Paul E. Schulz

“ Tehama was a composite, or strato-type volcano like Mt. Shasta. It was destroyed by a series of cracks, called faults, which cut Tehama into huge blocks. These sunk, causing collapse of the great mountain. Mt. Conard to the southeast, and the ridge between Brokeoff and Lassen Peak, are also remnants of the Tehama rim, all dipping away from the center of the old volcano.
On the southeast horizon are the Sierra Nevada, with Childs Meadow closer in. To the north is the ragged top of Diamond Peak with a natural window through the rocks on the upper right near the skyline. ”

“ On May 24 19, 1915, a black dacite lava flow welled up into this crater and spilled over to the southwest and northeast. At the southwest the lava descended about 1,000 feet on the Sacramento Valley side of the mountain, cooled and hardened. However, the lava coming down the northeast slope broke off in large pasty chunks, quickly melting a huge accumulation of snow. The resulting water, mixed with the large volume of fine and coarse debris from earlier eruptions formed a great mudflow which roared down the mountainside. ”

“ Just across the road from the parking area, the trail to the south goes to Paradise Meadow: (1.5 miles) . An excellent variety of wildflowers bloom along the trail in mid-summer. Terrace Lake is 2.9 miles from here, and the road is again reached at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet, 0.5 miles beyond this. ”

“ In climbing the Peak, the trail leaves the Hudsonian Life Zone with mountain hemlocks and white-bark pine, and at timber line it enters the Arctic-Alpine Life Zone.
From near the register box atop Lassen Peak, Mt. Shasta is to the northwest, 75 miles away, looming up 14,161 feet. To the north, are Chaos Crags, the Devastated Area, Prospect Peak, Cinder Cone, and Butte Lake. Mt. Harkness, Warner Valley, and the mountains of Nevada are to the east, with Dyer Peak and Lake Almanor in the distance and Kings Creek Meadow nearby. ”

“ MULE DEER MIGRATE TO THE EAST
BLACK TAILED DEER MIGRATE TO THE WEST
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45 RAKER PEAK to the north is a 1,200-foot cone of andesite lava through which a stiff dome of dacite later welled up, the latter forming the cliffs. Logs felled by Lassen’s hot blast of May 22, 1915, are also visible on its lower slope. The mountain was named Raker Peak in 1933 to perpetuate the memory of John E. Raker, Representative from California and author of the successful bill making Lassen a National Park in 1916.
Across the road to the west, on the left base of the slope, is a small patch of mature trees. ”

“ As the meadow builds up higher, becoming drier, the encroaching forest will eventually engulf it.
(1.3 miles)
30 KINGS CREEK CAMPGROUND and Picnic Area. This is the Canadian Life Zone, although a few “Hudsonian” mountain hemlocks are in the cooler portions. The 7,400 foot elevation makes this a most delightful, primitive type of campsite during the warm summer months.
The trail goes south from the campground to Cold Boiling Lake (0.8 mile) and to Crumbaugh Lake (1.5 miles) . ”

“ Informal campfire programs are presented nightly in the Manzanita Lake Campground Amphitheater from June through mid-September.
The LILY POND SELF-GUIDING NATURE TRAIL, an easy 1-mile loop route, starts just across the road from the Visitor Center. It is unique in having ten species of cone-bearing trees and three species of broad-leaved trees along its short and nearly level route.
GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL · CHIPMUNK
Abundant wildlife, including deer and a large variety of birds, is found in the Manzanita-Reflection Lakes area. ”

“ Do not start later than 2 hours before sunset, or when storms or fog threaten. 7. DO NOT TAKE SHORT-CUTS ACROSS THE TRAIL. It is against Park Regulations and is inadvisable because: a. It is dangerous: sprained or broken ankles and arms may result. b. Unavoidable dislodging of rocks is dangerous to hikers below. c. It costs money to rebuild the trail which short-cutting ruins.
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On the rise to the left of the trail, the parallel markings in the rock is known as flow banding and takes place when the lava is still moving but cooling rapidly. ”

“ Lunches, souvenirs and information may be obtained here in the summer season also.
(0.8 mile)
5 SULPHUR WORKS is the most easily accessible hydrothermal area in the Park. It is probably part of the central vent system of ancient Mt. Tehama which is described at No. 7. A short paved trail leads to the sputtering hot springs, steaming fumeroles and hot bubbling mud pots. For your own safety be sure to stay on the trails in any of the thermal areas. Slippery clay and thin crusty coverings could lead to a dunking in scalding hot water and mud. ”

“ The young trees growing in the Devastated Area have not been planted by man, but are natural reforestation. In National Parks nature takes its course. Man’s meddling, even though well intentioned, often upsets the balance of nature, with resultant undesirable and unforeseen effects.
In summertime christine lupine (cream-colored) is abundant here. In the fall, rabbitbrush (yellow) is conspicuous.
RABBITBRUSH (yellow)
CHRISTINE LUPINE (pale yellow)
In late summer and fall, deer are numerous on the lower slopes of Lassen Peak. ”

“ Deer are generally seen here in the meadow, especially near sunset during late summer and early fall.
(0.6 mile)
32 KINGS CREEK. On the west side of the road is a small picnic area. On the downstream side of the road (left of the creek) is a trail to Warner Valley. Kings Creek Falls is 1.3 miles, and Drakesbad is 4.0 miles. You can hike uphill to the base of Lassen Peak.
In both Lower and Upper Kings Creek Meadow, fawnlilys, red heather, corn lily, and white gentian make a fine floral succession from early spring to autumn. Lupine and pussy paws are also common in the drier locations. ”

“ In the mudflow of May 19, 1915, these boulders were known to the local people as “hot rocks” because they retained their heat for several days. These which were buried in the mudflow material formed enough steam to cause funnel-shaped “eruption pits” in the mud overlying them. These pits can still be seen by careful searching in the upper portion of the Devastated Area.
The Lassen Park Road is closed in winter beyond the skiing area at No. 3 in the Road Guide.
—NPS photo by R. C. Milne
When the road is finally opened in early June, visitors drive through 20 ft. ”

“ The trunks curve at their base due to the heavy snowfall which bends the saplings downhill, flat to the ground. In the spring the young trees curve up, but the bend remains, and persists throughout the life of the tree. Curved trunks can also be found in other species of trees, such as mountain hemlock. ”

“ Like most of Lassen’s lakes, it is well stocked with trout. In the fall large numbers of waterfowl, including Canada geese, stop here en route to their wintering grounds.
The lake derived its name from the abundance of greenleaf manzanita on its shores. This shrub can be seen across the lake to the south.
(0.2 mile)
67 MANZANITA LAKE ENTRANCE STATION. Vehicle entry permits and information may be procured daily during the summer season. ”

“ Some trees have been uprooted; others have been snapped off like match sticks.
(0.2 mile)
42 HAT LAKE PARKING AREA. Nearby is Hat Lake, elevation 6,450 feet. It was formed by the mudflow of May 19, 1915, when it blocked Hat Creek. All lakes are very temporary features, and this one is a good example, as it is rapidly being filled by the building of a delta at the south end of the lake and by the accumulation of organic debris such as logs, etc. This will become a meadow in the near future. Most meadows have been formed in a similar manner. ”

“ BROKEOFF MT. MT. TEHAMA MT. DILLER PILOT PINNACLE SKI HEIL PEAK EAGLE PEAK LAKE HELEN
22 LASSEN PEAK TRAIL SIGN. On the southeast side of the road is the Peak Parking Area, and on the northwest side starts the trail up Lassen Peak. The Peak Trail is a well-graded climb of about 2,000 feet: from 8,500 feet to 10,457 feet in 21⁄2 miles of hiking. It takes most persons about 4 hours for the round trip, though some take an hour more, and a few an hour less. ”