Well, I just got back from my family reunion at Eagle Lake California. I took a side trip to Lassen Volcanic national Park. Took some pics like I said. Eagle Lake was a shithole by Oregon standards. But it had it's own desert like attributes. South on I5, had to pass one of the largest stratovolcanoes in the Cascade Chain: Mt. Shasta got away from I5 on SR89 and passed by the North entrance to Lassen National Park. We wanted to start at the southside and take SR89 all the way through the park back to this point, but there was a good chance that the route would still be closed due to snow: This lake is 32 miles off the main road and (imho) not worth the drive. Eagle Lake: Why do they call it "Eagle Lake"? I dunno....... Home and Base of operations for the next four days (my brother's 5th wheel) PS, not my idea of camping: After 2 full days of family chaos reunion, I had to get away from there for my own sanity. The wife and I took SR36 to the junction with SR89 at the south entrance to Lassen. We passed Lake Almanor on the way. It was more what I expect a lake to be. Lake Almanor and Lassen through the trees: After entering the park, the first volcanoe you encounter is Broken Peak. Fiddy would have no problem scrambling to the top of this. At 4K and to an elevation of 7800' I chose to not attempt it. i was having a hard time not getting winded without climbing. An old mudflow: Whoa! this steam smells like ass! got sulphur? This is a source for an ongoing, everlasting fart. A fumerol that sends out a fast outgassing of sulphur dioxide and other nasty smelling crap: More stank! and this one is boiling! The worst of smells. kinda like a fart mixed with insecticide. the wind shifted when i wasn't looking and this steam cloud hit me point blank in the face when my mouth was open. I still smell volcanic farts and even taste it: That water is as gray as an elephant! Some random pics on the way to the summit: I tried real hard, but try as I might, I couldn't roll it off the cliff: Almost to the summit and this frozen, albeit melting sulphuric acid lake called Lake Hellena: The top/summit on SR89. Lassen Peak: Elevation=8600' There's an asshole on this mountain, and I ain't it: Cool!!! Snow in July! Also, the end of the road due to snow closure: lava tubes!!!!! Just had to check this shit out (outside temp 89, underground temp 46) There's even an asshole down here! fuck! Out of the cool, back into the heat: 1/3 mile underground and a 2/3 mile hike back through the desert shit.....consensus=worht it! Had it not have been for being able to see some geothermals and solidified molten rock with the accompanying feats of nature at Lassen National Volcanic Park, my whole foeth of july weekend would have been a real drag. I'm here to tell you though, it is not easy to catch my breath at altitude like it used to be when I was a lot younger. When I drove down off the Siskyou Summit on I5 coming home, I had been living above 5000' for four days. I'd prefer the 1200' elevation of home anyday! So glad to be home.
nice pics, wiskas. we have some caves like that ( a bit smaller) up here called the big four ice caves. pretty cool.
damn, lol, what if that boulder did fall down... damn check out the lava tubes, thats real neat, they let tourists just waltz in there?? you shoulda bagged up some of that volcano putrid vile and save it for a secret santa
It was a 205 mile round trip from Eagle Lake to Lassen. That Eagle was making a tree above the 5th wheel his home. he had a champion view of the lake that had a shitload of 2-8 pound trout in it. Yeah, these weren't ice caves like the ones up in the Willamette pass that descend 1 mile and extend for three, but they were cool. These are located just outside of Lassen to the northeast. 1) watching a rock that big crash down a cliff would be tits as hell! 2) Yup, but you need a flashlight 3) I like the way you think my man
I am a true tweak3D'r.....i see IDB everywhere! I don't have to look for them, they just materialize wherever i go . I put together a short (very short) vid: (batteries were toasted) [video=youtube;XZuQiclz6VE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZuQiclz6VE[/video]
Nice pictures, good to see someone else posting pictures of their adventures besides me for once I've been to Lassen once, but it was a very short visit, just passing through really. You're making me wish I'd stayed longer.
There are so many trails. some of the wicked shit is 4k or better and there are 4000' elevation changes in as short as 3k. My knees and lungs can't handle the elevations and steep terrain. i wished I'd have found this place back in the day. You know....................it had to be done:
^^knew it was coming, beat me to it. everytime i look at the boulder pic, it makes me shiver, like its about to fall.
It kinda freaked the wife out when I shouted: "quick, get a picture!!!" Check out some of these on this peak:
