New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
NEW YEARS AT PASADENA
EXPERIENCES OF SUMMER AND WINTER
POSSIBLE IN A FEW HOURS.
ONE IAY wALI.ow IN SNOW. SEE a CARNIvAL
OF ROSES AND SWIM IN sEMI-TRoPI-
CAL SEA ALL IN ONE DAY


climatic conditions of this great country of ours |
There is not a day in the year when all the |
r!gors of winter may not be found somewhere |
within its vast domain, and there is not a time |
,.hen the balmy zephyTs of summer may not
also be found. But it is left for Southern Cali
forria to condense these two wide apart expert !
cnces within the brief compass of one day, in !
deed, as far as the time for actual travel is !
concerned into less than twenty-fourth part
Of a day. For may be enjoying roses.
geraniums poppies. Gala lilies. vioets. chrys- |
anthemums, poinsettias, heliotrope and a thou |
sand and one other delicate Towering shrubs !
and plants; may be listening TO the soul stirring
songs of the mooking bird, thrush and lark; may
gaze upon humming birds. bees and butterflies
at Q o'clock in the morning, i'm a region where
snow has fallen only once in eighteen years. and
in half hour from that time he may be
;obOgganning. sleigh riding, constructing a snow
man. fighting, in boyhood's days. behind
q snow fort, with ammunition. and other
wise enjoying all the sports Of winter. And
even while thus employed he may stand for
4 few moments rest and gaze down upon the
smiling summer valley at his feet. where orange
Blossoms reign supreme. and where the hello
trope never ceases to flower though at the mo-
llent the onlooker be standing in snow and
sIrrounded with all the evidences OF winter.
Then, two hours later he may don his bathing
suit plunge into the surf and enjoy n swim
in the ocean without thought Of cold or dis
comfort
fairy tale indeed. but fairy tale Of abso-
.ute ana literal truth; fairy tale that has been
enjoyed in the flesh by thousands OF people in
the last few years. Then, where is this land Of
diversified climate. even in Southern California?
For the writer has often had people who were
familiar with all the southern part OF the State
question the possibility Of such diverse climatic
enjoyments in 50 short a space Of time
Nine miles north Of Los Angeles is Pasadena.
the crown Of the valley san Gabriel ArchangeI
Connected with Pasadena 10y direct electric rail
way is Mount Lowe. six thousand feet above
sea level. Seaward, thirty miles away, is Santa
Monica. reached hy the ears Of the Los Angeles
and Pacific Electric Railway II is by means OF
these railways that snow. flowers and ocean
sports are brought into such close contiEuity
Several years aeo-the first year of the oper-
alton Of the Mount Lowe railway-the writer de-
termined upon a novel New Years experience.
lie would enjoy the snow in the mountains
then descend To Pasadena. where. every New
Years Day, grand tournament Of roses is
held then whirl on the electric cars to Santa
Monica and plunge into the placid and temper
ate waters Of the great Pacific.
Getting into the cars Of the Mount Lowe rail-
way. one is soon whirled the gorgeous and
flaming poppy fields Of CabrIllo Heights. where
acres Of the Eschscholtzia cover the mesa with
FURNISHED gold; then. entering the heart Of Ru-
BIO Canyon, he is soon in sight Of Hubo pavilion
one Of jules Nerne's dreams made real For
here Is great dancing pavilion and platform
stretching entirely the canyon. and
strange To say il rests upon the comb of the
Joof Of large hotel. From here the ascent is
made in the white chariots" of the steepest
mountain railway of its length in the world
This leads to Echo Mountain $500 feet above
sea level. where, for one or two years there
has been deep snow.
There one may take the cars Of the Alpine
Division, and ride the Circular Bridge
by the Cape Of Good Hope. around Gut He'll
Loop, through Live Oak Grove and Granite
Gate To that gem of mountain hotel AIpine
Tavern. From here on the backs Of horses or
mules, ride forth into the snow. Now all trace
OF semi-tropic life is gone Firs sprucas $ ceGars
balsams pines and sycamores are all covered
with snow. Their branches are bowed down
With the WeiGht of the snowy mantle.
But now to return To- Pasadena The Tour
nament If Ross is about due. Think Of it,
Midwnter. and you in the heart Of Alpine
snow. You wrapped - in heavy cIoaks
ard ovorcoats with fus and thick gloves But
IN less than hour a.! these heavy clothes
shed. and. r0bcd in the hahmcnts Of sum
mcr, you take your seat stand i'm Orange
GrOvc-aVe and witness the midNjnter Carnival