In August 2007, Geno, Dick, Jay, Ralph and I spent a week visiting Lassen National Park and the surrounding region. We camped at the Warner Valley Campground located 17 miles from the town of Chester. The last two miles was a dirt road which made for a dusty experience when the wind blew the wrong way. Friends of Geno, Steve and Judy, have been the campground host there for the past two summers and had encouraged him to visit. As Steve might say, “You either learn to embrace the dust as part of the ambience or you go else”.

A quarter mile beyond the campground at the roads end is the historic and rustic Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Over 110 years old, today the unassuming guest ranch is known for its hospitality, great food, and a warm water pool that is fed by local hot springs. The place is outdoors oriented and best suited for those who enjoy a good hike, communing with nature and fresh mountain air with crisp, bright mornings. There the evenings are for reading, games and conversations around the campfire.

The under developed Warner Valley area within Lassen National Park gets few visitors since it is not accessible from the main highway through the park. Most visitors stay on Highway 89 to see the park’s name sake “Lassen Peak” which towers over the region with an elevation of 10,462 feet. The main highway goes around nearly three quarters of Mount Lassen offering wonderful vistas of the mountains and valleys.

During our stay, we traveled throughout the region both within and outside the park to hike and bike. In all, we did 5 hikes and 2 bike rides. Our evenings were spent mostly at camp sharing dinner and wine amongst the seven of us with lots of conversation and laughs. Some evenings concluded with music from Ralph and his guitar. We also had two great meals at the Drakesbad Guest Ranch. After which, we enjoyed a good soaking in the warm water pool. You see, a paid meal at the guest ranch also entitles one to use the pool. It was a good time for all.

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