Thursday, August 27, 2020

Shingletown, California - Lassen Volcanic National Park

Southwest Entrance off Hwy 89


Mt Lassen - Shingletown KOA

Our travel companions
Tyrone & Tabitha AKA Ty & Tabby
We are not always able to find hot peppers everywhere we travel so we thought it would be nice to have our own Thai & Tabasco pepper plants



Headed to Bumpass Hell

In 1864 Kendall Bumpass first saw this steaming, hissing, thumping hydrothermal area, which now bears his name.  He filed claim to these boiling springs with the intention of mining the minerals and developing it as a tourist attraction.  Those dreams were dashed when Bumpass stepped into a boiling mud pool at nearly 240 degrees.  Bumpass lost his leg by this unfortunate accident and his dreams of fortune never materialized.  





A funny note
There was no cell reception at our campground but Dave was able to answer a phone call in the middle of hell.



Mathias Supan came to America looking for a new life. He found one in northern California at a place he dubbed Dr. Supan’s Paint Mine, known today as Sulphur Works. As the area surrounding Sulphur Works became Lassen Volcanic National Park, there was much tension between the Supan family and
the park. Both parties saw potential in the Sulphur Works area. In the end, the park was able to purchase what is now a popular stop for visitors to explore Lassen’s most accessible hydrothermal area.


Sulphur Works, the most accessible hydrothermal area in the park. Plopping mudpots and smoking steam vents can be seen roadside. 


Northwest Entrance off Hwy 89
We have now covered all 5 entrances to the park.

The Loomis Museum was built by Benjamin Franklin Loomis in 1927 near Manzanita Lake, just outside Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. Loomis was a local homesteader and photographer who documented the 1915 eruptions of Lassen Peak, and was instrumental in the 1916 establishment of the national park. In 1929 Loomis donated the museum and 40 acres of surrounding lands to the National Park Service.

This Seismograph Station was built by the Loomises in 1926. It features three large windows that allow visitors to view the seismographic equipment within.

King Creek Falls
The trail takes you through King Creek Meadow and forests before dropping steeply down to the cascades and falls.










The return Cascades Foot Trail is a steep, narrow stone staircase for one-way, uphill traffic only.






Cold gases bubbling up through water


Cold Boiling Lake


A double mooning




Sunday, August 23, 2020

Westwood, California - Lassen Volcanic National Park

Gardnerville, Nevada 

Dropped the Jeep of to have the motor mount bolts drilled out and replaced.

Five hours later we got the call that they were all done.  We did a little shopping and now over nighting at the Walmart.  Hooked up ready to continue on our way in the morning.

Westwood, California
Unfortunately Northern California was having a lot of fires during this time.  The sky was smoky but it never smelled smoky.
 
Dave with his first virtual Doctors appointment

Jeep turned 80,000

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox
Paul Bunyan has been the hero of lumberjack whopper tales that were handed down for generations.   Westwood’s biggest party of the year is happens in July.  Paul Bunyan Days Festival including a street dance, a fun run, live music in the park, a community breakfast and a parade through the middle of town.

Lassen Volcanic National Park has 5 Entrances.
Warner Valley entrance off CR-312

Headed to the Devil's Kitchen







No one told me I could have rode a horse 



Watch your step

The Devil's Kitchen is full of mudpots, steam vents, fumaroles and milky Hot Springs Creek.


















Boiling Springs Lake here we come

Steam vents under the lake keep the water around 125 degrees.











Apparently we didn't seem scary at all.  He walked over pawed at the dirt and then laid down.

We disturbed this bear enjoying their pine cone




Juniper Lake Entrance off CR-318

Juniper Lake

Headed to Horseshoe Lake










Cooling his feet in Horseshoe Lake



Bear paw print 


Horseshoe Lake Ranger Station is a backcountry ranger station that was built by Civilian Conservation Corps labor in 1934. There were originally two structures at the site, the residence, and a now-vanished barn.[


Marmot





Butte Lake Entrance off FR-32N21

Lunch spot

Hiking to Cinder Cone


A path of sand-like loose cinder


The trail climbs steeply for half a mile to the summit

We made it this before taking our first break.  It's kinda like climbing a sand dune.  Three steps forward and one step backwards.



After a few breaks we made it!


Spectacular views of the Fantastic Lava Beds and the Painted Dunes







We decided to go down the back side which turned out to be steeper


Painted Dunes







 We were up there