Bookworm Room

DQ is doing such a stunningly good job managing things here, I feel like something of an interloper dropping by during what is supposed to be my vacation.  Nevertheless, I’ve got a few minutes at a computer, so I thought I’d just make some notes from the road.

We spent the day in Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is part of the active chain of volcanoes peppering Northern California, Oregon and Washington.  We were pretty lucky to be able to visit the park, since the air was thick with smoke from the surrounding wild fires.  Lassen itself, however, was fire free and, by mid-day, most of the choking smoke had blown in some other direction, making breathing easier and expanding our sightlines.

We started the day by hiking to the top of Mt. Lassen itself, a five mile hike that took us from about 8,000 to about 10,000 feet.  I’m someone who takes her own sweet time adjusting to high altitudes, so I was wheezing like a freight train by the time we reached the top.  The kids made it all the way, but only after we shamed them by pointing to a six year old who was making the same hike.  They felt even more ashamed when, on the way down, we passed two young girls, almost at the summit, who had made the whole hike in flip-flops.  If you haven’t yet been to Lassen, you don’t realize what an achievement that was.  First, it’s really cold up there — probably in the mid-40s with the wind-chill factor.  Second, even though there is a well-defined switchback trail, there’s very little traction, since the trail is covered with small volcanic rocks.

My kids, who are strong and athletic, have not yet discovered stoicism.  I have to admit that I was of only moderate help in the stoicism sweepstakes today.  The hike exacerbated my bursitis and I was eventually weaving like a drunk at the end, since I could find any stability on that leg.  For those who have bursitis, you know how painful it is; for those who don’t — it’s painful.

Still, we did the up and down and then turned to the park’s second major attraction:  Bumpass Hell, which is a kind of mini Yellowstone.  A 1.7 mile hike through a little forest takes you to a canyon filled with fumeroles (the hottest in the world), bubbling pits of mud, and boiling pools of sulphuric water.  It’s absolutely gorgeous, and mystical, and simply a real treat for the eyes.  I reprised my drunken walk on the way back.

Now we’re in a small but clean hotel room, readying ourselves for tomorrow’s adventures:  Lava caves.  This is a very cool (formerly very hot) part of the world.  I will, if I can, keep you posted.

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