Lassen Peak eruptions viewed

<I>Looking back through the old Anderson Union High School's collection of Aurora yearbooks for information regarding the school's 100th anniversary celebration in the fall, I thought this story by Iva Clemmons published in the 1920s to be quite interesting. In the early Auroras, student writers worked on many interesting articles. - </I><B>Gene Vonk</B>

<B>By Iva Clemmons</B>

When Mt. Lassen first began to erupt in the spring of 1914, it became very noted and travelers flocked from various places to visit its crater. Tourists no longer come as they did; the mountain has rather died down, only letting loose a volley of smoke occasionally, yet it is a region of surpassing interest.

Manzanita Lake lies some distance from the mountain. The deep blue sky above and the green trees bordering the lake seem to set off its beauty. The lake was not so large until some years ago the Power Company built a dam below, backing up the water and making it considerable deeper. It is dangerous to go rowing in the lake for there are snags in the water and unless one is watching closely, he runs the risk of getting caught. The lake was filled with ashes from the mountain and one was unable to peer in the depth below but now it is as clear as a crystal. Far below can be seen high ridges like miniature mountains, tangled treetops, and the green seaweed.

A short distance from Manzanita Lake is Mud Lake. This lake is not as large or as deep as Manzanita Lake and has many catfish in it, You will notice in the evening, as the sun goes down, that if one rock is thrown against another, making an echo, the catfish will come to the surface and make quite a noise with their flopping.

The mountain is about three miles distant from the lake. The country looks dissolute where the hot lava came down, killing the trees and cutting deep gorges, but now and then a green spot can be noticed. The lava is dry, soft and difficult to walk in, and there are many short, steep hills to climb before the foot of the mountain is reached. The main part of the mountain is very steep, its elevation being about 10,000 feet. It is very difficult to climb for the ashes are soft and give way under foot. Sometimes a rock is dislodged by the foot and goes leaping down the hill. Bouncing higher than six feet in the air, spelling death to anyone who might be in its way and this will happen if one does not keep on the lookout. Little snow can be seen on the side of the mountain in the summertime.

There are three craters. The middle crater, which is principal outlet, doesn't look very inviting to visitors with its high, shaggy looking walls and rocks from which small columns of steam issue. In the bottom of this crater is a small, shallow lake.

The water is cold and would be good if it was not mineral water. The lava is soft near the water but gets firmer as one goes farther away. The other craters are not so important, one being too deep to descend and the other flatter with just rocks, rocks and rocks.

The lookout house is a wreck, just a pile of debris being left. The look-out was situated upon a higher peak of the mountain. Looking down from the summit of Lassen, the scenery is very beautiful. Helen Lake and others can be seen in the distance; Broke Off with its gleaming white patches of snow and Hot Spring Valley showing plainly with its small geysers shooting up 5 or 6 feet. The old sulfur works can also be seen.

Fascinating because of the mystery surrounding its habits and because it alone of the many beacons that once stretched along our west coast still gives signs of the life within it, Mt Lassen is also a scenic wonder. Curiosity gives way to admiration as we survey the mountain slopes.