Lassen Volcanic National Park officials say they need to reroute portions of the boardwalk through Bumpass Hell/Kurt Repanshek
Can there be a better way to visit Hell? Bumpass Hell, that is, at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
That's the question park officials are pondering. The problem stems from the hydrothermal upwelling in this corner of Lassen that makes the area so interesting and so enticing to visitors.
"While the Bumpass Hell basin is a popular destination for many visitors to the park, including school groups, it is also a large hydrothermal area that exemplifies the dynamic, ever-changing geologic environment found at Lassen," notes park Superintendent Darlene Koontz.
"Maintenance of the existing boardwalk is difficult and costly. Boiling pools, mudpots and steam vents move over time and necessitate a constant relocation of the structure," she added in a release last week. "The heavy annual snow load frequently causes large portions of the boardwalk to shift and collapse. Repairs are difficult to complete and the relocation of the boardwalk is not always possible due to the location of hydrothermal features and unstable soils.
"Currently, the eastern end of the boardwalk is being undermined by a large hydrothermal feature, the pyrite pool. Other existing hydrothermal features in this area prevent a relocation of this section of the boardwalk. This section will need to be removed within the next year to prevent loss of the structure into the pyrite pool."
With all that in mind, park planners are in the early stages of developing a new trail concept for the Bumpass Hell basin.
Potential Options to Maintain Access and Resource Protection to the Bumpass Hell Basin include:
* To remediate anticipated future maintenance and safety concerns associated with the remaining boardwalk, the entire boardwalk would be removed and access to the basin would occur via a loop trail that would be constructed by creating a trail on the north slope of the basin that would tie into existing trails surrounding the basin.
* The remaining boardwalk not currently undermined would stay in place and would be stabilized.
* Existing overlooks and the terminuses of the remaining boardwalk sections would be enlarged to accommodate larger groups of people.
* An additional loop trail would be constructed around the basin by building a new trail along the northern slope of the basin that would tie into existing trails surrounding the basin and allow a different view of the hydrothermal features.
* Improving the existing basin overlook on the main Bumpass Hell trail and add/update interpretive panels.
* Delineate overlooks on other existing trails in the basin so they are more clearly defined.
* Provide/update interpretive panels along trails in the basin.
You can study the planning efforts and submit your ideas at this website.
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Comments
I would enjoy knowing what kind of bird is singing at 2:07 to the end of video.
Well the preferred proposal would certainly lessen the visitor experience. It would create a longer hike to capture the whole area and would keep viewers far away from what I believe is the most interesting feature, the pyrite pool. Once again comes down to vistior experience vs resource protection.