So this broken and decimated area is another spot that was overcome by the 1915 eruption of Mount Lassen, right? Nope! Lassen National Park [1] is full of surprises, and the aptly named Chaos Jumbles is often the first that visitors stumble upon. Instead of volcanic activity, it was a massive avalanche that damaged this small part of the park about 300 years ago.
The results seem quite similar to the regions that had the volcano erupt on them, with the devastation of the living ecosystem, the displacement of massive rocks, and the general disorder of the landscape.
The avalanche that occurred here was so big, and came straight down so fast that it actually trapped a pocket of air underneath it, adding to the destruction.
Now, visitors enjoy a wealth of new life, including a bigger-than-average variety of coniferous trees. The newness of the living landscape has allowed more competing types of plants to get a foothold here.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/california/lake-tahoe-and-the-northern-sierra/lassen-volcanic-national-park