June 7, 2007

June 7, 2007

From Quincy, CA it is a 100-mile drive to Lassen Volcanic National Park. As we approach we can see Lassen Peak and it is almost completely snow-covered. It is a nice contrast to the pretty rolling pine forests through which we have driven. When we arrive at the Lassen entrance station we are told that many of the trails in the park are closed because of new snow. Shortly down the road we stop at the first turnout, Sulphur Works. There are two steaming vents just off the road. Lassen looks like it is going to be a junior Yellowstone Park. We miss the next turnout because it is unmarked and have to backtrack a little. A worker drives by and resets signs into the snow. I mention to the guy that it might be worthwhile to have permanent signs installed but I guess that would cut into his job security.

We end up driving all the way thru the park with only a few short stops. The visitor center is even closed. I am starting to realize summer doesn’t start in this region until late June. I also get the feeling that Lassen is a detour we could have skipped even if everything was open. Lassen was a volcano that erupted in 1914 and devastated the local area (ala Mount St. Helens). It quickly became a National Park. Since then it has been virtually dormant and most of the tree devastation has regrown. Lassen is probably what Mt St. Helens will be in seventy years (that is until it blows again). Right now it is just a pretty Sierra Mountain forest.

From Lassen we drive west out of the mountains to warmer weather and spend the night in Redding, CA. This will be the first night in awhile that we can leave the heat off and the windows open.