Echo Mtn. Echoes Fall 1998, a magazine of Southern California history in general and Thaddeus Lowe and his mountain railway in particular

<body bgcolor="#FEFEEB"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="95%" bgcolor="#008000"> <tr> <td><font color="#008000">..</font><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2"> </font><font face="Arial" color="#FFFFFF" size="2">Fall<br> </font><font face="Arial"><font color="#008000" size="2">...</font><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2">1998</font></font></td> <td align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="6" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Echo Mtn. Echoes</strong></font></td> <td align="right"><font face="Arial"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2">Volume 3</font><font color="#008000" size="2">..</font><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2"><br clear="right"> Number 3</font><font color="#008000" size="2">..</font></font></td> </tr> </table> <hr width="95%"> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="95%" bgcolor="#D7FFD7"> <tr> <td width="100%"><p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="dawnherb.jpg" border="1" width="540" height="549"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%"><p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="6" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Trails and Camps Revisited</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial">By <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">Jake Brouwer</a></font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <font size="3"><td align="center"><img src="V3N3HIKINGMAP.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="375"></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><font size="3"><p><font face="Arial">This Fall of 1998 issue will be a small tribute to the </font></font><a href="http://www.znet.com/~schester/angeles_mtns/index.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.znet.com/~schester/angeles_mtns/index.html")"><font size="3" face="Arial">trails</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> and camps in the area around Mt. Lowe. Our subscribers though all Mount Lowe fans have come to know our Scenic Mount Lowe from different vantage points and often once finding a place of such diversified beauty we settle in for the prolonged stay. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">I discovered Mt. Lowe while out prospecting and investigating the story of a gold mine tucked away in Millard Canyon. Others start on Mountain Bikes and whiz down trails suddenly coming on a great old </font></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://viper.cis.vutbr.cz/czis2/whites/bodie.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://viper.cis.vutbr.cz/czis2/whites/bodie.html")">ghost town</a> above the sprawling metropolis below. I know of many that followed the rails of the <a href="http://www.tmn.com/iop/redcar.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.tmn.com/iop/redcar.html")">Pacific Electric Railway</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> and upon reaching the city of Altadena they were suddenly lifted to the clouds on an incline railway. However we find Mt. Lowe, it is in our hearts to stay and explore. After finding Mt. Lowe I hope you will do as I did and take the time to discover the surrounding area, filled with beauty and historical significance. </font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3HIKERJOYCE.jpg" border="1" width="283" height="180"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="283"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#008000" size="1"><strong>The Great Hiking Era continued on until around 1938. In this snapshot relatives of subscriber Joyce DeZwart are shown on  the trail near Mt. Lowe in April of 1927.<br> Photo Courtesy Joyce DeZwart</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">For those of you who have not yet explored the areas surrounding Mt. Lowe and Echo Mountain, I hope this issue will appeal to your sense of adventure and exploration. For those of you who have toured these trails perhaps the memories brought forth will bring a smile to your face. I would like to say at the bringing of this writing that by far the best and most informative book on the area is </font><a href="http://www.aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")"><font size="3" face="Arial">The San Gabriels by John W. Robinson</font></a><font face="Arial"> and perhaps the second most useful book in exploring this wilderness playground is his book </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")">Trails of the Angeles</a></font><font face="Arial">. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">In the late 1880s our local mountains had added to its list of desirable qualities, recreation. It was around this time that the Great Hiking Era started and people from the lowlands of southern California headed into the wilds of the San Gabriel Mountains. In those days of no television folks actually left their homes and ventured into the hills for adventure. Cool mountain air and fabulous views brought hikers to the upper reaches of the San Gabriels, while bubbling streams, cascades, and sylvan settings lured them into the canyons. For some it was a sporty challenge and for others it was a peaceful and spiritual coexistence with nature. </font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3FISHING.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="250"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Indians used some of our early trails long before the white man came to California. Hunters, trappers, loggers and fishermen established other trails and still others were the old trails that were built by the early homesteaders and squatters. Wilson built trails as did Lowe and other enterprising businessmen for as the population headed to the hills small camps and trail resorts began to spring up to off food lodging and hospitality to the hikers. It was a very popular pastime. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">One of the closest camps to the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railroad was Camp Mirriam, which was named by Judge J. H. Mirriam in 1904. The judge had discovered a spring on a ridge above Millard Canyon and after building a cabin there soon found himself surrounded by six other similar minded folks desiring such a beautiful surrounding and a spring to boot. </font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3CAMPSIERRA.jpg" border="1" width="261" height="180"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="261"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#008000" size="1"><strong>In 1930 a yound Angelyne (Smith) Kinstle stands in fron of the Altadena Library looking at her friends C. W. Siefert and his burro Molly before they headed back to Camp Sierra. Also in the picture is one of his renowned trained police dogs. This picture was taken on the East side of Lake Avenue near Mariposa just above Webster's Drugstore.<br> Photo courtesy of Angelyne Kinstle Smith</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">The camp had great views of the valley and on a ridge above it circling the mountain could be seen the Mt. Lowe trolley. One of the visitors to the camp was C. W. Siefert who enjoyed the place so much he decided to stay. After a harrowing windstorm blew the judges cabin and others off the side of the mountain Siefert decided to stay on as the proprietor. Siefert rebuilt the cabins and renamed the spot Camp Sierra. Mr. Seifert made side money by collecting ferns and hauling them once a week into town on his burro named Molly. The ferns would be sold to local Altadena florists and the money used to buy supplies. On many of the trips back up Lake Avenue C. W. Siefert was joined by Angelyne (Smith) and Robert Kinstle. Siefert knew their grandfather Gregor Vetter and they were friends both hailing from Baden, Germany. Angelyne and Robert often visited Mr. Seifert on the way to visit Mt. Lowe.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3MTLOWCOVER.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="285"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">To visit the area that was Camp Sierra go to the locked fire gate near the end of Chaney Trail Drive and walk up the Sunset Ridge Fire Road, a bit more then half way up on your left is the old camp site. A nicer alternative is the Sunset Ridge Trail, which follows to the left of the fire road and offers a wonderful woodsy hike. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The accommodations at Alpine Tavern later renamed the Mt. Lowe Tavern, offered trails which went off in a variety of directions. In an early Pacific Electric brochure titled Hiking in the Wonderful Mountains of southern California 10 different hikes are listed. 1. Echo Mountain via Sunset Point Trail. 2. Echo Mountain via Castle Canyon Trail. 3. San Gabriel Peak via government Trail. 4. Rubio Canyon via Lone Tree Trail. 5. Arroyo Seco Trail. 6. West Fork to Opids Camp. 7. Mt. Wilson Trail. 8. Barley Flats via Barley Flats Trail. 9. Switzers Camp via Arroyo Seco Trail. 10. Switzers camp via Bear Canyon Trail.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Some of these trails are still in existence others have been wiped out by floods, erosion and overgrown form lack of use. Be sure to read a good up to date trail guide before heading off for one of these historic trails.</font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <font size="3"><td align="center"><img src="V3N3SWITZBROCHURE1.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="338"></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><font size="2"><p></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial">One of the busiest camps along the trails in the Angeles Forest was Switzers. Located far up in the Arroyo Seco , Switzers or Switzer-Land as it was later named, was the first tourist camp in the San Gabriels and went on to be the number one camp in the entire range. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The camp was built by Commodore Perry Switzer in 1884. Switzer worked as a carpenter and contractor in Pasadena. Switzer heard the tale of a young married couple who spent a month in the Arroyo Seco Canyon. They told the story of incredible beauty complete with dashing streams, crystal pools, rugged gorges, and towering waterfalls. Above one of the falls was a flat were the couple spent some peaceful time together. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Switzer hued out a rough trail into the canyon and then packed in tents, kitchen equipment and food. Adds were soon placed in the local papers and publications and guests began to pour in. It was a fairly good concern until 1896 when a forest fire devastated the camp and the surrounding forest. </font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3SWITZBROCHURE2.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="415"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">In 1905 Clarence Martin of Martins Camp near </font></font><a href="http://www.mtwilson.edu/index.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.mtwilson.edu/index.html")"><font size="3" face="Arial">Mt. Wilson</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> rebuilt the Switzers and was instrumental in putting in a single wire telephone, a very early convenience for the mountainous area. It was in 1909 that Switzers was the base camp for the search party that went looking for the crew of the lost balloon the American. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">In 1911 Lloyd Austin came to the Arroyo Seco Canyon and became fascinated by the rugged and wild beauty of the canyon. Borrowing the money to buy the camp, he and his wife made the newly named Switzer-Land the number one resort in the mountains. It was Austin that built with donations the Christs Chapel on a rocky outcrop two hundred feet above the upper waterfalls. The Chapel and its amphitheater that sat two hundred people became a popular center for conferences, youth retreats, weddings and of course Sunday morning prayer.</font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3SWITZORGAN.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="290"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Switzer-Land offered unique trail trips into the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Experienced trail guides accompanied all parties and all baggage was carried in by pack animals. For those eager for the joy of camp life all that was needed was a few toilet articles and strong shoes with heavy soles. Everything else was provided and taken care of by the gracious hosts of the camp. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">At the Switzer-land Inlet one could buy groceries, cigars, confectionery, and postcards. They were also the issuers of camp fire permits. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">The Austins made Switzer-lands hospitality renowned through the southland. Aside from just enjoying the out of doors a tennis court was built and other things of interest to do were croquet, fishing, hiking, campfire entertainment, and the ever popular Switzers Saturday Night Dances in the boulder Lodge. </font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3STURTEVANTADD.jpg" border="1" width="320" height="260"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">For those hearty hikers from Altadena it was only 8 1/2 miles away. From Pasadena it was 10 miles by auto stage and 3 1/2 miles by trail. Being on the doorstep of Pasadena and having the rugged San Gabriels as its back yard made Switzers a powerful location. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Today you can reach Switzers by taking the Angeles Crest Highway to just a half mile past the junction of the Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest Highways. Go down the road into the Switzer Picnic area and park. Follow the trail on the south side of the parking lot across a small footbridge. From here you enter into a lovely forest of live oak and bubbling streams. The occasional call from a crow or raven or perhaps the chirruping and coughing of a squirrel will be the only sounds you hear on an early morning hike.</font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3HIKERS.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="263"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">These are but a few of the trails and camps in the area surrounding our Mt. Lowe. There are too many more for this humble paper to hope to write about. Even to try and list them will surely result in missing a few. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">The San Gabriels are full of such historic places and if but a name will get you looking Ill toss out a few and hope youll take it from there. Camp Rincon, Follows Camp, Camp Bonita, Roberts Camp, Opids, Camp Sturtevant, and Oak Wilde. Please enjoy the trails and camps of our forests.</font></font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="95%" bgcolor="#FFE6E6"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><strong><font color="#008080" size="6" face="Technical, Book Antiqua">Mt. Lowe Family Album<br> </font><font color="#008080" face="Technical, Book Antiqua" size="5">First Hand Mt. Lowe Memories</font></strong></p> <font SIZE="2"><p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial">By<br> Michael Patris</font></p> </font><div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3MCVEYECHO.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="241"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><strong>Leroy McVey at the Echo Phone<br> <em>Photo courtesy Vic McVery</em></strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><font size="3"><p><font face="Arial">There are but a handful of people still around who can share a real life experience from the Great Incline At Mount Lowe  and fewer still, who can open a family album saying "I remember when."</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">One such individual is Vic McVey; a fellow Mt. Lowe enthusiast and collector. Born in the early 1920s, Vic and his siblings were raised in Eagle rock and spent many happy hours hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains with mom and dad. Vic says his parents used to hike even before they were married because, " Face it" he says, "nobody had any money back then."</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Even before opening the family album, Vic remembered trips to Olvera Street in Los Angeles to buy tortillas. Upon returning home in the evening McVey says he recalls lights strung along the Incline Pathway so people in the San Gabriel valley below could trace the route of the tiny opera cars at night.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N2MCVEYSNAKE.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="199"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><strong>Leroy McVey holds a rattlesnake at the top of the Great Incline in the late 1930's.<br> <em>Photo courtesy Vic McVey</em></strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Although Vic never rode the incline during its operational years, he and his family members spent many memorable visits in and around Echo Mountain, Crystal Springs, and Alpine Tavern. Much of this was done during his high school years while attending Cathedral High school in Los Angeles.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The four McVey children shared many group activities but only Vic has kept the love for the Incline and surrounding areas. His brother Phillip passed away in the mid 1980s, sister Lois just celebrated her 50<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary, and John (who goes by Steve) still works side by side with Vic in the family hardware business in Temple City.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Upon opening the family album such wonderful photos of Vics dad Leroy McVey shouting through the Echo Phone and another of him holding a rattlesnake at the top of the Incline can be seen.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3MCVEYLIGHT.jpg" border="1" width="307" height="180"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><strong>Phillip, John (Steve), Vic, and Lois McVey atop the Powerhouse on Echo Mountain in 1939. What a great shot and what memories it holds.<br> <em>Photo courtesy Vic McVery</em></strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Another photo shows the senior McVey spying on Los Angeles through the viewing tubes at inspiration point. One favorite and unique photo is one of Vic McVey sitting inside the remains of the shell of the 3,000,000-candlepower searchlight atop the powerhouse at Echo Mountain!</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Probably nobody else can show a photo of himself sitting there!</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Vic McVey still gets up on the mountain occasionally, like when the 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the inaugural running of the Incline came around July 4, 1993. But he still asks himself some of the same questions most Mt. Lowe enthusiasts do  "why didnt they ever rebuild it?" and "why did the Forest Service have to blow it up?"</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">All Mt. Lowe lovers have their own answers, but few have the photos and memories of Vic McVey.</font> </td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="95%"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#C9C992"><table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%" bgcolor="#808000"><font color="#FFFF00" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT" size="6"><strong>A Weekend at Oakwilde Camp</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font color="#FF0000" size="5" face="Impact, Arial Black"><strong>A Weekend at Oakwilde Camp</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#FF0000" face="Impact, Arial Black" size="4">A Better Bachelor Party</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><font face="Arial"><font size="3">By</font><b> </b><a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~nyerges/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://home.earthlink.net/~nyerges/")"><font size="3">Christopher Nyerges</font></a></font></p> <font SIZE="2"><p></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial">I received a phone call from a young man, Doug Burke, from San Diego who was about to be married. He told me that for a "bachelor party" he wanted to have a survival skills weekend in the local mountains with his buddies. He had no interest in a stereotypical drunken bachelor brawl. He wanted to know if I could lead such a survival trip. We arranged to do a survival skills weekend at Oakwilde Camp. We started at the Oak Grove Ranger Station, and hiked up the Arroyo Seco to Oakwilde.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">We carried essential gear, minimal food condiments (some of the guys carried along some "power bars" and beef jerky), no toilet paper, no matches, no flashlights, and no tents. We did carry sleeping bags, and knives, and fishing equipment. Our goal was to travel lightly and spend the weekend learning to identify wild plants and practicing survival skills. Most of the young men were from the San Diego area, but one flew in from Colorado and another from Missouri for the trip.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">We spent most of our first day walking in to our campsite, a distance of about five miles upstream. We identified and collected edible plants for our meals along the way. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Then we began our campfire, making fire with a bow and drill, flint and steel, and a magnesium fire starter. Again, no matches were allowed.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3NYERGESFISH.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="273"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1"><strong>Doug Burke and Claudio Marino with their catch. Claudio's pole is willow with yucca cord holding the line.<br> <em>Photo by Nyerges</em></strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">I prepared a lunchtime salad of chickweed, miner's lettuce, and watercress, three common mountain plants that were abundant in the spring. It was a delicious salad. A few of the fellows went up stream to try their hand at fishing around sunset. They came back with a few trout, which we added to our evening meal. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">I had prepared two large cans full of the evening meal -- cooked rice into which I added watercress, mustard, and miner's lettuce. It was delicious and filling, and between all eight of us, it disappeared rapidly.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">As everyone gradually went to sleep in their bags, Peter, Troy, and I remained sitting around the dwindling coals of the campfire. As we talked, we heard footsteps, and we finally realized it was a deer cautiously exploring around the edges of our camp. She was very close, and I felt blessed to be so greeted by the deer on our first night in camp.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3NYERGESCACTUS.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="206"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"><strong><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Nyerges collects fruit from the Prickly pear cactus.<br> <em>Snider Photo</em></font></strong></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">We began the next day with a breakfast of prickly pear cactus pads, which we had peeled and diced, and cooked with powdered eggs. It was good, and the pie pan skillet was cleaned of the cactus omelet quickly.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">I then showed everyone how to make a solar still. The solar still is essentially a hole, which you cover with a sheet of plastic. After we took turns digging, we put a cup in the middle of the hole, and then covered it with plastic. We placed a pebble on the surface of the plastic to create a cone-shape to allow water condensing on the bottom of the plastic to drip into the cup. It didn't take more than an hour to dig the hole and set up the still. We would check the following day to see how much moisture we collected.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">We spent much of the day building a lean-to shelter so everyone could see exactly how such a structure is made. Properly made, you can spend a cold night in one of these small, snug shelters and stay warm. The key is to stack as much insulation on the top as possible. In our case, we used all the dry grass and leaves we could collect, and we built a simple small shelter. Troy -- who I later learned was an architect -- spent much of the day building and insulating a top-quality, well-insulated lean-to. After the lean-to was done, we began building a sweat lodge, a dome-shaped structure built of willow saplings which is then covered with a sheet of plastic. Those who were not fishing helped me with this task. We lined the dirt floor of the sweat lodge with a layer of sage and mugwort leaves. By mid-day, we started a second fire so we could heat a pile of rocks for the sweat lodge.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3NYERGESCOOK.jpg" border="1" width="180" height="273"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1"><strong>Claudio Marino stirs the wild stew cooking in cans. Note the bread wrapped around the horizontal stick.<br> <em>Photo by Christopher Myerges</em></strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">In the meantime, we had lunch. The fellows who were out fishing brought back trout and two snakes. We cleaned them all and cooked them over the fire. The fish was all eaten, but a few of the guys thought the snake meat was a bit too tough. I reminded everyone that snake meat is quite delicious when prepared in a covered stainless steel skillet and cooked at low temperatures with butter. But we were not in a Gloria Child kitchen. We just had to make-do with a circle of rocks for our stove, and sticks upon which to suspend the snake and fish. Personally, I thought it was delicious.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Some of us spent the afternoon completing the sweat lodge, while others went fishing. When the lodge was nearly done, we had a dinner of more fish and a stew of cooked miner's lettuce and assorted other wild plants.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">By the time it was dark, all the rocks in our second fire were glowing red. Using wooden tongs, we rolled them into a prepared spot inside the sweat lodge, and we all got undressed and went inside and sealed the door. It was hot and humid and dark, and then I began to slowly pour water over the rocks. They hissed loudly as the small lodge quickly filled with very hot steam. Sweat poured off our bodies. It was hotter than some of the guys imagined it would be, but it was great. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">It was pitch black inside the sweat lodge. The heat was intense, and there was always a hissing of the rocks giving off steam. In the darkness, we talked about the marriage to come. One by one, we gave our good wishes to the new groom. We felt united in the sweat lodge, coming together in the circle of the lodge, experiencing the pain and the purification of the sweat. This was the fulfillment of our purpose for being there, the men wishing one of their own a good life in the upcoming marriage.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">In the sweat lodge, your body is simultaneously in pain because of the heat, and you are completely relaxed. It is dark, and hot, and most people describe it as a spiritual experience. After a while, we left the sweat lodge and jumped into cool water of the stream at 10 p.m. We howled like coyotes while cooling off in the stream, and then spent the next hour or so dressing in our birthday suits around the fire.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="V3N3NYERGESSTILL.jpg" border="1" width="271" height="180"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="180"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1"><strong>Line drawing of a solar still from Nyerge's new book Enter the Forest.</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Before we departed, we checked our solar still. We had collected about a third of a cup of distilled water. Not bad, but not really great either. Only Pete and I tasted the water. It was bland with a bit of dirt it. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The groom-to-be told me that it had been precisely the type of trip he'd wanted. He felt it was far more meaningful than a bachelor party full of drunks with a naked lady jumping out of a cake. He enjoyed it thoroughly, and learned new skills. He mused that, once married, he might not have the time anymore for such adventures, since married life with children is enough of an adventure -- and a full-time job besides</font><font SIZE="2">.</font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFDFEF" width="95%"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><strong><font color="#008080" face="Courier New, Courier" size="6">News of our readers</font></strong></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="../v2n1/newsof.jpg" alt="Mt. Lowe Post Office" align="left" border="1" hspace="15" vspace="5" width="276" height="417"><font face="Arial">As announced in our last newsletter <b>Land - Sea Discovery Group</b> hosted a slide show presentation titled <b>PANCHO</b>. Author of the biography of the same name<b>, Barbara Hunter Schultz</b>, presented the show. There were around 25 participants at the show and a good time was enjoyed by all. <b>Michael Patris </b>was kind enough to give introductions and also to bring along just part of his fabulous collection of Mt. Lowe Memorabilia<b>. Susan Brouwer</b> put together the refreshments and <b>Kevin Lerma</b> provided moral support. Some of the attendees of note were Joe <b>Blackstock, Edna Smith, Altadena Historical, John Harrigan</b> of the <b>SMLHC, Stan McCain</b>, a few who rode the rails at Mt. Lowe and, a one woman who knew <b>Pancho Barnes. </b></font></font></p> <font size="3"><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">The month of August brought lots of warm temperatures and not a lot of news. I spent much of my free time searching for Mt. Lowe Railway items on the Internet and coming up with some great new friends across the country that also collect Mt. Lowe. Once in contact I was able to steer them to our web site at www.aaaim.com/echo upon whence quite a few became paid subscribers. I also found some interesting pieces that I won at auction and a few that sadly I lost due to last second electronic bids. Hey, you win some and you lose some. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">September 12, 1998 The <b>Scenic Mt. Lowe Historical Committee</b> and forest volunteers got together to clear some brush up on Echo Mountain. Present were <b>John Harrigan, Lee Varnum, Bruce Chubick, Lee Zebold, and Jake Brouwer</b>. After the short hike into Echo from the fire road the group cleared away the brush around the mechanics pit and then moved to the area around the stairs at Echo. As is usually the case we were able to talk to numerous people about the activities that took place on the mountain one hundred years ago. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Our thoughts and best wishes go out to <b>Brian Marcroft</b> who went into the hospital for an appendectomy and then due to complications had a very prolonged stay at the hospital. He will be recuperating at home for a few weeks before getting back to work and the mountain.</font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Other visitors to the website of late were<b> Joeseph Ferm</b> of New Mexico, Grandson of Thaddeus Lowe. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">The Echoes is also looking forward to sharing its collection with <b>James Thaddeus Lowe </b>nephew of <b>Pancho Barnes. </font></p> </b><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Except for the things Ive collected over the last few months and things my friend <b>Michael Patris</b> has rounded up there has been little if any news from anyone out there. Please let us know of any finds you might have come across especially those that are unique. We are always amazed at some of the interesting items that turn up. A number of issues ago I found a signed letter from <b>Edgar Larkin</b> which mentions his newest book, "<b>Within the Minds Maze."</b> Well, after a year long search I have finally found a copy of the book printed in 1911. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Our Winter issue will feature the <b>Mt. Lowe Observatory</b> and the lead story will be by <b>Mr. Paul Rippens</b>. The observatory story is an interesting one and I will include in the article some never seen before photos for your viewing pleasure. We will also have an article on <b>Edgar Lucian Larkin</b> by myself and it would be great to include in this issue articles on <b>Dr. Swift</b> and <b>Charles Lawrence</b> should anyone care to contribute.</font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">Lets hear from you. What would you like to know more about next year in the <b>Echoes</b>? One request was the <b>Powerhouse</b> and we will try to oblige the request ASAP! </font></font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="95%"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><font color="#800040" size="7" face="Algerian, Stencil, Griffon, Playbill">Mountain Marketplace</font><font color="#C0C0C0" size="1" face="Algerian, Stencil, Griffon, Playbill">.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong><img src="../v2n4/v2n4higho.jpg" align="middle" border="1" hspace="10" width="413" height="256"></strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE</strong>. Xerox copies of Vol. 1, number 1 or 2 = $1.00 each. Xerox copies of Vol. 1, numbers 3 or 4 = $2.00 each. Vol. 2 numbers 1 and 2 $3.00 each. Extra copies of current issues are $3.00 each.</font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</font></p> <hr width="85%"> <p align="left"><img src="V3N3ENTERFOREST.jpg" border="1" hspace="10" align="left" width="180" height="290"><font size="3" face="Arial">ENTER THE FOREST<br> A guidebook to the Angeles National Forest</font><br> <font size="3" face="Arial">A new book by Christopher Nyerges</font></p> <font SIZE="2"><p ALIGN="left"></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial">A companion to John W. Robinsons <br> TRAILS OF THE ANGELES</font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">The news is always full of accounts of people lost in the Angeles National Forest, or stranded, or hurt when their car goes over the side of the road. Most of these disasters could be averted by following the advice in this newly-released book, ENTER THE FOREST, written by a naturalist who has conducted survival skill and wild food outings in and near the Angeles National Forest since 1974.</font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">ENTER THE FOREST is full of photos and illustrations. The book is divided into sections EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER, HISTORY, AND SAFETY each of which contain important information to help guide you through your visit to the Angeles Forest.</font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="Arial">ENTER THE FOREST is in paperback, 150 pages, 5" X 7 1/2". Price is $8.50 ($10. includes postage) Order 1 now!</font></font><b></p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"></b><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.self-reliance.net" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.self-reliance.net")">School of Self-Reliance</a><br> Box 41834, Eagle rock, Ca. 90041<br> 213-255-9502</font><font size="3"></p> </font><p align="left"><img src="../v3n2/v3n2guide.jpg" border="1" hspace="10" align="left" width="180" height="290"><font face="Arial">GUIDE TO WILD FOODS, 288 pages and fully illustrated, provides all the details needed to identify common edible plants, and it's organized in a way that makes plant identification easy. This book by Echo Mtn. Echoes writer Christopher Nyerges, sells for $14.95 plus $2.00 book rate postage.<br clear="all"> </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Arial"><img src="../Amtlowebook.jpg" alt="Amtlowebook.jpg (26253 bytes)" border="1" hspace="10" align="left" width="200" height="336">Echo Mtn. Echoes is pleased to announce a brand new addition to the Mt. Lowe aficionado's library. This new book titled HISTORIC MT. LOWE A Hikers Guide to the Mt. Lowe Railway is written by San Dimas author Paul H. Rippens. This handy pocket sized soft cover guide includes a History of the Mt. Lowe Railway by John W. Robinson. <br> <br> Mr. Rippens takes the hiker to the trails of the Mt. Lowe Railway with easy to follow maps and instructions all highlighted by descriptions of the way things were during the mountain railway's heyday. Paul points out various ruins and relics along the trails left over from the 1890's to the late 1930's. The book contains over thirty pictures, some published for the first time and in the rear of this book is a Chronological History of the Mt. Lowe Railway. Adorning the front cover is a beautiful color picture of the Great Incline.</font></p> <hr width="85%"> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>BOOKS FOR SALE</strong>. The following list are books offered by Land-Sea Discovery Group. All prices as of this printing include shipping and handling. Insurance is extra. Send payment to </font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mt. Lowe the Railway in the Clouds</strong></em> By Charles Seims, 234pg, hardback, $47.95</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Professor T.S.C. Lowe And His Mountain Railway</strong></em> By Maria Schell Burden. 72 pg., paperback. $6.00</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>"Pancho" </i></b>The Biography of Florence Lowe Barnes, By Barbara Hunter Schultz. 240 pg.paperback $14.95</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Angels Flight</strong></em> By Walt Wheellock, 47 pg., paperback. $6.00</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>The Mount Wilson Story</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 35pg, paperback. $3.00</font></p> <p><font face="Arial"><a name="Robinson"><font size="3"><em><strong>Trails of the Angeles</strong></em> By John W. Robinson 232 pg., paperback, map. $12.95</font></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>San Bernardino Mountain Trails</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 258 pg., paperback $11.00</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mountain Bicycling In the San Gabriels</strong></em> By Robert Immler, 122pg, paperback, $9.00</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mountain Bicycling Around Los Angeles</strong></em> By Robert Immler, 126pg, paperback $9.00</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>The San Gabriels</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 310pg, hardback, $34.95</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>The San Bernardinos</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 256pg, hardback, $32.95</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>To Mt. Lowe With Love</strong></em> Video VHS format, running time 32 minutes. Includes shipping $34.95</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mt Lowe, The Railway in the Clouds</strong></em> Video VHS format, running time 44 minutes. By Charles Seims. Price includes shipping, $34.95</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>MINING BOOKS FOR SALE</strong>. The following lists are books offered by Land-Sea Discovery Group. All prices as of this printing include shipping and handling. Insurance is extra. Send payment to </font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><u><img src="../v2n3/V2N3MINES.jpg" alt="Mines of the San Gabriels" align="left" border="1" hspace="15" vspace="5" width="163" height="257"></u><strong>Mines of the San Gabriels</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 72 pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of the East fork</strong></em> By John W. Robinson 70pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of the San Bernardinos</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 71pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of the Mojave</strong></em> By Ron and Peggy Miller, 71pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of the High Desert</strong></em> By Ronald Miller, 71pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of Julian</strong></em> By Helen Ellsberg, 71pg. Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of Death Valley</strong></em> By L. Burr Belden, 71pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>Mines of the Eastern Sierra</strong></em> By Mary DeDecker, 72pg., Paperback, $4.50</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><em><strong>GOLD! Gold!</strong></em> By Joseph F. Petralia, 143pg., Paperback, $9.95</font></p> <blockquote> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="5" width="85%"> <tr> <td align="center"><p align="center"><font face="Arial"><font size="4"><strong>Subscribers Wanted<br> </strong></font><font size="3">For a paper with interest to all Southern Californians. Only $8.00 for 1 year. You need the paper and we need the money!<br> Echo Mtn. Echoes,  </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p> </p> </blockquote> </td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="95%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"> <tr> <td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%" bgcolor="#808080"><p align="center"><img src="../v2n1/editor.jpg" border="1" width="320" height="114"></td> </tr> </table> <font size="4"><p><strong><font face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT">As I put the Echoes to bed today I watched a young man who went to school near here gain the attention of most of the country as he hit his 61<sup>st</sup> homerun in one season. Mark McGuire reached the summit today and stood alone there along with Roger Maris filled with emotion. What a feeling it must be to have the whole country if not the better part of the world rooting for you to make it to the top. </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT">For most of us though we have to reach our summits on our own. We may have a few friends and family to help push us on but the majority of our successes are the results of our own personal commitments and desires to succeed. </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT">When I "enter the forest" as Nyerges so aptly titles his new book, I enter into a world of constant changing wonderment that I long to understand and know to my fullest. For me, each day existing in the forest is a new day at bat and being there I rarely strike out. Reaching the summit of Mt. Lowe, or Mt. Disappointment or one of the many other peaks in the area is the home run of the day and I stand there feeling as good as Mark McGuire in that tiny moment. </font></strong></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><strong><font face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT">Please take the time this fall to enjoy our trails and forests in the San Gabriel Mountains. </font></strong></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><strong><font face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT">Next issue we visit the Observatory on Echo Mountain. </font></strong></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><strong><font face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT">Enjoy</font></strong></font><font SIZE="2"></p> </font><font FACE="Brush Script MT"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><big><big><big>Jake Brouwer</big></big></big></font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><hr> <p align="center"><font SIZE="2"><b><img src="../v2n2/emecvr1.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="540" height="349"></b></font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font face="Arial"><strong><font SIZE="2">site design and hosting provided by:<br> </font></strong><a target="_top" href="../../index.htm"><font size="4">Triple A Internet Masters</font></a></font></p> <hr width="85%">  <h2 align="center"><font size="4" face="Arial">Land-Sea Discovery Group Contact Information</font></h2> <div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><p align="left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Postal address:<br> </strong>Land~Sea Discovery Group<br> PO Box 401904<br> Hesperia, Ca. 92340</font></p> <p align="left"><font face="Arial"><strong>Electronic Mail:</strong><br> Sales: <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a><br> General Information: <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a><br> Webmaster: <a href="mailto:Echowebmaster@aaaim.com">Echowebmaster@aaaim.com</a></font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div>  <hr width="85%">  <p align="center"><font face="Arial">[ <a href="http://www.aaaim.com/echo/issues.htm">Issues</a> | <a href="../search.htm">Search</a> | <a href="../help.htm">Help</a> | <a href="http://www.aaaim.com/echo/subscribe.htm" taget="index">Subscribe</a> | <a href="http://www.aaaim.com/echo/comment.htm">Comment</a> | <a href="../websites.htm">Websites</a> ]</font></p>   <p align="center"><font size="1" face="Arial">Send email to <a href="mailto:Echowebmaster@aaaim.com">Echowebmaster@aaaim.com</a> to report any problems.<br> Last modified: February 12, 1999 </font></p>   <p align="center"><font face="Arial"><font size="1">No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form without written permission from:</font><font size="2"><br> <strong>Jake Brouwer<br> </strong></font><font size="1">All articles and photos were provided by:</font><font size="2"><br> <strong>Land-Sea Discovery Group<br> </strong></font><font size="1">Copyright © 1999 </font></font></p>  <p align="center"><strong><font face="Arial" size="2">site design and hosting provided by:<br> </font></strong><font face="Arial" size="4"><a target="_top" href="../../index.htm">Triple A Internet Masters</a></font></p> </body>