Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, it sits at about 6,200 feet, and is the second deepest lake in the US. Its only outflow is into the Truckee River which then flows into Pyramid Lake with no outlet. The water temperature this time of the year is a balmy 68 degrees and is so clear you can often see up to nearly 70 feet below the surface. As we made our way counter-clockwise around the lake, we were able to stop near Sand Harbor to get an up close view of the crystal water.
After stopping in Tahoe City so Carolyn could purchase a memento, we headed to Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The place was pretty deserted since snow is nowhere to be found right now. 1960s era buildings are still around, mixed in with newer ones to accommodate those skiing at the site in winter.
Next up was the Donner Memorial State Park, just outside Truckee, California. Everyone knows the basic story of the Donner Party which tried to get to California having left Kansas City in the spring of 1846. By November, however, they got stuck trying to cross the Sierra Nevada. Out of the 87 members of the party, only 48 survived that winter. The site marks not only the struggles the Donner Party faced, but also all those who emigrated from the Midwest to California.
We made our way into downtown, historic Truckee and slid into Squeeze In for lunch. This was a funky little place right off the main road and we had the best table in the place as we were able to enjoy the breeze flowing in from the front door. With full bellies, we headed off north to Lassen Volcanic National Park.
I hadn't ever been to this park and wasn't sure what to expect. Honestly, I wondered if it was even going to be worth the trip there. Boy was I surprised! This park was AMAZING! Lassen Peak is one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world and last erupted in 1915. It's continually monitored and is technically still active. One of our first stops on the driving tour was Sulphur Works where boiling mudpots and steaming fumaroles gave a glimpse of the volcanic activity happening below the surface. The smell of sulphur was quite pungent and reminded me of Yellowstone.
Continuing on, we next saw a great overlook looking southeast which was followed shortly by Emerald Lake. Sitting just below Lassen Peak, this small lake had a gorgeous emerald green color with crystal clear water. Since the park was very empty today, we were able to really take our time and soak in the sight.
Next up was Lake Helen, the bigger sister of Emerald. To our surprise, just opposite the lake on the side of the road, a snow bank was still shimmering in the afternoon light. It was very odd to be able to hold a chunk of snow in my hand in early September. Shortly after Lake Helen, we hit the highpoint of the road - 8,500 feet.
I was in for a real treat at our next stop: Kings Creek. A short drive off the main road got us to the parking area for this amazing spot. I hiked off into the woods a bit along the creek and was very enthralled with the babbling creek, birds chirping, and evening sunlight bouncing off the trees just to the east. Words really don't do this spot justice. So peaceful, truly awe-inspiring, and totally worth some mosquito bites.
A meadow at the foot of Reading Peak was up next and just as we were leaving, we spotted two deer happily munching on grass in the 58 degree air.
We made it to Summit Lake as the sun was beginning to give off its "golden hour" light. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as the lake reflected the beautiful trees, both lit and in the shadows. Again, the water was crystal clear and we spotted a chipmunk and heard several birds squawking at each other. This area had two campgrounds with lots of folks tent camping. To be honest, it made me a bit jealous that I wasn't doing that myself.
An area of trees burned by the Reading Fire in August 2012 was our next stop. This was gorgeous in its own way, and somewhat artistic. Seeing the devastation with life returning demonstrates how resilient the forest truly is.
Hat Creek offered a place to view a small waterfall flowing beneath the main road with the back side of Lassen Peak in the background. The sun was beginning to set at this point and I must admit to being a bit chilled in my t-shirt and shorts!
As the sun began to sink behind the horizon, we arrived at Chaos Crags and Chaos Jumbles. Pine trees of all sizes were silhouetted nicely against the blue, purple, yellow, and orange sunset. The nearly quarter moon also added to the beauty of the spot.
Our final stop in Lassen was Manzanita Lake on the western side of the park. We arrived after sunset, but the western sky was still providing some nice colored light.
After getting into Redding, I introduced Carolyn to her first experience at In-N-Out Burger, which was not much to her liking! HA! A good night's sleep is definitely in order as we head north into Oregon tomorrow.
If you are ever in this part of California, you owe it to yourself to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park; it truly is a an under-appreciated gem of a place!
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