PLAN The plan for Anne, Mihai and piero is: Friday evening: Anne and Mihai go to REI in Saratoga to rent snow-shoes, ski poles AND four-season tent Saturday 9am: Meet at Enterprise in Redwood City Saturday 11pm: Quick lunch on the road Saturday 1:30pm: Reach Lassen Saturday 1:30pm-3:30pm: Ranger lesson of snow-shoeing Saturday 3:30pm-6pm: more hiking or hang out in Mineral Saturday 6pm: Cook dinner and bring own dessert Saturday after sunset: freeze to death or romance the rangeress (whichever is less painful) Sunday 7am: sunrise, defrost in the car, breakfast, dessert, etc Sunday 8am-4pm: hike to Lake Helen and Bumpass Hell (or something else) Sunday 4pm: drive back (expected arrival in the south Bay including a stop for dinner: 10pm) The plan for Jamie and her friends is: drive sometime saturday morning to Lassen and find us at the campground. We'll check by cell phone who left first. We could all have early lunch together in Red Bluff. Snow conditions. It is snowing now and they expect 40-50cms of new snow by friday. The Lassen website has the current snow conditions (scroll to the bottom of the webpage). The weather forecast is "snow" for each and every day till sunday. Camping. The "walk-in" campground is right by the parking lot. The Lassen website says "There is a designated walk-in winter campground near the Southwest Parking Area. The winter walk-in campground fee is free this year, and there are restrooms available nearby." See the map On the right side of this page. Car. Enterprise rental car. We need to buy cables for the tyres of that car at a nearby Kragen. Food. Jamie is buying food for saturday's dinner and sunday's breakfast. Bring any other food you want. Pack food for sunday's hike. (An alternative for people who are freezing is to drive 15 minutes to Mineral, that has food stores and possibly a restaurant). Jamie's ideal checklist: For snow-shoeing Do not wear cotton. Only synthetic or wool. snow shoes ski poles or trekking poles with snow baskets gaiters (if you are desperate, put plastic bags over your socks before you put your shoes on) two pairs of socks - not cotton waterproof pants and layer your pants (thin undershell with warmer outer layer + wind/waterproof layer) layer your tops (thin undershirt with warmer outer layer plus wind/waterproof top layer) neck gaiter/muff or scarf two pairs of gloves (best are the gloves with removable liners so you can remove outer shell if hand gets too hot) hat sunscreen lip balm water (thermos nice to have) goggles or at least good-quality sunglasses (the sunlight reflecting off of snow for extended periods of time can cause snow blindness) map in waterproof ziplock or similar bag walkie-talkie water-proof poncho or large pastic bag to cover yourself in case of snow/rain emergency blanket for perfectionists: compass or GPS for perfectionists: matches for perfectionists: first aid kit wrap everything in plastic so they don't get wet For camping winter tent sleeping bag (wrap it in plastic garbage bag) sleeping mat/pad (indispensable for isolating your sleeping bag from the snow under the tent, perfectionists may want two mats/pads) extra pairs of underwear and gloves (e.g., you will need a dry, fresh pair to wear to bed or your feet will be cold) toilet paper trash bag flashlight/headlight and batteries lots of towels and paper towels shovel stove fuel pans cooking and eating utensils plate or bowl perfectionists: insulated mug with lid for hot beverages in camp perfectionists: toothbrush and toothpaste, misc toiletries, medicines pliers for installing snow chains on car's tires Directions. The Lassen website says that only two roads into the park are open: Main Park Road (Hwy 44 to Loomis Museum) and Main Park Road (Hwy36 & 89 to Southwest Parking Area). We will take Hwy36 to the Southwest Parking Area, which is presumably near the Southwest Campground. See the map On the right side of this page. From San Francisco, take Hwy 80 east, 505 north, I-5 north to Red Bluff. Exit to Hwt 36. Saturday's snowshoe walk. See the Lassen website about Ranger-led Snowshoe Walk 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM: "During this walk the ranger will provide snowshoes and teach you the basics of snowshoeing, winter survival, and winter ecology." Sunday's hike. Possibly "Lake Helen". As the condor flies (and the snow-shower walks), it should be about 4 kms each way. From there we can go to Bumpass Hell (2kms), which has fumaroles and hot springs to resuscitate us, and then back to the campground. See the map On the right side of this page. Equipment rental. REI in Saratoga rents both snowshoes and skipoles for $24 for two days. REI rents snowshoes $17/9 (first day/second day) and skipoles 10/5, for a total of $17+9+10+5 = $41. But REI in Saratoga rents both for $24 the weekend. Four-season tent $28 plus 15 per additionnal day. Mihai to make gaiters for piero.

Pictures of this hike My page on Lassen with links and maps Inspirational photo: Driving directions: Take 80 east, then 505 to 5. Drive north on I-5 to Red Bluff. Exit in Red Bluff and go east on Hwy 36. (Einstein: click to enlarge) (CHALET is the point where the road is closed and the campground is located) Park map: (or Detailed park map in PDF format) Hiking map: (Einstein: click to enlarge)