Pictures from The Devastated Area

“I just got home from a quick trip into the Devastated area in Lassen
Park. I got into a rather lengthy conversation with the Ranger and
didn't hit the parking lot till around 12:30. Usually the window for good skiing is between 10:00 and 12:00...but today it was perfect at 3:00 pm...fantastic run down.

There is more snow at the parking lot then I have seen in years.
Next 10 day we do (12th) will be at Paradise Meadows....not to far
from here. Great camping and terrific views.

Devestated Area 4-2-04
”

“Whoa....

(?)”

“Sweet pics Steve! It looks like you picked a fabulous day.”

“Looks like you had a wonderful day Steve! Great pix!”

“Niiiice.”

“ha ha screw that...im already basking in 70+ weather and the 80-90 is just around the corner....snow sucks!!!”

“What's the matter shep....too cold for you? Snowcamping is da bomb :)”

“Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Spring skiing is THE BEST!


shep...I dont know where you live, but around here we often ski in shorts and the women wear bikini tops. We do a couple runs and head back to the truck for a beer or two, then head up again. Sometimes we find some nice rocks and sunbathe for an hour or two.

Life is tough ;-)

Oh yea, yesterday was almost 80 and I was wearing shorts.

I have to go in for a couple days of work tonight, but you better believe I'll be back up there for more skiing this coming Thur or Fri!”

“killer”

“well in atlanta when it snows that means its balls freezing cold to me...dont like it and dont want any more of it...”

“I was a little confused in my initial post, LOL

I'm not familiar with that place name --- and from the pics it looked like there'd been an avalanche!

Then you were all talking like it was a good thing....”

“OK, now I understand the (?) lol

Taken from an article in The American Southwest...

"Lassen was dormant for 400 years, but then erupted in May 1915, following a year of sporadic emissions of ash and gases, and produced a 1,000 foot lava flow that melted large amounts of snow and caused rock avalanches. Several days later the peak exploded and a huge cloud of debris was projected 7 miles upwards; this was accompanied by more lava and gaseous blasts that devastated a large area northeast of the mountain."

This area offers some great spring skiing when they open the road into it. Usually the first weekend it's open, groups of hard core tele skiers meet there to be the first to ski off Lassen. It also is a great time to climb Lassen...just don't attempt climbing the North Ridge to the summit. Only a couple people have done it....and it almost killed us...LOL

The route to climb it is the same the tele skiers use, up the North Ridge, then traverse South to the summit BELOW the actual rim.

What I love about this area, is you can camp a 1/2 mile from your rig...this offers endless possibilities for hauling in the essentials of Spring camping, like... lawn chairs, coolers, B-Q's, beverages...you know, the essentials.

In the old days, we use to hold rather large gatherings up there. We had snow caves with 5/6 rooms, 10/12 tents and even a race. (First one to get to the truck won a bottle of Brandy) We had to stop it when the local T.V. station sent a photographer and News Gal to do a story on it...things got a little out of hand (the news people got sloppy drunk actually)and word of our debauchery spread. The Rangers politely told us we could no longer have our little gathering.

Now that I think about...none of the new Rangers know about the "Old" days....hummmmmmmm”

“Okay, I think I've got it now!

A six-room snow cave definitely sounds like the way to do it, <G>. Mimosas in the sun room or mint juleps on the veranda?”