Bumpass Hell

What a name! Right?  Bumpass Hell is the name of the destination spot of our first hike with Jessica and Allison, hopefully first of many.  Bumpass Hell is a group of sulfa pits near the base of Mt. Lassen in Lassen Volcanic National Park.  The brochure describes the hike as "Moderate hike over rocky terrain with grand vistas.  The trail drops into an active hydrothermal basin where you can view mudpots and fumaroles."  It was 3 miles (round trip).  I can hike 3 miles in my sleep but when you add 40lbs of Jessica to the front of me, along with hills and loose gravel, it gets a bit tricky.  Let's just say I earned the two Krispy Kreme doughnuts I ate that morning.  The drive up to Lassen was about two hours from Chico, we stopped for a potty break and found a creek to throw rocks in and an old water pump too.

 

Old Fashioned Water Pump

Scenic Drive

 The girls hiked about 200 feet before deciding they would rather be carried.  You can see the peak of Mt Lassen in the background of these pictures.

I was trying to get the girls to laugh and look at Meema for a picture in front of Mt Lassen but Meema had the camera on Video and so it just looks like I am shaking my babies.

Shaking Babies

Meema started off with Jessica in the blue hiking backpack and I carried Allison on my back with my old trusty baby carrier (I've sure gotten my money's worth out of that thing!).  

Allison on My Back

The First Quarter Mile

 We made it less than a quarter of a mile before Jessica decided I had to carry her and not the easy way, the hard way, on my front.  Luckily, for Jessica, I was thinking that 3 miles wouldn't give me enough of a workout so I conceded.  Allison was perfectly happy riding along the trail on Grandad's back.

I was glad to unload Jessica for a while once we got to the Sulfa pits.

Allison Saying Hot Lava

 Allison's hair was as interesting as the Sulfa pits that day.

Bubbling

Touching the Water

 You can see little people walking along the boardwalks of Bumpass Hell in these next photos of Jess and me.

 Here's the whole group.

Grandad Recording

Grandad's Pan

Walking the Boardwalk

 Allison doesn't just ride along.  She pulls ears and takes off your hat/glasses and throws them on the ground.  Grandad was a good sport.  Watch this video.

Torturing Grandad

I am really surprised that we didn't lose Grandad's hat or one of Allison's shoes in the Sulfa pits, not for lack of trying on Allison's part.

 All loaded up for the hike back to the car.  I was surprised that I wasn't too sore the next day, but I did have trouble on my run, I hobbled along at a 12min/mile pace rather than my usual 11min/mile.

Jess in the Front Loader

 Both the girls fell asleep in their carriers, I was ready to be carried at that point.

Girls Sleeping on the Way Out

Food always tastes better after you hike, a wonderful phenomenon, and we snacked in the car all the way home.