Plan to go to Lassen Volcanic National Park this weekend!

Outdoor activity on a snow field!

One year anniversary of this blog!

It's been for almost 1 year!  Last year, I posted a report for our Lassen trip as the first article.  It is not really easy to write something in English, but I am trying to post more.

Annual Event!
As an annual event, our family visit Lassen Volcanic National Park in spring break.  Almost all Saturdays except summer vacation time, we sent our kids to a Japanese school.  Therefore, it is not easy to go overnight trip. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is located northern California.  In summer season, many people visit the park to see different type of Volcano in the park.  People can do hiking, camping and etc.  It is probably busy in high season.  However, there is much snow in winter time and not many people visit this park.   So that even we stay a motel in one of  towns near by, it is very easy to get it.

In winter time, a CA-89 that across the park from north to south is closed.  So that, most of people are probably stay near entrance and playing with snow.   In winter time, it is really cold and it might be heard to stay out side for most of people.   The temperature could be below 20F, without moving around, it might be too cold.  However, in early spring around March, it is getting warm and people can stay out side and enjoy playing with snow.   I guess March could be a good season to visit the park.

Activity could be making (digging) a snow cave and  building igloo are really fun.  Kids love to do them!  You probably need to bring snow-saw and snow shovel.  Also, snow threading is also fun.  If you are interested in back country skiing, Lassen is a great area for back country skiing.   Probably snow-shoeing is also fun.  Since my kids is not old enough to do back country skiing.  We typically do making snow cave / igloo and snow threading.  
Then we do picnic on snow and cook some warm food.  I guess if the kids are getting older, we may be able to try to do coming on snow some day.

Lassen this winter

This winter, we did not get much rain / snow till a month ago.   As you probably know, most of ski resorts only have some snow with snow machines.  The mountain was brown / black even in January and February.   We planed to be there a few times this winter, but due to lack of snow, we gave up.
After mid February, we got a few storm and finally we got some snow over there.
This weekend could be good!  There will be no snow on the road and suppose to be good weather this weekend.
 
Skiing is fun, but a ski resort is typically crowded and noisy.  However, Lassen is very nice and quiet.  Just playing with snow is completely different experience for kids as well.  Also the cost is much less than skiing in a ski resort as well.

I really recommend to try Lassen Volcanic National Park some time in spring.

From San Francisco, it is about 4~5 hours driving.  It is not so far.   I would look for seeing you some day!