Mt. Lowe Railway

Spent most of Saturday hiking through the mountains of Altadena with a small group of family and friends. A beautiful trail, distinguished as one of the nation's 12 most scenic and historically significant recycled rail lines. It was my first time visiting in years, although as kids our mom would take us there every few weeks in the summer. Later as teenagers we would go there in the evening in groups with beers and flashlights, we called it the 'haunted forest'... not really haunted for any good reason we knew of, just a good name to attract teens.





Wonders found in nature:



Hawk?





After almost 3 miles of lots of hiking uphill
and sweating we reached our reward:



The remnants of Echo Mountain House (built ca.1894)





And what's left of its once famous railway:









Echo Phone installed in the same place where the original once stood in the early 1900's. I yelled 'Hello' through the canyon to Echo.



My sis, Anna, and me. Mine are the green pumas and my sis is the one who actually owns a pair of hiking boots. Below is the platform where visitors would arrive:





This is Connie, we met at the top. Became fast friends with my sis after she fed her some bread and pepper-jack cheese:



The last view as we headed down the trail back home,
down is much easier than up.



Sources: For more on the Mount Lowe Railway and it's history be sure to visit *HERE*.

Hope you've also had a wonderful weekend!♥