Mt. Lassen Volcanic National Park - Part I

[create_destiny]

400,000 years ago there was a volcano that erupted and almost completely destroyed itself. What's left of this volcano is called Mt. Lassen and its peak stands 10,457 feet above sea level in the northeastern part of California. It exploded big time in 1914, some of which was caught on film. It's still geothermally active: brewing, bubbling and spittin' out steam and sulpher. Some areas of Mt. Lassen are reportedly getting hotter, which means it's likely to erupt again in the future.



Mt. Lassen is mostly quite heavenly: steep glaciated valleys, clear mountains streams and lakes surrounded by lush pine forests and fields of wildflowers.

But when the boyfriend and I went there with metalgypsy and whosplittheatom, we checked out the hellish parts...



There once was a man named Kendal Bumpass. He loved to wander in Mt. Lassen's hydrothermal areas. Then he stepped in a boiling mud pot and lost a leg. After that he didn't like it so much. In fact, he said it was a descent into hell. People couldn't help refering to this area as, "Bumpass Hell." Let's hope, dear readers, you will never have an entry way into hell named after you!

Bumpass Hell [below]



From what I understand, this is a fumarole [below]. Fumaroles are vents that let out volcanic gases emitted by magma cooling at great depths.



Sulfuric acid eats the rocks and leaves behind a white, powdery mixture of silica, kaolinite and aluminum.



A mud pot is the intermediate phase between a fumarole and a boiling spring.



I do not want to lick these boiling mud pots. I do not want to marry them or hump them or have their hissing, sulpheric little magma babies. I do not want this Sam I am.



Scorched earth.



Mt. Lassen Volcanic National Park - Part II - "Subway Caves" coming to a friends page near you...

Comments

[angry-man.livejournal.com]

Nice pictures.

[langatmig.livejournal.com]

Aw, Mt. Lassen. I have a photo of me standing in the brush in front of that same scene with the peak in the background. How refreshing - I loved it there.

[thedeepgreensea.livejournal.com]

Wow! Those are great pictures. Is that in northern California? It looks about cool as fuck.

[honeywoney.livejournal.com]

Excellent post! I love Lassen. I know, I know, I told you I don't go east of the Coast Range, but I've been a handful of times to Lassen and have enjoyed it's geothermal activity! I didn't know it was recorded as getting warmer recently - how exciting!

I've hiked Lassen to the top, stayed at Drakesbad and Hat Creek, saw Burney Falls, and hiked all-around. It's sooooo beautiful. There's a Wild Horse Sanctuary that makes for a nice sidetrip on the return home: http://www.wildhorsesanctuary.org/

Sorry if you know all this - I just got a little excited over your post - I needed the wonderful break from cubicle hell.

[thejuicyone.livejournal.com]

wow,you're so lucky!

[soopageek.livejournal.com]

Nice pics. I've driven through the Lassen area a few times, but knew nothing of its geological history.

rocks that rock you

[lcurtis.livejournal.com]

So now I'm thinking Mt.Lassen and not the Red Woods. You got your self a California book going, don't ya know.

Wow!

[lcurtis.livejournal.com]

Hi Babe,

I loved the bump ass pass, too! I find it ironic that the volcano exploded in 1914 because that was the year your grandma was born. She always was a hottie! Can we go there, too? We want to see it all! Love ya lots, Mom