Lazarow World-Hike-About

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...

Listen to the silent, still water Our muscles are complaining again . Time to ease off a little as we move slowly towards Lassen Volcanic National Park, home to all four types of volcanoes. This is important to know. Should one of the four explode or in fact, any number of them, we would like to know what type ‘killed’ us. Knowledge is very important. We left Dunsmuir heading south east passing through McCloud, Burney, Hat Creek , finally arriving at Old Station. Often, we have no idea where we are but we have a fondness for most of the places we visit. There are so many truly beautiful areas that one sometimes gapes in awe. As we stay in different establishments on a regular basis, we now consider a successful day to be one in which both of us find our way to the bathroom during the night without bumping into anything or should we be in relay mode, each other. Burney Falls, both barrels open We arrived at the Hat Creek Inn , which you would think is in Hat Creek but actually i...

First sighting after nearly two miles stiff incline Mushroom Cloud 'outside of New Mexico' Jenni on path to Dome The manager, Shawna, ‘dragged’ us ‘out of the Inn’ yesterday as she needed room for a crowd from England and Spain. Many people visit Shasta for the vortex, the energy, the ‘light’ and probably a host of other reasons. We lack many attributes but are not without a spiritual side; we seek it from a different source. Nevertheless, in this region as in so many others, our spirits soar and our energy levels drain. Perhaps we too, should be looking for more energy. Our editor mentioned that less hiking would conserve it—there you are. We hope she is joking because after a night’s sleep, we are raring to go…back to sleep. Seven nights at the Inn in Shasta and we needed one more so we could enjoy our final hike in the area making it six, a full-house. ‘No room’ so we traveled six miles south, arriving in the town of Dunsmuir. The town itself may not be a world wond...

After a rough Saturday night, the 'lady' is not herself. There is always a beginning--here comes the editor 'Welcome to Lake Helen, throw a log on the fire, one whiskey coming up, double of course' Looking down snowfield towards Shasta City & mountains beyond “Pack a swimsuit and towel , we’re going to the lake today,” our editor commanded. “Where?” We wanted to know. “Should we take the red one as well as the blue in case we do a lot of swimming?” “Seeing you only have one with you, Smart Alec, take it. We are climbing to 10,400 feet with an elevation gain of 3,600 feet, a distance of eight miles round-trip. By that time, you will be sweating profusely; the water will be inviting presuming you make it. Good idea?” A view of the peak—coming over a crest After learning the terminology from the southern gang the previous night, the wedding party guests we mentioned, we nearly exclaimed, ‘Yee-haw’. However, we are not ready to be a Texan just ye...

After this hike, we were having some fun on other boulders: Click on pics to get the idea. Jenni appears anything but edgy The flying Jew over lovers' leap Back to the regular hike: Jenni at Summit of Mount Eddy with Shasta in background. Click on pics for perspective That's only the first part? Another 1,000 feet after that? Get yourself another partner. We remember not once but on two occasions when our dear editor called us, inter alia, a ‘wuss’. For those who are not familiar with such coarse and uncalled for language, she was intimating cowardice as we stood on a ledge quivering—we did not feel that brave. Sometimes it happens, particularly in the earlier days. Yesterday, when we thought she called us a ‘weed’, our patience was beginning to wear thin. How much ‘name-calling’ is a person expected to take. It is with relief that she explained that the hike selected was close to the town of Weed. This made us feel much better but we still wondered if she was ...