Lassen Descending into the Clouds
Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
Veil of the Volcano: Lassen's Mysterious Journey Through the Clouds
This felt like a somewhat busy morning Lassen. After we got about a mile in, we still saw nearly a dozen people. Busy is a relative term….. The weather report said a storm would move in, which was of course why we were there! Things can happen fast in the mountains, but wow did these clouds get here in a hurry.
We enjoyed lunch just a few hundred feet below this spot with great views of Brokeoff Mountain. For that meal, as well as much of our hike up, we were protected from the wind. As a result, I was down to a sweatshirt and vest when we crested the ridge. As this scene presented itself, I had to act quickly. It was clear the door was going to close on this moment fast. The wind was blowing hard over the ridge and boy did I want to get my jacket out…. But there was no way I was going to waste even a second.
One can get sweaty going uphill in the trees, only to pop out on an exposed ridge and feel the wind cut through your clothes. The same wind biting at my skin was bringing in the storm and wow, does it activate the senses! It might be hard to believe, but only an hour before this, the sky was nothing but blue. Maybe 30 minutes later it was pretty much gray. These moments of transition are short and that’s what makes them special. I always find myself wishing they would just stay a little longer!
With a sheer drop off behind me, it was really hard to get the person in just the right spot. (So I hope you feel it adds something!) For me, the hiker gives perspective. More than that, it begs your mind to make up a story. What is this person doing here? Is it the beginning, middle or end of the tale? From years past, today, or the future? Is it motivation to go, or appreciation that someone else did? What comes to your mind ………?