Our Escape to the Snow

Eager to escape the sweltering heat of the valley, we set out this morning for Lassen Volcanic National Park. I packed a couple of delicious black forest ham sandwiches nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls, a bag filled with plump, juicy red grapes, and two sparkling waters that promised a burst of bubbles. It was 10:10 AM when we hit the road, heading towards the cool embrace of the snow-capped volcano. 

This is the cozy spot where we arranged our chairs for our picnic. 

We envisioned ourselves as the rightful owners of this land, lounging on our deck while the gentle sounds of Kings Creek flowed serenely just below us.  With hardly any souls in sight, it allowed us to feel as though we were the sole explorers of this enchanting landscape. 

Adjacent to the scene loomed a majestic section of Lassen Peak

My silly husband joked that a blanket of snow awaited us just up ahead. 

Well, that is what we came for. 

Above 8,000 feet, we encountered snow on the mountains, and the temperatures were pleasantly cool, registering at 60 degrees on the car's temperature gauge.

Lassen peak is 10,457- in elevation

When we drove up to Lake Almanor three weeks ago, we were met with the sight of closed road signs, so we were glad to see that they had finally finished plowing this section of the road.   Last season, we were blessed by generous snowfall in the mountains. 

Snowdrifts accumulate alongside the winding road, their white surfaces contrasting sharply with the jagged edges of the craggy, rocky landscape. 

I never tire of these summer day-trips to the snow, knowing it is 100+ in the valley

We find ourselves at an impressive 9,000 feet elevation, in the Lassen Peak parking lot. Surrounding us are a multitude of empty parked cars, each a temporary resting place for adventurous souls who are out there, embarking on their journeys up the peak.  The air was crisp, but not overly cold.  We were comfortable in shorts, cut-offs.   The breeze felt so nice.  There were mosquitoes that emerged from their long winter hibernation, darting about looking for me! I can't escape them even at higher altitudes and in the snow! 

As well as bumblebees, which I found unusual. 

It is early spring up here. 

Part of Lassen Peak. 

Signs warning hikers and tourists 

I love craggy mountains....








Drove by Helen Lake, just beginning to thaw out. 

You can't believe how refreshing it is to your senses, gazing at this frozen lake, while the crisp air envelops you like a soft blanket. The gentle rustle of the trees contributes to a serene atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the sweltering heat that awaits us back home. 

Ugh!

As we descend in elevation on the other side of the park, we start to observe the presence of various flowers.

and greenery! 

All of a sudden, I get a craving for a hard-boiled egg...

This hydrothermal area is a place of pungent scents, reminiscent of hard-boiled eggs, and shifting ground. Sulphur Works is part of the larger hydrothermal system in the park. Recent volcanic activity and the hydrothermal system are evidence that magma still lies beneath Lassen today.

You don't even dare stray off the path - 

Poor old Kendall Vanhook Bumpass learned the hard way. A cowboy and early settler, who, in 1865, broke through the surface of a scalding hot mudpot in an active geothermal area and consequently lost a leg by amputation. The geothermal area was later named "Bumpass Hell"

He lived another 20 years after this accident and is quoted as saying, 

"Boys, I have been in hell." – Kendall Bumpass

The stream below is boiling water...

A bubbling hot mud pot 

The temperature of the high-velocity steam jetting from it has been measured as high as 322°F (161°C).

Just around the bend, we're at the south end of the park - closer to Red Bluff. 

It's now around 75 degrees. It's 1:30 pm

Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is our last stop before heading home.

We stayed a little to watch a video on volcanic activity. It was a film I have seen many times before, yet I never grow tired of it. The stunning visuals of molten lava flowing down mountainsides and the rumbling sounds of eruptions always fascinated me as a child.  I have always found myself interested in the geological sciences of our earth.

As we journey home, the car's outside temperature gauge reads 105 outside. It is 3:00 as we drive into the garage, never stepping out into that heat, only into the coolness of our home. A truly wonderful picnic filled with joy and laughter.  I am incredibly grateful for my husband, whose laughter brightens my days, and for the free admission to the park that saves us $30. Being close to nature allows me to reflect on the beauty of creation and acknowledge God as our Creator.

I cherish our diverse landscape here; we're always close to something truly extraordinary.

 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1