September 2020 - Lassen National Park

Part 2 of our trip to Lassen National Park (part 1 here). The cinder cone is an especially volcanic part of the park, and also featured some really cute birds at the lake.

Our first view of the cinder cone		Making our way up - it was really surprisingly steep! And at altitude.
Our first view of the cinder cone		Making our way up - it was really surprisingly steep! And at altitude.
Hiking up the cinder cone	At the top of the cinder cone is a huge crater, with some trees beginning to grow in parts of it
Hiking up the cinder cone	At the top of the cinder cone is a huge crater, with some trees beginning to grow in parts of it
	Looking from the top of the cinder cone, the view was primarily a smoky wasteland - fitting for being on the top of a volcano
	Looking from the top of the cinder cone, the view was primarily a smoky wasteland - fitting for being on the top of a volcano
	The crater from its other side. The two specks are brave souls taking the steep, gravelly path all the way down to the bottom of the crater.	Making our way down the steep path on the backside. Down was a lot more pleasant than up.
	The crater from its other side. The two specks are brave souls taking the steep, gravelly path all the way down to the bottom of the crater.	Making our way down the steep path on the backside. Down was a lot more pleasant than up.
The cinder cone from its base. The fact that the sides are so smooth makes it really hard to appreciate its large scale.	Some really beautiful colors in the rocks behind the cinder cone	Beautiful colors!
The cinder cone from its base. The fact that the sides are so smooth makes it really hard to appreciate its large scale.	Some really beautiful colors in the rocks behind the cinder cone	Beautiful colors!
	A large plain of volcanic gravel	A pair of chipmunks cuddling - it was really adorable
	A large plain of volcanic gravel	A pair of chipmunks cuddling - it was really adorable
A Brown Creeper making his way up the tree		A Red-breasted Nuthatch
A Brown Creeper making his way up the tree		A Red-breasted Nuthatch
	While we were eating lunch next to Butte Lake, a mixed flock of small birds flew over and all started drinking from the lake at the same time. It was really cool to watch!	Dark-eyed Juncos part of the lunch drink crew
	While we were eating lunch next to Butte Lake, a mixed flock of small birds flew over and all started drinking from the lake at the same time. It was really cool to watch!	Dark-eyed Juncos part of the lunch drink crew
	Bath time for this Junco	A Mountain Chickadee
	Bath time for this Junco	A Mountain Chickadee
Down to the water	Bath time!	A small pod of Common Mergansers on the lake
Down to the water	Bath time!	A small pod of Common Mergansers on the lake
On the drive home: the pollution in the central valley was worse than Beijing, and back home on the peninsula it was worse yet! Gross!
On the drive home: the pollution in the central valley was worse than Beijing, and back home on the peninsula it was worse yet! Gross!