New Year's Day Hike Gets 2014 Off to Running Start by Breeanna Jent - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

New Year's Day Hike Gets 2014 Off to Running Start

By Breeanna Jent, Staff Writer
January 7, 2014 at 08:44am. Views: 156

For active residents, the best way to start 2014 on the right foot is with a hike. Hikers gathered at the base of Grand Terrace's Blue Mountain — one group at 5:30 a.m. and another at noon — on New Year's Day, for the hike tradition orchestrated for the 19th year by coordinator Ernie Medina Jr. He estimated the morning group was comprised of about 40 people, while the noon group saw up to 90 participants. "It's the die-hard ones who come up in the morning," Medina said. Hikers of all ages from Grand Terrace and nearby communities of Loma Linda and Redlands, came out for the event. Hikers made the just-over two-mile hike to the top of the mountain, where they then listened to inspirational speeches about making resolutions and ended the hike with a sparkling cider toast. A new feature this year was a musical performance by sibling duo Rebecca and Erick Michel on the flute and the violin, respectively. Another new feature? Mountain bikes. "Every year we have maybe one or two people who like to ride their bikes up, but this year in our noon hike, we had a large number of kids who rode mountain bikes up. My sister is in a community biking group called Team RICO, and it's various high school kids in the area from Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley, Loma Linda Academy, Redlands Adventist Academy and homeschool groups, so they came out and rode up the mountain," said Medina. Medina, who worked for 21 years as a preventative care specialist at Beaver Medical Group and recently took a job as a faculty member at Loma Linda University, started the New Year's Day tradition after being introduced to it while teaching English as a Second Language in Japan during college. "New Year's in Japan is a very big holiday and it's a big tradition to go to some elevated point and welcome the new year by viewing the sunrise at that spot," said Medina. The hike first started as a small group of Medina's friends and gradually grew to become a larger, more community-saturated event. "I'm a big believer in new year's resolutions and a lot of people do make resolutions to start a workout routine or lose weight and this, I feel, really helps people get off to a running start, so to speak," said Medina, who's come to earn the nickname "The Physical Activity Evangelist." He explained it's also rewarding to see participants finish the hike, especially when they didn't think they'd be able to. "They might say, 'It's so hard,' but then they get to the top of the mountain and they're like, 'That's it? That's the end.' When they make it, they can say, 'Wow. If I can do that, then I can do all these other things, too.' It builds confidence that spills over into other parts of their lives," Medina said. He also explained he's begun planning for next year's hike — the 20th annual — and is looking forward to involving more of the community, possibly with a partnership between Loma Linda University and La Sierra University, where a former colleague now works. "Who knows? Maybe we'll even be able to get a little band up there for some more music," he said.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: Grand Terrace Woman's Club

By Hattie Strong, Community Writer

November 13, 2026 at 04:48pm. Views: 165

Join the celebration on Sunday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Richard Rollins Community Park. Come play, have fun, win prizes and help celebrate 48 years of Grand Terrace!

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 672

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 464

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 434

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 418

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: West Valley Water District

By Socorro Pantaleon, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:14am. Views: 316

Group photos of WVWD Board Members and winning students of the 2026 Poster Contest

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:13am. Views: 507

During National Scholarship Month, families are encouraged to check their eligibility for scholarships supporting college and career training.

Photo Courtesy of: Khouri Evans-Dangerfield

By Mike Hoover. President, Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 322

University of Redlands student Khouri Evans-Dangerfield will examine slavery, constitutional law and the decisions that divided a nation during a free November 15 presentation at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 322

November 11 screening of acclaimed film “All We Imagine as Light” invites students and community members to experience international cinema and discussion. Films can transport audiences to places they have never visited, introduce them to unfamiliar experiences and encourage them to consider how people in different parts of the world navigate relationships, work and personal challenges.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Willam Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 330

A decision announced in Sacramento could change the sentences of hundreds of California prisoners, bringing renewed attention to the death penalty and the future of criminal punishment across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom announced November 5 that he intends to commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently sentenced to death in California.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 388

November 21 event at Olive Avenue Market will introduce residents to drought-tolerant landscaping, city rebates and the benefits of native plants. A beautiful garden does not have to depend on a large lawn or plants that require frequent watering.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:17am. Views: 265

A school announcement can contain information that changes a family's entire afternoon. A reminder about an upcoming meeting, a schedule adjustment or a message from a teacher may determine when a parent leaves work, arranges transportation or helps a child prepare for the next school day.

--> -->