From a lower vantage point along the trail, I was in a better position to capture the water pouring out of the porous rock. The area's volcanic history is evident in just about every feature of the landscape.
The next day we set out on an epic road trip around the area. We first headed straight for Lassen Volcanic National Park with the idea of climbing to the top of Mt. Lassen. We figured that if we were early enough in the fall to avoid the first storms, but late enough that most of the snow had melted off the trails, we'd have an easy ascent. Unfortunately for us, a storm went through the area covering it with snow the week before. This picture of Helen Lake is near the trailhead parking area for Mt. Lassen.

We decided to continue south on HWY 89 to HWY 36 and then on to HWY 44 as we looped through on our site seeing adventure. I believe this is Summit Lake off HWY 44 just before reaching the Old Station junction. This is what is wrong with writing up a web commentary nearly a year after the trip. Either that, or this is what happens when you get old and your memory goes.

What I do remember is there was snow surrounding a locked bathroom with a nice picnic area. The road in was dirt and relatively wide. Does that sound like Summit Lake? Yep, Summit Lake, I'm almost sure of it.

Nothing like a good sandwich, some Frito's Corn Chips and some strange animal noises emanating from the lake to help with the digestion.
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