404 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



rescue, they might have floated to the sea. One of the young ladies thought the 

 ducking would not hurt her, as her grandfather was a Baptist. With their 

 lovely bloomer suits somewhat the worse for the fall, they came to the foot 

 of the mountain, and to climb the ' golden stair ' was next in order. The 

 'golden stair' is a path just wide enough for a horse or burro, cut in zig- 

 zag shape up the mountain side. The party was glad to reach the top of 

 the 'stairs' (4,600 feet above the sea), as it had been dark for some time, 

 making the precipice along which they had been riding look deeper and 

 more fearful than by daylight. Soon the lights of the camp fire were visible, 

 and a glad shout went up, but although they were now on the down grade 

 they could not go fast, and it was 8:40 when they reached Switzer's camp." 



Prof. C. F. Holder's illustrated pamphlet entitled "The Highlands of 

 Pasadena," published in 1889, says: 



"To thoroughly enjoy the beauties of the inner range, the services of 

 the genial Switzer should be obtained. The 'Commodore,' as his friends 

 term him, is the only dweller in the heart of the souihern sierras, and has a 

 camp about twelve [fourteen] miles from the valley, directly up the Arroyo. 

 He penetrated these wilds originally in search of health himself, and having 

 found it, is now engaged in enjoying it, and entertaining those who care to 

 see something of Southern California scenery behind the big wall. * * * 

 The ' Commodore's ' squadron consists of a band of burros trained to climb 

 the side of a house, trained to walk a tight-rope-like trail, and even to sing. 

 These faithful animals very slowly and surely take you into Switzer's in five 

 or six hours, making the trip twice a week." — p. 43-44. 



Prof. Holder mentions in the same connection that a trail had been 

 made from Switzer's to the top of Mount Disappointment, and also one to 



BarlKy Flats. — This is a table of land on a summit of the third range 

 back from Pasadena, presenting a tolerably level surface of perhaps 160 

 acres which is covered with a dense, rich growth of wild barley in its season; 

 this made it a regular deer pasture, and consequently a prowling place for 

 mountain lions seeking prey — and these conditions together had given the 

 place fame as a hunting ground for thirty years past, from I^os Angeles. It 

 could be reached by way of the old Wilson trail ; but after Switzer's trail 

 was made, that was the best and easiest route from lyOS Angeles or Pasadena 

 to Barley Flats. 



Pine Flats. — This is another similar mountain-top area said to contain 

 about 320 acres. It is in the same range with Barley Flats, is reached by a 

 mountainous trail from Mount Wilson, and is a favorite summer resort for 

 Pasadena hunters and campers. It is well covered with pine and cedar trees, 

 some of which are 250 feet high and 7 feet in diameter. So say H. N. 

 Farey, K. Groenendyke, and others. 



Brown's Trail. — See article "Brown's Peak," page 373. 



GiDDiNGS's Trail. — The Valley Union of June 18, 1886, said : 



"E. W. Giddings has planted an immense white flag on a mountain 

 summit next east of Millard canyon which is hereafter to be known as Gid- 

 dings's Peak, in honor of the famous old anti-slavery statesman of Ohio, 



