Features
Sports
MEDFORD,
SWTRIBUNE
SECTION B MEDFOBD, OREGON, SUNDAY, AUGUST II, 1963 PAGES 1 to 8
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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.
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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,
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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. ; ,