Echo Mountain...

 Pat and I seem to be starting a new Sunday early (like up before the sun) routine that I'm loving.  We roll out of bed, and head to a new hike somewhere!  It's usually followed by breakfast and damn straight mimosas if they got em!  Since it's summer, these early morning adventures are the only way to go.  I'm also just thrilled to be married to a hiker who is taking me to all these new places I've never been!

Yesterday was another really cool hike!  It's called Echo Mountain.  It was about a 6 or so miler hike and I want to say about 1400 elevation gain.  Basically up the entire way.  It was tough, but very pretty!  The trailhead is out in Altadena, and there's actually a bunch more trails up there, but we just did this one since we're getting back into hiking shape.  I will warn you though - it's a popular trail, so be prepared for peeps.

The other really cool thing - is at the end of the Echo Mountain Trail Hike - there's the ruins of a hotel that used to be up there!  A friggin train used to drive people up to this fancy resort!  It blows my mind that there was a hotel up there! The train was called Mount Lowe Railway - you can read a bit about that here.  There's also a great link here to fill you in on the origins of the hotel and pictures! Super interesting and super cool to check out!  

I was able to get some geocaching in too.  I've learned a new way to download offline data or something so I can actually cache more in these remote areas I don't get reception on my phone.  But Echo Mountain actually was ok.  There weren't too many caches on the trail we were on, but there was one at the top and a couple at the trailhead.  My legs were too jelloy to look for the farther trailhead one, because on the way up - too many people - on the way out - a bit too treacherous for my shaky tired legs.  But did get one closer!

We hit up Merengue Bakery in Monrovia on the way home.  One of Pat's favorite places.  I don't mind having a delicious Cubano for breakfast!  And they had a "Cuban Mimosa".  Yup!  Yum!

A truly lovely Sunday hike that challenged us, gave us some beautiful views, and ended us at a really interesting bit of history at the top!  We were pretty tore up, but less tore up from last weekend so I think we're on the way to getting back into good hiking shape!

Walking up to the trail head

Here we go!

Me & my love for trees

Creepy Cool

Up and Up we go

Love when trails are framed with plantlife

Part of the train!

Such a trip!

This was near the cache I was looking for.

Found it after quite a bit of scrambling!

Pano

I think this may have been the pool at the hotel

Apparently this used to be a really cool functioning thing at the hotel

At the top of the mountain!

Probably my favorite shot of the day

Wandering around the ruins

Pat loves the mountains

Loved these little starburst flowers!

Trailhead cache

Can ya see it?

Cuban Mimosa consists of Guava juice and bubbly!  Yum!

Hi friend

I'm really hoping we can keep up this new Sunday Funday we've got going!