(2014-September 7-11) Lassen Volcanic and Redwood National Parks, California.
Flew to San Francisco International, grabbed a rental car, and headed to Red Bluff, where I stayed the night approximately 50 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. Early the next morning, I entered the park from the south via Highway 36 and captured some sunrise shots of Lake Helen, Lassen Peak, and Brokeoff Mountain. Camped at North Summit Lake at approximately 7000' elevation (nice and cool), then began hitting areas in the park. A few days earlier, I strained my right calf during a workout and it was beginning to heal. During some trips to the Ridge Lakes, Terrace Lake, and Shadow Lake, my calf really began to hurt, but I knew the super Moon was coming this evening and I needed to get somewhere high nontheless.
I chose the north flank of Bumpass Mountain at nearly 9000' of rock. One foot (and one hand) in front of the other, I climbed and got myself situated in a nice spot for both the Sunset and Moonrise. What a large beautiful Moon it was!!! I made my way back down the mountain in the dark and headed back to camp. The next morning, I captured some "Smokey" shots of Lassen Peak and the Chaos Crags from Manzanita Lake. Now it's off to Redwood National Park, near the Oregon border. After a five hour drive, I hit the National Park Headquarters in Crescent City and got some good info on where the nicest groves were located. I drove to the National Park Panther Flat camp area, quickly set up, and off I was to the Templeman Grove and the Simpson Reed Grove.
I Captured some nice photographs of the large Redwood trees and by this time my right leg was killing me!. The following morning, I drove to the Stout Grove, which is accessed by an unimproved dirt road. What a wonderful grove of huge Redwoods!! Just an amazing experience walking among these giants. I kept my eyes open for Ewoks, but didn't come across any (back in 1982, "The Return of the Jedi" was shot in many locations in this area). After several hours of fun, I drove south mostly on Highway 101 and then Highway 29 through beautiful Napa Valley and stayed in Vallejo, before catching the flight back home in the morning. Another beautiful trip!!!
Read MoreI chose the north flank of Bumpass Mountain at nearly 9000' of rock. One foot (and one hand) in front of the other, I climbed and got myself situated in a nice spot for both the Sunset and Moonrise. What a large beautiful Moon it was!!! I made my way back down the mountain in the dark and headed back to camp. The next morning, I captured some "Smokey" shots of Lassen Peak and the Chaos Crags from Manzanita Lake. Now it's off to Redwood National Park, near the Oregon border. After a five hour drive, I hit the National Park Headquarters in Crescent City and got some good info on where the nicest groves were located. I drove to the National Park Panther Flat camp area, quickly set up, and off I was to the Templeman Grove and the Simpson Reed Grove.
I Captured some nice photographs of the large Redwood trees and by this time my right leg was killing me!. The following morning, I drove to the Stout Grove, which is accessed by an unimproved dirt road. What a wonderful grove of huge Redwoods!! Just an amazing experience walking among these giants. I kept my eyes open for Ewoks, but didn't come across any (back in 1982, "The Return of the Jedi" was shot in many locations in this area). After several hours of fun, I drove south mostly on Highway 101 and then Highway 29 through beautiful Napa Valley and stayed in Vallejo, before catching the flight back home in the morning. Another beautiful trip!!!
