Traveling to Unique Natural Hot Springs Throughout Idaho and The Northwest
01.12.10
Last Sunday we went and cleaned up Loftus on a somewhat short notice, due to uncertain funding. It was a mess- the majority of it coming from a combination of glow sticks, the plastic pieces that hold them together and bullet shells. Other debris from tea light candles and other small odds and ends cluttered the surrounding area, upon cleaning it the soak was well worth the work involved! Check out our pictures!
01.09.10
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.
01.09.10
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.
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.
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.
01.01.10
Note: Originally posted 12.31.09, Updated 01.02.10
First, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the fallen…
In 2009, we lost the pools at Molly’s Tubs, Vulcan and Rocky Canyon (more). All 3 hot springs are located in Idaho, and all 3 were deconstructed by the Forest Service due to reasoning centered around public abuse and misuse.
Over the last decade Idaho has lost many public hot springs in addition to the 3 above. It’s going down in Idaho in almost the exact same way it occurred in Oregon and Washington in the past. Ever heard of Cougar Hot Springs? How about Scenic, Wind River, Bagby, McCredie, Olympic, Austin? These hot springs were all once incredible public soaks. Legendary, in their own right. Epic among hot springer circles. They all are either closed, or feature restricted access, expensive permits and/or excessive vandalism and vehicle break-ins (and of course unreal amounts of trash).
The good news is we can learn from their example, but we don’t have much time. Jerry Johnson and Kirkham Hot Springs in Idaho are now closed at night. Skinnydipper has a range of problems; vehicle break-ins, flat tire/vehicle damage, gang fights, excessive trash, drunken and lewd behavior (meaning swinger gatherings). Skinnydipper was actually under nighttime closure for two years ending in 2009. However, it was rarely enforced, and signage was destroyed as fast as it was enacted.
If we can figure out how to keep these sacred places clean and safe, I think we can actually save them. If we let abuse and misuse run rampant, the powers that be will have no choice but to either restrict usage or enact strict access measures.
This brings me back to the post title – Soaking Zen in 2010. This year, clean-up the hot springs before you soak. If there are disreputable folks trashing it up – do something sensible. Say something. Maybe start picking up trash in front of them, or snap a pic of their license plate and report them to the nearest Ranger Station or public lands office.
Believe me, a sweet soak in a natural hot springs feels a lot better this way. Hot springs need protection if they are to be enjoyed by the public for years to come, as it should be.
With that said, I want to express my gratitude to all of the unsung HS heroes. All of the trash picker-uppers, conservation and preservation supporters, volunteers, eco-friendly public land workers, petition signers, bloggers, news anchors and directors and outspoken enviro do-gooders. I thank you, mother nature thanks you and a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts, thank you.
It is not enough to UNDERSTAND the natural world.
The point is to DEFEND and PRESERVE it.
12.30.09
12.24.09
Idaho Hot Springs have a new group of champions; the Boise River Volunteers have expanded their cleanup efforts to now include hot water.
I would like to introduce Amber Hoid (Twitter), of the Boise River Volunteers as a new guest blogger here on www.hotspringsguy.com! W00t!
She’ll be posting (as in, has already posted twice) about BRV hot springs cleanup efforts… when they are, how to sign-up and pictures from past events.
Boise River Volunteer Information:
12.24.09
Here is the link to our next clean up at Wild Rose Hot Springs in Idaho. If you are new, please fill out the contact section at riverhelpers.com so that we can add you to our email list for upcoming events, and so that you can post on the forum. We plan to leave Boise at 9am- clean then soak. Due to funding constraints and distance we ask that all volunteers bring about $10 for gas costs for this one! Also, if there are more volunteers than seats we someone else willing to drive with other passengers- to organize that please comment!
12.24.09
Click here to view the Indian Bathtub Hot Springs cleanup pictures from 12/13 /2009. If you would like to volunteer for one of our future clean ups please fill out the contact form on riverhelpers.com, where you will also be put on our email list to be updated on all of our events and cleanups. This will make it easier for you to sign up for the ones you want. As a whole- the trash was abundant, tubs not so great this time of the year- but a great time nonetheless!
12.19.09
11.01.09 Loftus Hot Springs Trip Report
12.18.09
