With only a few days in Lassen Volcanic National Park, I wanted to try to fit as much of the park in as possible. Mt. Lassen, of course, was one. We also decided to check Kings Creek Falls and Sifford Lake loop off of our list.
I’ll let you in on a little secret, when it comes to any type of camping, I absolutely hate showering. I don’t care if there’s a shower right next to my campsite. I just want to be stinky and smelly. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll jump into a stream, lake, or ocean if it’s available, but paying for a hot shower in the wilderness is fundamentally wrong.
This not showering and not being 100% clean idea conflicts a lot with my obsessive skincare routine, so I try to offset it with some really good facial wipes. And really good facial wipes have been hard to find until now.
The Outdoor Research Turbine Shorts are a pair of shorts I would never pick up for myself. Probably. So when the crew at Outdoor Research sent me these as a part of #ORInsightLab, I was pretty skeptical. I mean, they have built-in underwear! And from my experience as a child with built-in underwear, it was not comfortable nor something I ever wanted to experience again.
Hike: Mt. Lassen
Where: Lassen Volcanic National Park
Trailhead: Mt. Lassen
Level: Moderate
Duration: 2 hours and 54 minutes
Length: 5 miles up and down
Gear: REI Sahara Convertible Pants, Triple Aught Design Artemis Hoodie, Outdoor Research Ignitor Tee, Patagonia Women’s Nano Puff Jacket
, Outdoor Research Women’s Helium HD Jacket
, Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot, Boreas Topaz 25 Daypack
, and Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
Cost of Parking: Free
Took a few days off work to extend my 4th of July weekend and headed up to Lassen Volcanic National Park for the first time, ever. I’m super jealous of all the families I saw camping around me; I wish my parents were more into that when I was younger! We spent a few days exploring as much of the park as we could. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of my Lassen adventures! But first, my favorite adventure… hiking Mt. Lassen on the 4th of July!
We woke up bright and early at 4am to the sound of bears growling in the distance by Drakesbad and shoveled food down our throats as fast as possible. The goal was to get to the trailhead as fast as possible to catch the sunrise as we headed up. The trail is still under renovations, but it was open for the long weekend. We weren’t sure how many people would be attempting to summit and aimed to beat the crowds and heat.
The Farm to Feet Boulder sock is one of the company’s most highly lauded socks. Lightweight, merino wool with full density cushion, this sock keeps you comfortable on the way to the office and on the trails.
I reviewed the Farm to Feet Madison previously here. The Boulder is the Madison’s younger sister with a looser weave. Like the Madison, the Boulder is designed for adventure hiking and trekking. The thickness of the socks are the same, but if you’re looking for something a little more breathable and less restrictive, the Boulder is for you.
Otherwise, these mirror the Madison in terms of quality and construction. This sock is serious business; it won’t sag on you when you need it. It keeps out dirt and unwanted debris. It’s made of high-quality merino wool. You can wear these over, and over, and over, and over, and over again without getting a weird multi-day sock funk. These babies feel fresh every time you put them on.