Echo Mtn Loop

[Girl Hiker]

Last Thursday I hiked to Echo Mountain starting at the Lower Merrell and descended the Old Echo trail making it a loop.

I wanted do to a short quick hike while Sean did trail work on the Alta Loma trail haha!
Not to mention, I wanted some peace and solitude.

He dropped me off at the Cobb Estate then picked me up at the Rubio Canyon trailhead.

It was a cool morning. There's still lots of wildflowers which was quite refreshing.

Along the way, I met the sweetest, elderly gentleman. He must have been in his 80's. He was moving at a slow but steady pace.

I stopped to chat with him for a minute. His plan was not to go all the way to the top, however he said he did this regularly. He reminisced about his youth and how he use to hike up to Mt Wilson once a week.

I love it when I see people at his age still trekking. I hope that when I'm his age I'm doing the same.

The Rubio Trail Crew has been working on the Old Echo trail and it's in good shape. They fixed all the ruts and trimmed all the brush.
It's quite smooth and not as bad as it was.

Anyways, I'm obsessed with Mariposa Lillies and there's quite a few along the trail.

Check them out before they disappear.

[Girl Hiker]

[Elwood]

On first reading I missed the part about the '80 year old gentleman' and thought you were talking about Sean. My bad.

[Hikin_Jim]

On first reading I missed the part about the '80 year old gentleman' and thought you were talking about Sean. My bad.

No doubt he's getting up there (as are we all), but I suspect he's yet a bit shy of 80.

HJ

[Sean]

Yes, I move like I'm 80. When I sit still I'm only 47.

[oldcoot]

Girl Hiker -- Very nice pix!

Sean -- I know the feeling...but there's hope! I first set foot in the San Gabriels in 2002, at age 56...did 43 of the HPS peaks (including Rattlesnake and Big Iron) the next year at 57...did Baldy for the 12th (and sadly last) time in 2012 at 66...did the Brand Firebreak in the Verdugos on my 70th birthday in 2016...things went badly healthwise after that, but the thing is, with all your amazing climbing feats, you're still younger than I was when I started hiking the San Gabriels...there's a lot of good stuff still ahead...I once met "Don Viejo" ("Old Guy," you might remember him from posting looking for lady hiking companion...he was in his 80s and would meet candidates atop Baden-Powell)...I'm 76 and now can barely get down to the mailbox and back, but he shows there's hope even after 80...

oldcoot

[Girl Hiker]

On first reading I missed the part about the '80 year old gentleman' and thought you were talking about Sean. My bad.

He acts like 80! So you were right!

[Girl Hiker]

Girl Hiker -- Very nice pix!

Sean -- I know the feeling...but there's hope! I first set foot in the San Gabriels in 2002, at age 56...did 43 of the HPS peaks (including Rattlesnake and Big Iron) the next year at 57...did Baldy for the 12th (and sadly last) time in 2012 at 66...did the Brand Firebreak in the Verdugos on my 70th birthday in 2016...things went badly healthwise after that, but the thing is, with all your amazing climbing feats, you're still younger than I was when I started hiking the San Gabriels...there's a lot of good stuff still ahead...I once met "Don Viejo" ("Old Guy," you might remember him from posting looking for lady hiking companion...he was in his 80s and would meet candidates atop Baden-Powell)...I'm 76 and now can barely get down to the mailbox and back, but he shows there's hope even after 80...

oldcoot

Yes Don Viejo is one bad ass! He just did Baldy in his 90's. I missed the celebration but I've hiked with him too!

[JerryN]

That bright red one is a Fringed Indian Pink, right?