Channel Mike

We got up, packed up, and left the Gaia resort to visit Lassen. Before going anywhere, we had to visit the local Redding Wal-Mart for snacks and water and ice and things. We gassed up the car. Eventually we were heading east into the mountains. As we rose in elevation, we went from Utah-style scrub brush into thicker and thicker trees. We had to wait for a construction crew building some new huge road near the park, then got to the northern boundary after about an hour on the road.

We were truly just in a parking lot, the only car, with a few trails leading up to three little concrete islands with roofs for shade and some displays to read about the history and ecology of the area. That was it. But it was beautiful. None of us had been in the mountains since our last trip three years ago and this was welcome. We all smelled the mountain air and the pine scent. Emma found spittle bugs and told us about how she'd learned about them at school. Jak wandered around seeing what he could hit with his stick. Audrey was tired and wouldn't come out of the car. But she was quite happy when we brought her a pine cone the size of a pineapple for her collection. After a brief stay and a few pictures here, we moved a few miles south to the actual visitors center near ??? Lake.

The hike most of the way around the lake.

The trip to the southern entrance.

The southern visitors center.

The volcanic vents.

The end of the road.

The donut palace.

The late-night drive to Eureka.