I left Lassen a couple days ago but haven’t had a chance to write anything, which is weird since I stayed in a hotel in Berkeley for two nights. I thought I would get more writing done. Instead I had the thrill of being jolted awake at 3 a.m. by a 4.3 earthquake (which doesn’t seem that strong, but I was about two miles from it’s center and it felt strong), spent a lovely day walking the waterfront in San Francisco and visiting Pier 39 for old-times sake, and bought a $7 ticket to the S.F. Giants game and sat just down from first base about ten rows back. I met a few of the workers who manage and help the fans on my way to the stadium. When I asked their advice on where to sit, one of them said “buy the cheapest ticket you can, then go to section 104 and we’ll take care of you! I did and my new-found friend waved toward the seats in the 100 section and said, “pick the one you want.” “What if someone comes to claim it” I asked. Just politely move to another was his instruction. Now I know that people do this all the time, and indeed as people streamed in after the game started I could tell who didn’t have a ticket for the seats they claimed. It was especially touching to have these men give me the tip and make me welcomed like they did.
In any event, by the time I got back to my room at 10:30 I was both wound up and exhausted…the last thing I wanted to do was write. Today was an easy transition from hotel to Anthony Chabot Regional Park outside of Oakland. It’s a beautiful spot with the scent of eucalyptus permeating the air, a view of Lake Chabot, and wild turkeys strolling through my camp site. Perfect setting to reflect on these last few days.
Sunday was my last day at Lassen and it was remarkable. I set out knowing that I’d do a hike – either Bumpass or Lassen Peak, not sure which one. Just as I was nervous about driving on a narrow, winding, up and down road with no guard rails, I was also nervous about hiking up to an elevation of 10,850 feet. I’d decide whether or not to try it when I go there.
I packed up, secured my stuff in the van (I always forget something, though…this time I’d left a jug of water on the counter…luckily when it flew off and landed on the floor it was sturdy enough to withstand the impact). I saw the sign for Lassen Peak but drove past, thinking the trailhead was after Bumpass. When I got to Bumpass and looked at the map, I found that sure enough, I had passed it by. I could have decided to hike Bumpass, given that, but I really wanted to climb Lassen Peak. It was a short trip back to it and when I arrived I read every word on every sign I saw before setting out, looking for and hints as to whether or not I was up to the challenge. It’s just 2.5 miles each way, but you gain 2000 feet of elevation, starting out at 8500 and ending at 10,500. I’m pretty sure I’ve never hiked to that elevation before and I really didn’t want to become a spectacle…the one who passed out on the trail or some debacle like that.
Luckily, one of the signs mentioned a lookout point 1.3 miles in. I was confident I could go that far so I set out, fully expecting to turn around once I hit that mark. Well, the view was nice at 1.3 miles but I wasn’t ready to turn back and I really wanted to see the full picture; I decided to go just a little further. As I walked on I got winded more quickly, stopping to rest every couple hundred yards or so. I’d sit on a rock, thinking for the first couple of minutes that maybe I should turn back now. Then a couple more minutes would pass, I’d feel refreshed and I’d think “I’m not gonna make it to the top, but I can go a little bit further.”
I must have looked more worn out with every step I took, because several people gave those encouraging remarks like, “you’re almost there,” “just two more switch backs and then it’s just stairs,” (as if somehow that sounded not hard) or “you got this.” One couple was resting too and we chatted a bit. They’d hiked 11 miles at Yosemite (halfway to Half Dome, I think) and said this was harder. Seems implausible, but I believe them.
The mind works in mysterious ways…from the 1.3 marker to the 2 mile mark I kept telling myself “just go a little further.” And that entire way my sister Linda was in my ear, telling me “just keep going.” Linda seems to have a bottomless well of grit when it comes to physical challenges and I knew if she was walking up this hill she’d have no doubt but that she’d go the whole way. For me, it was the sight of the big .5 mile marker when I said, “i’ve got this!” And I marched my way to the top, through a chilly strong wind into a 360 degree view of…wait for it…clouds! I couldn’t see a damn thing!
On my way back down I chatted with that same couple, as they tackled their last few hundred feet and I shared my minor frustration at having no view. One of them said, I’m waiting for the clouds to clear…I want to see the view! More power to you, I thought. I’ll have to be satisfied with a post card from the gift shop.
Karen in the Gap 
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