Sep 4, 2012 - Day 18; Drive from Nevada to Lassen Volcanic National Park

Day 18, Tuesday 9/3. We get up around 8:30. We don't have the bathroom code at campground so we head to the Cactus Pete's casino. We decide to eat breakfast at the Dessert Grill. Bob has an egg breakfast combo and Bill has pancakes. Food and service are great. We tear down the camper and hit the road by 11:30 We head South on US 93. We get on Interstate 80 West and head towards Reno, Nevada. The terrain is dessert like and many stretches of highway look like images #236 and #237. We at least have an occasional train and some tunnels and...

Jul 28, 2012 - Toilet Paper Anyone?

With a good feeling this morning, we entered Lassen, visited the ranger station, and managed to get a campsite for tonight. After arranging all that, we set out to take a hike. Our original plan was to take one hike in particular, but when we got there, we had no place to park, so we went to plan B. Always have a plan B. Plan B was to hike to the top of Mount Lassen. Due to reconstruction of the trail, the last portion of the trail, .9 miles, was closed. Instead of hiking 2.5 miles and 2000 feet elevation gain, we hiked 1.6 miles and a 1500...

Jul 7, 2012 - Day 9

We got up and headed into the park. The visitor center had a great video and we dawdled, gawking at the big peaks around us- and trying to name the 4 types of volcanoes, all present at Lassen. As we climbed in altitude, we pulled over for a snowball fight- not knowing how much snow we'd actually encounter. We stopped at Sulpher Works for a quick hike up a hill to a lake we didn't make it to-but we saw neat views, some deer and cool flowers. We listened to a ranger talk and watched some volcanic activity (mudpots mostly) and then headed on...

Jun 24, 2012 - Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Park

Mount Lassen is visible to the east of us and it does not have a sharp peak like Mt. Shasta and Mt. Hood to the north in Oregon. We decided to go learn about it, so we hopped in John & Laura’s car & drove up to visit Lassen Volcanic Nat’l Park. Starting at the Visitor Center we learned that Mt. Lassen is part of the Pacific Ring Of Fire. It is the southernmost of the Cascade Range that go north to Mt. Garibaldi in Canada. This whole area of many peaks was once a large volcano. Ancient Mt. Tehama, also called Broke-Off Volcano, was built up...

Jun 10, 2012 - Lassen Volcanic N.P.

First time 'boondocking' (no elec.) other than in the Big Horns. We had to find a different site since we couldn't fit in original one. This year we can actually drive thru the park - tho the road did close for 2 days a week ago after another 11 inch snowfall. Jefferson Pines are Cinnamon colored. Because of no fires for almost 100 years, the other spruce or pine trees are filling in the undergrowth. The Jefferson pines need fire to start new trees.

Sep 20, 2011 - Lassen Volcanic National Park

We recently returned from a trip to Mount Lassen. Mt. Lassen is a well kept secret, one which we are delighted to have discovered. Approx. 7 hours from here, 40 miles east of Redding CA. Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the earliest national parks established in 1916. Lassen Peak ‘s May 1914 eruption launched 3 years of sporadic volcanic eruptions. The largest eruption, on May 22, 1915 blew a huge cloud of ash over 30,000 feet into the air. The park has lava pinnacles, jagged craters , steaming vents, water falls, Spring & summer...

Sep 14, 2011 - Day #5, sorry it's late, no internet connection

Day #5, Tuesday, 9-13-11 The day started early (7:15am, that’s early for retirees!). Walked and fed the dog and Barb prepared a microwave breakfast. Poached eggs, Bacon and Eric Schat’s Bakery sour dough toast. Yum! (Picture attached). We both showered, with full hook-ups you let the shower run as long as you want! Looked and smelled much better now. Today we head to Lassen National Volcanic Park. It’s about 14 miles down the road from our KOA RV Park. Yesterday we had some rain on the road and the “kamikaze” bugs did they best. Sometimes...

Sep 2, 2011 - Day 9? - Lassen Volcanic National Park

Today we drove 70 miles to Lassen Volcanic National Park. We stopped at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. We purchased the driving guide. We watched the movie explaining the area, then headed out to follow the book and see the sights. This NP is similar to all the others in the Cascades Range, trees & rocks & snow & volcanic mountains. The difference here are the hydrothermal features. So we stopped at Bumpass Hell. This is the most popular hydrothermal feature of Lassen Volcanic NP and the largest west of Yellowstonround-triphe...

Aug 17, 2011 - Lassen Volcanic National Park

On Tuesday (Aug 15th), we packed Sadie in the truck with us & headed on up the road to Lassen Volcanic National Park. The last time Pete & I visited the Park was in 1976, at the time there was still lots of snow on the ground but was still a beautiful sight. Yesterday the weather was perfect, there was no snow until we hit the higher elevations. We were unable to hike to see some of the parks unique attractions, we had Sadie with us & were not allowed to take her on any trails in the park (but that was ok, with Pete's knees bothering him,...

Aug 30, 2010 - Mt. Harkness Hike

The temperature at the trail head was about 40 degrees and a cold breeze ruffled the grass as we mentally prepared to summit Mt. Harkness. Mt. Harkness is part of the perimeter of the volcanic rim of mountains in the Cascade Range.Beyond This perimeter the Sierra Nevada Range begins. The trail climbs through forest and an open woodland to an active fire lookout. The hike begins in a red fir forest and climbs an ancient shield volcano. The trail switchbacks and then gradually steepens before opening up to the first open woodland carpeted in...

Aug 27, 2010 - Mt. Lassen National Park

Mt. Lassen National Park is a hidden gem. Few people know about this very beautiful and historic area. It is a mini Yellowstone. Mt. Lassen, like Mt. St. Helens , erupted suddenly in 1915 and although a much smaller eruption than St. Helens it exemplifies the elemental process that underlies our constantly changing spaceship, Mother Earth. The park is a collection of volcanic domes that have risen and shaped the geographic landscape over millions of years. The jagged walls demonstrate old mountains that have blown their tops and emptied...

Nov 4, 2009 - Lassen Volcanic National Park

Yesterday we toured Lassen Volcanic National Park. It last erupted in 1915 which is recent in volcanic history. We saw mud pots, steam vents, sulphur springs, many beautiful lakes and rocks that blew 5 miles out of the mountain that were the size of a small house. These rocks stayed hot for several weeks after the mountain blew. The north side of the mountain is what blew out and is covered in snow and glaciers. It is just south and east of Mt. Shasta which is another volcanic mountain. Did you know you can become a "Webranger" for the...