Lassen Peak (10,457 Feet)

Where: Lassen Volcanic National Park, Cascade Range, California
When: July 2008
Partners: DB
Route: Lassen Peak Trail (Class 2)
Mileage/Gain: 5/2,400

DB heading up the lower slopes of Lassen Peak
At the risk of sounding like an ass, Lassen Volcanic National Park kinda suct. But in all fairness, I was expecting far more than I got. For one, we'd recently come from the world famous Yellowstone National Park, where hydrothermal features are awe-inspiring and mind-blowing; Lassen's micro-features were only reminders of what significantly greater attributes Yellowstone possesses. For another, I'd for some reason expected Lassen Peak to be a mini version of snowy, elegant Mount Shasta. But it was not.
On the summit of Lassen Peak
Regardless, DB and I hiked up the trail one morning and soon found ourselves posing for pictures atop the highest summit crag. The smoky views across to nearby Mount Shasta were marginal.

TOPO