Bumpass Hell

Our last full day of camp we did a group hike in Lassen Park.

Being, as it were, the 'cruise director',  I chose an "easy" trail suitable for all of our hikers from the elderly & infirm down to the extremely short-legged variety.

HA!

They lied!

While not a difficult trail it was a quite a bit more than "easy."

And unfortunately quite a bit more than some of our hikers could handle.

Two of them made it about 3/4 of the way & then pulled up a shady log & waited for the rest of us. One made it the whole way & then the steep ascent out gave her some dizziness & heart issues.

:(

As guilt is my spiritual gift, I was feeling pretty schmucky by then.

Sigh.

But, ultimately, we all made it  out & most of the group enjoyed the experience.

FYI: if you choose this trail be forewarned it is quite rocky & steep & shaky footing in some areas.

Highly doable for even moderately fit folks but it's a bit much for the older folks with any health issues or a lack of sure-footedness.

It is also long & hot.

But the end result is really, bizarrely cool.

Bumpass Hell is a geothermal  area of mudpots, fumeroles & hot springs.

Really, really hot springs.

Like 230* hot springs.

Ouch.

The name comes from Kendall Vanhook Bumpass who had the unfortunate experience of coming across the area while cowboying. He broke thru the thin crusted ground & was so severely burned his leg had to be amputated.

:(

I cannot imagine just stumbling across this place with no warning.

It looks like the surface of the moon.

The ground is white or yellow. The waters are turquoise blue. Steam vents are everywhere. Boiling mud spouts up into the air.

And speaking of air ~ the stench of sulphur is overpowering.

Blech.

It is really a fascinating & bizarre place.

Most of our group starting out.

Big boulder.

Pretty flowers.

This is how NJ made much of the trip. Either on me or his brother. It was a rough hike for him :)

Bumpass Hell.

Look at the color of the water!

Hi!

See the mud boiling up?

See the yellow from the sulphur? It was actually really pretty.

Blessings!