I started driving back to San Diego from Mount Rainier NP. When i wake up, it was raining a lot in the morning, then i slept for few more hours. i woke up again at 8:30 still its raining but not heavy. i thought i need to pack and start return journey. So i packed everything. i packed wet tent separately, placed separately.
My plan was to go for a hike till panaromic point at paradise before i leave Rainier NP, I drove to Paradise. i waited till visitor center opened(10AM). i waited for 30 mins. I saw the mount rainier, mountain is fully covered with thick clouds, and its raining all the time. i waited for some time to see if clouds can get clear. Waited till visitor center is opened, when i talked to park rangers about the weather, cloud and rain forecasts, i was told next whole week heavy cloud and rain is expected on mountains. As more than half of the trail is covered with either clouds or fog, Mount Rainier glaciers view cannot be visible even if i hiked. SO,i dropped hiking, left the national park.
While returning the park, i left from east entrance, steve canyon, drive really beautiful. it would have been even more beautiful if it was clean sky. When i am leaving the par, its raining little bit. I thought of going to SunRise point. its an hour and half drive from paradise. i drove more than an hour, by the time rain has picked its pouring heavily. all mountains are covered with thick clouds. then i dropped the idea of driving to Sunrise point.
One of my Ex company colleague is doing Pacific Crest Trail, 2015 thru-hike with family, their expected iternery showed they will be at whitecaps junction today, So I thought of meeting them if they are at whitepass.
I drove to Whitecaps, where their re-supply box is shipped. they had not come yet. then drove east on HWY 12 for an hour to see few scenic points. i spent couple of hours scenic drive. i did small hike at one of the falls. Then, i cam back to store, still they have not reached. then i gave up the idea of waiting for them. I decided they will not be coming today, there is no point waiting at Whitepass.
I left a note and i started my return journey. I drove HWY 12 scenic byway all the way to Nachos. Before Nachos, one of cop followed me for 20 mile behind me, after that i gave up and decided to take a break, give pass to cop, as it was single line. Cop passed. I stopped there for late lunch after filling the tank.
Then i drove towards oregon, i drove on roads from the middle of fruit groves. i fell in love with some places, fruit orchards. I did not stop to buy any fresh fruits as i am running out of day light. i want to drive till Bend at least when there is a light. I drove for 2 hours i guess then i crossed columbia river then entered Oregon. Oregon is welcomed with very clear skies. i drove till 20 miles before Bend by the time sun set happened, I decided which ever hotel i see first i will stop. I stopped at first hotel i see. i got a room there and i completing checkin process, i went near by chinese restaurant and bought togo. I had dinner watching Mission Impossible series on HBO. After couple of hours i slept. I think it was past 1 AM i guess.
Next morning i got by 7 AM, it took almost an hour by the time i am in car ready to start driving. When i started i don't have any plan other than drive to San Diego. i drove for 2 hours near to Crater lake junction. Then GPS timings if i go through crater lake, its not taking more than 45 mins extra, Then i decided to drive through from Crater Lake.
I entered Crater lake NP from north entrance. there is heavy fog at crater lake. i see nothing inside park. almost all visitors are hanging at visitor center, as they see nothing at lake rim view points.
I also stopped at visitor center and had lunch at cafe. took nice break for almost an hour. then continued my drive. i drove rest of the why till CA border. After driving few miles inside CA i saw a sort of westerner festival is going on, i stopped there to enjoy their celebration games.
They were playing a game. i watched for some time. Then i left the place. I drove rest of hwy seeing Mt Shasta for more than an hour. it was another beautiful drive. lot of time Mt Shasta appeared straight ahead of the road. as it nears, Road passes from right then after merging to I5 it appeared left. I did not realized until i watched closely it has few small glaciers left still. There is still at least 4 hours. I could not drive even to bay area before light goes, So i changed the plan instead i took little detour, i drove to Lassen Volcanic NP.
I visited Lassen almost 6-7 years back. i could not even remember much of the park landscape. i forgot except one or two moments in the park. I took subway at Shasta village, then drove to Lassen park within 2 hours. my plan was to dry out the tent too reasonably to pack properly while eating sandwich.
I took a 45 mins break at devastated area within the park, i dried my tent on rocks.( i learnt this technic from my Pct thru-hike friends, if you dry out on rocks in day time, it dries out faster because of rock heat). I packed and left the parking area to see lassen park mostly drive thru. I stopped at many view points But unfortunately i did not go any hike. I really liked some of the trails or hikes, especially lassen peak hike. When i drove to near south gate and when see sulphur works, i could re-collect the my last visit. I did see sulphur works last time. seems i drove whole road. somehow i was under impression Lassen is total dead volcany But it is also has sort of active magma under national park lands.
While driving in NP i saw a fox on in one of the meadows. its very rare to fox. it was playing on plain grassland. i spent quite a time and watched fox. Then, when i am driving from that place,
i saw another small fox crossed the road just with 10 ft distance. it stopped for couple of mins on road then disappeared in downhill bushes.
At the Lassen park highest point, i saw some deers, they are very comfortable eating just side to road. not bothered out vehicles on the road. And finally i spent some time at sulphur works before i leave the NP. just before sunset i left the national park. i drove downhill and had very beautiful sunset, what a way to end the my adventurous road trip.
I drove till Red bluff, decided to take night halt at Red Bluff.
Next morning i woke up bit late than normal, as i have no any further plans. I wanted to just drive back to San Diego reach San Diego by evening.
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