Lassen Peak – BOOTS on the TRAIL

Cinder Cone (Lassen Volcanic NP) 24-Jun-2015

2015-06-242022-01-28Posted in Hiking, Northern California, U.S. National Parks & MonumentsTagged California, Cinder Cone Volcano, Day Hiking, Hiking, Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Northern California

Cinder Cone Lassen Volcanic National Park California

We do occasional hiking and backpacking trips with our California friends Wayne and Diane and this year we decided to spend some time with them in Lassen Volcanic National Park – seemingly one of America’s lesser appreciated national parks. Our previous trips had focused on climbing Lassen Peak but this time we also made an effort to see a bit more of the park, in addition to climbing the peak. Today we hiked to a feature in the northeast corner of the Park who’s name – Fantastic Lava Beds – just called out to us. Who would not want to hike to see fantastic lava beds? Not just Big Lava Beds but fantastic ones? Makes your blood boil! So off we went…

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Summit Lakes Loop (Lassen Volcanic NP) 23-Jun-2015

2015-06-232022-01-28Posted in Hiking, Northern California, U.S. National Parks & MonumentsTagged California, Cluster Lakes Loop, Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Northern California, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), PCT, Summit Lakes Loop

Summit Lakes Loop Lassen Volcanic National Park California

We do occasional hiking and backpacking trips with our California friends Wayne and Diane and this year we decided to spend some time with them in Lassen Volcanic National Park – seemingly one of America’s lesser appreciated national parks. Our previous trips had focused on climbing Lassen Peak but this time we also made an effort to see a bit more of the park, in addition to climbing the peak. Today we set out for the Summit Lakes Loop, starting from Summit Lake on Highway 89. This is also called the Cluster Lakes Loop and appears as such in Lautner’s (2010) Day & Section Hikes~Pacific Crest Trail~Northern California hiking guide (Hike #23).

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Lassen Peak (Northern California) 22-Jun-2015

2015-06-222022-01-28Posted in Hiking, Northern California, U.S. National Parks & MonumentsTagged California, Day Hiking, Hiking, Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mount Shasta, Northern California

Lassen Volcanic National Park California

We do occasional hiking and backpacking trips with our California friends Wayne and Diane and this year we decided to spend some time with them in Lassen Volcanic National Park – seemingly one of America’s lesser appreciated national parks (maybe the “volcanic” in the name is too scary?). Our previous trips had focused on climbing Lassen Peak but this time we wanted to do that but also see a bit more of the park too. But, first, the peak…

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Lassen Peak (Northern California) 13-Aug-2011

2011-08-132022-01-28Posted in California, Hiking, Northern California, U.S. National Parks & MonumentsTagged California, Day Hiking, Hiking, Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Northern California

I’d always meant to hike up Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park someday but “that some day” always seemed to somewhere in the future. The effort I put into climbing Mount Shasta (twice) might have been one reason Lassen got neglected for so long. Then 3 years ago, we decided it was time to hike Lassen Peak and take another step toward climbing all of the 9,000+ foot Cascade volcanoes. Our only problem was that Lassen’s summit trail was being rebuilt (slowly) and was only open at odd times. This year it was scheduled to be open only on the 4^th of July weekend, the weekend of August 13-14, and Labor Day weekend but could still be closed AT ANY MOMENT! Attempts in recent years had been derailed by road closures, lack of enthusiasm for a long snow climb, wildfires, and trail maintenance. Labor Day was booked, so we drove to the Lassen Peak Trailhead with just a little trepidation about its being open (yes, this time we did call ahead).

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