From Pear Lake to Lassen

People day hike to Pear Lake all the time, I mean 12 miles really isn't that far. But most likely that means missing the sunset or sunrise, and with backpacking you get to experience both!

But there are cons to backpacking...like having your brand new tent break as you set it up.

We did get it up with the help of some tape (see it to your left?)

Or having to worry about marmots chewing up your packs.

See our packs?

Though these are small prices to pay, in my opinion, and I'm glad my husband is pretty much in agreement. Pretty much...but not totally.  

So I am extremely grateful he lets me throw a backpack in our vacation schedule here and there, even though it's not exactly his thing. If we can make this road tripping/hiking/backpacking thing work, then retirement maybe won't be so bad. If we can ever get there - fingers crossed. 

For now, vacation time was up, and I had to drop off Ken at the Fresno airport and start the long drive home. Except this time I had three days instead of two because of the Juneteenth holiday. A slight diversion to Lasson National Park did not add that much driving time, and I had read you could car camp in the parking lot of the Kohm-Ya-Ma-Nee visitor center for free. I'd get there at 9:30pm if I didn't take any breaks. Ugh. But I had to go for it. 

Fortunately there are several campgrounds on that last stretch before the park entrance because I really needed to stop. I guess hiking for 4 hours and then driving for 8 is kind of my limit. 

Luckily I put an extra tent in the car since the other broke

Thanks to AllTrails (with all my free advertising, I wish they would sponsor me) I already knew that lingering snow was going to put the kibosh on any major hiking aspirations. Oh well, at least I could still put a sticker on my bottle.

Once back on I-5 after several sketchy farmland road connections (how did we ever survive without Google Maps?) I was feeling...I feel stupid to even say it...like I needed to hike. Seriously - what is wrong with me? And so (here comes another AllTrails commercial) I quickly put in "epic view hikes near me" and bam! Next exit, simple 4.6 mile up and back with great view of Mt Shasta just 10 minutes away. Heck yes!

What I didn't know was that I was driving through the second hottest city in California. But Lee filled me in at the top. I hope he finds this blog. 

When I got back to the car, I was...how do I put this...not right in the head. All I wanted was to grab the gallon of water in the back of the car and dump it all over me. But Reba (yes I name my cars) had other plans. Sometimes she decides not to open the hatchback - I think she was mad at me for leaving her in the hot sun. I tried to make her obey, but instead I just broke her. If you want to be entertained by the hysterical video I sent my husband, I included it on my YouTube. (I'm pretty much past being embarrassed by anything at this point in my life.) 

And no, the tape I used to put Reba back together did not hold. It got sorted out though, and I made it home alive. I hope you've enjoyed the long tale. Last "things to know" and trail deets below. Happy "sometimes one more is one too many" trails!

 Things To Know About Lassen National Park:

1) There are no bathrooms anywhere around the Kohm-Ya-Ma-Nee visitor center, but if you get there before they open, don't panic. The front doors into the vestibule are open 24/7, and that is where you will find bathrooms. There is also cell service inside, and that is the only place you will get it. 

2) The road going up into the park is AMAZING and so hiking to see views is really not necessary. I was pretty sad it was closed at the Bumpass Hell trailhead parking, but also grateful to have at least got to go that far. 

3) Once again, if windy roads with drops offs are not your thing, don't bother going. It's a proper road though - not like the forest road to Harts Pass or anything. (Washingtonians will know, haha) 

Hikes: 

1) Ridge Lakes Trail is found right at the Sulfur Works parking lot and is a 2 mile up and back with 987 feet elevation. I think I was just a few tenths of a mile away from the lake before I turned around. I felt bad for the backpackers that were hiking out that didn't make it to the lake either, though they did say they found a spot to put up their tent. 

2) Chamise Peak is found in the VERY hot city of Redding, California. At 4.6 miles with 698 feet gain it would make a very nice hike if it wasn't over 90 degrees.  

It does have some nice shade though