Scenic Hot Springs in Washington has always been one of my favorites. Truly a stellar soak. Rick updated Scenic’s Blog on Thursday with the sad news… complete closure. It’s the same story we hear all too often in regard to public hot springs – the few that ruined it for the many.

Before it’s official closure, this hot springs was something else. It was my first brush with a backcountry hot springs community. A place where all walks of life seemingly blended into one, that of the hot springer. Here’s the trip report I wrote after visiting Scenic for the first time in August of 2001:

08.2001
My good friend and I were camping throughout central Washington when we finally decided that this insane, dry, hot, desert camping was getting to be too much… all sun and no shade made us very unhappy. The areas I speak of are around Wenatchee, George, and Moses Lake, Washington.


After a few brutal days of camping we decided that this was enough. We first sought water, and camped in a not so bad BLM wildlife protected area near the sand dunes south of Moses Lake. The camping was still hot and dry, but at least there were a few small trees around – and the amount of cool looking birds that used the nearby wetlands was off the chart. I wished I knew more about bird species. Around 2am we were startled when a huge pack of coyotes ripped through our campsite howling like mad, and then back again an hour later. It was quite exciting! We made it out of our tents and into truck cabs seconds before our tents and camp were rampaged by about 20 running coyotes.


Anyway, after that adventure we headed straight for Leavenworth (the unique German-Bavarian looking town), we needed permits for camping and hiking before heading towards Steven’s Pass. I remember seeing some alternative looking folks by the roadside in town, holding signs that simply stated “Scenic”. Little did I know that I would later share a soak with the sign-holders.


It seemed like a rainforest to us after all the previous environments we’d experienced along our trip. We past the ski lodge at the summit and continued down I2 a bit further before pulling off onto a dirt road that took us down to some train tracks (just after the turn off to the train tunnel on the other side of the road) and a couple old cabins that mother nature was attempting to retake (they looked scary even during the day).


We then found a nice little road that took us about a mile or two into the forest, and then hiked a couple miles in and found a perfect campsite, one with a small waterfall only a minute away. A lady hiking around the waterfall that we talked to was there visiting because the ashes of her sister were spread at that very place. She and her sister had grown up near here, and she still lived in the area today. We spent time hiking out to Surprise and Glacier Lakes – the hikes were unreal, the scenery breathtaking!


Our first night camping in the area we hiked up to Scenic Hot Springs. It was quite a brisk little hike. Short, but steep at times. And, with it getting dark on us, we nearly missed a couple key turns at intersections we didn’t even know we were at. It was all worth it though. The hike was spectacular, and the hot pools amazing. Lots of work went into the construction of the huge soaker pools, each lined with thick plastic and filled with piped in water. Wood decks and walkways skirted each pool which in turn had it’s own specific temperature range with the Lobster Pot at the top.


There were at least 30 to 40 people there. A small percentage of the soakers had suits or bottoms on while the majority enjoyed the springs the natural way. Words can’t even describe this place. The views were rare to me and were obtainable from a sitting position in any pool.


I remember sitting in a pool with a couple off-duty wildland firefighters, a couple from Finland, a bevy of businessmen and women from Seattle and a handful of hippies from Eugene, and was amazed at how kind and decent everyone was to each other. This theme ensued, and it reminded me of how Native Americans historically treated hot springs; as sacred places where all are equal. Even during times of war, there was always peace at the hot springs.

A special thanks to Rick and friends for taking care of Scenic. Even though it’s closed, you can bet that group will continue to move forward with plans to re-open Scenic in the future. Until then, Scenic need be left in peace, it’s in good hands.

View all Scenic Hot Springs Posts

View Scenic on IHS

The Idaho Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW), Governor Butch Otter’s mostly out-of-state ultra-rich cattle rancher buddies, are back at it again with a Wildlife Killing Derby in Twin Falls, Idaho this Saturday.

Sadly, this disturbing event is sponsored not only by Idaho’s Governor and Fish and Game Chair Wayne Wright,  but by Cabela’s and Sportsmen’s Warehouse despite outcry from many reputable hunters and hunter organizations.

I always catch major flak when I post about the Idaho SFW and protecting wildlife in general in the form of nasty emails, comments and un-subscriptions. Even threats. With that said, I hope this post doesn’t offend any of you, my aim is to enlighten those that would like to see wilderness and wildlife around for generations to come.

Think for just a second before believing the hype. That is all I ask.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The Idaho SFW (most are not even from/live in Idaho) is a group of well-funded cattle rancher anti-wolf lobbyists that portray themselves as the average joe hunter in Idaho. Their agenda is to miss-lead Idaho hunters into falling in-line for their cause.

REAL hunters, educated hunters – that respect the animals and habitat for which they hunt sustainably revolt against the Idaho SFW, as we all should. Their Wildlife Killing Derbies are a front for their wolf killing agenda. The addition of coyotes and other animals are merely a bonus for the kill and waste types.

I know this is a hot springs blog, but wild animals are part of the last bits and pieces of semi-untouched wilderness, just like most natural hot springs. They represent the last of the wild places. An attempt need be made to preserve all components of these vanishing ecosystems.

TAKE ACTION!

From Wild Earth Guardian Wendy Keefover-Ring:

Wildlife will be running scared tomorrow in Twin Falls, Idaho.

The Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are hosting a wildlife-killing derby.  Participants are awarded points for each wolf, coyote, bobcat, or fox they kill.  Prizes are given to the shooters who have the most points.

Tell Idaho’s governor and Fish and Game Commissioner as well as the event’s co-sponsors, Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse, that this is unethical and should be stopped.

The wildlife killing derby encourages the use of live animals as targets. This practice directly contradicts the tenants of ethical hunting which include respecting all wildlife and taking responsibility to care for wildlife and their habitat.

Furthermore, carnivores such as wolves, coyotes, bobcats and fox have been known for decades to be crucial players in the health of the ecosystems that they inhabit.  Without carnivores, animals like deer over-populate and strip their landscapes of vegetation.  These barren habitats eventually lead to the demise of species in every link of the food chain.

Jim Posewitz, author of Beyond Fair Chase and founder of the Orion:  The Hunter’s Institute, promotes ethical hunting.  Tenets of ethical hunting include: an appreciation for the opportunity to hunt; respecting all wildlife, especially the animals we hunt; and taking responsibility for the care of wildlife and their habitat.

The January 9th Twin Falls animal derby is in direct contradiction to the tenants of ethical hunting. High-body-count-contest hunts tarnish the image of all sportsmen. This derby encourages the use of live animals as targets, encourages mass killing for no purpose other than to collect prizes. The bodies will not be used for food. Waste is encouraged.

The belief that killing carnivores will benefit deer was dismissed as early as 1941 by hunter and conservationist Aldo Leopold in his essay, “Thinking Like a Mountain.” In those days, wolves were seen as evil and ravenous and thus were exterminated throughout the continental U.S. But the consequences were dire. Leopold noticed that with the demise of the wolf came the over-abundance of deer and harm to the mountain. Deer stripped the mountain of vegetation. The mountain, now barren, could not support deer and other species. The deer died in droves. 

I urge you not to sponsor this event and to shut down this killing contest. It tarnishes the reputation of sportsmen, Idaho, and your business.

ACT NOW!

I just received an email from the owners of the Indian Springs Hot Springs Resort and RV Park in American Falls, Idaho requesting to update their listing on IdahoHotSprings.com. I’ll have their listing updated soon, and have already added it to the commercial Idaho hot springs map; you can also view the Google Map below.

Indian Springs Hot Springs Resort and RV Parks Opens May 15th, 2009

Indian Springs Hot Springs Resort and RV Park
Phone: 208-226-7700 or 866-975-1807
Web: http://www.indianspringsresortandrv.com

View Larger Map

[where: American Falls, ID]

Last Saturday, December 20th, a group of 4 men and 2 women partied it up at Pine Flats Hot Springs in the Boise National Forest, which is located about 1.5 hours north of Boise, Idaho. The source and pools are only about a 0.35 mile hike from the official National Forest campground of the same name.

Pine Flats is a popular summer campground destination and is frequented occasionally during the winter months by locals. The hot springs pools are located in a variety of locations near and around the source, and are typically shallow and too cool for wintertime soaking. Despite being easy to reach, pools located above the river require a steep hike up jagged, loose rocks. These are normally the hottest pools, while the riverside soaks are usually much cooler.

From the way the story reads; the group got tanked, didn’t protect their clothes from the elements while soaking and then got disorientated on the hike back. Sadly, I’ve heard renditions of this same story all too frequently in the past, at least a few times each winter. This group was very fortunate that they all made it out alive.

Just a couple weeks ago I almost got into serious trouble at the very same hot springs. I wasn’t drinking, but still somehow managed to fall into the hot springs pool with all of my clothes on. In regard to the news article; there’s pretty much only one way in and out of Pine Flats… unless they were able to scale an ice-covered cliff or ford the near-frozen Payette River. My guess is that they missed the path back up to the parking area on the return hike and continued east along the river in Lowman’s direction. This is where the river gradually shifts back toward the Banks-Lowman highway. Not so in the other direction.

Long story short; 4 of the group ended up on the Banks-Lowman highway without much clothing on when spotted by a snowplow driver, who in-turn called in the Idaho State Patrol. ISP arrived, tracked down the other two, and brought them back into Boise.

Here’s a map of Pine Flats, you can see Lowman to the east. Note where the river moves toward the highway…

I’m really glad that everyone made it out ok. When events like these go bad, hot springs get closed down. Something the story neglects to mention, is that the hot springs pools at Pine Flats are currently NOT warm enough for a soak. I would imagine that they began the hypothermia-like chilling process as soon as they climbed into the pool. I can’t stress it enough, reliable (waterproof) water thermometers are a very important tool that should be in every hot springer’s arsenal. Optimal soaking conditions exist at 100 to 110 degrees, 102-106 is a great target range. Also, a good rule of thumb when in a hot spring pool: 1 beer = 3.

Read the guide to backcountry hot springs; contains gear list, safety info., etiquette and more…

KTVB actually used a few pictures I’ve taken of Pine Flats in the story video…

More: view pictures, video clips and past trip reports of Pine Flats Hot Springs

As always, check road reports, weather conditions and be prepared when attempting to visit backcountry hot springs during inclement weather seasons.

Be safe and have fun! Happy Holidays!

[where: Lowman, ID]

A bull moose was killed illegally on Sept. 26 or Sept. 27 north of Fairfield, Idaho in the Rosetta Creek drainage near Worswick Hot Springs, according to Idaho Department of Fish and Game. This area is located in Fish and Game Big Game Unit 44, Rosetta Creek is a tributary of Little Smoky Creek.

The Humane Society of the United States and the Wildlife Land Trust are offering a $2,500 reward to help solve the Idaho moose poaching case.

If any hot springers/outdoor enthusiasts have any information relating to this event please call the Citizen’s Against Poaching Hotline at 1 (800) 632-5999 or the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.

Callers can remain anonymous and a reward of $2,500 may be issued for information leading to a conviction.

You may also submit information online with the Idaho Fish and Game ‘Report A Poacher’ form.

Additional Information

[where: Fairfield, ID]

Greetings fellow hot potters (sorry, hadn’t used that nick in bit – gotta mix it up)

If you are gearing up to head out into the backcountry please pay attention to the following road and area closures, as they could effect access to your hot springs destination.

Area: NE of Cascade: Warm Lake / Yellow Pine / Krassel District

Closure: Forest Service Road 474 North from August 4th through November 1st (NR)

Hot Springs: Sugah, Penny, Teapot, Buckhorn, Lodgpole, Darling’s Cabin

Closure: Stibnite Road in August, Exact Date TBA (NR)

Hot Springs: Kwis Kwis and access to the FCRNRW

Closure: Stolle Meadows (NR)

Hot Springs: None, but near Vulcan

Area: Lowman / Stanley

Closure: Fir Creek Campground until August 30th (NR)

Hot Springs: Bear Valley

Closure: Bull Trout Lake until August 30th (NR)

Hot Springs: Sitting Bull

Greetings Hot Springers, Soak Seekers, Geothermal Gurus… one of the sweetest soaks around is getting some improvements.

Goldbug Hot Springs in Idaho and the corresponding trail will be closed while undergoing improvements from June 25th through June 28th, 2008. Work will include blasting (dynamite) and trail re-route construction.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) respectfully ask that the public not visit Goldbug Hot Springs during this time, and to please keep away from any and all portions of the trail. This is merely a safety issue.

For additional information, please contact: Rob Jaggers, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bureau of Land Management. (208)756-5466 and/or Send Email.

Any further updates and/or information related to this temporary closure and continuing work at Goldbug will be posted on this blog and the IdahoHotSprings.com listing for Goldbug Hot Springs as part of a joint effort with the BLM to keep the public informed about hot springs related projects.

[where: Elk Bend, ID 83467]