Kings Creek to Cold Boiling Lake, July 31, 2022

by Greg LockettPosted onGet Out!
Pale mountain monardella. G. Lockett.
Pale mountain monardella, Monardella odoratissima ssp. pallida, going gangbusters. Lassen Volcanic National Park, July 31, 2022. Photo by Greg Lockett.

On Sunday, July 31, 2022, I went to Lassen Volcanic National Park and hiked from Kings Creek Picnic Area to Cold Boiling Lake, and then off-road along water flowing toward Crumbaugh Lake. Didn’t make it to Crumbaugh. This is the first time that I have ventured into areas where I know that the Dixie Fire was active. Better than I expected.

East side of Bumpass Mountain. G. Lockett.
Basically, I was hiking below the trail that connects Bumpass Hell and Cold Boiling Lake. This is looking upslope toward the trail, which you cannot see. Damage seems largely centered on trees, but there are lots of seed trees left for the future. Lassen Volcanic National Park, July 31, 2022. Photo by Greg Lockett.
Cold Boiling Lake drainage. G. Lockett.
Looking up the drainage toward Cold Boiling Lake; the trail traversing behind the lake. There is fire damage, but it was probably healthy to burn some of this stuff. Lassen Volcanic National Park, July 31, 2022.
Photo by Greg Lockett.
Cold Boiling Lake drainage stream. G. Lockett.
Cold Boiling Lake drainage. I have hiked this area for decades: lots of flowers, very few people. In the past, you couldn’t get close to this stream because of dense vegetation. Now, it is in the open. Easy to walk along and check out the flowers. Lassen Volcanic National Park, July 31, 2022. Photo by Greg Lockett.

Based on my past hikes, the big winner post-fire in this area is entire-leaved aster (Eurybia integrifolia). This species used to be limited to an area on the west side of Crumbaugh Lake. Many years, it was difficult to find at all. Now, it is growing densely down from Cold Boiling Lake. There are many plants over a very large area. This is a big change. Drought? Fire? Both? Neither? Not sure. 

The big losers that I noticed were the monkeyflowers, especially Lewis’ monkeyflower (Erythranthe lewisii). This area used to be a big stronghold for the Lewis’ monkeyflower and I went there regularly to photograph that plant in particular. I could only find two small patches this trip. Seep monkeyflower (E. guttata) was also very limited. Primrose monkeyflower (E. primuloides) was doing great. ~Greg Lockett

Please enjoy the following slideshow of just a few of the blooming wildflowers that Greg encountered on his hike. All photos by Greg Lockett. Enjoy!

Fireweed. G. Lockett.Spiked checkerbloom close-up. G. Lockett.Ranger's buttons. G. Lockett.Lewis' monkeyflower close-up. G. Locekt.Entire-leaved aster. G. Lockett.Shasta lily. G. Lockett.Coulter's daisy. G. Lockett.