With the science team gone, the education team set out to search
for and chose a potential site that might support a live webcast
and a 360 VR pan and scouted out geothermal areas to be studied
if the project expands to support Ames personnel working in these
areas.
With the advice of our Ranger Steve Zachary, we set out for
Bumpass Hell. He described two areas that we should check out,
so we donned our hiking boots, put on some more sunscreen and
headed out. |
Looking down from the trail! |
 |
 Just
when you think you've taken a photo of the most gorgeous spot in
Lassen Volcanic National Park, you round another bend, and it just
gets better!
Deb is standing near the spot we selected. See the photo below
to see some of what we saw there! |
Naturally, this find let to another congratulatory snowball fight! |
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 |
 We
came this far, so of course, we had to hike the rest of the way
to Bumpass Hell, a basin that looked like a steaming, bubbling
cauldron, even from the trail far above it.
We descended to an unreal scene full of color, steam and smells. |
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A boardwalk was arranged around the area to keep visitors from
burning themselves or destroying the natural beauty. A sign read:
"You are standing upon a residual mass of cooling andesite lava
perhaps 3 miles deep. The “rotten egg” smell is hydrogen
sulfide fumes rising from deep within this mass. Andesite lavas
decompose readily but sulfuric acid and hot steam have greatly
speeded up the process to carve out this barren, 16-acre bowl." |
|
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From the boardwalk you could look down into bubbling mud pots and
walk past what looked like little lakes until you got up close and
saw that they were bubbling like boiling water on the stove.
It was Saturday, so we were accompanied by lots of park visitors.
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The
hike out, especially the climb out of the basin called Bumpass
Hell called for a couple of extra stops for those of us who were
not used to hiking.
As we left the park, we stopped at the park's Administrative
Building and Visitor Center. Welcoming us at the front door was
a poster announcing the Here Today; Gone to Mars Challenge. We
will be back to this beautiful spot soon, and of course, we'll
keep you posted. |
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Back to Challenge Page
Back to Field Trip 1 - Day 1
Back to Field Trip 1 - Day 2
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