Mt. Shasta and Crater Lake

    With our bags packed and loaded into the van by 8:30 AM, we were ready to hit the road. The beautiful, sunny, warm day caused the five hour drive to Lassen Volcanic Park to seem very short.
    When we arrived at the southwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park via I-880 N, I-80 E, I-505 N, I-5 N, CA-36, and CA-89. In Lassen Volcanic Park, the main attractions are the sulphur fields, the views, and the miles of trails for hiking. After the park entrance, the main road CA-89 climbs steadily, traversing steep terrain towards the Sulphur Works, one of the main geothermal areas in the park, and the only one adjacent to the road. There is a fierce-sounding steam vent at one side, and various hot pools, bubbling gray mudpots, fumaroles and small hissing fountains at the other. The soil around the pools and vents has been stained by sulphurous chemicals into many colorful shades of yellow, orange and brown. We only stayed a the amazing sulphur fields for 15 minutes because the putrid sulphur was to very hard to be around for more than a quarter of an hour. After this, the road twists and turns while climbing another 350 meters and passes two large tranquil pools, Emerald Lake and Lake Helen. Since we were all hungry, westopped at the Lake Helen picinic area and had a picnic lunch. After lunch the kids went down to Lake Helen, frolicked in the water and skipped stones. named in recognition of the first white woman to ascend nearby Lassen Peak. The park road reaches a high point of 8,500 feet (2,650 m) near Lassen Peak, then the land eventually becomes a little flatter and more forested, but still with many precipitous views into valleys below. Much of this area is part of a large volcanic plateau with cinder cones, lava beds, lakes and meadows. Beyond Summit Lake the road crossed the Devastated Area, land that was ravaged by lava and landslides resulting from the 1915 eruption of Mount Lassen. More volcanic damage is evident near the north entrance station at the Chaos Jumbles, a collection of large jagged boulders that resulted from a violent air-cushioned rock slide emanating from the nearby Castle Crags volcano, 300 years ago. This is close to Manzanita Lake, a popular spot for fishing and boating.