Lassen Volcanic National Park

Our next stop after leaving Sacramento on June 2 was just up the road to Chico, California. Dan's oldest Granddaughter was graduating high school this year, and we wanted to be there to help her celebrate this most important occasion. Since the Lassen Volcanic National Park (LVNP) is only about 70-miles from Chico, we decided to drive to the park for a day trip of hiking and exploration. LVNP is home to smoking fumaroles (steam vents), thumping mud pots, boiling pools, meadows filled with wildflowers, mountain lakes, streams, and waterfalls, not to mention the numerous volcanoes. The jagged peaks throughout the park give visitors a clue to eruptive past of this region, while hot water continues to mold the landscape. Water from rain and snow that falls on the highlands of the park feed the hydrothermal system. Once deep underground, the water is heated by a body of hot or molten rock beneath Lassen Peak. Rising hot water boils to form boiling pools and mud pots. Super-heated steam reaches the surface through fractures in the earth to form fumaroles such as those found at Bumpass Hell and Sulphur Works. These features are related to active volcanism and are indications of the ongoing potential for further eruptions from the from the Lassen volcanic center. During our visit we hiked to the Sulphur Works to see the geothermal activities, had a picnic lunch in the trees, then hiked to Mill Creek Falls. We were treated to beautiful wildflowers, colorful birds, including a Western Tanager, and a pristine hiking trail. Here are some snapshots from our day.

Wrapping it up in Sacramento, May 2013

We only stayed in Sacramento for one month this time around, arriving on May 3 and taking off on June 2. But what a wonderful month it was! We were busy just about every day seeing family and friends, golfing, hiking, celebrating Mother's Day and my grandson's first holy communion. I traveled west to San Francisco for "girls day out" with my daughters, sister, and granddaughter. Dan and I traveled east to Gardnerville for a visit with our friends who live there. And on the more mundane side of things, we saw our dentists, doctors, and ophthalmologist, and got the truck serviced, making sure everything was in order until the next swing through the area. The month flew by, and before we ever had a chance to settle in, it was already time to go! Below are some snapshots of the highlights from our Sacramento stay.

 

Castle Peak Hike

Castle Peak is another favorite hiking spot for me and Dan whenever we are in the Sacramento area. Located right off Interstate 80 near Donner Summit, it is about a 90-minute drive away, the perfect distance for a day hike. Timing is important too, because unless you are snowshoeing in this area (and some do), the winter is out, and at the height of the summer season, it can be extremely hot. We find late spring, early summer, or autumn the best time to make this hike. On May 30, just as things were starting to heat up in the valley, we headed up the hill to see if we could still conquer the mountain. The trailhead begins at an elevation of 7200 feet. The first two miles climb 680' to Castle Pass (elevation 7880'), and the last 1.5 miles to the top of Castle Peak has an elevation gain of 1220', for a final elevation of around 9100 feet. It's that last 1.5 miles that are the hardest, but so worth the effort once you make it to the top. The panoramic view from the peaks provide stunning views of Donner Lake, the surrounding mountains of the Lake Tahoe area, the Sierra Buttes, and on a clear day, Mt. Lassen. There was still a considerable amount of snow on the ground during our hike, including areas of the trail we needed to trudge through. At times I wasn’t sure if I was hiking, or cross-country skiing! But the ambient temperature was very pleasant, the skies were bright and blue, and the emerging wildflowers were delightful. I am happy to say we were once again able to make it to the top! Here are some pictures of our day.

Feather Falls Hike Revisited

Dan and I take the hike to Feather Falls whenever we get the chance; we've lost count over the years of how many times we've actually made this trek, but there is always something new to discover each time out. Even though the falls don't really change from year to year, the trail, the weather, and the flowers are unique to each hike, and make each experience a worthy effort. This year for the first time we saw the famous Frey Creek ladybugs. I look for the "millions of migrating lady bugs" each time we are there, but until now I thought they were merely legends. Lucky for us, they seemed to be a little behind schedule this year on their journey back to the valley floor. In addition to the gorgeous Feather Falls and the delightful ladybugs, we also saw many varieties of wildflowers including exotic Foxglove, pretty purple Foothill Penstemons, and the star-like Spicebush. The 9-mile round trip hike is a total lower body workout (read: sore calves and shins for days afterwards), but I'm so glad I can still do it!! Here are some pictures of this year's hike.