It started with Mt. Hood and continued thru Crater Lake and now brings us to Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen, the sourthernmost volcanoes in the Cascade Range.
Having never been to either spot we needed a little expert guidance on camping, hiking and other recreational opportunites. So a quick stop at the local US Forest Service Rangers Station was in order. Whenever we enter unfamiliar US Forests it is best to stop in with the Rangers and get oriented - in about 15 minutes you walk out with maps, info on the best camping spots, hell I even picked up a Junior Ranger badge at one - got sworn in and the whole dealio. A highly recommended stop anytime you reach our National Forest lands.
So upon entering the Shasta Trinity National Forest we stopped by the Rangers Station in the bee-u-ti-ful little mountain community of Mt. Shasta, CA - now I bet this is what Bend, OR used to look like. Nice downtown, friendly people, restored buildings without the foo-foo - businesses like hardware stores, hair salons, markets, simple restaurants - you know, the kinds of places people need nothing more and nothing less...perfect.
Anyway, picked up some great info on Mt. Shasta and stayed along the surprisingly pretty McLoud River just east of town and hiked/swam the waterfalls and ponds along the river on a blazingly hot mother of a day. Next day drove up to the foot of Shasta at around 8500 feet in elevation - Shasta peaks out at around 14,150 so you can get a pretty good peek at her right from the comfy confines of your automobile.
From the end of the road I hiked on out to Panther Meadows and Grey Butte on a stellar morning, had brekers in town and cruised the area.
I have to say I'll need to come back and spend more time around here, fabulous place and we only scratched the surface. Need to come back and find out more about the Chief of the Above World, inquiring minds want to know.
After a quick but enjoyable stay at Mt. Shasta we ventured on to Lassen Volcanic National Park...my lord..what a mind blowing place! Apart from the pure beauty of Crater Lake I'd say Lassen has it HANDS down over Crater. This place is like entering another world, very much like Yellowstone I suppose 'cause I've never been to Yellowstone - not yet anyway. The place is filled with steaming volcano vents, boiling mudpots, crystalline lakes, ancient lava flows and spectacular scenery - I had no idea this beauty existed a mere couple of days drive from our home.
Yep, it's settled - need to spend at least a couple of weeks at Shasta and Lassen in the future, no doubt about it.
While in Lassen I hiked out to the Bumpass Hell (yes, named after someone named Bumpass - would like to hear the story on how his ancestors got saddled with that surname) to see the vents and boiling mudpots...check these out.
Like another world, right?
Seems Mr. Bumpass homesteaded these vents/mudholes back in the day and intended on opening up a tourist lodge business complete with guide services. Seems his dream never materialized as on one of his first guiding ventures he managed to step into a boiling pot and lost his leg. He split and never returned.
Funny trail story - I'm heading back in on my hike out to Bumpass Hell in 100 degree temps and I pass a German(?) family on the way out. Youngish parents with I'd say a 13 year old boy and maybe a 10 year old girl. Very polite, we exchanged hellos and father was taking up the rear and stopped to ask me in very broken English how much further. He was dressed in casual pants (think Dockers) with a long sleeve collared sheet and looked totally whupped. Didn't have the heart to tell him they had another few miles of hot, dusty and steep trail ahead of them. Instead I say "trust me, it is totally worth it, you'll feel like you're on another planet once you get there". He responds "no, I don't think vee vant dat". We had ourselves one good laugh and then moved on - guess they made it, never saw them again.
The trail out to Bumpass Hell...
Left Lassen and headed south thru Klamath Falls, OR and decided to push heavy like along Highway 89 south on into Truckee, CA town - breaker, breaker, come on... we got us a convoy! Now back in the '70's and '80's Truckee used to be one HELL of a town. Not so much these days...discovered and changed forever - they have recently installed traffic circles all around town, sheesh...
I guess walking down the main drag with an open container ain't cool any more?
My father in law Don Montamble first introduced me to the splendor of Lake Tahoe as a greenhorn from Vah-ginia back in the early '80's. What a fine gentleman, took me under his wing and showed me the Tahoe ways...unforgettable moments with a great man, thank you Don.
But for me, Tahoe has lost a bit of it's luster...dunno, maybe I'm getting old - yes, that is definitely it, you old fart! Cranky old guy rant - the traffic, the people, the urban crowd/vibe and - oh, did I mention the traffic?
I really miss the Tahoe from the '80's, the Tahoe that Don Montamble showed me. Guess you can never go back...damn, that's too bad.
Posted up at an old favorite, Granite Flat campground that Don introduced me to way back in I'd say 1983/84'ish. Nestled right along the Truckee River just a bit south of Truckee on the way down to Lake Tahoe. And, man oh man, the fishing was great back in the day. With the ongoing drought in CA the river levels just weren't happening as no water was being released from Lake Tahoe. It'll come back some day, hopefully we'll get a decent snow pack next season and all will be well again...keep your fingers crossed.
Being Thursday, we were able to find a nice non-reservable (first come, first serve) site thru the weekend...Debbie made a good call here - push on to Truckee to land a site for the busy weekend.
Took a day trip up to Barker Pass just south of Tahoe City...extremely dry air and high temps produced lots of static electricity, our hair was EVERYWHERE!
Sunday and Monday nites found us at the Carson Valley Inn in nearby Minden, NV for some dining, wagering and poolside relaxation.
Then we were off south on Highway 395 to Robinson Creek in the eastern Sierras near Twin Lakes under the beauty of the mountains and crags at the backside of Yosemite NP.
Wednesday morning we got up early and made the final drive back home and got in safe and sound last night around 6 PM...we're home!
What a fantastic trip, I'll do a wrap up post in a couple of days just as soon as we get all of the glacial dust cleaned out of our belongings.
Take care everyone, one more post coming your way soon, stay tuned.
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