Mount Eddy

I hiked Mount Eddy with Tamara Lopez during late July. Eddy is located within the Trinity Horn in Northern California...basically the next major mountain peak west of Mount Shasta. The hike was 10 miles round trip, and ascended several thousand feet from trailhead to summit. The trail begins by following the Pacific Crest Trail as it traverses across a wooded mountain slope that eventually gives way to a broad valley containing several alpine lakes. A steep ascent up Eddy's south shoulder follows, but numerous switchbacks provide some relief from what would otherwise be a major slog straight up the mountain. The views from the top of Eddy are fantastic...though thick forest fire smoke blocked the best views. Nevertheless, Shasta still managed to peak out from behind the haze and building cumulus.

Rock hut at the summit of Mount Eddy.

Mount Shasta, partially obscured by forest fire smoke.

Mount Eddy, viewed from an alpine meadow west of the summit.

Lassen Volcano

I summited Lassen Volcano a year ago, but at sunrise, and thus didn't get a chance to fully view the crater (click here to see last years post). I returned to Lassen a week ago with Tamara Lopez, during mid July, for a daytime hike to the summit. It was a pretty amazing site to gaze upon the crater, which only 100 or so years ago was experiencing a violent volcanic eruption. And of course, the views from the top were outstanding, with the Central Valley laid out to our west, and Mount Shasta to our north. A picture of the crater, and Shasta on the horizon, is posted below (click the image for a larger version).

Punta Gorda Lighthouse

I hiked out to the Punta Gorda Lighthouse during June 2018. The lighthouse was operational between 1912 and 1951, and has survived countless Pacific storms, as well as tectonic events such as the January 1923 magnitude 7.2 earthquake (see here for additional information on the lighthouse: http://lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=63).

During my trip, I was greeted by a large colony of sea lions upon arrival to the lighthouse.  They didn't mind my presence at all, as they were preoccupied with throwing sand across their backs in order to block damaging UV rays as they sunned along the beach. Pictures of the lighthouse, sea lions, and a rusted navigational buoy are below.

Rusted navigational buoy.