Today started off chilly. Very chilly, probably in the high '40's. Unprepared is the best word to describe this morning. Eggs should fix that, right? Not when you're cooking on a small Sterno-fueled stove. Breakfast took forever to cook, and we ended up eating it in the car.
Van eggs...nothing finer!
It was all worth it, however, when driving back through the park and vistas like this:
Since we wanted to hit as much of the park as possible, we headed all the way back to the South Entrance and the main information center. Many cups of ice were procured through the soda machine, and along with maps and information, we set off back through the park.
First up was the "Sulphur Works", situated right on the main road. Easy walk! It was fascinating to watch the hot steam and mud bubble up, that close. Even in the dry weather the west has been having the past few years, there were still plenty of active mud pots.
The highest pass in the park was at around 8,500 feet, and Lassen Peak was only 10,500 or so, we decided that we could handle walking to the top. How hard can 2,000 feet be?
So we set off on, prepared with water snacks and hats.
Up we go...
So close!
This was about as far as we got. I think we were at around 9,200 feet. At that elevation you could really tell that the air was thinner. Of course it wasn't awful, and there were little kids that pushed on ahead, presumably to the top, but we had a spectacular view regardless.
I love meadows, especially when they are nestled high in the sky.
Back down to Lake Helen for another lunch. What a great view!
Since our feet were worn out from the hike up and down half Lassen, we thought it might be a good idea to cool them off in the lake itself. Incredibly clear, incredibly cold. Still, it was a nice pit-stop before our next adventure.
Bumpass Hell!
The National Park website can give better information on it than I can:
Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area in the park, and marks the principal area of upflow of steam and discharge from the Lassen hydrothermal system (see illustration in photo gallery below). The temperature of high-velocity steam jetting from Big Boiler, the largest fumarole in the park, has been measured as high as 322°F (161°C), making it one of the hottest fumaroles in the world. The steam heated waters are typically acidic and are not safe, even for bathing. Please stay on the trail and boardwalks for your safety.
Bumpass Hell is the largest concentration of hydrothermal features in the park. Bumpass Hell was named after an early settler who severly burned a leg after falling into a boiling pool.
From the USGS information page:
The hottest and most vigorous hydrothermal features in Lassen Volcanic National Park are at Bumpass Hell, which marks the principal area of upfl ow and steam discharge from the Lassen hydrothermal system. A prominent steam plume marks the site of Big Boiler, the largest fumarole (steam and volcanic-gas vent) in the park. The temperature of the high-velocity steam jetting from it has been measured as high as 322°F (161°C). Most of the hydrothermal features in the park contain mixtures of condensed steam and near-surface ground water and have temperatures that are near boiling. The steam-heated waters of the features are typically acidic and, even if cool enough, are not safe for bathing.
The walk back out was somewhat brutal...it was uphill for the first half mile or so, and combined with the heat and the earlier trek up Lassen Peak made for a exhausting exit.
Passing back over the summit for the last time, in daylight.
A forest fire burned through portions of the park in 2012.
Halfway through the walk out of Bumpass Hell, both Anna and I came to the same conclusion: soft serve ice cream was the only reward we deserved.
Our protein options were somewhat limited, so we went with sausage again, this time with potatoes and cooked on the campfire itself. We ate this over a lengthy game of rummy and some wine. All in all a great meal.
Our campsite, post dinner.
By the end of this day we were totally beat. Unfortunately, there wouldn't be much of a chance for us to have a good nights sleep: Anna was flying out of Reno, Nevada at 6 AM the following day. Since Reno was a good three hour drive from Lassen, this meant a very early night and a very, very early wakeup for us. Early as in 2 AM. Good thing we were so tired, as we fell asleep quite easily.
