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CWSkopec
May-27-2009, 10:11 PM
Last September I took a big road trip up through a number of National Parks, Yosemite, Crater Lake, Lava Beds and ultimately ending at Lassen Volcanic Park in northern California. Yosemite is Yosemite. I could have taken my whole trip there and returned happy. BUT if I had to choose another park to have spent more time at, it would be Lassen, without a doubt. I still haven't processed all the shots from my trip yet (what can I say, I get distracted easily), but here's a couple I've gotten done so far...

1) I think I've already posted this shot, but it deserves another go 'round
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/455871639_V2mT4-L-2.jpg

2) About 20 minutes before #1, this little guy was paddling around in the last of the light
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/543223444_sgDc4-L-1.jpg

3) Dead Tree at the Bumpass Hell trailhead
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/543223588_fUiM3-L-1.jpg

4) Due to the parks volcanic origins, there is a lot of hydrothermal activity in the park, Bumpass Hell is (I think) the most active and the sulfer and other minerals coming up create some awesome colors on the ground
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/543121404_8uHkJ-L-1.jpg

5)
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/543120939_z2h5G-L-1.jpg

6)
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/543135986_8i97j-L-1.jpg

7)
http://www.chrisskopec.com/photos/543136198_WcQpp-L-1.jpg

As always, comments and suggestions are welcomed! :thumb
schmoo
May-28-2009, 01:50 PM
Chris this looks FANTASTIC! I have not heard much about this park but I just bought this incredibly detailed map of CA and Lassen is high on my list, mostly because it's new to me. I'm so pleased to see that the terrain is so unique and you did get some really nice shots out there even in the middle of the day. Hows the climate?
CWSkopec
May-28-2009, 02:59 PM
Chris this looks FANTASTIC! I have not heard much about this park but I just bought this incredibly detailed map of CA and Lassen is high on my list, mostly because it's new to me. I'm so pleased to see that the terrain is so unique and you did get some really nice shots out there even in the middle of the day. Hows the climate?

Thanks, Schmoo!! :D

I went to Lassen on sort of "spur of the moment," I had planned on spending a lot more time at Lava Beds way up north in Ca., but found it desolate to the point of uniteresting instead of being a cool challenge to shoot. After I left Lava Beds I stopped at a small coffee shop with Wi-Fi and found Lassen. Not wanting my vacation to end, I headed over there for a couple days. It was absolutely spectacular!! I highly recomend visiting and visiting soon!!! (not that I think the park is going anywhere, but the sooner you visit, the sooner you can go back!! :wink )

I was there about mid-September and the weather was spot on PERFECT! At least vacation-wise... a couple clouds in the sky would have made it photography perfect as well. T-shirt and shorts all day and a sweatshirt and jeans were comfortable after the sun went down. Elevation is pretty high, so I wouldn't be surprised if they still had snow in those parts right now, but I imagine that before too long it'll be back to perfect conditions!

There's a couple more shots in my Lassen gallery (http://www.chrisskopec.com/gallery/6592615_ac23n#455871639_V2mT4), though they're not much different than what's posted. Hopefully I'll get some more in there before too long! :thumb
schmoo
May-28-2009, 05:06 PM
the sooner you visit, the sooner you can go back!! :wink )


:lol3 So very true!

The colors in your photos are just amazing. They match your banner pretty well too, which is another plus :thumb

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like your little side trip was really worth it - the best kind of accidents! Can't wait to see more from your entire trip. Crater Lake is up on my list, too. :D
CWSkopec
May-28-2009, 09:39 PM
:lol3 So very true!

The colors in your photos are just amazing. They match your banner pretty well too, which is another plus :thumb

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like your little side trip was really worth it - the best kind of accidents! Can't wait to see more from your entire trip. Crater Lake is up on my list, too. :D

Thanks again, Schmoo!! :D

I'll do my best to get some from the trip processed and posted soon!
Eia
May-29-2009, 08:20 AM
The first two are my favorite- beautiful and peace filled!:thumb
Hikin' Mike
May-29-2009, 03:05 PM
Did you hike Lassen Peak? Nice series BTW!
CWSkopec
May-29-2009, 10:46 PM
The first two are my favorite- beautiful and peace filled!:thumb

Thank you Eia! :thumb
It truly was a beautiful and peaceful sunset!!
CWSkopec
May-29-2009, 10:55 PM
Did you hike Lassen Peak? Nice series BTW!

Thanks, Mike! :D
I didn't get the chance to hike the peak, as much as I'm sure the views up there are absolutely astounding, I just couldn't prolong my vacation long enough to hike the peak and still see as much of the rest of the park as I did. Next time! :D

If you've hiked that peak, I'd love to see your shots from up there!
shniks
May-30-2009, 03:22 AM
Great series Chris. I did not even know about this park. I will definitely have to check it out sometime. Very nice!!!


Cheers,
schmoo
May-30-2009, 09:54 AM
Great series Chris. I did not even know about this park. I will definitely have to check it out sometime. Very nice!!!


Cheers,

CA Dgrin shootout! :lol3
CWSkopec
May-30-2009, 11:34 AM
Great series Chris. I did not even know about this park. I will definitely have to check it out sometime. Very nice!!!


Cheers,

Thanks, Nikhil!! :D

I wish it was a little closer to home, I've learned a lot since I was there and would love to go back with what I've learned, but all my vacation days for this year are already spoken for...:cry
CWSkopec
May-30-2009, 11:35 AM
CA Dgrin shootout! :lol3

AWESOME!!! Next year's right? :wink
dlplumer
May-30-2009, 02:06 PM
Excellent series Chris. :clap:clap
CWSkopec
May-31-2009, 10:33 AM
Excellent series Chris. :clap:clap

Thank you, Dan!! :thumb
Hikin' Mike
May-31-2009, 03:47 PM
If you've hiked that peak, I'd love to see your shots from up there!

It's on my backpacking website:

The Backcountry: Lassen Peak (http://www.thebackcountry.org/view.php?id=lassen00)

BTW, this is before digital and before I got "into" photography.
CWSkopec
May-31-2009, 09:17 PM
It's on my backpacking website:

The Backcountry: Lassen Peak (http://www.thebackcountry.org/view.php?id=lassen00)

BTW, this is before digital and before I got "into" photography.

Very cool shots, Mike! No need to qualify them as being before you were "into" photography! Looks like you had a great day there, and that I should have taken the chance to hike the peak while I was there!

Thanks for sharing! :thumb