Saturday 1 September 2018
Today we drive 34 miles to the north side of Lassen Volcanic Park to climb Cinder Cone, our 3rdvolcano in as many days. This is a 7 mile loop hike, up the cinder cone, around its inner and outer rim, then down the opposite side, past the Ah-ah lava and the Painted Dunes and back to where we began. It seems as if it should be relatively easy after climbing 2000 feet or more over each of the past two days, but the route is deceptive.
The drive along 89-44, then along 44, and then almost 7 miles up a gravel forest road takes about 45 minutes. The Butte Lake picnic area is the start of the hike. We pick up a brochure with some explanations corresponding with numbered posts along the beginning of the trail. Using carbon 14 dating, it has been determined that this volcano erupted in the mid 1600’s. There are large fields of rough Ah-ah lava surrounding much of the base. The climb from the parking area to the rim of the cone is about 700 feet, but once at the cone, the trail rises at a steep 35 degree angle. The path’s surface is loose cinder and gravel. For each step up, we slide a half step back. We start the steep climb just as a British family with two little girls begins their climb. O and I slowly make our way upward. I keep glancing back and seeing the little girls walking up with apparent ease, holding their daddy’s hands. He has promised them lunch on top of the volcano, our goal as well. O and I make good use of our trekking poles, using them to check our backwards slides. We finally reach the trail around the top of the outer cone. What a fantastic view! In the far distance we can see Lassen and Brokeoff peaks. Part way around the rim walk we meet the British family and compliment the girls on their climb. Mom thinks the climb was harder for her than for the girls, so we compliment her as well.
O and I drop down to the inner rim to get a better look at the crater. There is a path leading down, but we are ready for lunch. As we glance down again,we see the dad and the two girls descending into the crater!
After lunch on the rim, we descend the opposite side of the volcano. The trail seems a bit steeper and narrower than the one we climbed up. As we slip and slide down we have a great view of the Ah-ah lava and the Painted Dunes. After about 100 steps O and I are ready to be at the bottom, but there is still a long way to go. We finally reach the base of the cinder cone and walk the trail around the south side, skirting the Painted Dunes as we go. The path continues through deep cinder and gravel. We walk through the stark scenery and complete the circuit. Then we head through the forest back to the parking area.
