Lassen Volcanic National Park

For all I knew, my house was burning down, but that didn't stop me from keeping to my travel plans and heading north to Lassen Volcanic National Park.  It is about an hour east of Redding, CA, at the southern tip of the Cascades.  I have been wanting to visit this park for a long time and finally had a weekend that worked. 

I watched the park film and picked up my junior ranger booklet, attended a ranger talk, then found a campsite.  My site was close to a trailhead so I headed for Echo Lake.  I loved the green as I hiked.

Echo Lake did not disappoint.  It was beautiful and I only saw two other people while I was there.

Hiking back to my campsite, I couldn't help comparing this place to the Great Smoky Mountains with the ridges seeming to line up one behind the other.  Beautiful!

Each campsite is equipped with a bear box.  I was fascinated with the way these particular boxes were constructed so I had to take a picture.  The handle is attached on a loop, with an indentation where it fits...

...onto the post, put some pressure on the handle, and viola!  Open the bear box.  Ah, the blessings of opposable thumbs!

First time in the new tent.  It worked quite well and I was very cozy.

I was up early the next morning, and decided on taking the less traditional hike to some of the park's thermal features.  While in Lassen, I learned there are four different types of volcanoes, and this park has all four!  So cool.  I learned quite a bit about volcanoes on this trip and find them fascinating.  Dangerous, yes, but pure Mother Nature rawness at her finest.  The ecological succession that takes place after an eruption is also magical.  The earth is amazing.

Hidden lake.

There is a lake shimmering on the horizon, left side of the photo.  Pretty spectacular and perfect weather and awesome day.

Arriving at Bumpass Hell.  This is the location of the largest thermal feature in the park.  Apparently, Mr. Bumpass was leading tourists through this place when his foot went through the very thin crust covering a thermal feature.  Very painful indeed and therefore aptly named!

I spent a long, long, long time here.  It was fascinating.

Boiling mud.  So cool.

I had to get back to work or I would have stayed much longer.  I fell in love with this park and it is definitely one that needs more time to explore.  All fellow adventurers welcome to join me on my next trip!