huell: THE PEACE TOWER, THE PEACE BRIDGE AND THIS IS WHERE WE CAN GO BACK IN TIME BECAUSE AS YOU WELL KNOW.
THE TRUTH IS, I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ON THIS MOUNTAIN BEFORE.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON IT AT THIS TIME OF DAY.
WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE, LAST YEAR--A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IN ONE OF THE REAL TRADITIONS OF Mt.
RUBIDEAUX AND THAT'S THE EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, AND I THINK THAT SEGMENTED STARTED RIGHT HERE WITH THE TWO OF US WALK THROUGH THAT IN THE PITCH OF NIGHT ON OUR WAY TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN FOR THE EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE.
MY VOICE WAS A LITTLE FROGGY, I WAS LISTENING TO THE OTHER TAPE, DO YOU REMEMBER THAT EXPERIENCE.
>> I REMEMBER, IT WAS FOGGY AND IT WAS COLD, AND IT WAS DARK.
>> Huell: AND IT WAS DARK AND THAT'S PART OF THE TRADITION, RIGHT HERE WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK IN TIME TO THE EARLY BARK MORNING, EASTER MORNING THAT WE WERE CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF Mt.
RUBIDEAUX AS PART OF THE EASTER SUNRISE TRADITION.
>> Huell: WELL, HERE WE ARE.
IT'S 5:30 IN THE MORNING.
IT'S STILL DARK, AND VINCE YOU HAVE HIKED US UP Mt.
RUBIDEAUX THIS MORNING, TO TELL US ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE HISTORY OF THIS MOUNTAIN.
IT'S NECESSARY TO BE HERE THIS EARLY.
>> WELL HUELL, IT'S NECESSARY TO BE HERE THIS EARLY BECAUSE HERE NOW AT THE Mt.
RUBIDEAUX EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE AND THIS IS THE 90th ANNIVERSARY, WE CLAIM THAT THIS IS THE FIRST SUNRISE SERVICE IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
>> Huell: SO HERE WE'RE FOR A VERY HISTORIC EVENT.
LOOK EXCITEçED.
>> I AM AN EXCITING.
IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT.
>> Huell: HOW DID THIS GET STARTED.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE HIKING UP HERE.
WAVE UP THERE, YEAH.
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES UP HERE THIS MORNING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: HOW DID THIS GET STARTED.
FRANK MILLER, HAD A VISITOR AT THE MISSION IN, JACOB, A FRIEND OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT, WHO SAID YOU NEED TO USE THIS MOUNTAIN FOR SOMETHING.
AND THAT SPARKS THE INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING SERVICE.
THE NEXT WEEK THEY WALKED UP HERE FOR THE FIRST SERVICE.
MORE THAN 100 SPONTANEOUSLY AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON EVER SINCE.
>> Huell: FOR 90 YEARS.
>> FOR 90 YEARS,.
>> Huell: NOW I'VE SEEN SOME PICTURES.
THIS BECAME QUITE THE PLACE TO BE ON EASTER MORNING.
>> OH THIS WAS THE PLACE TO BE.
>> Huell: I MEAN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT PHOTOGRAPHS OF OVER 40,000 SWARMING THIS MOUNTAIN FOR SEFSHSZ.
THE NEAR GREAT, THE GREAT, THE ORDINARY, FOR SERVICE.
>> Huell: AND THEY WOULD ALL HAVE TO HIKE.
OR HOW THEY CAME IN HERE.
>> EARLY ON, THEY CAME ON THEIR MODET Ts OR MODEL As, IN YOU'RE FINEST AND BE THERE FOR THE SERVICE.
OF COURSE IT'S EVOLVED OVER THE YEAR TO HIKE UP THE HILL AS YOU CAN SEE.
>> Huell: THAT'S PART OF THE SERVICE IS JUST GEGT HERE.
>> IT'S EXACTLY GEGT HERE.
AND AS YOU SEE, ALL THE TRAILS ARE LIT BY THE BOY SCOUTS AND IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT.
>> Huell: GOOD MORNING.
>> HI HOW ARE YOU.
>> Huell: INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> I'M MARK PANSONI WITH TROOP 141 AND WE'RE THE LOCAL TROOPS AND WE'RE UP HERE LIGHTING THE TRAIL.
>> Huell: GOOD MORNING.
YOU HIKED ALL THE WAY UP.
>> YES.
>> Huell: IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME.
>> MY SECOND TIME.
>> Huell: SO IT'S LIKE A TRADITION.
>> I THINK IT'S NEAT HOW THESE CUBEç SCOUTS SACRIFICE.
>> Huell: IS THAT SWEAT?
>> IT'S SWEAT.
>> Huell: YOU ALL REALLY HIKED UP.
ALMOST TO THE TOP.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Huell: KEEP ON MOVING YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.
GON WELL, HERE COMES A HIKER, LOOK AT THIS LADY.
GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY EASTER.
>> WELL THANK YOU, AND YOU TOO.
>> Huell: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN HIKING.
>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.
>> Huell: REALLY?
>> MY HUSBAND'S BROUGHT GROUPS MANY TIME BUT I STAY HOME FIXING BREAKFAST.
>> Huell: ARE YOU OKAY.
>> YES, I'M FINE JUST OUT OF BREATH.
Eç>> Huell: HAPPY EASTER.
>> HAPPY EASTER TO YOU.
>> Huell: IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME.
>> OH NO MANY MANY YEARS.
>> Huell: REALLY.
HOW DID THIS TRADITION GET STARTED IN YOUR FAMILY.
>> HER.
>> MY FAMILYEç HAS ALWAYS COME.
MARRIED HIM AND NOW HE'S GOING WITH US.
>> Huell: THAT WAS A PACKAGE DEAL.
>> HAPPY EASTER.
>> Huell: HAPPY EASTER.
HAPPY EASTER.
NOW VINCE, THIS IS EXCITING.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE EATED UP HERE IN THE ROCKS, THAT HAVE BEEN CARVED OUT OF THE SIDE, IS THIS THE WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN 90 YEARS AGO.
>> THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY.
FRANK MILLER WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF AS A SERVICE.
HE BEGAN TO CONSTRUCT, BUT ALSO CORE--CHORUS THAT WOULD SI.
>> Huell: SO THIS WAS A BIG PRODUCTION.
>> YES, HE VIEWED IT AS A RISE OF CHRIST.
>> Huell: AND LOOK AT ALL THESE PEOPLE.
THIS IS JUST A COUPLE OF THOUSANDS.
>> COUPLE OF THOUSANDS.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE HAD 20,000 ON THE MOUNTAIN FOR THE SERVICE.
>> Huell: AND HOW ELABORATE DID THIS BECOME?
>> IT WAS AN ELABORATE PRODUCTION, ALWAYS THE READING BY HENRY VAN DIKE, BUT A NOTED SOPRANO, A RIVERSIDE GIRL.
SHE SANG HERE.
AND DREW THE HUGEST CROWDS.
BUT IT WAS A CELEBRATED REGIONAL EVENT THAT CAN MATCH THE "HOLLYWOOD BOWL".
>> Huell: WHEN DID IT REACH ITS PEAK.
>> I THINK IN THE MID-TWENTIES WHEN THE WHOLE INDUSTRY WAS HERE.
>> Huell: CATIE, YOU'RE USED TO WALKING UP HERE ALMOST EVERY MORNING.
BUT NOT LIKE THIS.
THIS MUST GIVE A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION TO THE MOUNTAIN.
>> YES, IT DOES, AND IT'S VERY ENERGIZING.
>> Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
>> TRUE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> Huell: THERE IS ENERGY UP HERE.
>> YES AND IT'S SO EARLY IN THE MORNING AND ALL THESE FOLKS ARE SETTLED IN AND READY TO ENJOY THE SERVICE.
>> Huell: AND IN A WAY THIS KIND OF INITIATES, IT TURNS A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE ON TO THE MOUNTAIN.
>> IT REALLY DOES AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS SHARED WITH YOU THAT THIS WAS THEIR FIRST VISIT.
BUT IT IS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> Huell: GET THEM HOOKED ON THIS THING.
>> YES.
♪ ♪ ♪ TO YOU, NOW AND FOREVER MORE ♪ ♪ TO YOU GLORY, NOW AND FOREVER MORE ♪ AMEN ♪ ♪ AMEN ♪ MEN .
>> Huell: VINCE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MOVING AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE TO BE ON TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN WHEN THE SUN ROSE.
AND IT WAS EASTER MORNING.
>> IT WAS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
I'M GLAD YOU SHARED THA.
WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE TIME HERE THAT MORNING.
THERE WAS KNOW ALL OVER THE MOUNTAIN.
THAT'S WHAT THIS MOUNTAIN WAS ABOUT.
>> Huell: THIS IS ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAIN.
AS FAR AS CELEBRATIONS.
>> YES, EVERY ONCE A YEAR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, AND THE GIRL SCOUTS HAVE A DAY CALLED "THINKING DAY" AND THEY CONTEMPLATE AND IT'S FUN.
THEY JUST CONTEMPLATE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
>> Huell: WHAT A PLACE TO DO THAT.
AND YOU'VE ALSO GOT FIREWORKS.
>> YES, THIS IS THE MOST WIDELY USED BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IT FROM ALMOST EVERYWHERE.
>> Huell: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FRANK MILLER AND HENRY HUNTINGTON WHO KIND OF PROMOTE THDEç MOUNTAIN, WOULD BE PROUD OF.
>> YEAH, THEY ABSOLUTELY WOULD.
THEY HAD THE VISION TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MOUNTAIN WOULD BE MEANINGFUL FOR ANYONE WHO MADE THE TRIP.
AND I THINK THEY CAN BE LOOKING DOWN NOW REALLY FASCINATED BY THE WAY THE MOUNTAIN IS BEING USED TODAY.
>> Huell: YEAH, IT REALLY IS.
AND THANKS TO THE FRIENDS AND ALL THE GOOD WORK OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS.
HOW MANY OF THEM.
>> OVER 300 RIGHT NOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO--.
>> Huell: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
AND HOW BIG IS THIS.
>> IT'S A CITY PARK, 350 ACRES.
>> Huell: SO THIS IS NOT A BIG PARK THIS WHICH BUT THIS WAY.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S ABOUT 2 KILOMETERS LONG, AND POINT 07 KILOMETERS WIDE.
>> Huell: WELL THE STATISTICS ARE ONE THING, BUT WHEN YOU STAND HERE, LET'S WALK OVER HERE.
THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING FOR LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
GOING BACK TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS, WHEN THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE LOOKING OUT.
THEY DIDN'T SEE DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE HERE.
BUT THEY SAW THIS BEAUTIFUL VISTA OUT HERE, WITH THE MOUNTAINS OFF IN THE DISTANCE.
IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL SITE.
IF YOU CAN NOT GET INSPIRED HERE.
YOU CANNOT GET INSPIRED ANYWHERE.
>> I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU CAN NOT GET INSPIRED ANY WHERE.
THIS IS A PLACE OF RENEWEDNEWAL.
>> Huell: WE FEEL RENEWED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> Huell: AND THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO COME ON UP AND ENJOY THE WONDER, THE HISTORY OF NATURAL WONDERS.
BUT LIKE WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAMS THERE ARE MANY LAYERS TO THIS STORY.
IT'S BEEN HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF US TO ENJOY.
GOODBYE EVERYBODY.
