vacation--part 1

[cassidyrose]

Last week we headed north and spent four days/three nights in the Lassen area, then two more nights in Sacramento. It was a great trip, but admittedly, exhausting with the two kids, both of whom got varying degrees of sick (we came home, unpacked the car, went to the doctor and found out they both had ear infections). Still, we loved exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park, as well as McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. Lots of hiking which takes longer and is a bit more harrowing with a two and a half year old (we did no stroller, no carrier for him...he had to walk everything we walked). The most exciting part of Lassen for us was doing the hike to Bumpass Hell and back where we learned that hiking at ~8200 feet is no joke. We also explored part of the Ridge Lake trail, Sulphur works, and the Manzanita Lake area (S. was most impressed by the store there). We drive through the park a couple of times as well so we saw the lakes and plenty of deer and squirrels.

On the Tuesday of our trip we drove through Lassen National Forest and visited Subway Cave which is a .3 mile long lava tube. We all loved it, especially since it was about 50 degrees cooler inside than it was outside. L. just plowed ahead in total darkness with just his flashlight, happy as could be. We then drove to Burney Falls which was unspeakably hot anywhere other than at the base of the falls. The falls were amazing and I could have sat there all day. We did the trail that goes down to the falls then up around the rim and it was all gorgeous.

We stayed in the tiny town of Chester, south of Lassen NP and it worked very well for us. It was only 30 minutes into the south entrance to the park and the hotel was pretty nice and blessedly quiet. We watched the Olympics at night before bed.

The Sacramento part of vacation will have its own post. I am still working on processing my pictures (as many, and first time shooting raw), but here are a few that I am liking a lot.

Bumpass Hell....really like another planet


The most serene part of Bumpass Hell....amazing.


On the Bumpass Hell trail I made a squirrel-friend


Burney Falls


The creek at Burney Falls...this may be my favorite

Comments

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

These are all so very lovely, but I will confess to ADORING the squirrel one. :)

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Oh, I LOVE the squirrel pics!

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

May I suggest submitting that to the LJ photophile community? I could see that one being put in the weekly poll for best photo. :)

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

I will have to check that out. Here is another of that same squirrel:
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessica_erin/7729210136/)

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

They are both fabulous. Would you mind if I made some icons using these? They are just so adorable.

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks...so glad you like them! I would rather they not be made into icons though as they are actually part of my more serious photography efforts.

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

Sure. They are lovely photos and are great parts of a collection.

[zahraa]

I'm really impressed that L. hiked down to Bumpass Hell and wasn't afraid of the darkness in the cave--what a little adventurer! zyxwvut and I did the Bumpass Hell hike in, I think, 2003, but, even though it was late July at the time, it was very cold and heavy rain was pouring. We couldn't see the mountain at all, and the lakes were still mostly frozen over that year. We did enjoy Bumpass Hell, though, even in the rain, but it'd be nice to do it again in better weather.

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

He was a trooper on that hike, for sure. It did take us longer than anticipated due to his little legs. t was hot when we did it and quite sunny. We got great weather for our trip.

[lightning-rose.livejournal.com]

Did you happen to hike to the headwaters of Burney Falls?

I'll say more when I emerge from hiding (really!)

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

We just hiked the basic falls loop trail. That was about as much as the kids were going to take that day. :) I am assuming you've been?

And what are you hiding from?!!

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

lovely shots! I particularly love the framing you've done of the falls.

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

These photos make me want to plan a trip there!

[zahraa]

It's also an unusual hike in that it goes down on the way out and up on the way back. You have to plan your energy for the way back, and that would be really hard for him to do!

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when we got to the end of the trail, near the boardwalks, both kids fell a number of times due to the steepness. I was kind of disappointed at that descent because I knew we'd have to go back up! But the rest of the way back was easier as that has a slow descent.

[tracytreefrog.livejournal.com]

Amazing my fave are the falls and the squirrel .

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks!