AN ADVENTURE ON TOP OF MOUNT SAN JACINTO.

>> .

>> Huell: HELLO EVERYBODY I'M HUELL HOWSER AND HERE WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BEAUTIFUL PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA.

NOW ONE THING YOU FIND OUT ABOUT PALM SPRINGS, WHEN YOU COME HERE EITHER AS A VISITOR OR AS A RESIDENT, AND THAT IS WHAT DOMINATES THIS TOWN.

PHYSICAL THREE GEOGRAPHICALLY, SPIRITUALLY.

AND THERE IT IS OVER THERE, MAGNIFICENT MOUNT SAN JACINTO.

IT GOES UP TO 10,000 FEET.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN.

IT'S NICE THROUGHOUT ALL SEASONS OF THE YEAR.

IN SUMMERTIME IT'S A COOL PLACE TO VISIT.

THE TEMPERATURES ABOUT 20 DEGREES COOLER THAN HERE IN THE FLOOR.

THIS MOUNTAIN IS SO SPECTACULAR AND SO WONDERFUL.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY ON TOP OF MOUNT SAN JACINTO.

AND MART OF THE FUN OF GETTING TO THE TOP OF SAN JACINTO IS THE RIDE UP ON THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAM WAY--WAIMENT--WAIT A MINUTE WHAT ARE YOU TAKING PICTURES OF OF?

>> I'M FROM THE YUCAIPA.

>> THIS IS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE.

>> YES.

>> Huell: WHAT DO YOU THINK SO FAR?

>> YES.

EVERYBODY IS BIGGER HERE?

>> Huell: ABSOLUTELY.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

>> SAN DIEGO.

>> Huell: THIS YOUR FIRST TRIP?

>> NO WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE BUT IT WAS MARCH.

>> Huell: SO YOU DID SKIING.

>> THIS TIME WE'RE HIKING.

>> Huell: HOW LONG A HIKE IS THAT GOING TO BE?

>> 11,000 FEET.

>> Huell: I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE PEAK.

>> I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER IN FOR HIKING.

>> Huell: YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF WATER AND BEAR REPELLENT.

>> YES.

>> Huell: AND YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

DO THE PEOPLE FROM ENGLAND, DO THEY HIKE OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO STAND AROUND?

>> WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A LOOK.

>> Huell: I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT--WHOA!

THAT'S WHEN WE HIT THE TOWER.

THAT'S GREAT.

I KNOW YOU WERE A REGULAR.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE GOT ON THE TRAM TODAY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, I COME EVERY OTHER DAY.

>> Huell: EVERY OTHER DAY?

>> IN THE SUMMER, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STAY IN THE VALLEY AND HIKE.

>> I'M A BIRDER, I LOOK AT BIRDS.

I COME UP EVERY OTHER DAY AND CHECK IT OUT.

>> Huell: YOU KNOW I JUST STARTED DOING THAT THIS SUMMER.

IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE.

>> WONDERFUL.

WONDERFUL.

ABOUT 35 DEGREES COOLER THAN THE DESERT.

>> Huell: YEAH, THAT'S WHY WE LIKE IT THERE.

LOOK HERE, TROY, LOOK UP HERE.

THAT IS PART OF IT, THE VIEW.

THE VIEW OF THE MOUNTAIN, IT'S SPEKCTACULAR.

THE TRAM WAY WAS BUILT IN 1963.

IT'S ABOUT 2 AND A HALF MILES LONG AND RISED ABOUT 2000 FEET.

WE'RE GETTING TO PASS THE OTHER CAR AS WE GO RIGHT UP THE SIDE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN, HERE WE CAN GET A SHOT RIGHT HERE.

THEY'RE WAVING AT US UP THE WINDOWS.

THIS IS AN EXCITING RIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE MOUNTAIN AND THESE ARE BRAND NEW CARS THAT WERE PUT IN, JUST THIS YEAR, MADE IN SWITZERLAND.

LET'S GET ONE LOOK DOWN AT THE VALLEY FLOOR.

THIS IS PART OF THE FUN OF IT TOO.

AS YOU RISE UP, YOU'RE LOOK DOWN AT THE BEAUTIFUL HOT, COCHELA VALLEY.

THERE IS PALM SPRINGS, THAT LITTLE GREEN SPEK RIGHT THERE.

WE'RE HEADING TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IN THE TRAM.

>> Huell: GOOD MORNING.

WHERE YOU ALL HIKING OUT FROM?

>> WE'RE UP IN BROWN VALLEY TODAY.

>> Huell: THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING.

>> VERY BEAUTIFUL UP THERE.

>> Huell: SO YOU CAMPED OUT.

>> IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT THERE IS WATER.

>> Huell: IS THIS THE FIRST TIME?

>> NO, WE'VE DONE IT NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> Huell: YOU'RE EXPERIENCED HIKERS AND CAMPERS.

>> I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THAT.

>> Huell: YOU'RE CARRYING A PRETTY GOOD LOAD.

WE'RE TURNING PEOPLE UP TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS UP HERE.

THE STATE PARK, THAT IT IS LIKE, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW YOU'RE IN THE DESERT.

>> YEAH WE SORT OF COME UP THE IDLE SIDE.

>> Huell: WE JUST CAME UP.

LET ME GIVE YOU THE WEATHER FORECAST.

IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 104 TODAY.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, IT WAS 50 AT NIGHT AND IT WAS REALLY VERY PLEASANT UP THERE.

VERY NICE.

>> Huell: ALL RIGHT.

>> IT'S GK GOING TO BE HARSH.

>> Huell: YOU ALL ARE FROM?

>> WEST L.A. >> Huell: YOU'RE CITY DWELLERS.

>> CITY PEOPLE GETTING AWAY.

>> Huell: AND A NICE PLACE TO GET AWAY.

>> WE'VE GOT OUR LITTLE GROUP HERE.

PAT THIS IS KIND OF YOUR ROUTINE, THE ROUTINE IS WE COME UP HERE TO THE RANGERS' STATION AND WE HAVE TO FILL OUT PERMITS.

>> RIGHT, CORRECT.

WE FILL OUT PERMITS AND THERE ARE TWO COPIES, ONE COPY WE TAKE WITH US AND ONE WE LEAVE IN THE BOX WH.

WE RETURN FROM THE VOLLEY, YOU COME RIGHT BACK HERE, AND THERE IS A GREEN MAILBOX WHERE YOU DROP OFF THE SECOND PART OF THE PERMITS.

>> Huell: AND THE PERMITS ARE FREE.

>> EXACTLY AND THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HOW MANY LIMITS AT THE CURRENT TIME.

>> Huell: YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING.

>> YOU HEAR SOME BIRDS AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE BREEZE.

IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Huell: YEAH, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT COMING HERE EARLY IN THE MORNING.

THERE WERE ONLY FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE IN THE TRAM.

THERE IS HARDLY ANYBODY HERE NOW.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE UP HERE.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL NICE HIKE.

>> Huell: LET'S TAKE A SHOT OF WHERE WE CAME FROM.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL AS WELL.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, YOU SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES AND THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY OF BEING ON TOP.

>> WE'RE FILLING OUT OUR PERMITS.

HERE'S THE RANGER HIMSELF.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

>> I'M ERIK HANSON.

>> Huell: ERIK AND I HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE QUIERT--QUITE A BIT.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I CAME.

I WAS A VERY HESITANT ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD DO.

I I'M NOT AN EXPERIENCED HIKER.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE WATER.

>> Huell: I BOUGHT MY WATER PACK WHICH LEAKS FRIMENT.

AND TIME TO TIME.

>> THERE IS A PRESSURE AND YOUR BOTTLES WILL DO STRANGE THINGS.

>> Huell: SO WHEN YOU COME WITH BOTTLES, YOU HAVE TO UNSCREW IT A LITTLE BIT AND LET THE PRESSURE OUT.

OKAY, ERIK, WE'RE ON THE TRAIL.

WE'RE GOING TO EXPLAIN OFFICIALLY WHERE WE ARE?

>> WELL, HUELL, HERE ENTERING THE MOUNT SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS.

IT'S LOAD WD TRAILS.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES OF TRAIL.

AND THE STATE WILDERNESS IS COMBINED ABOUT 14,000 ACRES.

>> Huell: AND THESE TRAILS, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THEM.

I'M NOT A HARD CORE HIKER, THERE ARE NOT TRAILS THAT A BEGINNER COULD NOT NAVIGATE.

>> WE HAVE VARIETY,.

>> Huell: IT'S NOT EASY TO GET UP HERE.

>> NO, IF YOU HAVE TO WALK IN FROM IDYLWILD.

IT'S 8 MILES AND A LOT OF UP HILLS.

>> AND ANOTHER WAY IS COMING UP THE TRAM.

>> IT'S A WILDERNESS.

YOU CAN START IN MEXICO OR CANADA AND COME HERE VIA THE PACIFIC CREST RAIL.

>> Huell: WE'LL STICK TO THE TRAM.

THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO GET UP HERE.

WE WERE TALKING, UP THE TRAIL, ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES OF PEOPLE THAT COME UP THE TRAM EVERY YEAR.

WHAT PERCENTAGE EVER LEAVE THE BUILDING AT THE TOP OF THE TRAM AND COME OUT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THIS?

>> WELL OUR BEST GUESS IS THAT ONLY BETWEEN 30 AND 40% OF THE PEOPLE THAT RIDE THE TRAM COME ON TO THE TRAIL.

>> Huell: ACTUALLY LEAVE THE BUILDING.

>> EXACTLY SOME WILL JUST COME FOR THE MEAL OR THE RIDE AND NEVER EVEN GET TO THIS GREAT WILDERNESS.

>> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE.

>> TWO PEAK.

THE LEFT PEAK IS GENE PEAK AND THE RIGHT IS YALE PEAK.

>> Huell: WE'RE NOT GOING UP THERE.

I'M STILL IN THE BEGINNING STAGE OF MY HIKING.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN YOU WALK AROUND THESE TRAILS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY I WALK UP HERE, SOMETHING NEW AND WONDERFUL TO SEE WHAT YOU MISSED EVERY DAY.

>> WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME UP HERE FOR YEARS AND STILL NOT KNOW THE PLACE.

>> Huell: LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL ROCK FORMATION.

>> OH YOU BET, WE HAVE SOME WALLS THAT ARE OVER 1,000 FEET HIGH.

>> Huell: REALLY?

>> YOU BET.

>> Huell: AND WHAT AN INTERESTING COMBINATION BETWEEN THE TREES AND THE ROCKS AND TERRAIN HERE.

WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS, IS WHEN YOU'RE WALKING ONE DIRECTION, YOU SEE ONE THING AND WHEN YOU TURN AROUND AND COME BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, IT HAS A WHOLE ANOTHER LOOK TO IT.

>> IT'S AMAZING HOW IT'S A ANOTHER WORLD.

>> Huell: WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO AN INTERESTING PART DOWN HERE WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE AIR.

BECAUSE THE AIR IS THINNER UP HERE.

>> YOU BET THE OXYGEN MOLECULES ARE A LONG WAY APART.

>> Huell: WHICH PROBABLY THOSE SOME PEOPLE OFF.

>> YOU BET, WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GET ALTITUDE SICKNESS.

>> Huell: IN FACT YOU WARNED ME ABOUT GETTING TOO HIGH THE FIRST DAY.

>> YES, YOU NEED TO TAKE IT SLOW, YOU NEED TO DRINK A LOT OF WATER.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WATER YOU'RE PREDISPOSED TO ALTITUDE SICKNESS.

>> Huell: THIS ALTITUDE IS COOL AND FRESH, AND CRISP, AND CLEAN.

>> YOU BET IT CAN BE ABOUT 40 DEGREES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PLACE WHERE YOU LEFT AND RIGHT HERE.

>> Huell: AND PEOPLE ARE LAYING OUT BY THE POOL AND THEY SAY LET'S GO UP ON THE TRAM, THEY COME UP HERE IT'S FREEZING.

THERE IS SNOW UP HERE.

>> WE SEE THAT A LOT IN THE SPRING.

WHERE IT WILL BE HOT AND PEOPLE COME HERE, AND IT WILL BE BELOW FREEZING.

>> Huell: THE TOURISTS GET TAKEN OFF GUARD.

>> YEAH, IT SURPRISES A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> Huell: LET'S WALK UP HERE, WE CAN STOP ALMOST ANYWHERE TO GET THE VIEWS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I LIKE TO DO HALFWAY THROUGH THE HIKE, I GO OFF THE TRAIL AND LAY DOWN ON ONE OF THESE FLAT ROCKS AND TAKE A NAP AND LISTEN TO THE WIND GOING THROUGH THE TREES EXAMINE--AND LISTEN TO THE BIRDS SINGING.

>> IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOLITUDE IS A RARE THING AND THAT'S A THING THAT WE OFFER.

IT'S A WAY TO GET AWAY FROM THE HUSBAND SXL BUSTLE.

>>-HUSTLE AND BUSTLE.

>> Huell: AND I STILL THINK THAT THIS PLACE IS A SECRET.

>> VERY RARELY DO THEY GET PAST THE TRAM BUILDING.

>> Huell: I LIKE THE TREES.

>> WE LET THEM GO DOWN FOR REASONS, THEY CREATE HABITAT FOR THE WILDLIFE AND IT PROVIDES THE BEGINNING OF SOIL.

THAT'S WHERE DECOMPOSITION TAKE PLACE.

>> Huell: THIS IS THE NATURAL WAY OF DOING IT.

AND HERE AGAIN, THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, YOU LOOK BACK HERE WHERE WE JUST CAME FROM AT THE ROCKS AND TREES, YOU GET A BEAUTIFUL 360 OF THIS WHOLE PLACE.

IF WE WERE NOT FILMING TODAY I WOULD BE TAKING A BREAK AND GOING OVER AND LAYING ON THE ROCK TAKING A NAP.

HERE THEY COME, COMING DOWN THE TRAIL.

WHERE YOU ALL HEADED?

>> HEADED UP TO--WHERE?

>> REALM VALLEY.

>> Huell: NOW WHAT'S THE OCCASION.

>> MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT TO TAKE ME OUT FOR MY BIRKT BIRTHDAY TO ME A WORKOUT.

SHE SAID IT WOULD DO ME GOOD.

>> IT WOULD BE A NICE TIME TO DO IT.

>> Huell: YOU COME FROM LOS ANGELES TO THIS GLORIOUS MOINT TOP.

>> HE NEEDED FRESH AIR.

>> Huell: HAVE YOU BEEN HER BEFORE?

>> WELL IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY.

>> Huell: WELL IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, SHE'S SUPPOSE IS TO CARRY THE BAG.

ENJOY THE FRESH AIR.

IT'S JUST GLORIOUS UP HERE.

>> YOU CAN'T BEAT IT, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE ANYWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> Huell: WHO TAKES CARE OF ALL THESE TRAILS?

>> WELL MY STAFF DOES MOST OF THE WORK.

THEY EMPLOY A SEASONAL STAFF.

>> Huell: THESE ARE GREAT TRAILS ARE THESE SOME OF THESE ORIGINALLY INDIAN TRAILS?

>> YES, ORIGINALLY, INDIAN TRAILS WERE USED.

WE ENDED UP WITH THE FRAIL SYSTEM WE HAVE TODAY.

>> Huell: BOY, THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

THE FIRST TIME I WAS HIKING, I JUST--OH WAIT A MINUTE THIS IS THE ROCK.

THIS IS WHERE I USUALLY TAKE MY NAP.

RIGHT HERE JUST LOOK UP IN THE TREE AND LISTENING TO THE BIRDS AND TO THE WIND.

>> YF, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BIRDS UP HERE.

>> Huell: I DON'T HEAR ANY THIS MORNING.

>> THEY'RE MOST ACTIVE IN THE MORNING AND EVENING.

YOU NEED TO BE ON THE FIRST CAR AND GET OUT HERE EARLY OR COME UP LATE.

JUST BEFORE DUSK.

>> Huell: YEAH, LET'S WALK RIGHT DOWN HERE.

CAUSE HERE'S ANOTHER ONE GREAT VIEW.

AND YOU KNOW THESE TRAILS ARE BASICALLY EASY TRAILS TOO.

>> YEAH, MOST OF OUR TRAIL IS EASY TO MODERATE.

IT'S GREAT FOR BEGINNING, IT DOES NOT STRESS YOU TOO BAD.

>> Huell: SO SOMEBODY CAN START OUT AND NOT HAVE A DESTINATION THEY CAN JUST WALK AS FAR AS THEY WANT TO WALK AND THEN TURN AROUND AND GO BACK.

>> YOU BET, A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND ASK WHAT TO DO.

AND I SAY, WALK UNTIL YOU DON'T HAVE ANYMORE FUN AND WALK BACK.

>> Huell: HI.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> BACK TO CIVILIZATION.

>> Huell: YOUR WIFE?

>> WE'RE HEADING BACK TO CIVILIZATION.

>> Huell: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

>> OVER 10,000 FEET UP.

>> Huell: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET THERE?

>> WE HIKED AND CAMP OVERNIGHT.

THEN YESTERDAY, WE TOOK SIX HOURS UP AND BACK.

>> ABOUT THREE TO GET TO THE TOP FROM WHERE WE STARTED.

>> Huell: NOW YOU ALL ARE EXPERIENCED HIKERS?

>> WE DID THIS 30 YEARS AGO.

>> Huell: WHAT?

>> NO á TOO MUCH IN BETWEEN.

>> THIS IS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND MY TWO SONS.

>> Huell: THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME BACK?

>> SINCE.

>> Huell: HOW DID HE HOLDUP?

>> HE DID GREAT.

>> I DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP THIS TIME.

>> Huell: YOU GOT TO THE VALLEY.

WOW, WHAT A GREAT WAY TO THE FAMILY.

IT'S A BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR THE FAMILY.

>> HE'S BEEN WANTING TO TAKE ME FOR TEN YEARS.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG TIME AGO.

>> THIS PLACE GROWS ON YOU, IT'S A MAGICAL PLACE.

>> THE VIEW FROM UP THERE, IS LIKE NOTHING I'VE EVER SEEN.

MY TWO WORDS FOR THIS TRIP IS EXHILARATION AND MISERY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MISERY.

>> Huell: YOU'RE HEADING DOWNHILL.

>> I STILL HAVE 30 POUNDS ON MY BACK.

>> Huell: LET'S GET THE GROUP TOGETHER.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS FAMILY.

>> FRANCE.

>> JUDY FRANCE.

>> RANDY FRANCE.

>> Huell: FROM?

>> PLACENTIA AND HE LIVES IN IRVINE.

>>.

>> Huell: THEY STILL LOOK HAPPY.

SOON TO BE HOME FROM THE TOP OF SAN JACINTO.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> Huell: HERE I COME, JUST THINKING BACK TO THE FIRST DAY WE MET UP HERE.

THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAME UP HERE.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER IT TOO.

>> Huell: WHY YOU LAUGHING?

>> HERE'S A GUY IN TENNIS SHOES NO SOCKS NO WATER AND NO PACK.

>> Huell: I JUST UP HERE CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS UP HERE.

YOU KIND OF SET ME OFF ON MY WAY WITH WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

YOU LOANED ME A BOTTLE OF WATER TOLD ME NEXT TIME TO GET GOOD SHOES AND SOCKS.

BUT THAT'S THE PART OF T PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCES HIKERS, MAYBE THEY HAVE THE A FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

THEY DON'T TRY.

>> SURE, NEW THINGS SCARES US.

BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE NUDGE TO GET OUT THE DOOR.

>> Huell: SO YOU CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCED HIKEINGS.

>> THIS IS THE PLACE TO GET EXPERIENCED.

WE START OUT EASY AND GET PEOPLE USED TO IT AND THEY FIND OUT THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH HIKINGS.

>> Huell: HOW IS IT UP THERE ON TOP OF THE ROCK?

>> IT'S NICE AND SUNNY YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PINE TREES.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM UP HERE.

>> Huell: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM UP HERE.

THOSE YOUR KIDS?

>> YEAH, MY KIDS.

>> Huell: AND YOU COME HERE A LOT.

>> ABOUT TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR.

THEY'VE BEEN BACK PACKING SINCE THEY WERE SIX YEARS OLD.

>> Huell: YOU FEEL SAFE LEAVING THEM UP THERE.

>> YEAH, THEY LIKE TO CLIMB.

>> Huell: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT UP HERE.

>> JUST CHECKING OUT THE SCENE RE.

>> Huell: JUST CHECKING OUT THE SCENEA RY.

>> WE TELL STORIES AND IT'S A BLAST.

>> Huell: HOW HIGH ARE THEY?

>> 8, 500 FEET.

>> Huell: THEY KNOW THEIR FACTS.

>> THEY DO.

>> Huell: NOW HERE'S A GUY.

WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS THAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> I'M POWER WALKING.

>> Huell: ARE YOU UP HERE POWER WALKING A LOT?

>> A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK.

>> Huell: WHEN DID YOU GET STARTED?

>> IN JULY.

>> Huell: SO YOU COME UP AND IT'S HOT UP IN THE VALLEY, AND YOU COME UP HERE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Huell: HOW MANY MILES?

>> SIX MILES TO THE PEAK.

>> Huell: DO YOU GO SOLID ALL THE WAY UP?

>> I STOP AND THEN AT THE TOP.

>> Huell: YOU'RE NOT OUT OF BREATHE.

>> SOMETIMES.

>> Huell: SEE, THAT'S WHY WE STOPPED TO TALK TO YOU, WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO BREATHE.

>> Huell: WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

>> BRENAKRE.

>> Huell: SO PEOPLE ARE COME UP HERE AND SEE YOU POWER WALKING.

>> Huell: GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN, NICE TO MEET YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR STORY.

WE'RE STOPPING PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL?

>> WELL, JUST WANTED GET MY BOY UP HERE AND ENJOY THE TOP OF THE HILL TODAY.

BEEN WAITING FOR A PRETTY DAY TO DO THAT AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

>> Huell: ARE YOU ALL LOCALS.

>> YEAH, WE LIVE BELOW THE MOUNTAIN IN WILLEDER MAR.

>> Huell: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UP HERE BEFORE?

>> NO MY FIRST TIME.

>> Huell: HOW FAR ARE YOU TAKING HIM.

>> TO THE SUMMIT.

>> Huell: IS HE IN GOOD ENOUGH SHAPE TO DO THAT.

>> YES.

>> Huell: ARE YOU?

>> I WOULD HOPE SO, YEAH.

>> Huell: WE MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE.

>> YOU MEET FOLKS UP HERE.

WE MET FOLKS FROM ALL AROUND.

PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES FROM OUT OF STATE OUT OF THE COUNTY AND SOMETIMES YOU FIND OUT IT'S YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM DOWN THE STREET.

>> Huell: THAT'S SOMETHING WE FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT.

AND THAT'S THE NICE PEOPLE YOU MEET.

>> WE SEE AN PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF VISITORS.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE US AND A LOST NICE FOLKS.

>> Huell: THEY'RE ALL NICE PEOPLE.

AND PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME TO STOP AND CHAT.

>> MY JOB IS GREAT BECAUSE I GET TO CHAT ALL DAY.

>> Huell: AND IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO CATCH THEIR BREATHE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO YOU YOU.

>> Huell: WHERE DID YOU COME FROM.

>> I'M A VOLUNTEER.

I BELONG TO THE ASSOCIATION AND WE HELP OUT THE PARK A LITTLE BIT BY RUNNING A VISITOR CENTER DOING NATURE WALKS.

>> Huell: I'VE BEEN TO YOUR VISITOR CENTER.

BUT NOT TO YOUR NATURE WALKS.

>> YOU SHOULD COME BACK.

>> Huell: IT'S NOT A LONG NATURE WALK.

ANYBODY CAN DO IT.

>> IT'S ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE MILE.

IT GOES AROUND A MEADOW AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN EXPLAIN ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE FLOWERS HOW.

>> Huell: HOW MUCH FUN FOR YOU.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

>> Huell: BOY, ERIK, WE COULDN'T HAVE A MORE BEAUTIFUL DAY.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL DAYS.

BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL BEAUTIFUL IN THE WINTER TIME IT CAN BE ROUGH.

>> THAT'S PART OF THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

>> Huell: THAT'S WHAT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S SO CLOSE TO PEOPLE AND TRAFFIC AND TOWNS AND NOISE AND POLLUTION, WE'RE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLACE LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH, WE'RE LITERALLY IN AN ISLAND OF WILDERNESS SURROUNDED BY CIVILIZATION.

>> Huell: I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I HAVE BEEN TURNED TON THIS PLACE.

YOU KNOW I'M A REGULAR.

AND I'LL CONTINUE TO COME UP HERE ALL YEAR-ROUND.

I'M EVEN GOING TO TRY IT OUT IN WINTER.

JUST STRAP-ON THE SNOW SHOES.

>> YEAH.

>> Huell: WE'RE SENDING ERIK BACK TO THE RANGER STATION TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS FILLING OUT THEIR PERMIT CORRECTLY.

BY THE WAY WE FORGOT TO FILL OUT OUR PERMIT.

>> WE'LL ESCORT YOU.

>> Huell: WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE.

>> NO I LET THE STAFF YOU'RE COMING.

>> Huell: WE'RE GOING TO HEAD OUT TO REALM VALLEY.

A BEAUTIFUL 3-MILE HIKE.

THIS WHOLE PLACE THE SAN JACINTO STATE PARK IS JUST A MAGNIFICENT PLACE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GREAT HIKER, I RECOMMEND IT FOR YOU.

YOU JUST HAVE TO ENJOY THE SOLITUDE OF WHAT THIS PLACE HAS TO OFFER.

IT'S A WONERFUL TREASURE, AND THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL IS THAT IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US.