No blogging for me for a few days ~~ going to see Lila Downs tonight at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco (there's a nice, brief history of the PFA, here), and then driving out tomorrow morning to Lassen Volcanic National Park, about 3-1/2 hours northeast of Oakland. Lots of Californians have never heard of Lassen, much less been there, because it plays second fiddle to Mount Shasta (which is the second highest (after Mount Rainier) peak in the Cascade Range volcanoes). Ahh, but back to Lassen ~~ the heart of the park is the 10,457-foot Lassen Peak, the largest plug-dome volcano in the world (its last fiery eruption was in 1915, when it shot debris 7 miles into the stratosphere); Lassen Peak also marks the southernmost end of the Cascade Range, which extends into Canada. The eastern part of the park is a vast lava plateau more than one mile above sea level, scattered with small cinder cones. The park is filled with steaming thermal vents, hot springs, boiling mud pots, smelly sulphur springs, and towering lava pinnacles -- constant reminders that Lassen is still active. So, even though Lassen is second-fiddle to Shasta, it sounds amazing ~~ and besides, I always like the underdog. Since Mount Shasta is nearby, and because it's a little late in the season, Lassen will be pretty empty ~~ the Lake I am going to is more remote than the other campgrounds, so it will be nice to GET AWAY before I head out to Nevada to work on the campaign I might do the Bumpass Hell hike on Saturday, just cuz I like the name and the trail sounds scenic and easy to hike, and then check out Lassen Peak on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be around 77 during the day and 47 or so at night; so, skinny dipping in the lake by day, and shivering in fleece and a down sleeping bag at night ~~ my favorite kind of camping! I bought some fancy, "gourmet camping food" (a jumble of freeze-dried stuff in bags) at REI, like "Cheese Enchilada Ranchero," "Santa Fe Black Beans and Rice," and "Three Berry Cobbler" for dessert! For the hikes, I have Drunken Goat cheese, some Manchego cheese, Genoa salame, and olives, from Whole Foods, along with Asian Pears! haha, even in the wilderness I like my tasty/fancy food. So, if the bears don't get me, or I don't fall off Lassen Peak, or otherwise cause disaster on the drive home, I'll be back on Monday for more blogging, and hopefully can post some pics. Until then, check out the hyperlinks I provided for Lassen and see if you can visit! ~~ :)
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