Bumpass Hell

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.


One furnace, one system. (Click image to enlarge).

Molten rock - magma - lies miles below your feet. The magma that is chambered there is the same that fed the eruptions of Lassen Peak and other dacite-dome volcanoes like Bumpass Mountain. The magma super heats a reservoir of groundwater deep within the Earth. Steam, as hot as 464 F (240 C), rises and condenses into water again, mixing with percolating groundwater nearer the surface. The mixture produces sulfate water that escapes through park hydrothermal features at temperatures about 200 F (93 C).

Bumpass Hell is the largest "escape valve" for the underground boiler or hydrothermal system and is the main upward vent. Lesser upward flow emits at Sulpher Works, Devil Kitchen. Boiling Springs Lake, and Little Hot Springs Valley. One furnace, one system.


Pictures taken July 28, 2008
Total Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km)
Elevation Gain: 300 feet (91 meters)
Description: Moderate hike over rocky terrain with grand vistas. The trail drops into an active hydrothermal.


Wonder girl Sarah at 8 months, 2 days old.


Wonder boy John at 2 years, 4 months old.


Hot stream!


Bumpass Hell contains boiling springs, mudspot, roaring fumaroles (sulfurous steam vents).
Here, it sounds like a busy airport runway.


Steve/Daddy & Sweet Sarah.
Steve/Daddy proudly takes his turn to carry Princess Sarah.


Caution: Stay on boardwalks and trails. People are severely burned each year when they ignore this caution. Dangerous boiling water and steam may be at or near the surface.


Boiling mud pot.





Steam escapes from fumaroles.


Best time to visit June to October.


It's boiling!


Look closely.


The bank of East Pyrite Pool.








We look forward in returning here in a couple of years.

Next year summer vacation will probably be at The Grand Canyon & maybe Alaska too.


Soon it will be time to retrace our steps back to the parking lot.


John hiked all the way to Bumpass Hell and all the way back to the parking lot!

Lassen Volcanic National Park, is filled diversity!
We had an awesome Summer 2008 Vacation!

Sulphur Works

Pictures taken July 18, 2008.
Sulpher Works, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA


Caution!

Sulphur Works is dynamic geothermal area. Magma deep below the surface is heating surrounding rocks and water. Steam, gasses and water finds their way to the surface through cracks in the crust and form features like this boiling pot of water. As the water table lowers throughout the summer, boiling water change into mudpot or dry up. As conditions change, features shift thus making this area dynamic and unpredictable.






Sulphur Works also known as "Supan's Springs"


Time to go!
Next stop Bumpass Hell.

Time to check in

Pictures taken July 17, 2008. Hopefully the smoke will clear up by tomorrow.
Mineral Lodge, Mineral, California
Located 9 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park!


The motel room were clean, peaceful and the staff very helpful and friendly.
No T.V.'s or phones in the rooms, which was perfectly okay with us. =)


John is happily entertained.


Sarah waiting for her dinner & bottle. Time to walk over to Mineral lodge Restaurant.


John guarding Sarah's bottle, while he sips his Root beer.


Hey, pass me my bottle please...

(Sarah teething on her thumb).


It's time to go to bed. Going to be a busy day tomorrow. =)

Good night all!

One more road stop for the day...

Picture taken July 17, 2008.
to stretch our legs, before we check into room at the lodge.

Uncle Runts Place

Picture taken July 17, 2008 - Closed.

We just stopped here long enough to snap this picture.

Lassen National Forest, CA - Subway Cave

Pictures taken July 17, 2008.
Season Of Use - Cave is open late May through October. Closed during the winter months.


John standing at the entrance to Subway Cave.
(Devil's Doorway).


Devil's Doorway (Click on image to enlarge it).

Although the outer surface of the lava flow cooled and hardened rapidly, the inner lava was insulated from the cold air like coffee in a thermos bottle, and it remained fluid and continued to flow.

This inner molten material kept moving and soon drained out of its shell. As it continued to flow it left behind a dark hidden tunnel.

Only when the roof collapsed did the lava tube open. The jumble of rocks below was once the ceiling of the Subway Cave.

Continued down the stairway to the guided stops in the interior of the cave. Follow the map and read the descriptions.


John waiting for his flash to be handed to him.

Visibility is zero. Take a dependable flash light with you.


Wind tunnel.
Height varies from 6 to 17 feet.


The Sanctum
Length - 1,300 feet of winding lava tube. The total trail length is 1/3 mile.


Roof thickness varies from 8 to 24 feet.


Rattlesnake collapse
So close to the Subway Cave exit.


Lava bubble inside the cave.





Please treat all caves with respect as these fragile formations are easily damage.

"Cave softly and leave no trace of your visit"
Quote by - The Virtual Cave


Exit this way...
John loved climbing up and down these stairs.


A view from above the Exit Stairs Subway Cave.


Time to Hike back to our car.

We still have to check luggages into our hotel.

More of Natural Bridge.

Pictures taken July 16, 2008.
After visiting Crater Lake, we decide continuing our daily adventure at Rogue River Gorge .


We will certainly return here, when our children much older.


Natural Bridge is absolutely gorgeous!