Lassen Loop '19

[Ben70_imp]

Snow fell on Lassen last weekend but not enough to close the park early, so I headed up for my Fall loop.
Left the house about 10 am bundled up with my winter jacket, and was too warm for the first hour but not enough to change down a layer. Headed up to Red Bluff on 99, then hopped on 36 for a quick climb to the south park entrance. Traffic was light, it was a beautiful morning and pleasantly cool when I got into the mountains.
I had filled up in Chico and instead of stopping at Red Bluff just 45 minutes up the road, I figured I could get some gas at Mineral, just before the park. Couldn't find any, so at the park entrance I asked the ranger about it. He gave me his best "yew ain't from around here, are ya?" look and informed me they hadn't had gas there for years. Fortunately, there was gas to be had at the north entrance and I had enough to get there.
Grabbed a hot dog and chips at the gift shop/information center and headed up the park road. Traffic was very light as I cruised past the steaming sulfur pots and I was able to maintain a comfortable 35 or so throughout the tour.

After passing the highest point at 8500 feet, I stopped for this shot.
Going down the north side I got this pic showing last weekends snow where it had not yet melted.

It was incredibly beautiful, with mountain lakes and meadows, scared a couple deer off the road and assorted furry rodents. Photos can't convey the experience.
Headed out the north entrance and west to Shingle Springs where I dodged south to Manton on an interesting road that was too steep with downhill switchbacks to really be a great road to ride, plus there was some kind of fall festival going on in that little town making for busy traffic. Once through Manton it was on to 36 to close the loop, then Red Bluff again and home. 245 miles, great fun, bike ran flawlessly.

Ben