For the last six days we have been camped at the Hereford Ranch Hat Creek RV Park just off Hwy 89 north of Lassen. It has been a most pleasant sojourn, and one we expect to repeat in the years to come.
First, it should be noted that there is no Verizon service here, so we have no cell-phones and our air-card does not work. But they do have free WiFi, so I am still on the Internet.
This is the Hat Creek valley. It is the remains of a A'a stony rough lava flow 20,000 years ago from the Lassen Peak family of craters, including the Hat Creek fault. Up near Old Station is the lava tube cave, the 20-foot diameter remains of a liquid-rock river that flowed beneath the surface as the 16 square mile lava field cooled.
We first came here in the 1960s and 70s to explore and fish. My boys learned much of their fishing expertise and enthusiasm from their grandfather on the upper Hat. In time, as we aged and wanted more comfort, we adopted the camper-style of living. We found a great place further down the valley at the Hereford Ranch where we had running water and electricity. Besides, it was closer to the lower Hat where the REALLY big trout hung out (barbless hooks and two fish limit).
Much of it remains the same, though I understand the DFG now plants the lower hat. But it is still very limited waters, and there are still some big fish.
But the big difference is up on the lava beds just this side of Old Station. Last year a fire raged through the scrub oaks and mesquite atop the lava flows. There was not much to burn, but what there was was burned to a gray powder of ash. Now it looks like the moon. No green. No life. Dead.
This has happened before, but not in my lifetime. It was a heartbreak when we drove through it. My consolation is that life will come back to the lava beds. The rains will fall and wash away the ash, and seeds will be blown in from nearby hills. Life will return, but it will be a long time.
In the meantime, we will stay here in the still-green parts of the Hat Creek valley. At least for the next couple of days, then we continue our journey to the south.
Sam Penny
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