Residents Take A Hike Up Blue Mountain

Many Grand Terrace residents woke up bright and early to participate in one of the city’s premier events: the 8th Annual Blue Mountain Hike. Because Blue Mountain is not open to the public year-round, the event continues to grow in attendance year after year. Friends of the Blue Mountain group were instrumental in making this hike open its’ doors for excited community members to embark on the journey to experience the beautiful nature the mountain offers. As eager community members reach to the top, they are able to see the view of Riverside, Mount Baldy, and Mount San Gorgonio. According to community member and Healthy GT President Andy McRae, “The hike is about giving people a taste of Blue Mountain… and it sure is beautiful.” Many Healthy GT members took on the long journey that morning including: Andy McRae, Kacy Carlsen, Sally McGuire and Yvonne Williams, partnered with many active community members. “People were still starting and walking up the mountain as I was walking down,” McRae shared. Over 1,000 people attended past years, and this year it looked like the number only increased. “It was such a beautiful, sunny day for the hike. The view from the top was amazing. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits,” he said. The Friends of Blue Mountain were the sponsors of the event; everyone who attended had the opportunity to donate funds to the organization which go directly towards supporting and preserving the land. “That’s what this hike is all about; giving the community a taste of this beautiful mountain and therefore will help keep it developed,” said McRae. As attendees were walking through the balloon arch and embarked on the journey, the Friends of Blue Mountain were handing out flyers about how to get involved and selling event t-shirts to help memorialize the premier event in Grand Terrace.