Wednesday 29 August 2018 Bumpass Hell is the usual geothermal attraction at Lassen, but this year it is closed for trail renovation, Devil’s Kitchen is the recommended alternative hike. The trailhead is a 2 hour drive from our campsite on the southern end of the park. One must drive out of Lassen, into the town of Chester and then proceed to the Warner Valley trailheads which are, of course, up
Tuesday 28 August 2018 The temperature this morning is a chilly 7.5 degrees Celsius. O fires up the stove for some coffee and we bake a Russian coffee cake which we enjoy with orange marmalade. After breakfast we proceed to the Loomis Museum which is very near our campsite. Benjamin Franklin Loomis was an amateur photographer who captured the 1915 eruption of Lassen on film. His photos and the eruption
Monday 27 August 2018 We breakfast at the motel and then drive to Sacramento to find yet another REI for a few more odds and ends. O and I realize that we are not only touring the country’s national parks, but also its REI stores. Next we find a Trader Joe’s to stock up on groceries. By now it is near 2 pm and we are both getting hungry. Since
Sunday 26 August 2018 As another damp misty morning dawns, we pack up our gear and hike 4.6 miles out to the Bear Valley Visitor Center. We pass back through mixed forest and a broad meadow. It takes only two hours to complete our hike. At the Visitor Center O explores the exhibits. He finds a model of the thick billed black bird that we saw at Wildcat Beach. It
Saturday 25 August 2018 We wake again to a grey morning with ocean mist hanging in the trees. After breakfast we pack a daypack and begin the hike over ridges and down to Wildcat Camp on the coast. It’s a cool morning. Both O and I are wearing extra layers. The gravel road we follow passes over hills, through trees, meadows and brushy areas, all perfect for birding. We stop
Friday 24 August 2018 Again we take our time, enjoying the morning as other campers pass by and wave on their way out. Last night we heard coyotes yapping. This morning we see several “invisi-bunnies” in the brush. I also see a doe and a stag bounding down the hillside. We finally leave our camp at 10 am hiking along the coast trail. At some points along the trail we
Thursday 23 August 2018 O and I are in no hurry this morning. It is only 4.3 miles to Coast Camp,mostly downhill. We rehydrate our matzah brei and sip 2 cups of coffee each. We are not on the trail until almost 10:20. I think I have packed more efficiently today. My gear fits in my Gregory pack much better. We begin today’s hike through a tall tree and brush
Wednesday 22 August 2018 After breakfast O and I return to the Bear Valley Visitor Center to obtain our back country permits. We park Vincent in the overflow lot, top off water bottles and shoulder our packs The hike to Sky Camp is not long, but on the way we accumulate 470 meters of elevation gain. We are grateful for the cool, moist air, but we are sweating anyway as
Tuesday 21 August 2018 We have breakfast at the resort: muffins, yogurt, fresh strawberries and coffee. After doing laundry at Olema RV Campground we drive to the Bear Valley Visitor Center hoping to get our back country camping permits. The ranger informs us that we must return tomorrow. Permits are only given out on the day of entry to the back country. O and I now drive north to see
Monday 20 August 2018 Pinnacles was very peaceful overnight. On the weekend almost every campsite was full. By Sunday night there are only about 5 sites occupied. O and I sleep very well in the quiet campground. We wake at about 7:30. By 9 am we are in Hollister for our last breakfast at Cozy Cup. Our drive to Point Reyes is smooth. It is much cooler near the coast.