8/8/17 A Blast of Winter

August 10, 2017

Our climb down the Cascades ended today with Mt. Lassen.

The southernmost volcano in the Cascade chain has eluded us on every trip west because we were too faint hearted to face the heat of the valley bordering it. This trip, we have been tempered by days of 100 degrees, so we went in.

A hot start propelled us toward one of the 2 volcanos in the Cascades that has erupted in the 20th century, Mt. St. Helens being the other. As soon as we started to climb in elevation, we were bathed in refreshingly cool air. Drinking in the climate and the scenery, we settled in for a super ride.

The first signs of devastation appeared as we caught sight of the ruined mountain and the lava and rocks strewn at its base, miles away. Eruptions from 1914-1917, decimated the area around the peak. Now a few trees bravely push through the debris, proving that nature can conquer all. Again, signs of recent fires from causes other than lava, spotted the terrain.

Summit Lake hosted our picnic with water so clear, you could see fish swimming from 20' away. Bug free and a perfect temperature kept us content until thunder echoed off the mountain and we knew it was time to escape.

Rising in altitude, we scaled the slopes with a series of heart stopping switchbacks. Then Winter came! First small patches of snow appeared, and suddenly we were riding between recently plowed drifts. Still sucking in all the cool we could get, we thrilled at the 50 degree drop in temperature. Past a few brave souls sledding on an unstable hill, we climbed even higher. Icy lakes skated by and the summer melt slid onto the road, keeping Jules and Rascal very busy.

On the descent, the landscape took an about face. Famed for having the largest lava dome in the world, Lassen's still active guts spewed sulfur into boiling mud pots. Hydrothermal ground creating yellow mounds steamed around us. We had been transported to another planet!

Fierce storm clouds followed us out of the park as we tried in vain to hold the coolness of the mountain in our bodies. Our ride to Susanville felt like we were being blasted by a giant blow dryer. But soon we were artificially cooled and any discomfort we had was over weighed by the experience of formidable yet beautiful Mt. Lassen, a National treasure with few in attendance.

We have crissed and crossed this vast continent and traveled many roads, some repeatedly. Plotting our travels, we sometimes are hard pressed to find new territory. But, then we stumble on a lonely trail, a quiet lake or like today, a solitary ride through a geological wonder. Then we realize that there is so much left to explore and our journey has just begun.