California - The Golden State
Since Andy and I were both raised in California and were still living there, we had spent many vacations visiting tourist attractions like Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sequoia National Park, Malibu, San Diego, etc. We even lived for eleven years in Santa Barbara. So where should we go now? We decided to divide our California time into two locations that are endemic to California life and culture: one on the coast and another in the mountains. So, we headed south to Laguna Beach for a long weekend at a Marriott resort. The weather was perfect, as it so often is in southern California, and I remember relaxing by the pool, eating lots of good food, and wandering around the downtown area visiting shops and galleries. We spent part of one day at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, where I bought a necklace of silver, coral and pearls in the gift shop. It was handmade and signed by a local artisan. Twenty years later I still love to wear that necklace. There was nothing earthshaking about this part of our California visitation but the enjoyment we experienced is representative of why so many people like to vacation in southern California.
For the mountain trip, we ventured to a place we had never been, in part because it is in the far northern part of the state: Lassen Volcanic National Park. We had always wanted to come here, but distance and ruggedness of the area had kept it from being a priority…. until now! We came with friends who like to hike as much as we do and set out to have an adventure.
Lassen was established as a national park in 1916 because of its significance as an active volcanic landscape. Lassen Peak began erupting in 1914 and had activity until 1921. It is possible to drive fairly close to the peak, and it is there that the hearty can endure the 2.3-mile hike to the summit, which is at 10,457 feet. That’s a short distance, but the altitude makes it feel longer, even though the multitude of switchbacks make the incline moderate. It was hot when we started, but a brisk wind made it cold at the top, where there were patches of snow and ice. We ate our lunch seated on the rocky summit from which we could see multiple lakes and mountain peaks, including Mt. Shasta.
The park’s lava came from many vents, including Lassen Peak on Mount Tehama’s northern flank. What is known as the Devastated Area illustrates the slow but relentless return of Earth’s green mantle of plants and trees, but many areas of the park were completely denuded by the volcanic eruptions. The day after our climb to Lassen Peak, we hiked into the Lassen geothermal area – Sulphur works, Bumpass Hell, Little Hot Springs Valley, Boiling Springs Lake, Devil’s Kitchen and Terminal Geyser. These areas are filled with bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles and boiling water. As we walked carefully along the trails, we heeded the caution signs and didn’t get too close. Oh, and yes, the smell of rotten eggs was overwhelming. It was magical to see, also a little spooky, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near there if there was another eruption.
We stayed at a charming B&B called Bidwell House in Chester, southeast of the park but close enough for easy access to the trails, lakes and other opportunities for adventure and exploration. As of this writing, Bidwell House is still in operation, but part of Chester has been evacuated because of the Dixie Fire. (Devastating wildfires, unfortunately, are currently a part of the California landscape and culture due to climate change.)
We were very happy with our destination choices for California since we were nearly lifelong residents; but if you have not spent much time in California, you need to allot at least two weeks or more. The beauty, diversity and the sheer size of California – including its cities, beaches, mountains, national parks, redwood trees and more – deserve a thorough exploration.
