Day 28 - Wednesday 7/27/2005 -  Sore back...

Waking up, I knew something was wrong with my back.  I'm guessing the combination of stooping over for hours in caves, combined with a poor night's sleep on the ground left my back extremely stiff.  I was able to move and get around, but all motion was with a bit of pain.  Prescription for the day - take it slow and take lots of Motrin.  That means our 2,000 foot climb to the top of Lassen is out!  

Rather than waste a day lying on my back (which could just aggravate it), we opted to hike some minor trails.  We drove up to the trail head for Lassen, and enjoyed the view.  We found a trail to a place called "Bumpass Hell" (unsure of whether it is pronounced Bump-ass or Bum-pass - either way there is clear gluteal reference!)  Bumpass Hell is a region of geothermal activity on the edge of a large caldera that forms much of the park.  Lassen last erupted in 1915, and blew huge rocks miles from the cone.  This geothermal area is a residual pocket of activity that is reminiscent of a "minor" Yellowstone with boiling lakes and paint pots.  The trail wound through snow banks and ended at a boardwalk though the pools.

After the hike, we went back up to the Lassen trailhead, and who did we run into but Jill (our caving friend) who was on the way down from the top of Lassen.  She had gotten a late start hiking due to the long drive the day before (just for the record, it was the ranger at Lava Beds that told her to take the dirt road as a shortcut - GRIN).  We exchanged stories and compared notes, and then said goodbye.  She was off for the redwoods on the coast, and we were heading back for another night at the Lassen campground (and hopefully a recuperated back).  

In the morning we will head over to the interstate and get the car checked once more.  Hopefully my back will be close to normal.