On October 28, the HOL Young Professionals embraced the Halloween spirit and ventured off into a haunted forest with nothing but the light of the full moon to guide them.  Led by Board Member Michael Alti, the brave souls climbed Echo Mountain north of Altadena to explore its eerie ruins and learn its history.  Some of these courageous trekkers even donned Halloween costumes appropriate for the occasion.

Having first opened for business on July 4, 1893, Echo Mountain was the site of a magnificent railway and legendary resort that once ranked as Southern California's most popular tourist attraction.  Atop this mountain once stood a 70-room Victorian hotel that rivaled San Diego's Hotel Del Coronado, a chalet, an observatory, a casino, and a dance hall.  Sadly, these structures later fell victim to a series of natural disasters, and the ruins of the former resort are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Young Professionals explored the ruins and especially appreciated testing the famous "echo phone" device once used for communication between the resort and the tavern further up the mountains.  The views of the city lights from throughout Southern California were spectacular, offering a great reward for the 2.5 mile climb involved to reach the summit.  Best of all, the group enjoyed a unique opportunity for bonding and camaraderie.  While no ghosts or goblins were encountered, new friendships were made.  Professional photographer Marcella Atallah, who took the pictured photos and baked cookies for the entire group, said, "Hiking to Echo Mountain was so much FUN!!! I had a blast with House of Lebanon friends and capturing memories throughout the night. Looking forward to the next HOL hiking adventure!"