A fireside chat with Lassen Volcanic National Park's Superintendent, in green jacket. Something about spending a few million dollars putting in a new trail to the top of Lassen Peak...

Sunset from the fire ring spreading over Warner Valley.

Yak and "The Brothers From Long Island" having a freebie feed thanks to the induplicable Ed.

And there's the man in question now, along with his "Little Swiss Miss" Billie, the two operators of Drakesbad. Incredibly hiker-friendly people.

But they weren't the only hiker-friendlies around, our co-workers were always eager to make us feel at home there too. From left to right that's Oksana from Russia, Kristen from California, me, Anya from the Ukraine, Anastasia from Belarus, Sabina from Slovenia, and Sarunas from Lithuania.