6.19 Cinder Cone, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Editor calls for rope as she struggles from crater floor Editor's dummy calls 911 as he struggles up cone Captivating painted dunes with sporadic trees, a real stunner--lava rock behind, then lake and mountains. We had no idea what to expect as we approached Lassen via a forest road. The entrance, at Butte Lake, is an unmanned and rustic path to this wonderful park. After walking and climbing for two miles, we found ourselves at the peak of a cinder cone. The going was tough as the cinder is soft, not allowing for a decent footing. However, after a 700 feet climb, one is in a ‘fairy land’. It is far better to allow the photographs to give one perspective of this amazing place as the views are so spectacular that our words would fall flat. Suffice to say, we were bowled over by the painted dunes; the walk down into the crater was a unique experience, which was followed by circumventing the top of the crater and the base of the cone, topped off with a walk in the wilderness sur...