Mount Lowe Trail Blazers

03/17/2020

The last 1000+ elevation gain was by hiking or horseback...

“Summit of Mt. Lowe, California. Altitude 6100 Feet” Postcard. From the end of the Mount Lowe Railway at the Mount Lowe Tavern, one could hire horses to take you to the top of Mount Lowe. [Mount Lowe Railway in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena 1893-1936]

03/10/2020

Some of these hiking trail still exist. But, not all.

"Mount Lowe Trail Trips of Fascinating Beauty."
Brochure describing all of the trail trips surrounding Mount Lowe. See all of the brochure trips at the link below.

03/08/2020

The Forest Service Fire Road follows this right of way. The bridge is long gone but it is easy to find this location on a hike to the site of the Mount Lowe Tavern.

01/31/2020

Good hiking trails still there today. Check out the NOTES section for many hike descriptions, maps, and Tons of archival photos to enhance your hike.

Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe surveys the construction on the Mount Lowe Railway with binoculars in 1894. http://www.mountlowe.org/mlpsi-collection/photography/thaddeus-lowe-surveys-the-construction-1894/

01/18/2020

Center is Echo Mountain (two ways to hike there). Bottom, right, is the route to Rubio Canyon (hiking description in the Notes section). Middle, left is Circular Bridge (foundations are still there). Check out all the hikes in the "Notes" section.

“Echo Mt. and Mt. Lowe from Pasadena,” depicting an aerial view of the base of the foothills and Mount Lowe region. (Photo is labeled below). I suspect that the route of the electric trolley and the incline (funicular) has been augmented. What do you think?
http://www.mountlowe.org/mlpsi-collection/postcards/echo-mt-and-mt-lowe-from-pasadena-postcard/

01/13/2020

What used to be at the Mount Lowe Tavern now a camp site.

Model of the Mount Lowe Tavern
at "Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890-1930", Pasadena Museum of History thru July 3, 2020. This model is seldom on display. It gives details that are not captured in photos, especially the eastern wing. See it while you can. Photo: Dave Lessig. https://pasadenahistory.org/exhibits/current-exhibition/

01/09/2020

Overnight camping at the site now. Bring your own water.

Alpine Tavern 1916. "Ghost" boy and man probably getting a drink of water that came from Crystal Springs behind the tavern. Crystal Springs water was bottled. Three ladies sit on the bench with their hats. See more: http://www.mountlowe.org/mlpsi-collection/photography/alpine-tavern-1916/

01/03/2020

Hikes to all of these locations are in the "Notes" section. Easiest hike is to Rubio Canyon.

"On the way to Rubio Canyon" postcard. The first leg of the Mount Lowe Railway was a trolley trip from Los Angeles (6th and Main St.), thru Pasadena. Then passengers transferred to the Great Incline (funicular) for a thrilling ride up to Echo Mountain. Once there, they transferred to another electric trolley to Ye Alpine Tavern. Note how everyone dressed up. In those days most people had two outfits: work and Sunday go to Meeting. (1893-1936). http://www.mountlowe.org/mlpsi-collection/postcards/on-the-way-to-rubio-canyon-pasadena-in-the-distance-postcard/

12/28/2019

This couple did a lot of hiking after taking the incline railway to Echo mountain and the Pacific Electric narrow trolley to the Mount Lowe tavern. That certainly a lot of elevation gain.

Mt Lowe Trip

12/27/2019

The stairs up to the Echo Mountain site are still there.

A blended, then-and-now image of the top of the Mount Lowe Incline at Echo Mountain, featuring a late-1800s image composited with a contemporary view of the location. Contemporary photo by Steve Crise. Compositing by Jim Bunte. Mount Lowe Preservation Society Collection

12/25/2019

The foundations for this fireplace are still there.

Old Fire Place, Alpine Tavern, Mt. Lowe, California Postcard.
More photos here: http://www.mountlowe.org/mlpsi-collection/postcards/old-fire-place-alpine-tavern-mt-lowe-california-postcard/