Late June 2013 Skillern Hot Springs Trip Report
Day 1.
The mid afternoon hike out was rough. Under dark skies, with packs on, we trudged through a few miles of Sawtooth backcountry. We were poured on by heavy rain in smothering heat the entire way out, the humidity was so thick you could taste it. We were choking on it. At some point, it was impossible to tell if one was drenched in rain water or sweat. The natural conclusion was both.
After packing past the steaming, sizzling hulk of granite known as Skillern (ISO of other potential dry campsites), we backtracked on muddy trails to the lively and bustling Skillern Creek on our way to the collectively decided upon primitive site. Our selection criteria was based on the following: shelter from the rain, quality of fire pit and availability of dry wood.
We then set camp, ate a hasty yet delicious dinner and proceeded to enjoy a stormy soak situated in a scoop of cropped granite known as the cliff pool. We were quite pleased with ourselves, surviving the brutal storm, feasting on partially dehydrated meals complimented with 5 year aged Gouda and finally topping the evening off with a well deserved soak. We were true mountain men. Not merely surviving the madness, yet thriving from within.
During our zest to find dry wood and spark a fire the dreaded feeling of being cold and wet crept in. Despite our best effort at establishing a dry shelter all towels and clothing were rendered into a sopping pile at the hot springs. After a few minutes the fire roared with our cache of dry wood, as its force field of heat expanded out and engulfed us, we too roared – enamored by the day’s adventure. Another snack, more heat, then a slow crawl into a dry tent and toasty warm sleeping bag. The modulating pinging sounds of surging rain hitting the tent reduced the rumbles of thunder to a low growl and sent me into a deep sleep.
Skillern Hot Springs Photos
Day 2.
The next morning we awoke to a substantially shifted environment. Our water world was now center stage to a blazing sun. My tent was reminiscent of an oven whose elements were gradually increasing in temperature, in perfect unison with the ascent of the burning globe. We took the opportunity to dry out EVERYTHING. Just in case mother nature decided to throw us a curve ball. We decided to see what Skillern looked like in the light of day after laying out our wet gear and before cooking breakfast. Coffee, for me, was of course already in hand. Which, was nearly spit out of my mouth after discovering the floating chunks of flesh peppering the pool we soaked in last night. Lovely.
After the disturbing discovery, we ate some grub, cleaned out the pool and finally surmised that our soak with the fleshy chunks didn’t seem to be effecting us. We would live after-all. With that revelation, Dean split off to fish some holes he detected in Big Smoky Creek in spite of spring runoff’s fury still evident. I grabbed my camera, snacks, water and hiking pole and trotted off up the nearest mountain. I had found a well used game trail diced with fresh tracks and scat.
Long story short, I gleefully bore witness to my first ever deer battle (sorting of the herd is my best guess as to why this was even occurring) and barking deer. That’s right, a young doe stood up on a hillside at dusk and barked down at me like a small dog would for almost an hour. I also found myself in the middle of about 20 deer and 10 elk on their way to feed on the lush grass and algae near Skillern’s source. I was able to take some of the most epic wildlife shots I’ve ever had the privilege of taking. Dean was in disbelief when I showed him a few snaps on the camera’s viewfinder after we returned to base camp a few hours later.
The cliff pool at Skillern continuously clocked-in between 102 and 104, while the remnants of the creek side soakers were well above 120. Once runoff is diminished, rock pools can be constructed that allow for mixing of the hot and cold water for a more temperature appropriate soak. A warning sign was posted at the trailhead about recent temperature surges at Skillern, which is why I tested each source and pool multiple times to see if I could detect it. Within a few minutes I clocked a 178 degree surge in the source that feeds the creek side pools. Yikes! That’s a +30 degree spike in the source’s typical temperature of 140-148 degrees. I was unable to detect any disruption in the source temperature that feeds the cliff pool.
With some slight variation, the sources and pools all had a pH of around 6-7. Similar to that of many neighboring hot springs like Worswick, Preis, Willow Creek, Baumgartner, Lightfoot and Bridge. Absolutely no trash was found (!!). No motorcycle traffic. No other visitors except for wildlife. All for the entire duration of the trip.
Day 3.
It was already boiling outside upon awakening. My stomach was off (blasted flesh chunks!), so I forced down what I could of cheese and trail mix instead of eating a more complete meal. Nonetheless, somehow we managed to survive the death march out. Pausing only to either drink water or stick a head into the brisk creek.
I was relieved to find that my stash of drinks, cheese, grapes and other assorted snacks that had been left behind at the trailhead were still cold. Once properly devoured it was time to pack up Dean’s truck and roll out. Aside from a quick stop at Pries on the way out of the Sawtooth National Forest, my 4th visit to Skillern had come to a gratifying conclusion.