Snow!
This is the 5th in a series of posts dealing with Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. You can find the first post titled Sulfur Works here, the second post also on Volcanic Activity here, the third post called Vegetation here and the fourth post titled Heroic Trees here.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is mostly the remains of a volcanic peak that exploded at least 50,000 years ago leaving only jagged peaks and volcanic debris behind it. In the last ice age (ended about 15,000 years ago) glaciers scoured the whole area.
Lassen currently does not have an active glacier but does have 14 permanant snow fields. The elevation is around 8000 feet (2400m) so there is snow here late in the season. I was in the park near the middle of June and I found lots.
Higher up in the park snow was common even though I was very comfortable in a T Shirt. I live in the desert so snow is a novelty for me even though I grew up in snow country. It's pretty when you don't have to shovel it!
Lassen has not very many year round streams but the park is dotted with small lakes like this one, Helen lake. Obviously very accessible as it is just off the road.
Helen Lake is a delightful little lake that was about one half ice free. I suspect that later on in the year it'll make a terrific reflection lake, and it wasn't bad for that in places.
The photos don't really do the lake justice, but you can see some of the reflective qualities in the glass still water.
I really need to come back to Lassen on my motorcycle. The road featured great pavement with lots of up and down and some serious corners. It would make a great ride, particularly with light traffic.
This is a spectacular place to ride. Connie is begging to go, I think I'll let her...
Thanks for staying all the way to the end. I really do appreciate it. In the next installment we'll take a look at some of the Geology and other features in the park.
All words and photographs in this post are mine. For better or worse.
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