Brokeoff Mountain

Brokeoff Mountain

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Elevation 9,236

We made our way through the forest and into the Park. We camped at Manzanita Lake for several nights and hiked Brokeoff Mountain one day and Lassen Peak the next day.
(Click on the names to see the write-up of each place.)

We camped for three nights at Manzanita Lake. This is about an hour away from the trailhead. 

We got on trail early. The parking lot is empty. 

The trailhead is located across the street from the parking lot. 

Ready to get to the top!  We picked this hike because it was marked as difficult and moderately trafficked. Less people and more of a challenge...........we're in.

Snow is melting quickly. 

There were several water crossings and parts of the trail looked more like a small creek than a trail. 

Parts of the trail are fully exposed, then others are very shaded and lush green. 

Huge gaps under this snow bridge. 

Have to use caution around some of the snow banks. The snow is melting and creating ice bridges. 

We walked over some that looked as if they could break through at any time. 

We both made it across safely. 

And there it is... Our first glimpse of the peak. 

Lots of running water around. Most of this meadow was covered by water. 

Follow the yellow dot road...

These were easy to follow in the beginning, but quickly became unnoticeable. 

GPS was critical to staying on trail. 

With the exception of the snow fields, the trail was easy to follow and well maintained.

Good sections of the trail still had significant amounts of snow but in the morning it was pretty firm and the routes across were easy to see.

Here is were we decided to get off the snow and take.......a......more direct route.

The direct route.............straight up.

A little perspective on the slope angle if you choose the direct route, that's about 25 degrees, the trail is more like 8-9.

As we scramble towards the top, this sandy climb was two steps up and slide back down. 

A tough climb.

The sand and moving rocks continue...

The summit is in view and we are FINALLY back on trail. Now it's an easy walk up.

Amazing what a little trail will do to take some effort out of the climb. 

The tippety top of Brokeoff Mountain. 

The view of Lassen Peak from the top of Brokeoff Mountain. We will see the top tomorrow. 

Click HERE to see the write-up of our Lassen Peak hike. 

The change in pressure at the top is about to pop the top!

What a great place for lunch. 

This bee was all over Charene's pack, it kept dabbing its posterior into the holes. 

He must have mistook them as his honeycomb home.

Time to make our way down.

For the decent we decided to follow the trail, this meant crossing slushy snow fields, but since we were headed down, less slipping and sliding.

Both peaks in view. Brokeoff to the left and Lassen straight ahead. 

About a mile down the trail we ran into our first meet with fellow hikers. 

All morning we had the mountain all to ourselves.

The entire trail is anywhere between 7 and 8 miles round trip and we would rate it as moderate in difficulty, lightly trafficked and absolutely stunning to hike. 

On trail=moderate.

Off trail scramble=very difficult.

Take the trail...

No get out there and Get Gone!