Lassen Peak is the southernmost prominent volcano in the Cascade Arc. It's summit rests at 10,457 ft. It also has the highest known winter snowfall in California. In some years over 1000 inches of snow falls in a single season.
We walked about a mile and a half from Emigrant Pass, through the devastated area in tennis shoes until we reached the snow level around 7,000ft. The route is relatively easy to follow, although there is no trail, just stay left of the stream and head west. We got a nice alpine start of 4am and were skinning by sunrise.
We skinned up the Southeast face toward the summit until the slip began and booted the rest. Summited about 8:30 and waited for a bit till the snow softened. Skiing by 9am, the snow was a bit hard at the top, perfect in the middle and soft at the bottom.
Then we drove to the coast, saw some giant trees and some beautiful blue water.