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Jerry Johnson Hot Springs Trip Report

hotspringsguy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:22:34 +0000

Keeping in tune with publishing unpublished, past trip reports – here is one for Jerry Johnson Hot Springs in Idaho, from July 2011.

Special note: Jerry Johnson is Idaho’s most popular hot springs – and as such, is heavily abused. Please pack out all trash and don’t bring glass. This hot springs is already under nighttime closure. If we don’t take care of Jerry, we risk losing the right to visit completely. Overnight, illegal campers beware, the Forest Service will catch and fine you. They routinely send out patrols after dark ISO violators.

Just Jerry

On Sunday, July 24th 2011, we arrived bright and early at the Warm Springs Pack Bridge in the Clearwater National Forest, AKA the trailhead for the brief jaunt to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. The parking area was half-full of overnight campers, and there was even a Rainbow bus with a handful of folks sleeping in their bags underneath.

The ‘Buffalo Tribe’ was heading back home, but had to detour around Oregon. Apparently, one of their tribe has an Oregon warrant. After crossing the pack bridge we were treated to the same sight over and over again. Jackhole overnight campers… sound asleep amongst their piles of trash, camping illegally, in areas desperately in need of recovering from years of abuse. A new jackhole sub-type was discovered here as well… the meth jackhole.

Long story short, we documented the illegals and lectured a bunch of kids drinking Boone’s that had strewn trash in a perfect circle around their little ‘hot tub’. The little jackholes took off running with our backs turned and left their trash, of course. We finally found a good soak, which was eventually shared with a photography class from MSU in Missoula, MT and a few other random people that wandered in. All good people, and all in all a great soak.

Aside from the jackholes, the soak was stellar and the people we chatted with were very friendly. We passed a handful of rangers on our way out, on their way in (to drop the hammer). I enjoy backpacking and camping near hot springs too, but when unique places like this are heavily damaged, hot springers need to respect that damage by not adding to it.

The first source was still submerged, no surprise here given the insane late spring runoff this season. The second and third sources were good to go.

View past trip reports, pictures, video clips and more on IHS

A Quick Look at Jerry [video]

hotspringsguy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:22:21 +0000

Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, located in the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. Lots of friendly folks (and illegal campers/trashholes!), but still a great soak and good time.

View Jerry Johnson on IdahoHotSprings.com

View on YouTube

Jerry Johnson Flashback

hotspringsguy — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:00:17 +0000

I was recently editing IHS and came across a past trip report to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs in Idaho that I wanted to repost in the spirit of the approaching summer season…

The Clearwater National Forest and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is a longtime Idaho favorite for natural, primitive hot springs. Located in north-central Idaho and primarily accessible off State Highway 12, this is the state’s lushest region in regard to hot springs hiking and backpacking trips.

I favor this region partially because of the associated diversity of travelers. Sure, there are locals, mostly from across the border in Montana… Missoula is close by with a hearty population of ready and able hot springers. What I’ve found to be unique is meeting people from not only around the country, but from other countries. All have been, in my experience, friendly, outdoor enthusiasts that possess a pure love the for the wilderness. Most seem to be escaping city life, or just life in general… taking refuge in one of nature’s finest. I’ve been offered to share a meal, campfire and/or beer in this area more times than I can remember.

This area was the last place I backpacked with a lifelong friend and backpacking partner before he was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. I can always feel his presence around here. It was an amazing last trip… complete with a visit from Stanley’s Hot Springs Moose. I’ve got video, it’ll go up… soon I promise. I will forever miss our annual backpacking hot springs expeditions.

Jerry Johnson Hot Springs was a sight for sore eyes if there ever was one. Even the dirt feels different beneath your feet here. The ground is soft, and crunches slowly under the weight of each footfall. The moist air helps keep the trail dust down and bare legs relatively clean. The hike through the Clearwater National Forest is too short. Early in the morning it is has a medieval like appeal at sunrise, when fragments of light pierce the wooded veil like flashlight beams on a starless night.

Idaho’s southern forests in comparison (save for the southeast) are dry. Aside from the mighty Ponderosa Pines, the trees don’t always blot out the sky. Easy to bushwhack, forget about it up north. More snakes, less berries. About the same amount of wolves and black bears, but less grizzlies. There’s none in the south, and a handful supposedly up north. Nothing to worry about though, the majority of wilderness animals in Idaho have not been exposed to trash. Another good reason to keep a clean camp and pack out everything.

There are 3 sources at Jerry Johnson. The first I had never soaked in until this particular trip; the waterfall-fed pools. Only one pool was prime for soaking, and was well worth it I might add. The 2nd source’s primary pool was too cool, clocking in at 98, and the 3rd source’s only pool was a perfect 103. It was qualified, and enjoyed immensely.

East of Jerry Johnson Hot Springs lies a Forest Service operated outfitter camp, typically stocked with a few horses. In the trailhead parking lot was a Forest Service pickup, but it was unclear if it was from the outfitter or a decoy left behind as a reminder of nighttime closure. The previous evening this place was slammed at dusk with 8-10 vehicles and FS personnel. Regardless, a quiet soak was enjoyed early the next morning.

I even made up a Selway-Bitterroot rap, which I unfortunately was singing out loud before encountering a grinning, chuckle-suppressing young lady with a camera just a few feet ahead during the hike out. I remember her in particular because of the vehicle she drove. It was jam-packed with provisions, caked in dirt and a long way from home…. scratched into the mud on the back window read “Free Bird”. No wonder her smile was so big.

August 2008

Exxon Invading Idaho Wilderness with Tar Pit Sands Trucks

hotspringsguy — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:29:33 +0000

In addition to the issue below, I have learned that Governor Otter has pledged Idaho’s ‘help’ in regard to the transportation of Tar Pit Sands equipment by offering up use of Idaho’s largest campground and gateway into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness as a parking lot for the Canada-bound vehicles.

Wilderness Gateway Campground has over 90 units and is located just off highway 12, which is along the proposed route of the equipment. It is the trailhead for Stanley Hot Springs. Weir Creek and Jerry Johnson Hot Springs are both accessible from highway 12 as well.

From Friends of the Clearwater…

The Exxon Mobil Corporation has been developing a huge open pit mine in Alberta, Canada for a few years now. This project has been referred to in the media as the Tar Pit Sands project. This project effects the Clearwater Basin because the oil processing equipment is being shipped up the Columbia River Basin this summer, and then unloaded at the Port of Lewiston. The equipment is then being loaded onto trailers and driven up the Wild & Scenic Lochsa River corridor, up and over Lolo Pass into Montana, and eventually into Canada. Transporting of these mega rigs are to begin in early fall. The dimensions of the rigs are between 170′–210′ feet long, approximately 25′ feet wide, and up to 30 feet tall. Over 200 of these industrial processing rigs will weigh up to 550,000 pounds.

As you may be aware, the local and regional media has just begun to report on this critical issue and citizen awareness has just begun. Many citizens and environmental groups are outraged about the fact that there has been no public involvement or scoping done by public officials and there has also not been any environmental review. Public meetings in townships along Route 12 are supposed to be announced, but so far they have not taken place. For the most part, the public has been kept in the dark and the potential ecological consequences have been swept under the rug.

Therefore, Friends of the Clearwater is asking you to Take Action and write a letter or send an email to the Idaho Transportation Department, Governor Butch Otter, and the editors of our local papers. You can reach Alan Frew of the Idaho Transportation Department at: 3311 W. State Street, PO Box 7129, Boise, Idaho 83707-1129, Attention Alan Frew or email him at Alan.Frew@itd.idaho.gov. You can also call the department to voice your concerns at (208) 334-8000.

You can contact Governor Butch Otter by emailing him at governor@gov.idaho.gov or submitting comments via his web site at http://gov.idaho.gov/WebRespond/contact_form.html. You can call his office at (208) 334-2100.

If you wish to contact the editor’s of the Lewiston Tribune, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, or the Idaho Statesman they can be reached at letters@lmtribune.com, letters@dnews.com, and editorial@idahostatesman.com. Both the Tribune and the Daily News have 250 word limits and the Statesman has a 200 word limit.

Here are some important talking points you may wish to consider:

Rt. 12 is a federally designated Scenic Byway (Northwest Passage Scenic Byway) and All-American Road
Rt. 12 runs through the heart of the Nez Perce Reservation and historic Lewis & Clark country
Rt. 12 parallels 2 federally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Middle Fork of the Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers
Rt. 12 is already a dangerous, narrow, curve-hugging road to travel on

Travel/Tourism, Public Safety, Property Values, Recreation and Way of Life will all be negatively impacted. The Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers are an important fishery for both native and anadromous fish species. Numerous wildlife species cross in their pursuit of food and habitat.

Please continue to use this web site to get updates about this massive industrial transportation project threatening our lifestyles and precious resources. Another good source of information is http//:www.fightinggoliath.org and/or http://northernrockiesrisingtide.wordpress.com.

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to get involved and make a difference!

Related: Visit Exxpose Exxon

Visiting Jerry in Early June

hotspringsguy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:12:00 +0000

After Revver held up the processing of this video for a couples months due to the large amount of awesomeness involved I finally gave up and uploaded to YouTube.

I’m actually quite chatty early on in the clip, but then dwindle off for some reason. Sweet low-quality footage of a beautiful national forest and hot springs, however.

More about Jerry

Hangin w/ Jerry

hotspringsguy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:59:00 +0000

The lower sign no longer exists

It has been awhile since visiting, what I like to call, the highway 12 region. Three stellar soaks, all accessible off the same highway.

Sadly, Weir Creek was overrun with soakers. Not that I mind the company of fellow hot springers, but Weir Creek can only hold so many. Which lead to the logical conclusion – Jerry Johnson. I would have spent the whole week at Stanley Hot Springs, but fording Boulder Creek was out of the question.

Interesting to note; the trailhead to Stanley Hot Springs was actually posted clothing optional. While the signage that has been up at Jerry that states the hot springs and trail are both clothing optional has … evaporated.

From what I’ve read, all National Forest in Idaho is in fact clothing optional unless otherwise posted. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Anyway, visiting Jerry was an enjoyable reunion.

Source 2

I’ve never actually soaked at the second source pool before. This time, the temperature was just right. The soak was indeed stellar. Visiting early yielded to having the entire complex of hot springs to oneself for a handful of hours. Not bad, considering the waterfall pools at the first source were submerged.

All in all, Jerry was a great soak. I think the main reason why I has such a good time was that I didn’t have to cart hardly any trash out (!). Remarkable, considering the nature of this particular soak.

Learn more about Jerry Johnson Hot Springs: