Coast to Coast Grankids Tour - Lassen Volcanic NP (July 2011)

Here's the gang at the entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Lassen NP is the only place in the world to experience all four type of Volcano's.

Getting children involved and immersed in the park is especially important for our parks.  Here a Ranger explains why volcano's erupt and asks kids to assist her in demonstrating examples of each type of eruptions.  The park ranger is really excited!

Here Jake assists in how a Plug Dome Volcano erupts.  Mt St Helen's is a Plug Dome type volcano.

We are at the Trail Head for the Cinder Cone Trail.  The hike is 4 miles round trip and takes you to the top and bottom of a Cinder Cone Volcano. 

The hike is considered moderately strenuous due to the 700 foot elevation that you gain in the accent. The hike took us about 3-4  hours to complete.

The hike begins along fantastic lava beds, opens up with the views of the painted dunes and becomes steep with loose cinder base during the summit climb.   On this picture, Jake is about 1/3 up the hill and Kathy is just getting started.

Here we are resting after having made it up the loose cinder base where you take two steps to only gain one as you slide back down the loose cinder base.  Although, it did not seem to affect Ryan and Jacob. Maybe it's time to lose some weight.

Since Ryan was in training for his upcoming football season, he decides to hike down into the volcano base wearing both backpacks.  Jake is elated that he does not have to carry any of the packs or maybe he's leading a cheer for Ryan.

We are starting our trip down inside the cinder cone.  The trip down was fairly easy one, but I know what to expect on our hike out.

The boys and I are elated and celebrate our accomplishment.  Now who's turn is it to carry the pack?

This video shows the top of the volcano.  You can see in the video that there are many trails at the top of the Volcano. 

Here we are at the entrance to Subway Cave.  You can walk the entire length of the cave with a flashlight.

Subway Cave is a section of lava tube less than a third of a mile long, located between two areas of ceiling cave-ins. Substantial concrete steps have been constructed at both ends of the cave, providing easy access for visitors to access the cave.