Follow the Road
Adventure awaits in the distance.
In Search of Lassen Peak
About 50 miles east of Redding, CA is Lassen Volcanic National Park. The park is home to Lassen Peak, a now dormant volcano, but surrounding the peak are still active hot springs and mud pots. The last eruption of Mount Lassen was in May 1914. Volcanic activity continued through 1917.
Asleep, not dead.
This is one of many of Mount Lassen’s hydrothermal features. This mud pot is along the main road (Highway 89) just north of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee visitor center.
Last Lassen Eruption
On May 22, 1915, an explosive eruption at Lassen Peak, California, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range, devastated nearby areas and rained volcanic ash as far away as 200 miles to the east.
Highway 89 runs mostly north-south through the park. The road is closed during the winter months and opens in May. I arrived at the park’s south entrance where the lady in the entrance booth informed that the road had yet to open. But, I was in luck. It would open the next day.
I turned around and headed back south on 89 out of the park. I was looking for accommodations; something that was not too expensive, yet clean and familiar. I approached the T-intersection with highway 36. Do I go left or right; west or east? Well, I came from the west and I didn’t see anything there at all. I’ll try east I decided.