Famous Footwear

A most memorable event occurred to Kate and I when we visited Lassen Volcanic National Monument in 2009. Lassen has always been fascinating to us. I had been there with Walton’s Post Camp in 1973, and Kate and I had taken the kids there in the 1980’s. This was a short “memory walk” for both of us, a two day stop on the way down to visit Becca in San Jose for wedding planning. We enjoyed the place thoroughly!

Our first full day there, we hiked Broke-Off Mountain, the second highest peak in the park. This was a detour from Lassen Peak itself as that trail was closed for maintenance. The hike was a good one, gaining a lot of elevation and coming to a wind-swept, bitterly cold and barren knob that we did not dally on. The way down was punctuated by lunch and the visitation of a mysterious and ethereal “God Cloud” that reminded us of something biblical as a celestial message from the almighty. It was shaped in a perfect oval and was all alone in the sky by Broke-Off’s summit. We wondered about it for hours.

After coming back to the car we decided to visit Bumpass Hell, the region of mud pots, fumeroles and vents accompanied by its attendant vile smells. This hike was wearing on this author. I was ready for something less strenuous but we pressed on and saw and smelled and were sated. On the way back down the trail, and interesting character with a thick accent stopped us with a strange request. He was a German photo journalist and was touring this country taking pictures for sports magazines back in Germany. He had spied my old, shredded and raveled Boy Scout hiking socks and wanted to take pictures of my feet! He claimed that the red was the needed color addition to compliment the volcanic grey and tan colors that made the backdrop so bland.

Acquiescing to his requests I hiked back and forth about seven times on this one stretch of trail while he pointed one and then another camera at my feet. Giving me verbal commands such as: “One more time;” “All Right, now walk backwards;” “Hmm, maybe just once more;” “Now, faster” and finally, “All Good.” I am sure we made quite the sight to anyone that might have been looking on. Kate was chuckling in the background. Luckily, for me, the trail was deserted. We have laughed many times over the fact that somewhere in Germany my legs and not my fine physique are captured forever on a sports magazine cover or two. Good thing I have a tough ego!

10-2-2010