Days 95
Start: Lassen National Park south border
Finish: Hat Creek
Daily Mileage: 23.4
PCT Mile: 1370.8
We quickly came to the Terminal Geyser which was a quick side trail from the PCT. The Geyser was a thermal vent with steam billowing out of a stream, causing the water to bubble and spurt out. There was definitely the smell of sulfur, but way more muted than many of the volcanic sites I’ve visited. It was cool to see a different type of feature on the trail, and a good quick side trip.
The third nearby feature was the Drakesbad Hot Springs, but the facility for it was damaged in the Dixie Fire and it has not yet reopened. No joy there.
The journey across Lassen started off with a bang with the geothermal features, but it turned out that was all that was in store for us for the rest of the long crossing.
We climbed up and over a small rise and then continued on a mostly flat plain for the rest of the day. However, there was nothing really of interest on the plain, just many more burned trees. It was fast and easy hiking, but I would still have preferred seeing more unique volcanic features in the park; it was rather boring.
We stopped for lunch at a small lake which was about the last point of interest in the park. Then we just ground out the rest of the flat miles through the burnt forest. It was warm and dusty and fully exposed to the sun with no living trees for shade. There just isn’t much else to say about it. I ended up a bit disappointed with the route through the park.
We exited the park and continued in the burnt forest which gradually turned living as we descended. It was nice to have some shade for the last part of our day.
We arrived in camp early at 3:20, but didn’t need to go further or we would have been dry camping. With the miles we needed done, we stayed put. I took a dunk in the stream next to camp. It is astounding how dusty and dirty I get out here, especially in the burn areas. Everything is dead and dust and you end up covered in it. It was even on my legs above my knees, and I wear long pants on the trail.
Most of the hikers from last night camped in the area, and we had another dinner with Gang Signs, Angler, Bear Cage, Honeybun, El Chaski, and myself. An easy and relaxing 23 mile day.
