Joshua Tree National Park, California

The campsite.

Our view before we set up camp here. Beautiful.

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!

Joshua Tree National Park the next day.

Picture taken June 10, 2007. Rayon mountain area


Just look at that tree.


Turbinella oak trees at Baker Dam area.
More common names: Shrubs live oak, Scrub oak, Tucker's oak.


Loney tree up so high.


Another view of Baker Dam area.


John our junior explorer.


Baker Dam area. I wonder what the view looks like from up there.


June 9 and 10, 2007. Despite the heat, we really had a good time visiting Joshua Tree National Park to see its picturesque beauty.


More rocks & Joshua trees.


We will definitely be visiting Joshua Tree National Park more often.


Coming soon pictures from our brief visit at Ludlow, California.

Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia)

Common names: Joshua tree & Yucca palm
Family: Agavaceae
Genus: Yucca
Species: Brevifolia


Some Joshua Trees do not flower annually. The fruit of the Joshua Tree is green and brown, and is 2.5 to 2 inches long. Soon after the Joshua Tree Tree's fruit matures in late spring, it will fry and fall off the branches. When the fruit falls it lets off many flat seed.

Joshua Tree National Park

Near end of the day at Joshua Tree National Park.
Jumbo rocks and beyond.

All pictures here taken on June 9, 2007

The weather was a little on the warm side, but nice.

Joshua tree in front of one of the Jumbo rocks.



A view around Jumbo rocks.

It's real peaceful here.


The view around here is awesome.


It's amazing the texture & color.


More Jumbo rocks.


It's so big! The Joshua tree is just dwarfed by the Jumbo rock.


I love geology, it turns me on. One of my many passions.


Interesting...


Skull rock


Maybe about 10 miles from Jumbo rocks.


Another beautiful sunset with my loving husband, wonderful son John & love sprout. (Baby)

Coming soon part 2 of our family road trip.