September 7

Distance: 28.3 miles | Ascent: 4060′ | Descent: 2640′

Mile marker: 1309.4

Lunch: J – chili and rice (B), A – adobo penne (C-)

Dinner: J&A – eggs and hash browns (B+, B+)

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The temperature was in the 40s when we woke up next to our camp by a nondescript dirt road. This was our first cold night since Washington. Waking at colder hours will be a challenge.

The walk into Lassen Volcano National Park was cruisey. The trail was duffy and soft. The grade was manageable. And, a thin layer of clouds shielded the sun for most of the day. We had a sunrise view on Mount Lassen and walked through meadows and recovering forests.

National Parks sometimes provide trail amenities like boardwalks and solid bridges!

We ate lunch near a lake that was mostly spared by the fire that ripped through the park not long ago. Shortly afterwards, we crossed 1300 miles!

We detoured to view Boiling Spring Lake. Steam was rising from holes in the earth and the mud bubbled. It reminded us of some parts of Yellowstone. Perhaps the geology or chemistry is similar. We’re really not that far away.

We then took another side adventure to Terminal Geyser. More steam was spewing from holes all along the hillside and water was splashing violently in the stream. There were several deer in the area including a group of two does with three fawns. We were as polite as possible, but they still ran away from us.

The Boiling Spring Lake and Terminal Geyser detours were at the end of our day, and we began our way to the exit of the park as we approached sunset, needing to find a campsite. The southern end of the park was more burned out than the northern end. It’s not safe to camp under dead trees. They can fall without any warning. Instead, we made camp at a rocky outcropping above a lake just outside the park with no trees around. We made it there just after sunset and set up under the full moon rising on the horizon.