Lassen Cinder Cone

Having survived a night with no neighbors but with bears and rabid squirrels, we decided to climb the cinder-cone above the lake:

There's only one way up, a 1-in-3 gradient complete with ankle-deep volcanic ash:

Deep Thought sets the pace, Little Starlet shows great determination in catching up:

Meanwhile, a lone tree clings to the slope:


Half-way up, we get a view of Lassen Peak:
Resting at the top of the volcano:
Walking down into the crater itself:

And back at the crater's rim:

Finally, hungry kids headed back for lunch: