Lake Tahoe and Lassen Volcanic National Park

Flew into Salt Lake City an hour late and got to my hotel close to midnight. I was TIRED but up early to head west to Reno to hang out with my daughter Sara. She was there for work (STN Expo) and our timing couldn't have been better. We actually didn't plan that part; it just worked out.

We went to a Reno Aces baseball game that night, thanks to her company having a sky box, and had a fun night with the gang she works with. The next day, after she finished some work, we headed to Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America. With all of the fires burning in northern California and Oregon, it was a bit hazy on our drive but we still got some incredible shots of the lake. This was our first as we climbed up, up, up on our way there. 


We had plans to do a little swimming at Sand Harbor but I guess everyone and their mother were planning on doing the same thing so we continued driving and stopped at Zephyr Cove instead. What a spot!! The water is only about 65º or so and it took a bit of getting used to but it was perfect for the near 100º day. The water is incredible...so clean and clear you can see to the bottom as you swim further and deeper.

After our swim, some lunch and relaxing, we decided to take a drive AROUND the whole lake. Holy Smoke! What a drive! I wish the photos did it justice. It was one of the most hairpin turn, narrow road, steep drop drives I've taken and it was spectacular. Here's a map of Tahoe so you can see our path. We came down 431 from Reno and you can see Zephyr on the right. Then we went all the way around and back up to Reno.



View from Emerald Bay




I so wish we could have captured better photos but with the haze, it wasn't the easiest to really get the grandeur of the place, especially when we were WAY UP high looking down on Emerald Bay. It started clearing up as we came up the Californian west side and through Tahoe City. I need to come back and stay on the California side of the lake. That was our absolute favorite part! I totally get why people head to Tahoe for the weekend.


The next day, we were up early to beat the heat as we headed to California. We planned on visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park and it was over 3 hours away. It was a beautiful day winding up and down hills, valleys and mountains until we could see Lassen Peak in the distance. That is snow people!!! It was over 90º out so it just boggles the mind that there is still snow in the mountains.




Lassen Volcanic Park is filled with destruction and regrowth. The last eruption was just over 100 years ago and although you can see the green and trees, you also can witness the incredible chaos that was created that long ago. We did see some evidence of fires along the way.

Our first hike was down to Cold Boiling Lake. It was a beautiful hike down to this lake where carbon dioxide gas bubbles up along the edges of the lake. It's hard to tell in the photo below but there was a gentle bubbling with dragon flies flitting around everywhere.




We continued our journey around the park climbing higher and higher (the theme of my entire trip so far....elevation) witnessing the aftermath of a volcano.


You can see it here, one side a green forest, the other a path of an avalanche after the 1915 eruption that spread ash over 200 miles and shot boulders and rocks throughout the area for miles.


At this point we were over 8000 feet up with volcanic rocks strewn around us. We then made our way to Sulphur Works to witness some hydrothermal activity with a boiling mudpot and steam vents. How cool is that??!! You can't see the steam escaping the mound of sulphuric rock below but trust me, the smelly vapor was all around us. The mudpot was bubbling like a pot of water - Whoa!!



I took a video of the mudpot but I couldn't f'ing load it so here's a video I found online. This is exactly what it looked like. Bubbling away like crazy! So cool!



We made our way down and around the park and continued our way west to Redding, where we stayed for the night. Initially Lasses seemed a bit underwhelming until we really got into the park and explored the volcanic action going on. That, my friends, was pretty damned cool. Tomorrow, the Redwoods - another bucket list item to check off!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I did it!!! Final blogpost!

Image
You all know what it's like to come home after a long trip. This was a LONG trip! I really didn't miss home that much because, really, what's the point. I knew I was going to be gone for over 8 weeks and I put my energy towards being truly present wherever I was. I'd say it was when I crossed the line into the midwest (with only 5 days left) that I let the thoughts of home sneak in. I am so happy to sleep in my own bed. Why do so many people have extra firm mattresses. You might as well sleep on the floor! I'm so happy to cook my own meal and to walk around barefoot! Sigh! 13,031 miles (a palindrome), 30 states, 25 National Parks, countless hairpin turns, crazy elevations, defying my fear of heights, a multitude of conversations with people from around the world, local brews and food and endless beauty. I am so incredibly fortunate to be able to take such a trip. I worked hard to save the money by working 2 jobs, took the summer off for the very first time, pla...
Read more

Vancouver - Part 1: Chinatown, Gastown, Granville Island and Stanley Park

Image
I already know I wish I had stayed longer but I did pack it in while I was in the Vancouver area. Here's a map of Vancouver to give you some perspective on the places I visited while there. First, I'm staying in an airbnb west of downtown but a quick ride by bus. After I checked in and chatted with the owners (who are so lovely and welcoming), I hopped onto the bus that took me to the edge of Chinatown so I could walk around the city. It was warm and sunny out (in the 80's) but seemed so much cooler because it has been SO HOT throughout my entire journey. I zigzagged around Chinatown and stumbled upon the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. What a beautiful oasis inside a bustling city. It was the first garden of its kind outside of China with winding paths, rocks, water lilies, koi and turtles in the pond and pagodas nestled beside lush green plants. It so reminded me of my time in Taiwan. After the gardens, I continued to walk around Chinatown ...
Read more

Wow! Almost done! Michigan and Niagara Falls!

Image
Can you believe it? I'm almost done with this incredible adventure! After tonight, I have only one more night on the road. Wow! When I started, it felt so huge with over 8 weeks of travel and now I'm almost done. I am damned proud of myself, not just because I did this on my own but that I kept my energy and enthusiasm up the whole time. I only took 2 days off where I didn't drive or seek out adventures. I averaged over 230 miles a day! Yesterday I left Illinois and made my way up into Michigan to see the west coast. My good friend Jahn is from Michigan and she raves about this beautiful state. My first glimpse of Lake Michigan when coming around Indiana and up into St. Joseph was beautiful. It was a hot and hazy day but you still get an idea of how massive the lake is.  I then headed down to the beach to dip my toes in the lake.   I stopped at the classic carousel for a quick ride before heading down to the lake. It is so strange walking a hot...
Read more