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Above the mixed-conifer forest is the major community of the Red Fir forest. Between elevations of 6,500 and 8,000 feet, Red Fir, Western White Pine, Mountain Hemlock, and Lodgepole Pine dominate a community less diverse than the mixed-conifer forest. Common plants include satin lupine, woolly mule's-ears and pinemat manzanita.

Subalpine areas include the upper limit for the growth of standing trees. From 8,000 feet to treeline, plants are fewer in overall number with exposed patches of bare ground providing a harsh environment. Rock spirea, lupin, Indian paintbrush, and penstemon are a few of the rugged members of this community. Trees in this community include Whitebark Pine and Mountain Hemlock.

 

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Species that are typically found in these forested areas are black bear, red fox, mule deer, marten, cougar, brown creeper, a variety of chipmunk species, raccoon, mountain chickadee, pika, a variety of squirrel species, white-headed woodpecker, coyote, bobcat, weasel, a variety of mouse species, long-toed salamander, skunk, and a wide variety of bat species.

Lassen Volcanic Park is home to the Sierra Nevada red fox in particular, one of the rarest mammals in California. 20 individuals have been identified in the park, making it the largest known Sierra Nevada red fox population.

 

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In the Cenozoic, uplifting and westward tilting of the Sierra Nevada along with extensive volcanism generated huge lahars (volcanic-derived mud flows) in the Pliocene which became the Tuscan Formation. This formation is not exposed anywhere in the national park but it is just below the surface in many areas.

Also in the Pliocene, basaltic flows erupted from vents and fissures in the southern part of the park. These and later flows covered increasingly large areas and built a lava plateau. In the later Pliocene and into the Pleistocene, these basaltic flows were covered by successive thick and fluid flows of andesite lava, which geologists call the Juniper lavas and the Twin Lakes lavas. The Twin Lakes lava is black, porphyritic and has abundant xenocrysts of quartz (see Cinder Cone).

Another group of andesite lava flows called the Flatiron, erupted during this time and covered the southwestern part of the park's area. The park by this time was a relatively featureless and large lava plain. Subsequently, the Eastern basalt flows erupted along the eastern boundary of what is now the park, forming low hills that were later eroded into rugged terrain.

 

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Pyroclastic eruptions then started to pile tephra into cones in the northern area of the park.

Mount Tehama (also known as Brokeoff Volcano) rose as a stratovolcano in the southwestern corner of the park during the Pleistocene. It was made of roughly alternating layers of andesitic lavas and tephra (volcanic ash, breccia, and pumice) with increasing amounts of tephra with elevation. At its height, Tehama was probably about 11,000 feet (3,400 m) high.

Approximately 350,000 years ago its cone collapsed into itself and formed a two-mile (3.2 km) wide caldera after it emptied its throat and partially did the same to its magma chamber in a series of eruptions. One of these eruptions occurred where Lassen Peak now stands, and consisted of fluid, black, glassy dacite, which formed a layer 1,500 feet (460 m) thick (outcroppings of which can be seen as columnar rock at Lassen's base).

 

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Lake Helen

 

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During glacial periods (ice ages) of the present Wisconsinan glaciation, glaciers have modified and helped to erode the older volcanoes in the park, including the remains of Tehama. Many of these glacial features, deposits and scars, however, have been covered up by tephra and avalanches, or were destroyed by eruptions.

Roughly 27,000 years ago (older data gave an age of 18,000 years), Lassen Peak started to form as a dacite lava dome quickly pushed its way through Tehama's former north-eastern flank. As the lava dome pushed its way up, it shattered overlaying rock, which formed a blanket of talus around the emerging volcano. Lassen rose and reached its present height in a relatively short time, probably in as little as a few years. Lassen Peak has also been partially eroded by Ice Age glaciers, at least one of which extended as much as 7 miles (11 km) from the volcano itself.

Since then, smaller dacite domes formed around Lassen. The largest of these, Chaos Crags, is just north of Lassen Peak. Phreatic (steam explosion) eruptions, dacite and andesite lava flows and cinder cone formation have persisted into modern times.

 

[Welsh]

Why oh why did I only find this thread now!!
On page 14... Very interesting.. Thanks BO

You probably missed the posts as BO's posting is intermittent for other reasons.  :biggrin:

 

[Crankshaft]

Above the mixed-conifer forest is the major community of the Red Fir forest. Between elevations of 6,500 and 8,000 feet, Red Fir, Western White Pine, Mountain Hemlock, and Lodgepole Pine dominate a community less diverse than the mixed-conifer forest. Common plants include satin lupine, woolly mule's-ears and pinemat manzanita.

Subalpine areas include the upper limit for the growth of standing trees. From 8,000 feet to treeline, plants are fewer in overall number with exposed patches of bare ground providing a harsh environment. Rock spirea, lupin, Indian paintbrush, and penstemon are a few of the rugged members of this community. Trees in this community include Whitebark Pine and Mountain Hemlock.

Wow that's a lot of wildlife....  It looks so peaceful  :thumleft:  Thanks for sharing these beautiful pics.  :ricky:

 

[Crankshaft]

Why oh why did I only find this thread now!!
On page 14... Very interesting.. Thanks BO

You probably missed the posts as BO's posting is intermittent for other reasons.  :biggrin:

:laughing4: :laughing4: ot:

 

[big oil]

Why oh why did I only find this thread now!!
On page 14... Very interesting.. Thanks BO

You probably missed the posts as BO's posting is intermittent for other reasons.  :biggrin:

:laughing4: :laughing4: ot:

:imaposer: :imaposer: I don't care who ya are, that is funny, Welsh.  Every Welshmen I've ever met has been a pile of laughs.  ccasion14:

 

[big oil]

Unfortunately, once a few miles north of Lassen Volcanic NP, I had to ride through an area heavily affected by one of the largest wildfires in Northern California at the time.  I was gasping for air, felt like I couldn't get enough oxygen.  Scary thing to ride through, felt like Armageddon.

 

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I arrived in Weed, California and immediately felt the laid back vibe from the locals and town.  What else would you expect from a town with such a name.  I booked a motel room for one night.  However, after only one day in the saddle since spending a week near death in Lake Tahoe, I was suffering from sore ears and throat.  The motel I stayed at didn't have vacancy another night because firefighters fighting the nearby wildfires at secured all the rooms.  I was able to book a room across the street, so I hung out in Weed for a few days trying every way in the world to recuperate fully.  Finally on the 11th, I felt good enough to ride my bike around town and photograph Mt. Shasta.

First photograph is of Weed Mercantile. 

 

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Discovered some old classics, from a time when trucks were tough, solid axles front and back, no weak independent suspension in these old workhorses.

 

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