Lassen National Park June 2014

Reminder, click on any picture to see a larger version and start a slide show.

Tuesday June 17, 2014

Headed out of town up I-5 to Lassen National Park. I graduated from Chico State College and had not been up Hwy 99 in over 30 years so decided to make the trip going up Hwy 99. Lots of changes to the road over 30 years, some places looked the same others looked brand new.  I had checked on line and all the reserved campgrounds at Lassen were taken. The web site did say there were some first come sites. Decided to take a chance on getting a spot and found the park was far from full.

We entered the park from the south and were treated to spring time in the Sierra's.

The hills were covered with yellow flowers and the sky was that blue you only see high in the mountains. Puffy white clouds made it picture perfect.

Stopped at the visitors center and found the staff very helpful. Was told finding a camp site would not be a problem. It had been almost 30 years since Veronica and I had been to Lassen NP; that time with our two small girls. Normally this time of the year the road through the park may still be closed and if open would have tall snow banks on the side of the road. Not this year.

The two Summit Lake Campgrounds were closed until June 27th.  Guess the NP does not change the dates even if the lake and campgrounds were free of all snow. We stayed at  Manzanita  Lake campground 30 years ago and remembered it was very crowded. The only other open campground was Crags, we pulled in around 3:00 PM and there was only 3 other campers there. Got our site and set up camp. 

 I really enjoy our National Parks, they have so much to offer. With the Senior Pass you get in free and camp fees are 1/2 off  getting old is not so bad.  By 6:00 PM the campground was about 3/4 full. Almost everyone was tent camping, still the cheapest family vacation you can take. We had a camper  stop to ask about our FWC and how we like it. Before we could start dinner I gave a tour of our camper to someone who wanted to know about it.

Our first time using the new Coleman fold & go grill.

Grill did a great job on the rib steak. Our new DC fridge makes it so easy to take food you want to have. Veronica fried up some potatoes and we had salads from a deli in Chico.  Finished with a It's - It from the DC freezer. Now that is camping.










We had a campfire and stayed up watching the stars until 10:00 PM. The temps were dropping and the fire felt good in the cool Sierra night.  Turned on the heater and warmed up the camper as we were getting ready for bed. I have a programable thermostat and set it low at night and up at 6:30 AM as our alarm. The heater came on in the middle of the night to warm the inside to 40 degrees, I though how cold is it?  Checked the outside thermometer in the morning and saw the temp was 34 degrees. I does get cold in the high Sierra's.  The heater coming on was the only noise we heard all night.

Wednesday June 18, 2014

Today was our day to see the park. After our normal camping breakfast of yogurt, fruit and a muffin we broke camp and headed to the north end of the park.  First we drove through the Manzanita  Lake campground, the museum was not open yet.  We made the right decision to stay at Crags campground. Manzanita was full of RV's with generators and cords running to them. The spaces were also as close to each other as they could make them. The Loomis Museum was full of information and  we learned a lot about the park. One of the great things about National Parks is meeting people from all over the world. We had a nice visit with a family from Switzerland. They were on a 5 month trip. There are things the Europeans do better than the USA and holidays is the main one.

As we walked out to our first hike of the day was saw two people looking at the camper. Asked if we could answer any questions and spent 20 minutes telling then about the camper. We suggested they stop at FWC in Woodland on their way home to the bay area.  Now off to a short hike around the lake and to Lilly Pond.
 

Veronica crossing a log bridge.

We learned the types of lichen on the trees and rocks. I did not know that lichen breaks the rocks down to dirt. The cool morning was going away and it was starting to warm.











Lassen had some great picnic spots and we stopped at one for lunch.

Lunch by a meadow. Note shortly after this picture was taken the mosquitoes arrived and we moved away from the meadow to finish lunch.







Next stop was the Devastated Area, we could really tell how much the area had changed in 30 years from our last visit. Just a short walk around with an audio tour talking about the area.

Here we are sitting on one of the newest rocks in California. Rock was formed 100 years ago when Lassen last erupted.

Next stop the highlight of Lassen NP, Bumpass Hell.  As we pulled into the parking lot I spotted a Land Rover Expo vehicle. The owners were not around would have been nice to hear about their trip.

 

Just a little surprised they did not have a web site on the side of the Land Rover.











30 years ago we did this hike with two little girls. I think I carried one or both of them most of the way. This time just me and Veronica. Not sure how but the trail got a lot steeper in the last 30 years. Really felt the elevation on the hike. On the WTW site one member Ski3pins and his wife post their trip reports about hiking all over the Sierra's. After this only 3 mile hike I know I will not be keeping up with them. Their Blog was my inspiration for building this Travel Blog.

Veronica heading up the trail to Bumpass Hell

Way over there is our truck and camper.

Telephoto shot of the camper in the parking lot

There were 3 deer in a river way below the trail to Bumpass Hell. These were the only deer we saw on the trip.

Finally  we arrive at Bumpass Hell. It is the smell that you do not forget.  The views were worth the hike. Trail for the most part was full of people coming and going. 

The trail going down hill was much shorter that it was walking up hill. The park department web site says "Park trail crews strive to open the trail by Fourth of July weekend each summer, however actual opening dates vary with each year's snow pack."    This year you can see how little snow was on the trail. 

We stopped for a self portrait, the air was so clean and the sky was so blue. Just a great day in the High Sierra.







Our next stop was the Sulfur Works near the south end of the park. The road cuts right through the middle of the mud pots. The sulfur smell is very strong and if the wind shifts you will move to get away from the smell.

Looking down the valley from the Sulfur Works. This area like others in the park, at one time was a business selling sulfur.

Someone made a rock stack in the parking lot. had to take a picture. I wonder how long it lasted until some one knocked it over.










Part of this trip was a plan to drive the upper part of Hwy 49. I have never been above Nevada City on Hwy 49 and wanted to see what was there. We also had not camped in the Lake Almanor area, so we decided not to drive back into the park to spend the night; we headed south. Got gas in Chester and stopped at the Ranger Station to find out about camping. On their suggestion we drove to the NFS Lake Almanor campground. As we were setting up camp a couple pulled up on a Harley to ask about the camper. They had already been to FWC in Woodland and wanted to talk to an owner,  they had a lot of questions.

Our camp for the night at Lake Almanor. Very quite without anyone camping close. We had a campfire and after a day of hiking we slept well that night.

Found a rock to level the camper, did not need to get out the leveling blocks. It was another 35 degree morning and the heater got us up warm and toasty in the morning.

Thursday June 19th, 2014

After breakfast we headed south on Hwy 89 towards Hwy 49.  This is an area of California lost in time. Small towns like Greenville look like they came off a postcard.  The High Sierra meadows were green and full of cows. As we drove further south around Graeagle starts area the world had discovered. Golf courses  and resorts everywhere, big change in less than 50 miles. We drove by the Feather River Inn, it was part of UOP at one time. We stayed there when friends of ours were the UOP summer camp hosts.

As we turned on to Hwy 49 the road stared to climb and there was a scenic overlook. We stopped and spotted a lizard taking in the sun.

The view looking over Sierra Valley out to Nevada.









The drive down Hwy 49 was tight and full of great turns, wish I was on the motorcycle for this part of the trip. The views were fantastic as we went over Yuba Pass and started down the hill. The temperature also started to climb as we lost elevation. This is gold rush country and the small towns of Bassets Station and Sierra City were picture perfect. We stopped at Downieville for lunch.  This is a tourist town and we enjoyed looking at their museum and the small shops.

 The glass in the window was all clear when made but turned purple when exposed to the sun.

Whiskey was the drink in the gold rush.

Downie river runs through town.

One lane bridge, first come first over the bridge. No lights.

Main Street Downieville.

Had lunch here. Great fish taco.

Our last stop was at XPcampers in Nevada City. The picture below is their small camper just around $40,000 for this camper. Their large camper is around $80,000 the price does not include the truck. Maybe if I win the lottery. I had hoped to meet Andy (Lighthawk) from WTW and he said to give him a call when we got to Nevada City. Unfortunately he was tied up at a job site and could not come by XPcampers. We did have a nice tour of the two campers, the large camper was really nice inside more like a yacht than a camper.  From here we headed down I-80 to the valley and 100 degree heat. 

We had a great time on our trip to Lassen National Park. Next we want to do Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  Our National Parks are a treasure and camping is the way to see them. 

Big Sur May 2014

Remember to click on any picture to enlarge it and open a film strip.


We got out of town on Sunday and headed for Big Sur. Having never stayed in the area we did not know what we would find. Got several suggestions from WTW on what to see. Six weeks before we went to Pinnacles NP, the hills that were green then are brown and dry now,  Summer comes quick to the California hills. This trip repost will be heavy with pictures as everywhere you look in Big Sur looks like a postcard.

Our goal for the first day was to get to Kirk Creek NFS campground. We did not think it would be a problem finding a spot on a Sunday night. We got the next to the last spot and the last spot was gone as we registered.

Our campsite at Kirk Creek.

The drive over was Sunday light on traffic until we got to Carmel. Followed one BMW driving 30 mph or less for 20 miles.  You would think you were in disneyland with all the people on the road from Carmel to Big Sur. Just 30 miles and you are in a different world. Redwood trees, mountains and views of the Pacific. Big Sur is a resort area with prices to match. Gas was $5.99 per gallon! $2.00 increase from 30 miles ago. The Post Ranch Inn is in this area, you can spend over $2,000 per night there. We stopped at the Big Sur Bakery and Restaurant as we were told Nepenthe was too expensive but had a nice view. Two lunches with modest tip $40.00, one loaf of bread and two pastries another $20.00 I must be getting old, that is a lot of money.

From the Big Sur Bakery we drove 40 miles south to Kirk Creek and our stop for the night. You drop out of the Redwoods and down to the cliffs over the rocky shore. This is what everyone thinks of when they hear Big Sur.

The road is a great feat of engineering finished in the early 40's.  One of the great motorcycle roads in the world, just not on a weekend. Lots of slow traffic today. Decided to drive straight to the campground no where to park at the vista points anyway.

After we got camp setup took the trail to the very rocky beach.  The weather was picture perfect.

The trail got tight with wild flowers.

Some of the wild life we saw on the trail.

Down on the beach, Lots of Rocks

Wild life on the trail to the beach.

Sunset from our camp. We enjoyed the camp fire
as we watched the sun go down.

 

We enjoyed our stay at Kirk Creek Campground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday May 19, 2014

Our day to get out and see the sites of Big Sur without all the weekend crowds. We were up early and enjoyed the heater warming the camper. Breakfast and a morning walk to get the day going. The DC fridge is working just like a fridge at home, this was a good decision.

Saw a pop up camper I had not seen before.
A Shadow Cruiser on a first generation Tundra.

We headed up the coast to find Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Every turn out had a postcard view. Weather was
also perfect.

McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Sunday there was nowhere to park, on Monday no problem. I did not know there was no sand beach here until after a landslide in 1983 dropped so much sand in the ocean that a beach formed.

Overlook at McWay Falls just below the site of Julia Pfeiffer Burns house. You can still see the foundations. Their will required the house be torn down, what a shame. "In deeding Saddle Rock Ranch to the state, Helen Hooper Brown specified that the land to the west of Highway 1 should be "unmarred by further construction or out-of-place man-made improvements" and that the Waterfall House should be made into a "museum for the custody and display of indigenous Indian relics, flora and fauna of the

California coastal area, and historical objects pertaining to the Big Sur country."

If the house was not made into a museum within five years, it was to be razed. In the end, various obstacles kept the state from acting--a shortage of funds, competing museums, lack of easy access to the site. Five years passed, and in 1965 the house was torn down."

We headed up the road to find a place to get a campfire permit as we planned to camp at Prewitt Ridge a NFS dispersed campsite. Pulled into Big Sur State Park and got a campfire permit.

Had to take a picture of the fees to camp at Big Sur State Park. Looks like CA is using the "Because We Can" system of pricing. $50.00 to camp and you still have to pay for a shower. 

We did stop at Henry Miller Memorial Library, not what I expected. Like much of Big Sur had the old hippy feel to it. Next we were off to Pfeiffer Beach to find the purple sand.

This sign is not visible from Hwy 1. 

The road to Pfeiffer Beach is not marked from Hwy 1! We asked and were told the second right turn after Big Sur Station the road with the Narrow Road sign.

Two miles of one lane road and you reach the beach and pay $5.00 to park. We had lunch in the camper before walking to the beach. Lots of people for a Monday and windy. How windy?  We were told free skin abrasion at the beach.

Video of Veronica on the beach.  

The sea was coming through the rocks at the beach.

Someone once said to be old and wise you must first be young and stupid.  This young guy jumped in on a dare. He is on his way to being old and wise. On the way out he yelled don't do this.

The Purple Sand of Pfeiffer Beach.    

After being wind blown at Pfeiffer Beach we headed for Prewett Ridge in search of Sunman's secret camping spot.

On the way down Hwy 1 we went through a man made tunnel to keep the rock from blocking the road. Great job by Caltrans. 

We turned on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. 12 miles from Hwy 1 to Prewitt Ridge, 1/2 of the way on dirt roads. 

Some of the road was just graded. 

                         The dirt road.

The Fog or Cloud starts to come in.

We set up camp and the wind picks up blowing 30 mph plus. We were at 3,300 feet by the GPS.

The ocean was visible for about 10 seconds gone before I could get my camera ready.

Veronica did not like the weather or the camping spot. The fog was getting to thick to find Sunman's camping spot. Checking the time and map we decided to go down the mountain and check out Plasketts campground.  Plasketts Creek Road looked like the short way and what was shown on the Garmin as the fast way. After two miles we hit a locked gate! So much for the short way off the mountain. We turned around and headed back the way we came.  We were rewarded with great views as we drove out of the cloud. 

Found Plasketts to be nice green campground. Five truck campers in the campground most I have ever seen. Three large hard side campers, an Outlander pop up and our FWC. We settled in and had dinner, some of the best soup with Big Sur Bakery bread after a long day of driving. 

The next morning we were ready to head north and toward home.  Stopped at several of the vista points as we could park today.

Sand Dollar Beach 

 I called this poop rock. Click to see the birds. 

Stopped at the Bixby Bridge for pictures. On Sunday when we went by there was nowhere to park. 

The weather started to change at Bixby Bridge and the mist was falling. Had to put the wipers on by the time we got to Carmel.  Another fun trip in our Camper, hope you enjoyed the blog.