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!
