Today, we see more up close volcano shaped landscapes. First, we travel to an underground tunnel created by lava flow. As I have said, our boys love to climb in caves, but this cave is different. Nothing to climb, just a straight tube hollowed out by lava. It’s a short trail, but long enough to need flashlights and very interesting. This was a nice excursion on the way to today’s hike, Cinder Cone Trail. Since Lassen does not receive as many visitors as other parks, it also has much fewer restaurants. In fact, along the trip there is only one restaurant and it has over an hour lunch wait. We skip it, and buy food at the next door gas station. Mine found in the frozen section heated up in its microwave. Fine dining!

Renting the Jeep was a good idea. Not only have we been able to drive without the top when the weather and scenery call for it, but we have traveled on several gravel, bumpy roads. Cinder Cone trail happens to be at the end of one such road. This trail is mostly a four mile level hike except the climb at the end. Cinder Cone is the opportunity to get up and close with a dormant volcano. There are lava rocks everywhere from a previous eruption. It does not take long for Eli and Josh to leave the trail and just randomly climb around on these lava rocks. The final mountain climb is all up a rocky, ash trail. Eli and Amber see the hike and decide not today. However, I am undaunted. I have made it this far. I am in for the climb. Josh also declares his desire to sit this climb out, but later tells Amber that he wants to let me get a head start since I climb so slow.
The hike is a lot harder than the picture looks. As you begin to climb you take one step. Then slide down a half a step. The trail is all gravel and ash. Several climbers, sit in the middle of the trail to take a break. Sadly, this often feels like life. You take one step and then after retreat back a step without as much progress as you hoped. As Americans, we are all about progress, accomplishments, efficiency and getting things done. Thus, we often don’t have patience for a job that is a slow, hard climb. What do we miss because of our to do lists or don’t ever accomplish because we don’t have the patience for the task?
Back on the mountain, the climb takes longer than I expect. But when we finally get to the top, you are rewarded with a view into the cone of a volcano. Josh and I circle the top, climb down a bit to look into the cone and take lots of pictures of the surrounding area. You can see several lakes in the distance, and again Lassen Peak dominates the skyline. I have never seen such a sight or hiked such a hike. It was different, this cone itself, you may not call beautiful, but the views from the top were great. It was not what I expected and I am glad of it.

We return to our bed and breakfast to rest a bit before going out again. This time just Amber and I as both Josh and Eli want some time. Life is togetherness which means sometimes, you need time for yourselves. Bonhoeffer, in his book, LIfe Together, describes the necessary relationship in living in community and being alone. It states that you don’t truly live in community unless you know time alone. You also don’t truly know alone time unless you live in community. I used to be baffled by this, but not anymore. I have a family that I adore and cannot even know fully who I am without them anymore. One the other hand, I don’t know fully who I am without my time alone. They both need each other.
Alone time with Amber is nice too. We take a leisurely hike around Manzanita Lake. Again, Lassen Peak dominates the skyline.
Since there are few restaurants open, we head to the same place that we ate the night before. Thankfully the food is good with variety.