Day 4 - Lassen Volcanic National Park
Up early in Redding and out the door to find out Rita's Kitchen was closed so back to Black Bear Diner for some big ol breakfast. Two giant sweet cream pancakes covered with strawberries and whipped cream. It was yummy.
After that hike I headed up to the Devastation Area. This was a part of the park that got hit hard by the eruption of the Crags and resulting avalanches that transpired. It was pretty interesting reading about the incidents. The one picture of the giant "boulder" in the forefront is actually a piece of the volcanos crust that got shot out and fired miles from the crater.
Then an hour out to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Again a portion of the park was closed due to snow but that would not hinder me. On tap for the day was two hikes. The Chaos Crags Trail, a 4 mile out and back hard hike and a super easy 2 mile hike around Manzanita Lake.
First off the easy hike because well the visitor center was still closed and not a lot of people so do it now. It was a calm fun hike. I took lots of pictures. Stopped and took in the sounds and sights a few times prolonging the hike.
One giant note to self. When they said sit down and take it all in. They probably mean to check the ground first. Only by some sheer luck beyond imagination did I manage to sit on the side of the lake in between three massive duck or goose droppings. That would have been bad. So from the lake I did manage some good shots of Lassen Peak and the Crags as well as some ducks doing duck things, a few crows doing crow things and some fisherman well you know fishing. I did not take pictures of the daughter and mother in her 70's/80's going swimming in the FREEZING cold water.
A quick stop at the visitor center and store shop led me to my next hike and some interesting info. Snow from a year ago was pretty deep and some drifts were 1/4 way up some doors at the upper part of the park. This past years winter was so deep it covered the building. I was like wow.
But next hike was Chaos Crags Trail. It was a somewhat steep trail, well it went up, went down, switch backed here and there for 2 miles out to Crags Lake. It took me a solid 3 hours to hike out and back with stopping here and there. It kicked my butt going up there but man what a view. Along the way was an interesting view as it was all new growth forest that was growing 3-4 feet above the old forest that was destroyed when the eruptions happened. I also saw a super pretty flower, the Sarcodes sanguinea, Snowplant.
And that was my super fun day in the park. I then drove to Vallejo where I will be taking a down day on Monday. Check on work. If things open up maybe something local who knows.
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