We took pictures of Lassen Peak from the north. . .
...and then climbed it from mostly snow-free south sideCopyright 2007 Lydia Hinshaw
QUINCY, CA -- Mount Lassen hasn't erupted since 1921, which doesn't mean it couldn't at any time, according to information posted along the trail we took Wednesday.
The threat of a volcanic incident was the least of our worries when we set out to hike was was supposed to be a "strenuous" two and a half miles from a parking area at 8,500 feet to the summit at something over 10,000.
We were far more concerned about the altitude, the terrain and our lack of conditioning, after a summer in which we spent far too much time driving buses and not nearly enough time hiking.
We figured we'd be breathless in the first few steps.
And we were. But things got better. We hiked uphill for an hour, planning to turn around when we got tired. Then we came upon a sign that said we were only nine-tenths of a mile from the top.
All of a sudden this looked doable.
We made it to the top, where we met up with a fun bunch: half a dozen female members of a Weight Watchers group from nearby Redding, CA. They'd taken three hours to get to the top. We'd done it in two.
Among the others climbers we encountered were a 20-something couple who turned back after half a mile, and a bunch of red-faced, panting and complaining teenagers struggling to go up as we came down.
Prince Charming couldn't resist gloating to the kids that he was old enough to be their grandfather and he'd made it to the top.
I don't know whether they made it to the top or not, but I do know that Grandpa Prince was sound asleep by 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The threat of a volcanic incident was the least of our worries when we set out to hike was was supposed to be a "strenuous" two and a half miles from a parking area at 8,500 feet to the summit at something over 10,000.
We were far more concerned about the altitude, the terrain and our lack of conditioning, after a summer in which we spent far too much time driving buses and not nearly enough time hiking.
We figured we'd be breathless in the first few steps.
And we were. But things got better. We hiked uphill for an hour, planning to turn around when we got tired. Then we came upon a sign that said we were only nine-tenths of a mile from the top.
All of a sudden this looked doable.
We made it to the top, where we met up with a fun bunch: half a dozen female members of a Weight Watchers group from nearby Redding, CA. They'd taken three hours to get to the top. We'd done it in two.
Among the others climbers we encountered were a 20-something couple who turned back after half a mile, and a bunch of red-faced, panting and complaining teenagers struggling to go up as we came down.
Prince Charming couldn't resist gloating to the kids that he was old enough to be their grandfather and he'd made it to the top.
I don't know whether they made it to the top or not, but I do know that Grandpa Prince was sound asleep by 8 p.m. Wednesday.
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