DR> (grin) I lived in Arizona. We've been to the Grand Canyon (that was
 DR> our first "major" trip with the tent trailer). There are a few other
 DR> things I'd like to take the kids to see in Arizona - Petrified Forest
 DR> NP, the big crater (I can't think of its name, but it's the one along
 DR> I-40), and perhaps some of the places around Tucson. 
 DR> The road thru Lassen closes after "around" Oct 1st, I think, and then
 DR> has a varying opening date. The road gets to 8,315 ft elevation, so
 DR> it's often snowed under thru June. 
 DR> That's a good idea. We looked at some books before we went, and the
 DR> girls had good ideas about what a volcano was. When we go to a
 DR> national or state park/monument, we also make the museum or visitor's
 DR> center one of our first stops. If they have a media presentation
 DR> there, we take the time to see it. (My husband often groans, but sits
 DR> thru it anyway - then is glad he did.) 
Hello Donna, live in Kingman, AZ along the W. end of I-40 in Arizona just
before it dips S into Yuca and crosses into California about Topock.
In California, I grew up in Modoc County which is the county that borders
Lassen county on the North.  Now, US395 that runs from Reno on up thru 
Lassen (begins about Susanville where it comes back into CA from the
South.  US395 runs into Reno from CA, and then right back into CA at 
about Susanville.  This highway that runs thru the high Sierra Nevada
Mountains is open year round.  If you take US395 N from Reno to Alturas, CA
and then take 299 out of Alturas to just past the town of Canby, CA and I
believe the highway is 193, go N. towards Klamath Falls, OR you will pass
thru the Lava Beds National Mounument.  This is a large lava flow that has
countless caves, some of them have ice throughout the summer (Ice Cave).
These Lava Beds National Monument is where a Modoc Chief named Captain Jack
and 24 or 25 braves held off Gen. Canby for months, inflicting heavy 
heavy casualties on the US forces while suffering only one slightly wounded
brave.  Finally when the US forces attempted to lure Cpt. Jack and his
band out under the guise of a peace meeting, but in reality set a trap
for Jack and his chiefs, they botched it bad.  Cpt. Jack recognized the
trap as soon as the meeting began in a tent.  He and his men all escaped
but Gen. Canby and a few other US troops were killed.  From Alturas you
can see the Cross that marks the spot that Cpt. Jack Killed Gen. Canby.
Alturas is where I grew up from age 4 until I left to join the Army at 17,
right after finishing High School.  When I left there in the early 1960's,
there were about 2500 people living in Alturas, and maybe 10,000 living in
Modoc County as a whole.  US395 and CA299 are the major highways that
go thru Modoc County.  In S. California, US396 is one of those big super-
highways with 6 or 8 lanes in each direction.  But from Reno thru Oregon it
is a one lane each way highway....or was the last time I was thru there in
'87.  Growing up in Modoc County was different than in most places, first,
the whole county is cattle country...very conservative and everyone in the
county knows everyone else...literally.  Every year there was a big shing
ding over at Eagleview, CA on a ranch owned by Tennessee Ernie Ford...the
Eagleview Bar-B-Que.  Everyone, but everyone in the county attended.  Then
in Alturas they had the Rodeo and County Fair.  Then Likely had their annual
party, as did Cedarville and Adin.  Hunting Season everyone would get 
ogether
in small groups to plan out the annual Deer hunt, or make dates for duck
and goose season.  Fishing Season was a real biggie.  Schools, stores, even
the Courthouse and everyone else would be closed on opening Day of Deer
season and Fishing season.  Schools would close early on the day before
either of the two seasons opened (always on a Thursday) and not reopen until
the following Monday, three or four days later.  It has been over 34 years
since I left, but I doubt if things have changed much....well there is a
state prison on Devils Garden, but it is way back in the hills N. of
Alturas.  The old Air Force base, which shut down just after WW2 is probably
where it is located.  Most of the kids I knew growing up there first learned
to drive up on the old runways.  Alturas, Likely, Adin, Cedarville, 
Eagleville,
Davis Creek, Lookout, Canby....these are towns that to visit them is like
stepping back into History...life in the 40's and 50's.  If it was not for
the change in the Automobiles and the clothing styles (in some instances)
you could not tell the difference from 1945 or 1955 and today.
Well, just thought you might like to know about that area a little.  The
best book about the Modoc Indian War would be the one every kid had to
read in the 4th or 5th grade when I was growing up....called Capt. Jack and
the Modoc Indian War.  Read that book, and then visit Modoc County and
meet some of the people there...you will be surprised, or think you have
stepped back onto the pages of the book because the names of the families
living there are about the same today as they were back in the late 19th 
ent.
Flournoy, Dorris, Hickerson, Russel, Bishop, just to name a few.
Take care, luck be yours and God bless til next we met!! 
James Donald Prior 1, Esquire, Phd Ed.
... If you have ever been to Modoc, you have never left.....
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