Lassen Volcanic National Park: Manzanita Lake Trail

Late afternoon stroll around Lake Manzanita with perfect light for some of Fred's best photos.

Lassen Volcanic National Park: devastation area

For 3 years from 1914 Lassen erupted and profoundly altered the impact area and in the devastation area, the 'new' rocks that are 100 years old just lie around.

Northern California: Lassen Volcanic National Park

Spontaneity has not been my strength, mostly because I love to plan and in fact I travel twice. Once when I plan and again when I am traveling.

Over coffee and an almond croissant in Reno, I looked at the map and saw Lassen Volcanic National Park, no research, 'just do it'.

What a win. Loved the drive.

Lassen Peak is one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world! Formed 27000 years ago, its a baby geologically and a beauty.

We have moved away from the Sierra Nevada's to the Cascades and it is fascinating to be right in the seismic zone, the Ring of Fire. This will be the first of many volcanoes we see.

On the approach road to Lassen Peak

View of Lassen Peak from the southern approach

At 10457' well above the forest line

Only Fred!

Lassen Peak from Kings Creek Meadow

Sky, rock, tree will be an enduring memory for me

Algae coloring Emerald Lake in the Park

Puddle Jumping, Northern California

We chatted to a young barista in Tahoe Lake and she shared the term 'puddle jumping' that Australian friends had used for traveling from place to place.

So here we are, puddle jumping for a week through Northern California.

Our first puddle appropriately was a mudpot from the Lassen Volcanic National Park.

As we approached the color of the sulfur buildup rock is evident and then the smell hits you too. The mudpot was bubbling aggressively from the snow melt. So fascinating to be this close and to appreciate the energy of our planet.

Mudpot visible at the base of the sulphur buildup.

Sulphur gases coming off the mudpot

Huge mudpot of Lassen Volcanic National Park

The landscape of Lassen Volcanic National Park being shaped by the sulphur eruptions over the eons.

Sulphur plume!