While I haven't finished posting photos from our UK trip, I thought I'd step away from that project. A few days ago, we loaded up our hiking and fishing gear and headed off for a few days in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
As we have for many years, we stayed at
Drakesbad Guest Ranch. This remote location provides access to a number of hiking destinations, horse-back riding and a hot springs fed swimming pool. The ranch also offers rustic cabins and rooms, complemented by a kitchen staff that serves creative and tasty meals. During our annual summer trips to the ranch, we particularly enjoy catching up with other guests that visit the ranch during the same time every summer. This year, our younger daughter joined us for a couple of days.
The park was showing evidence of the continuing California drought. Lower lake levels were observed and the hot spring that feeds the swimming pool was somewhat of a dribble. With greater cold water entering the pool, the water temperature was noticeably cooler. Thus, I missed my pre-breakfast soak as the morning pool water was about 85 degrees rather than a more typical 95 to 100 degrees. The ten to fifteen degrees make a big difference when the morning ambient temperature is in the upper 40s.
Despite the drought, the streams didn't appear to be suffering as much as the lakes - at least for mid-June. I fly-fished nymphs in Hot Creek and caught/released a small rainbow trout.
We took a couple of hikes, including one to Terminal Geyser. On our departure, we drove through the park and stopped to hike up Lassen Peak. The trail-head parking lot is located at an elevation of 8,500 feet and the 2.5 mile trail reaches the summit at 10,500 feet. With a short break at the top of the peak, the round trip took us three hours and twenty-five minutes. This was about 15 minutes longer than my last hike up Lassen Peak trail, eight years ago. It was great to see the recent improvements made to the Lassen Peak trail. These enhancements were part of a five year "Reach the Peak" trail restoration project that completed at the end of 2014.
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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© 2015, R. Ono
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| Terminal Geyser, Lassen Volcanic National Park, © 2015, R. Ono |
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| Lassen Peak Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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| © 2015, R. Ono |
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