On Saturday, we left the visitor center at about 0930, hiking up the road, which for the first 2 miles had sporadic patches of frozen snow. Beyond mile 2, the snow was more consistent. Around the visitor center, there was 1-2' of snow. For comparison, below is a photo from last March.
The day started off warm, with a clear sky, and temperatures in the 50s. The south ridge of Diamond Peak was free of snow, so we couldn't take the shortcut over the ridge. After mile 2, we put on our skis and snowshoes and continued on the road. We reached Lake Helen at about 1500, set up camp on the west side of the lake and had dinner. By 1700, the wind was picking up, and the clouds were rolling in. As the sun was setting, its rays poked through a break in the clouds and created a beautiful band of red on the hills across the lake.
We planned to leave camp at 0400 on Sunday to head for the summit of Lassen Peak. However, the strong wind continued through the night, and the temperature dipped well below 20°F. At 0400 on Sunday, we decided to remain warm in our tents and to continue sleeping. By 0800, the wind had diminshed, but the fog and clouds limited visibility, and the temperature was hovering in the mid-20s. The peak was not visible from Lake Helen. We ate breakfast, packed our gear, and headed back to the cars.
Enjoy the photos. See you next year Lassen Peak!
Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center in March of 2017
Lassen Peak in the distance
The road beyond mile 2
Sporadic rock fall along the road
Same section of road in March of 2017
Clouds over Lassen Peak
Lassen Peak in March of 2017
Lake Helen
Sleeping accomodations
Sunset at Lake Helen
Mt. Diller, barely visible through the fog
