Re: Lassen -- the top of the Sierra?

Last weekend the weather in Lassen Volcanic National Park was perfect--warm in the sun, cool in the shade. But we were surprised by the amount of snow: they had just opened the road through the park the week before, and snow levels were still around 7500 feet on the trails. Which meant that we tried to hike up from the Devastated Area to Terrace Lake, only to get turned back by heavy snow at about 7400 feet on the north side of the ridge.






About here we decided that it might not be worth continuing. We lost the trail and the snow slopes were getting pretty steep up ahead.



We also hiked down Hat Creek through the Reading Fire area...which was sad and sobering....and to the Devil's Kitchen out of Drakebad, and up Manzanita Creek. Lots of great hikes in this park. We'll go back later this year for a backpacking trip in the eastern part.



Rangers were recommending crampons for anyone climbing Lassen Peak itself (10,400.)




Hat Creek Cascade



Still, this is an amazing park that gets very little traffic and attention. And nice to see all that snow feeding the streams and rivers!

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Thanks for sharing! Have only been to Lassen once but loved it! Would actually look to go back and backpack around Lassen Peak during winter. Snow levels there looks phenomenal!

Nice pictures, thanks.

I thought Lassen was the "bottom of the Cascades" rather than the top of the Sierra, with the Sierra "ending" somewhere around Lake Almanor.

Yes, thanks for the report.

Quote
ttilley
Nice pictures, thanks.

I thought Lassen was the "bottom of the Cascades" rather than the top of the Sierra, with the Sierra "ending" somewhere around Lake Almanor.

You are correct. The northern terminus of the Sierra Nevada is indeed under Lake Almanor/Fredonyer Pass.

I hiked Cinder Cone a couple weeks ago and that was free of snow and empty plus an amazing spot. That side of the park doesn't hold onto snow like the main area of the park does.

Love the view from Cinder Cone! We did it last August in 100+ weather on a backpacking trip. We went back to the car after summiting haha. How are the lakes looking like around Cinder? They were pretty low last year.

Did the Cinder Cone in August last year too. Smoky but still amazing...

Too smoky for Lassen Peak

Sweet photos Balzaccom, thanks for the report. My wife and I love Lassen.

And since this has sort of devolved into a "Cinder Cone Appreciation" thread..........

Nothing like grinding up the trail through all the loose cinders



But the view from the top is pretty cool....... my wife making her way across the cone with Lassen in the background