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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1963)
Features Sports MEDFORD, SWTRIBUNE SECTION B MEDFOBD, OREGON, SUNDAY, AUGUST II, 1963 PAGES 1 to 8 . -r?s-- - ''w7'? JtCKksL 'd?" -." ' Ml. Lassen, southernmost peak of the Cascade range, is the only active volcano in the contiguous United States. The main feature o Ml. Lassen Volcanic National Park, is a drive of less than five hours from Medford over good hi-'iways. This view shows the northeast slope. The giant eruptions of 1915-191? blew off much of this side of the moan tK.::, and resulted in a cascade of mud, water, rocks and lava which created the "Devastated Area from which this pic ture was taken. The small trees in the foreground have all grown up since that time. 'mJ C : i 4 ; . y J It r4 9& 1 Last Columbus Day, the storm which devastated so much timber in Oregon also resulted in massive blow down in Lassen Park, estimated at some 4,000,800 board feet. A sample of the destruction is shown, Entomologists are endeavor ing to protect standing Umber from insect damage, and fire-fighting crews have been enhanced to save the blowdown from fire. But the downed trees will be left as a graphic example of Nature's forces. Lassen Has Combination of Attractions Bumpass Kell, a one mile hike from the main road through Lassen Park, is the site of the most violent volcanic action in the pa-k. It includes burbling mud pots, steam fu maroles, hot streams, and other features. Shown above is one of the largest of the fuma roles, emitting sulphureous-smelling steam. Tlie hikers are Mrs. Josephine Moore, head of the news bureau at the University of Oregon, Eugene, and Robert B. Fr3rier, associate edi tor of the Eugene Register-Guard. Crumbaugh lake, in the back country of Mt. Lassen Volcanic National Park, is an ex ample of the beautiful wilderness country preserved by the park. This view was taken from a trail circling from Bumpass Hell (where volcanic activity is high) around to King Creek a relatively easy 3V4 mile hike in all. Chao Jumble:. fore2rounrl, and Chaos Crags, rear, are examples of recent volcanic ac tivity in Lassen Park. A huge avalanche swept away a forest during an eruption In the 1915-191" active period. By EH1C W. ALLEN JR. Mail Tribune Mmaging Editor Manzanita Campground, Mt. Lassen Volcanic Na tional Park Here, less than five hours by good high way from Medford, is one of the nation's loveliest and most Interesting national parks, It is overshadowed in size by many others, and, as far as proximity to the Rogue Valley is concerned, by Crater Lake, in many ways most beautifui park of all. ' But Lassen has a combination sf attractions which make it unique. It is a splendid destination for a single day, or a two-day loop drive, over good roads and inter esting country. It has a fine campground for the car camper, complete with running water and flush toilets. It has trails for the back-packer and horse-camper which traverse some of the most beautiful wilderness areas on the west coast. Majestic A!pin Scenery It has majestic alpine scenery. It has desolate areas of special interest. It has fish and wildlife. It has easy trails for an afternoon stroll, as well as strenuous trails which challenge the hardiest outdoorsman. And it has the added fascination of containing the only live volcano in the contiguous United States. Evi dence of volcanic activity is scattered throughout the . park, and can be witnessed from one's car or, closer up, after a hike or a stroll. Far beneath the mountains of the park lies a giant mass of white-hot rock, and it makes its presence known in a multitude of ways boiling springs fed by rain and snow and heated by the iava beneath; burbling mud pots; steam-spitting fumaroies; hot lakes; steaming clay banks, and, over all, the pervading smell of sulphurous fumes. Parad Main Road Winding through the park is a paved main road, which displays all the variety of the park to those wish ing an easy drive, from the badlands of the devastated area swept clean of ail vegetation by giant ava lanche of water, rocks and mud only 48 years ago up through tail Umbers and sub-alpine scrub, to near timberline at 8,512 feet above sea level, then twisting down past the hot and gaseous Sulphur Works, down the gorge into the forest below. The back country is less accessible. But if not intimi dated by dusty, bumpy roads, and long detours outside the park, one can journey to Butte Lake, in the far northeast corner; to Drakesbad resort (a sort of guest ranch operated by a concessioner) in the south-central portion; to Juniper and Horseshoe lakes in the eastern part. Most of the rest of the park can b reached only on foot or horseback which is the way )t should be if it is to be preserved for future generations in its natural state. Two principal problems now face the Nations! Park Service men in caring for their "little jewel of a park," Most Urgent Problem The most urgent, but probabiy less important in the long run, is a vast accumulation of biown down trees, caused by the same Columbus Day storm that did such damage in Oregon, Because of the devastation done in Oregon, few reports of the Lassen Park damage came through at that time. But rangers estimate that some 4,000,000 board feet were biown down in that storm. The Park Service is mounting as strong a fire-fighting force as possible to protect the downed trees until the "flash fuel" of dried needles has decomposed. Then, since the Park is not a source of timber, but is for preser vation of Mother Nature's ways, the blowdown will be left as much mute evidence of Nature's forces as are the charred and battered carcasses of trees destroyed by the eruptions of 1915 and the following few years. With the cooperation of other government agencies, an entomological ..camp has been established, in efforts to keep the insect Infestation danger at a minimum. , The second principal problem, a longerrange one, is to provide for the needs and wants of an increasing number of visitors. Hug Ntw Campground Four years ago, on our isst visit to the Park, the campground at Manzanita lake was lliii more than a duaty outdoor slum. Today, that lama area Is quiet, and, hopefuiiy, soon will be rehabilitated with man- zanita and other shrubs. It has been succeeded by a huge new campground to the south of the Jake, with six "ioops," each containing up to 40 or more separate camp sites. The sites are provided with a camp table and fire place; many are in shade, some are in open sun, and ail have a modicum of privacy. Toilets and tunning water -are nearby. It is estimated that up to 1,000 campers per night can be accommodated more or lew comfortably there. The only problem is the lack of Teadily available -firewood.- . There are other campgrounds, too. The most popular . of Use smaiier ones, almost always crowded, is at Sum mit Lake, near the center of the park. It is also the take-off point for many of the trails. The south portion of it is now closed, due to the October storm blowdown, and it is being reconstructed. The Butte Lake camp ground is also closed, for the same reason. The Warner Vaiiey campground, near Drakesbad. is small and relatively isolated, thus is less used, but it is one of the most attractive and primitive) of aii. Full Mettur si Appreciation One has to see Mt. Lassen, look at the sights, visit the excellent little museum, and read the literature, to obtain a full measure of appreciation for the dramatic story of the mountain which long lay quiet, and thes, in 5915, blew its top. Evidences of the eruptions are numerous and fas cinating. There are Chaos Jumbles, where a giant ava lanche wiped out a whole forest. There are Chaos Crags, the source of the volcanic avalanche, looming menacing- iy above. There is the scarred face of old Mt. Lassen itself, where the mighty explosion occurred. There are the still-remaining evidences of the magma pool far below. The western section of the park Is spectacular; the eastern section is a gentler kind of wilderness, abounding in lakes, iava beds, streams, meadows and tall forests. Our party was camped in the park for five days, but it also offers opportunities for visits ranging from on day to several -weeks. The mountain Itself is the most easily climbed et any major Pacific Coast peak, with a grvod trail zaggtag 2V4 miles to the summit from the road. The oniy real hazard for careful climbers is Use need for heart, lungs and muscle to carry one from 8,500 to 10,4157 feet. Another excelient and interesting hike, an even easl er one, Is the i-mile trip to Bumpass Hell, where the most spectacular evidences of current voicanism are visi ,r. bl. For the slightly sturdier and more adventurous, this ' ' can be extended by hiking another 24 miles around te King Creek, lower down on the highway, through tarn of the most beautiful !ske-dot!c-d back country anywhere. There are many others. . J. . Facilities inside the park, in addition to the camp-".? ' grounds described, are a lodge (advanced reservations are necessary), store, museum and ranger station at Man zanita; and the guest lodge at Drakesbad. There are other ranger stations scattered throughout the park, bat headquarters is at Mineral, on Highway 38 some mile south and west, ' Ddicf d Croup of Man ;' The Park rangers and other permanent personnel are a dedicated group of men, obviously in love. with their work and with the park, and determined that It shall be preserved for the enjoyment of its owners, the people of the United States, forever. It is a never ending job and, Ironically, their greatest enemy in doftig tt is not the forces of nature, hut the often-destructive and more often thoughtless tendencies of their bosses; the people of the United States more than 400,008 oJ them per year. - ' The Park men must balance their ismciieris of preser- . vation with their functions of service to s demanding public. It is a delicate balance to maintain. So iaf, w think, they have succeeded admirably, csnsideriaj the paucity of funds and support necessary to do itee . Jols, .9 n v, J V 9 J if 4 O $ -"'. tS if ML Lassen viewed from the southeast. The trail to the top zig-zags tip the ricige just left of center, cutting aesoss the tip of the snowfieid. The mountain, 10,547 feet high, is among the most easily climbed sf She major peaks of the Pacific srea, and the hike is only about 2hi miles from the parking sres, out of sight belcw left. ; ,
