Potrero "Hill"

I was well aware before moving to San Francisco that the terrain is very hilly in places. In fact, some of the neighborhoods even have "hill" in the name, such as Nob Hill or Portrero Hill. However, I was not physically conditioning myself for rigorous climb, as evidenced by a tall, thin old man who marched spryly past me up a steep incline. But hopefully, I will have "legs of steel," as sophie predicts.   

When I was running around Potrero Hill today looking at apartments, my usual brisk stride was reduced to slow labored steps on the way up, and slow timid steps on the way down, confident that i would soon tumble head over heels to the bottom of the steep slopes. 

Perhaps there is already a fitting term in existence, but it seems to me that the English language is not equipped to describe such dramatic landscape. I suppose you can't really call them mountains (although my sore legs would beg to differ), but the word "hill" doesn't quite prepare you for the physical undertaking of the San Francisco streets. How about hell-hills?

Once I get more settled, I'll start taking/posting pictures of the city, but for now, I think wandering around with a camera will make me seem even more like a clueless tourist!