HIGH BELTS And HIGHER TERPS: MEET UP THE HILL
From martial arts discipline to Northern California legacy cultivation, Up The Hill is a story of grit, craft, and a refusal to compromise on quality.
MARTIAL ARTS ROOTS & IMMIGRANT GRIT
Raised in Orange County by a Brazilian father who helped pioneer Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the United States, he grew up immersed in structure, discipline, and the values of the dojo. His father’s death from leukemia when he was 12 left a deep mark, but the lessons stayed with him.
FIRST SMOKE & THE SHIFT
By seventh grade, he was already smoking OG Kush. An incident involving Granddaddy Purple at home led to expulsion and a stint in rehab. It wasn’t rebellion—it was curiosity fueled by early access to Southern California’s finest cannabis. This exposure gave him a palate trained on top-tier gas from the start.
REDEMPTION THROUGH WRESTLING
Wrestling became his lifeline, taking him from continuation school to CIF champion and eventually earning a political science degree on scholarship. Jiu-Jitsu kept him focused, but a period living in Kansas brought his first real cannabis drought—a stark contrast to his California upbringing.
MOVE UP THE HILL
A passion for fishing brought him to Redding, where he was drawn into Northern California’s legacy cultivation scene. He started hauling soil, learned from seasoned growers, and ran full-sun and light-deprivation operations. One harvest—just days from completion—was bulldozed by sheriffs operating a Bobcat.
FIRST INDOOR: FIVE LIGHTS & A DREAM
His first indoor grow was a modest backyard shack with seven-foot ceilings and HPS lighting. Misinformation led to a re-veg, but he still pulled 12 pounds of Wedding Cake. The experience solidified his philosophy: craft over shortcuts, no mids, no compromise.
SEED HUNTING & ORIGINAL TERPS
Instead of chasing clone hype, he built his catalog from scratch, popping packs from breeders like Canarado, Oni, Ronin, Seed Junky, and Doja’s exclusive ZBX2. His hunts unearthed unique flavors like Trop Santo, Bubblegum Biscotti Gushers, and Big League Chew each pack treated as a treasure hunt.
HASH ERA BEGINS
With a minimal setup and borrowed knowledge, he began washing his own flower. The resin quality held, the terpene profiles shined, and hash drops followed—expanding the brand while maintaining strict quality control.
REVENGE OF THE ZITH TAKES THE CROWN (2025)
In 2025, his strain Revenge of the Zith claimed first place at the Proper Doinks Cup, defeating Wizard Trees’ Zangbanger in a highly competitive recreational-versus-traditional bracket.
WE DON’T SMOKE MIDS
More than a slogan, it’s a creed. Up The Hill is grounded in legacy, driven by discipline, and committed to small-batch, high-terpene cannabis. Every drop is intentional. Every strain is earned.
Youtube Video
— nugg notes
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHKmzQkVauI
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