After washing and waxing the motorhome and re-caulking areas
of the roof where it needed it, we decided to do a day trip to Lassen Volcanic
National Park.
As we started east on Hwy 36, one of the first things we
noticed were the rocks of all sizes scattered throughout the fields.
These rocks were everywhere.
We don't know if they were left over from a huge volcanic
eruption hundreds or thousands of years ago but it was just kind of weird
seeing them everywhere.
The beginning of our drive on Hwy 36 was gradual through
some wide-open lands.
As we began climbing in elevation, we pulled off at an
overlook beside a canyon.
We talked to a couple of hunters who were also stopped at
the overlook and Chuck began
exchanging hunting stories. They told us
that this time last year there was a big fire here. We could see where it had occurred from the
burnt trees.
We headed on up toward the park and climbing some curvy
roads, we arrived at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Lassen Volcanic National Park has all four types of volcanoes
within its boundaries: shield (Prospect
Peak), plug dome (Lassen Peak), cinder cone (Cinder Cone Peak) and composite
(Brokeoff Volcano). The last big
eruption occurred in 1915 at Lassen Peak
devastating nearby areas and raining volcanic ash 200 miles away. Lassen Peak was the only volcano we were able
to see on the auto-tour through the park.
After leaving the visitor center,
we stopped at Sulphur Works where we could see the steam
from a fumarole
and the boiling mudpots.
The area around Sulphur Works reminded us of the hydrothermal areas at Yellowstone.
We drove by Diamond Peak...
...and then approached Bumpass Mountain (left background) and
Bumpass Hell (right foreground).
Because we weren't dressed for the windy 48 degree
temperatures, we did not hike the 1.5 miles down to the largest hydrothermal
area in the park at Bumpass Hell. But
again the sulphur and mineral deposits could be seen in the valley below.
Next we drove by Emerald Lake. Appropriately named, don't you think?
As we drove further, we got a closer view of Bumpass
Mountain.
The road went up, down and around providing some awesome
views of the park.
As we headed further north through the park, we drove
through an area where a prescribed burn had taken place which assists in the
forest's restoration process.
On the north side of the park, we got a view of Lassen
Peak...
and Chaos Crags.
Before exiting the park, we got some last beautiful views of
the peaks,
the pines,
and the dying but still pretty wildflowers.
After exiting Lassen Volcanic National Park at the north
entrance, the GPS took us down a side road back to Hwy 36. Good thing we weren't in the motorhome
because it was steep...
...and narrow.
But we did see a very small buck...
...and one more look at Lassen Peak.
