Lassen volcanoes 08.09.2019


Image for Lassen volcanoes

Lassen park is available for visitors only 2-3 months a year. I was very lucky to get in there.
The territory is huge. Number of visitors is significantly smaller comparing to parks like Yosemite or Sequoias. That's why the nature is much more wild in here.

Photo 2374
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2374
(cc) by Rushan

Park has amazing variation of landscape pictures and natural sights. From sulfur gazers to picturesque forests and rivers. And volcanoes!

Photo 2375
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2375
(cc) by Rushan

The picture like this isn't just a set of hills. Some of them are real volcanoes!
This park is one of a very few places on entire planet which has all four volcanoes types in one place.

Photo 2376
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2376
(cc) by Rushan

Trees.

Photo 2377
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2377
(cc) by Rushan

It definitely worth to make a stop in a place like this and take a walk. Most likely there will be a beautiful waterfall or some funny animals (or not so funny sometimes).

Photo 2378
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2378
(cc) by Rushan

Views are astonishing!

Photo 2379
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2379
(cc) by Rushan

Trails are in remarkably good shape. Signs are everywhere, it's hard to get lost if you follow the trail. However it's better to avoid any off-track hiking in Lassen park: gazers and various underground stuff are all around the place. You might simply go under the earth if you're not lucky enough.

Photo 2380
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2380
(c) by Galina F.

By the time I finally got to the waterfall it already was about to the sunset. I had to rush my way back to the car and go to the camping.

Photo 2381
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2381
(cc) by Rushan

There are almost no signs about the bears in the park. However on my way back I met a few people who told me they saw one just a few minutes before (it's so cool people tell each other about it). And really just a few minutes away from the car I saw a bear who was eating some grass.

Photo 2382
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2382
(cc) by Rushan

This is my camp. It was the first time in backwoods so close to the wildness. I even woke up in the middle of the night, cause it felt like a bear started to roll my tent to its home. Fortunately there was no bear (:

Photo 2383
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2383
(cc) by Rushan

It's not just a random place in the woods. It's an equipped camping site. There are restrooms and even a special lock for food. It's an extremely bad idea to leave something eatable outside the lock for the night. Especially in a car. Otherwise you can find an entire zoo in the morning.

Photo 2384
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2384
(cc) by Rushan

It's exciting to wake up in the morning and find yourself surrounded with ground squirrels and other guys.

Photo 2385
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2385
(cc) by Rushan

There was also a cool lake.

Photo 2386
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2386
(cc) by Rushan

To get to unexplored part of the park I had to go around via Chester town. It looks very pretty.

Photo 2387
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2387
(cc) by Rushan

They even have some historic sight.
I also learned how local alcohol law works. In order to sell it, bars and shops (at least in California and some other states) have to apply for a special license. Local people (if they aren't happy with a place to have a license) might go to court to stop the process and reject the application.

Photo 2388
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2388
(cc) by Rushan

If you tired of hiking there's a horse farm. You can rent a horse and explore the park on it instead!

Photo 2389
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2389
(cc) by Rushan

However this place is amazing for hiking.

Photo 2390
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2390
(cc) by Rushan

There are sulfur springs and gazers. Water color is very unusual.

Photo 2391
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2391
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2392
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2392
(cc) by Rushan

This time I also met the bear! It was just three meters away from me. However I managed to take a picture a bit away already.

Photo 2393
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2393
(cc) by Rushan

Locals told me these bears aren't dangerous for people (unless you're trying to tease them). They follow vegetarian diet and don't touch people.

Photo 2394
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2394
(c) by Galina F.

Boiling lake. The water is hot and it's forbidden to go away from trails. Otherwise you might fall under the ground.

Photo 2395
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2395
(cc) by Rushan

Landscape on the way back.

Photo 2396
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 2396
(cc) by Rushan

 
 
 
 

Points of interest and source links