Jeff and Mark in Bumpass Hell

The collection of mud pots, fumaroles, and steaming pools in Lassen National Park is called Bumpass Hell. The story is that an explorer named Bumpass hiked into the area, crashed through the thin crust into the geothermally heated water and scalded his ankles. Upon returning and being asked where he had been, he replied "I've been to hell!".

The name Bumpass Hell stuck as the name for the area, and there are abundant signs warning you to stay on the trail to avoid the fate of Bumpass. Interestingly, the trail to this hot spot was lined with snow, and we even had to walk across snow in several places on the trail. We didn't expect the road to hell to be paved with snow! August 15, 1982.

Index

Daily Log

Map
  Westward82***Lassen Volcanic Nave





Boiling Mud Pot in Bumpass Hell

This is a closeup of the boiling mud pot which Jeff and Mark are standing by in the previous picture.

The collection of mud pots, fumaroles, and steaming pools in Lassen National Park is called Bumpass Hell. The story is that an explorer named Bumpass hiked into the area, crashed through the thin crust into the geothermally heated water and scalded his ankles. Upon returning and being asked where he had been, he replied "I've been to hell!".

The name Bumpass Hell stuck as the name for the area, and there are abundant signs warning you to stay on the trail to avoid the fate of Bumpass. Interestingly, the trail to this hot spot was lined with snow, and we even had to walk across snow in several places on the trail. We didn't expect the road to hell to be paved with snow! August 15, 1982.

Index

Daily Log

Map
  Westward82***Lassen Volcanic Nave





Brenda Checks Out the Hot Stream from Bumpass Hell

This stream from the Bumpass Hell region was boiling hot, as Brenda found out.

Adding to the interest of the area was the fact that cold snowmelt streams flowed into the region from above and boiling hot water flowed out the bottom. There were places where the snow lay close to the boiling stream. August 15, 1982.

Index

Daily Log

Map
  Westward82***Lassen Volcanic Nave





Flowering Plant in Bumpass Hell

This plant, which looked like heather, grew along the paths between the snow and the boiling water of Bumpass Hell.

Adding to the interest of the area was the fact that cold snowmelt streams flowed into the region from above and boiling hot water flowed out the bottom. There were places where the snow lay close to the boiling stream. August 15, 1982.

Lassen valley and stream
Snowy lake
Index

Daily Log

Map
  Westward82***Lassen Volcanic Nave