Scenic HS Conditions: Fresh Snow

Took a hike up up the hot springs today at Mike's request and encountered the following conditions:

• It was snowing lightly at 2000 ft (the elevation of the BN Staging Area) when I arrived and near blizzard conditions once in the clearcut and up to the springs at 3,500ft,
• I estimate in the four hours I was up there, an additional eight inches of fresh, dry pellet snow (the low temp, stormcloud stuff) had fallen to obliterate my tracks up. It was still snowing heavily when I left at 8pm,
  
• The berm across the entrance to FS850 is still substantial and impassable for some time,
• The snow on up FS850 and the clearcut averages 4-6 feet deep,
• Onto the actual trail, snow is slightly deeper except in the places where the spring runoffs cross the trail,
• Snowshoes are no longer required as the snow has compacted and supports boots for the most part (if you stay in established routes),
• The main springs (Lobster and Bear Den) are running hot, supporting pool temperatures of 109F and 103F, respectively. There is little evidence of snowmelt or the expected cooling of the spring sources . . . and I don't expect melt to happen anytime soon.

The following images give some idea of the present (April 24th) conditions:

The berm across FS850

The BPA Clearcut

The entrance to the trailhead

Just before the Main Springs Creek trail crossing
Note the heavy snow weighing down the branches over the trail

Large slab of snow near the pools being held
temporarily by that ten foot tall tree stump

Hiatus

My apologies for the lack of posting. On March 31st I lost my mother to a long-standing heart condition and I'm dealing with a sudden emptiness in my life.

A few days after my mother's passing away we had to take my mother-in-law to the hospital for a life-threatening case of flu-induced pneumonia so these past several weeks have been body, mind and emotion-numbing on me.

Both my mother and my mother-in-law lived in my home . . . and both are very dear to me. During the last few years role of mother and son reversed as I took on the role of caring for my mother . . . feeding her, helping her with her daily injections, massaging her feet at night and putting her to bed. It was a role that had become a part of my life and I enjoyed the time together. The loss is very great yet we had been expecting the day for some time. My mother had beat the odds of her bypass and lived an extra 15 years beyond expectations. When time came for the late night medic trip I honored my mother's request of no extraordinary measures. One week later, she passed away peacefully and pain-free with all her family . . . children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren . . . around.

My mother-in-law, fortunately, had passed the critical stage and is recovering from serious pneumonia.

My thanks to all those who have expressed sympathy and condolences. Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

Goldmyer Hot Springs Update

From: Beth

Unfortunately, Goldmyer is still closed. The snow has settled down to about 4 feet deep at Goldmyer now, which allowed the cartetakers to evaluate the fallen tree root area on the hillside above the hotsprings. What they discovered isn't good. When the tree went over it loosened a lot of dirt and rock, which is poised above the hotsprings. Obviously this material will have to be removed before we can open Goldmyer again.

Despite the warming temperatures in the lower elevations around the Seattle area, it's still very much winter time in the mountains and at Goldmyer with deep snow conditions. Additionally, there is still about 1-1/2 to 2 feet of snow in the 'lower valley snow zone', which stops all vehicles about 15 miles below Goldmyer. This distance makes it impossible to send a work crew up to secure the hillside area. Our only option is to wait until conditions improve.

Scenic Hot Springs on Feb 25th, 2008

Snow is deep; snowshoes a must. Pool and sources are running hot (110-115F in the pools).

The clearcut. Great snowshoeing!!!


Some slide activity above the BPA Road


Hard to tell from a distance but that is twenty feet
of fractured snow there


Rock Alley . . . completely filled in with snow
Stay left here!



The best approach is from above the old latrine area
as the top route is too sheer and dangerous

A large block of snow ready to fall down to the pool area

The reward for hiking up. Good flow, 105F in the cooler pool, 110-115 in the back one.
Both pool could use a good scrubbing and siphoning but it seems the hose is buried beneath a lot of snow.

Goldmyer HS Snow Conditions

Goldmyer Hot Springs Cabin
Feb 1st, 2008
Photo by the Caretakers
View more pictures here

From a message posted by BAS in the Goldmyer MSN Group:

Our group of 4 made it to the springs over the Feb. 2-3 weekend but not without an extreme test of endurance. We were able to drive a custom lift, 4-wheel drive jeep into the snow zone and within 13 miles of the cabin before having to pull over. We then skied the remainder of the distance through very deep snow. It took 7.5 hours to ski to the river crossing and 6 hours to get back to the car. This trip was epic and more a test of physical endurance than one of "soaking in the springs". The 4 of us were all experienced skiers with extensive wilderness-backcountry travel experience and in extremely good condition. We each carried enough gear, food and first aid for a multi-day winter trip into the wilderness. Unless you can ski 12 miles with 60+ lbs. of gear on your back, I do not recommend attempting a trip to the springs at this time. There is also enough new (large) windfall across both the lower and upper roads to make driving impossible. To drive there, plan on several days of cutting and clearing just to get to the locked gate.

Avalanche Control

Snoqualmie Pass (I90) but the same thing is happening at Stevens Pass (US2) with as much frequency.

High Snows at Scenic-Slide Risk!

I just got off the phone with a friend in Skykomish, Wa (12 west of Scenic HS) and he tells me the settled snow base across the valley and at the same elevation as Scenic is 120" . . . 10ft. Scenic is on the colder, north facing slope, typically getting more snow.

The snow berms along Highway 2 are over 6ft high on average. Roofs have collapsed in Skykomish and a report of trees down across power lines.

Stevens Pass was closed earlier today because of avalanches and the risk remains high. Much of the 2 mi route up to the hot springs traverses cleared slopes with greater than 40deg slopes, the trigger point for avalanche worries. Added the seesaw wamring and cooling temperatures and we have all the ingredients for dangerous conditions in the Stevens Pass area and to a lesser-extent on the slopes approaching the hot springs.

Until these conditions improve, please stay away from the springs. The risk is not worth it.

Scenic Winter

The trail may be blazed up but that doesn't make the going any easier. However, the springs sources are running a toasty 115 deg F. Well worth the effort.

The view looks out to the north over the Tye River valley. To the right, Highway 2 makes the final climb to Stevens Pass. For those of you interested in history, you can easily make out the scar and avalanche chute in the far background. In 1910 a fully-loaded passenger train became snowbound after coming out of the first Cascade Tunnel. During the night the accumulated snowpack gave way and carried 100+ souls to their deaths far down the mountainside. The Wellington Train Disaster remains the deadliest avalanche-train accident in U.S. history.

The disaster was the impetus for the Great Northern Railway to start construction on the new railway tunnel, the current Cascade Tunnel under Cowboy Mountain and Stevens Pass. The town of Wellington was also renamed to Tye in a public relations move. Tye no longer exists but as an Interpretive Center for the very popular Iron Goat Trail along the abandoned railway grade.

New Hot Springs Forum

A new hot springs forum has been established to share information of places to soak. Soakers Forum was started by a friend, Eric, of the North American Hot Springs Association (NAHSA) to take the place of the venerable Soak Net long run by Jim Lange. Soak Net has become unreliable and overrun with spam posts . . . often unreachable. Eric started Soakers Forum to keep continuity and to archive all the valuable information posted over the years. Come visit us there, join in on the discussions and find a great hot spring to soak your worries away.

The other venerable soaker discussion board, Northwest Hot Springs has also been rebuilt after a meltdown last November. NWHot Springs focuses on natural hot springs in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Members and moderators of both boards work well together.

Meager Creek Hot Springs Update

From Mike Sato,

On Oct 10, 2007, I visited Meager Creek Hot Springs with a Recreation Officer from BC Ministry of Forest. We were doing an assessment of Meager Creek’s current conditions in order to determine what improvements would be necessary before opening Meager Creek Hot Springs to the public.

In fall of 2003, the Meager Creek Bridge was washed out due to heavy flooding. Since the site had been closed for over 4 years, I was expecting a much worse condition for the hot springs. However, it was not bad as I had thought it would be. Some portions of the trees on the trails are overgrown, and several fallen trees need to be cleaned up. As well, a new trail head may be necessary. Change room, signs, and toilets need to be cleaned and needs minor repairs and new paint. The only major problem I could find was with the Creek Side Warm Pool.

Meager Creek has shifted some 30~ 40 feet south due to the 2003 flood, and in the past 4 years, Meager Creek has moved to within 8 feet of this pool. If this continues, the Creek Side Warm Pool will most likely be eroded within a few years. To prevent the erosion of this pool, a backhoe or excavator will be required to create a stone retaining wall. However, before this can be done, a geotech engineer’s assessment will be necessary. Depending on the geotech engineer’s report, this pool may have to be abandoned or be rebuilt at a safer location.

Meager Creek Hot Springs is closed until maintenance and pool repairs are completed. It is anticipated that this will be completed in spring of 2008, and that Meager Creek Hot Springs may be open to the public by summer of 2008. Formerly, Meager Creek Hot Springs was a BC Ministry of Forest Recreation Site. However, it is now in the jurisdiction of BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Arts due to restructuring, along with all other Forestry Recreation sites. Therefore, the actual opening date will be dependent upon the funding available from the BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Arts.

The Meager Creek Bridge still remains under the jurisdiction of the BC Ministry of Forest and an announcement will be made by the BC Ministry of Forest regarding its reopening. It is likely that the Meager Creek Bridge will also open in the spring or summer of 2008. However, it is doubtful that the bridge will be reopened until all pool repairs and improvements are completed at Meager Creek Hot Springs.

When Meager Creek opens to the public, there will be a user fee. The fee is expected to be $5.00 per person per day. Children 12 and under are free. Meager Creek Hot Springs is bathing suit optional. Dogs are not permitted on the Trail or in and around the pools. During the spring and fall, the pools are open from 8am to 6pm. During the summer, the pools are open from 8am to 8pm.

Camping is not allowed at Meager Creek Hot Springs Recreation Site. Camping is restricted to the junction of Meager Creek and the Lillooet River 8km away. This area is called the Upper Lillooet Campground, and it has over 30 camp sites. The camping fee is $10.00 per night for each vehicle. Upper Lillooet Campground is open daily from May 1~Oct 15. Both the Upper Lillooet Campground and Meager Creek Hot Springs Recreation Site will be maintained by Mt. Currie Indian Band in 2008.

The gates to Meager Creek Hot Springs are located at 9 km on the Lillooet River FSR, just west of the Hurley River turn off. The gates are closed and locked from December to April. The distance from the gates to Meager Creek Hot Spring is about 36km.

Scenic Hot Springs Update

From the property owner:

Scenic is still not open to the general public. The only people allowed to use the springs are those who have a permission card or have been given permission for a visit in advance. Permission cards are only issued to those who have two or more involvements in past clean-up parties. Any visitors who do not have permission or a permission card are trespassing. If you are caught hiking up to the springs by Scenic’s representatives, you may be asked to leave . . . even if you are almost all the way up to the hot springs. Please do not argue with us. We do not allow late night soaking or camping because the Scenic property is in King County fire-restricted zone. Late night soaking is not allowed as we cannot control the irresponsible activities that traditionally take place after the sun goes down. Occasionally the Scenic’s reps will make the hike up to the springs late at night and ask those there to leave. Please do so without argument.

Those who want to request permission to visit the hot springs should contact bangedupshins@gmail.com If you would like to take part in future clean-up parties, please also contact us at the above email address.

The reason for the above restrictions (including the permission card requirement) is because we are in the middle of sensitive negotiations with the county, state and federal representatives over permits to reopen the hot springs to the public. The permit process is taking a lot of expense and time for everyone involved. The unexpected presence of people heading up to the hot springs while sheriff and King County code enforcement officers watch, may jeopardize our permits application.

I am hoping that the negotiations with the King County DDES and Public Health will be over soon and the Scenic Hot Springs will be open to the public sometime in spring of 2009. The first obstacle is to clear up the county code violations and restore the hot spring pools for public use while making them much more safe and enjoyable. Currently there is only one 8 x16 feet concrete pool at the Scenic Hot Springs. The King County DDES requires that any construction done by volunteers over the past 20 years, whether it was a small piece of concrete or small wooden poles, be removed from the hot spring site. Therefore when the time comes, the existing concrete pool at the Scenic Hot Springs will also have to be destroyed.

The Scenic Hot Springs is still in the process of negotiating with the County, so I cannot reveal any further details. If you have been to Cougar Hot Springs, then you can see the general direction the Scenic is heading for; a natural hot spring that is kept under control without making it a truly commercial facility. In the future, Scenic will have 3 natural rock-lined pools. When opening to the public, Scenic will be a day-use facility open from sunrise to sundown, and may have a minimum user fee. I would also like to mention that this improvement project has no official connection with the Friends of Scenic or the Scenic Preservation Association. However, some of their members have been involved as volunteers in the clean up efforts of Scenic Hot Springs.

Currently, visitors should at least follow guidelines listed below:

• Have Permission First
• No Night-time Soaking
• No Guns, No Camping, No Fires
• Be Responsible with Alcohol - No Glass
• No Dogs at the Springs Site
• Be prepared to leave when asked to do so

Mike Sato

Interactive Map of Scenic Hot Springs

Snow Plows have blocked access

The snow berm across the entrance of FS850
- image courtesy a friendly WSP trooper

We got a good dumping of snow in the Cascades on Monday . . . up to 14 inches in some places. You can expect snow from Skykomish on up. The pass cam shows US2 unplowed of several inches.

FS850, the access to Scenic Hot Springs, is well within the heavy snow zone and according to one report there is a snow berm in place from the highway plowing operations.

Expect more snow this week . . . and please do not park on FS850 (even if your 4wd can get in). You'll probably get trapped. Also, do not park on the highway, the shoulders, or in chain-up areas. These are tow-zones. The nearest safe parking is in the Surprise Creek Trailhead area within the BN Rail Zones.

Why you should care . . .

A few of the many 38cal(?) cartridges we found
scattered around the base of the Monster Tub

I won't go into why firing guns from the hot spring pools is such an incredibly stupid idea. I've had guns fired in my direction on two occasions up at Scenic. I don't like the idea of an errant bullet whizzing past my head on the trail downslope.

Irresponsible gun usage is one of the reasons we have rules in the wilderness . . . and particularly at Scenic. Mix it in with a partying attitude involving alcohol and weed at nighttime, and the chances of something going terribly wrong go way up.

Scenic is not open to the general public. You either have a permission card because of your involvement in past clean-ups, or you have been given permission for a visit in advance. What that means is if you are caught hiking up to the springs by the owner or his representatives, you may be asked to leave . . . even if you are almost all the way up to the hot springs. Please don't argue with us . . . if you do not have permission you are trespassing! If you do have permission, the owner can revoke it.

So why?

The first reason is because we are in the middle of sensitive negotiations with the county, state and feds over permits to reopen the hot springs to the public . . . and by the unexpected presence of people heading up to the hot springs while bureaucrats and inspectors watch, our permits get jeopardized.

Secondly, irresponsible soaking will not be allowed to take root at Scenic. Even if you have permission, I will challenge you and send you packing if you are not prepared for the weather . . . or if you are drinking too much or otherwise being an a**hole. We've had our share of people hiking in street jeans, teeshirt and sneakers thinking they were immune to an oncoming snow storm.

We do not allow late night soaking or camping because we cannot control the irresponsible activities that traditionally take place after the sun goes down. Occasionally the owner or one of his reps will make the hike up to the springs late at night and ask those there to leave. Please do so without argument. I didn't hike up there three times for the exercise this past Sunday.

It's within your power to help make the re-emergence of Scenic Hot Springs happen. You could volunteer . . . you could ask first . . . instead of assuming . . . you could also soak responsibly. But just don't enter the property en'mass near nightfall carrying cases of beer and expecting me to allow you to continue up to the springs. That is just the sort of activity we need to minimize in the county's eyes. I will ask you to turn around. I expect the other representatives will also.

• Have Permission First
  
• No Night-time Soaking
• No Guns, No Camping, No Fires
• Be Responsible with Alcohol - No Glass
• No Dogs at the Springs Site
• Be Prepared for Conditions

Snowtime at Scenic

A dusting of snow near the main springs at 3,500ft

Not much yet but it's coming as a new weather system with high winds and a lot of moisture is due in Monday. The freezing level is down around 2,400ft.

Why no Sulphur Smell at Scenic . . .

A question I often get from those who have been to Scenic is "How come there is very little rotten egg smell like other hot springs?" Often the pungent smell of Olympic Hot Springs is brought up in comparison. Scenic Hot Springs barely has any smell, whatsoever. Why?

That rotten egg smell is the result of H2S, or hydrogen sulphide. As ground waters percolate downward and heat up, minerals are dissolved out of the rock being traversed. Heat and pressure dissolve heavier minerals as the temperature and pressure increase . . . generally with depth. A common mineral dissolved out by most geothermal systems is sulfur . . . which by itself has no unpleasant smell. Bacteria deep down converts sulfur to the rotten egg gas smell of many hot springs.

The presence of H2S indicates that the water has penetrated to great depths. As the water percolates deeply into the crust, pressure increases, and this allows the anaerobic bacteria (germs that work in the absence of oxygen) to convert sulfur in the form of sulphate to the sulphide of H2S. A quick trip to the surface retains the H2S created. A slow surface route may retain the gas only if the passage excludes oxygen, allowing the anaerobic bacteria to continue their work.

Olympic Hot Springs evolves from fractures in the bedrock around an active fault line over the Olympic subduction zone. Temperatures and pressures are very high and the resulting hot spring waters are highly mineralized with very high concentrations of sulfur . . . and the smell of hydrogen sulphide in the air.

Scenic, by comparison, is a shallow and rather benign geothermal system. The heat source for Scenic Hot Springs is an upwelling of solidified magma (called a pluton) that has been cooling for the last 35 million years. The residual heat from this solidified upwelling is shallow (~600ft) and does not give the pressures and heat for much reduction of sulfur into the rotten egg gas.

Last Chance This Year: Clean Up Party Oct 27th, 2007

An ounce of prevention . . .

The snow's not far behind us and this is our last chance to join with Mike to clean-up the springs area in preparation for the winter season. We need to do a substantial bit of winter erosion control and cleanup.

Dress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty. It's hard to predict where the snow will be so dress in layers; have good, sturdy boots; and work gloves. We have need of shovels and picks for some of the work.

We will try to meet at the gate and drive further in . . . but those plans are dependent on weather. It's important that those who can (or plan to) participate RSVP so we can keep you updated on where to meet up. RSVPs can be made to me at bangedupshins AT gmail DOT com

The Hot Springs Guy: YouTube Western US Hot Springs Player

Well, my friend Josh over at Idaho Hot Springs (also known as TheHotSpringsGuy) has given us a great new resource in the form of a video tease of a number of natural hot springs in the Northwest. Check it out and pay Josh a visit at his great website. Rick

Impromptu Clean Up Party Sept 9th, 2007

An impromptu cleanup party is being held at Scenic this coming Saturday (Sep 8th, 2007). This is short notice. What we will be doing is moving some of the trash from the upper levels further lower on the trail to where it can be more easily picked up during later cleanups. As a result of the winter and springs weather much of the garbage pile of odd construction materials got scattered and is become a mess. Uninvited visitors have also been adding their garbage to the pile.

Volunteers may arrive at any time in the morning and hopefully we will get enough to form a bucket-brigade arrangement to move material. I will arrive around 10am to unlock the gate (Matt? Bob? If you're coming maybe you can open the gate early?)

Standard safety stuff:

• Sturdy work boots
• Gloves (I have a case of work gloves if needed)
• Water

Do not forget to sign in with me if you want credit.

Of course, credit for participation and a soak afterward.

Anon Poster Wants Springs Given Back to Government

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Minor Cleanup Party this coming Sunday":

This site used to be great until all of this legal crap. Maybe the owner should just sell back to the gov and let them try to regulate.

This really should be open to the public and left to be natural without wood boxing, fake rocks and all this effort to caretake.

I guess the anonymous commenter just cannot read. Seems it's always the anonymous ones that don't seem to have a clue. Shame.

This land has not been government property since the mid-1800s when it was granted to Mr. Werheyser and Mr Hill for right-a-way for the Great Northern Railway. The present owner did not buy it from the government but from the former owner. If that hadn't happened the likely scenario would have been the former owner bowing to pressure from the county to pump hydraulic concrete into the springs and capping them off forever . . . just to get away from the legal enforcement hassles that users created.

The present owner (the one responsible for the property taxes, by the way) was presented with that bureaucratic suggestion when he applied for permits to clean up the site. Here were his choices:

• Bow to county pressure and cap the hot springs sources, taking a huge loss in the amount of money he paid for the 40 acres. However, he could have recouped that devaluation by logging the 40 acres, as is his right, or;
• Go completely private and not allow anyone to use his property. Build a cabin and enjoy the hot springs himself, or;
• Pursuit the bureaucracy and permit process at great expense and time in order to reopen these hot springs to the public.

He chose the more difficult process and you have the gall to tell him to give YOU the hot springs? Got a lot of balls, boy.

As far as giving it back to the government . . . LOL, I already know what the feds will do . . . dynamite the springs as a public nuisance . . . which they are because of people with attitudes like you. The government doesn't want these springs and the headaches they will cause them. Be thankful that someone is trying their damn best to give you an opportunity to eventually enjoy Scenic in the future. Be thankful that pool Nazi's like yourself will not be permitted to tell others how to use and enjoy their property.

Rick

Minor Cleanup Party this coming Sunday

Where: At the gate on FS850

When: Sunday, June 3rd at 11am

Here's a chance to visit Scenic Hot Springs and do a little tender-loving care to the property and the adjoining areas of the litter and erosion from the winter and spring months. Afterward, we will have an opportunity to enjoy the springs. This cleanup party will not be a major undertaking and we will simply hike on up to the hot springs, cleaning up a few culverts along the way and collecting trash that the unrespectful have left behind. Participation counts toward gaining more opportunities from the owner . . . so don't forget to sign in. I will also hand out new 2007 Season Permission Cards to those who are already involved in the restoration of the hot springs. The cards issued last season will retire to weed out those who are not actively involved, do not participate in clean-ups, or that we are unable to contact. Permission cards are not a perputual invitation to visit the hot springs . . . they are at the pleasure of the owner.

As in past cleanups, let's meet around 11am at the gate, signin, and proceed up FS 850 to park in the clearcut area. The cleanup and soak will last to around 3pm when I will go back down to let vehicles back out (or later if there is consensus). those who might need to leave before 3pm, please park before the gate.

Objectives:

1. Cleanup the litter on the areas off the gated area down to Highway 2. We owe this to the Forest Service as it is the people who head up to Scenic that are tossing this trash. I did some cleanup last week but I'm sure there is more.
2. I need a few people to litter patrol the FS Road from the gate to the clearcut, and one or two to do the same on the first bypass trail.
3. The road cut at the second bend could use some filling to help ease vehicle across without bottoming out; likewise, there is a tree snag partially blocking the road near the clearcut which we need moved out of the way.
4. From the clearcut, those that like to hike, there are a few fallen trees and snags down in the BPA loop that could use an assist off the road. For the rest, up the second bypass trail to pick up litter on the road and the side slopes.
5. I need to re-plant a new 'No trespassing' sign near the second tower. I have the signs and post. Likewise, just inside the trailhead we need to figure out how to correct the floded over 'No Trespassing' sign high in that tree.
6. As we head up the upper BPA Road, we should check the culverts and unblock them as necessary. Where streams cross the road, we will assess if there is anything to do that will keep the streams in their course, and protect against erosion on the downslope side (usually means partially blocking the flow to slow the water down and create sedimentation filling).
7. We will do litter control on the trail and correct errant seepages on the water bars we placed two years ago.
8. Litter patrol the pool area and the downslope area from the pool.
9. Enjoy a soak!!!!

Tools: Nothing major. I'll bring my folding shovel to do culvert cleanout. Perhaps a hammer to post signs.

Everyone, good shoes and gloves. Bring water, something to snack and a smile.


Is there anyone out there that is good with making conceptulized drawings? We need someone who can look at the hot spring site, visualize what the pools might look like in place, and produce a nice drawing in colored pencil. A 2007 Permission Card to the individual who can make drawings for us.

Rick

Another Black Bear near Scenic

A black bear roaming the lower areas of the clearcut (near where FS850 enters). Seen near dawn grubbing for it's breakfast of bugs, it wandered on up the slopes into the heavy canopy above the clearcut, seemingly avoiding the human-made bypass trails.

Although the bear knew I was there and less than 100 feet away, it paid me no attention other than glancing my way every so often to see if I'd come any closer.

Tags: Scenic Hot Springs, black bear

Memorial Day Weekend and the Springs

The Memorial Day Weekend has always been a difficult time for the hot springs so this year, as with last year, we are going to enforce the NO TRESPASSING rules at the springs.

Starting Friday afternoon, a representative of Scenic Hot Springs will be present on the property (including overnight) and TURN BACK those who attempt to visit the springs. Anyone who doesn't cooperate will be referred to the King County Sheriff's Department. There will not be a repeat of the vandalism and trashing of previous holiday weekends. Stay away!!!

On Saturday a private hot springs clean-up party is taking place. This event is already filled to reasonable capacity. If you are not on the list for this particular event, please stay away.


For those that have asked, a regular clean up party is being planned for possibly the following weekend after Memorial Day. Activities planned are cleaning of culverts and shoring up the intake basins, re-setting the water bars on the trail and other general erosion control measures. I will contact everyone on the volunteer list early next week with the details.

Scenic Hot Springs Conditions, May 11th, 2007

The pools after cleaning and refilling. KEEP THEM CLEAN!!!!

Pool Temperatures as of
May 11th, 2007 @ 4 PM
Conditions: Clear skies, 68F @ Pools; Patches of snow on the upper trail above Main Creek crossing. FS850, BPA Road and lower trail are snow free. As predicted, some enterprising soul has chainsawed the tree blocking access to FS850.

Spring Source
East #1 (Lobster Upper): 78.3F, Flow: 18 gpm (measured)
East #2 (Lobster Lower): 58F, disconnected from feed tube Upper feed tube is redirected around pool.
West #1 (Bear): 110.3F
West #2 (Bear): 111.4F, Combined Flow: 6.8 gpm (measured)

Pool Temperatures:
Lobster Half: Inlet 77F (diverted from pool), Pool 97.9F
Bear Den Half: Inlet 109.3F, Pool 101.7F

The Lobster sources have gone cold as predicted from the increased snow melt; while the Bear sources have notched up a degree or two. Both sources show increased flow rates. Lobster, at 77F, is too cold to feed the combined pool, so has been diverted around the tub. The second fracture at the source is now active and supplying most of the colder water to Lobster. Bear is just enough to provide a pleasant soak with two different temperatures that suit the ambient weather.

Water Quality Without the added flow of Lobster, Bear springs is barely enough to turn over the water adequately . . . especially when someone keeps removing the small pool-bottom siphon (the green hose). Algae quickly builds up on the lower portions of the pool, which gets little turnover. The weir dams were heavily coated with a half-inch thick coating of algae that also builds up on the concrete outside of the tub under the overflows. The two halves of the tub were in bad need of some serious cleaning. I completely drained the pools, removed the pool divider and spent the next two hours scrubbing the slippery algae coating off the interior and exterior pool surfaces. The liner is showing increasing areas of wear and will probably have to be replaced sometime this soaking season.

Site Conditions There has been more earth slippage on the trail above the Bear Den sources. Step carefully around this area or preferably, take the latrine access trail. The litter problem was very heavy. I removed four 33gal trash bags of beer bottle, cans, liquor bottles, clothing, towels, food wrappers, candles and assorted other garbage from the site.

Notes The tree across FS850 has been cut up. At first I thought the Forest Service but I later found out one of the visitors took it upon himself to cut up the tree to make it easy for people. Next time, pay attention and notify me or Mike first. You need a permit to go cutting fallen trees on Forest Service property and that tree was tagged for a timber permit. I was aware of that and perfectly willing to let the tree sit until we needed access. Whomever did the cutting, I suggest you don't admit to it.

While I worked on cleaning and oiling the lock to the gate, the owners of several cars (and one motor scooter) arrived from their unauthorized visit. I didn't recognize any of them and one couple was downright obnoxious when informed that the springs are closed and on private property. I didn't even bother to ask if they'd like to volunteer and earn the right to visit. Didn't seem the type. Fortunately, I have pictures of their vehicles.

The forest service road is completely snow free and in real good shape. There is a fallen tree snag near the BPA clearcut, but easily driven around. The first hiker's bypass is also clear and in good shape.

Likewise, the BPA Road and clearcut is also snow free. The upper BPA road shows some moderate to significant erosion but is 4WD HC drivable . . . in fact, someone has recently driven up the road, though which of the volunteers with keys I don't know. Near the top immediately short of the Honeymoon Creek BPA road cut, a large boulder has come to rest in the center of the road. It can be driven around but will take two or more people to safely move this boulder out of the way.

Lower down, I cleared out the culvert grates of the Main Springs creek crossing, and of the BPA Springs. Shoring up of the basin around the intake of the culvert was necessary. Where Meadows Creek crosses the BPA road, there is heavy flow but erosion is under control.

The trail, itself, is in good shape. The water bars are doing their job. Melt runoff continues to come down Rock Alley. The snow begins just above . . . patchy but unavoidable. The snow is soft, wet and slippery . . . but will soon be gone. Most of the snow is from the switchback area to just short of the short path above the Bear Den sources . . . the result of remaining mostly in shade. The latrine bypass trail (the original and one of the historic trails) is snow free. Due to earth slippage in the route above the springs, I recommend taking this bypass trail.

As the condition report noted, the pools were in terrible shape and needed serious cleaning; which I did. There is also a lot of irresponsible partying going on up here late at night with dozens of beer bottles (Blond Ale?), a full bottle of Schnapps, a half full bottle of Jaggermeister, various articles of clothing, food wrappers, uneaten food, a half-dozen melted candles and lots of cigarette butts. The site was filthy and a lot of that garbage was in the pools, themselves. Have you ever stepped bare-footed on a bottle cap. The pool was full of bottle caps and I managed to step on one and cut my foot. So, my unauthorized friends, I have no sympathy for you! All in all, I made two "up the mountain-down the mountain" trips to drag four trash bags full of garbage away!

Used Pampers!!!! That means babies, unless you have a control problem yourself. Do not take babies up to the hot springs to soak. It is both dangerous for the child (babies have undeveloped control of body heat), and dangerous to the pool waters (babies have bowel control problems . . . which is why they wear Pampers).

A young lady's spandex top left on a rock near the top of Rock Alley

What surprises me is the amount of clothing I found discarded on the side of the trail. Are people stripping off their clothes on the way up or down? I'm all for a nude hike (especially after a hot soak), but throwing away perfectly good clothes? Come on . . . take your laundry home . . . don't leave it to rot on the mountainside!

The difficulty, of course, is controlling access by these irresponsible people. I would like to catch them in the act but I really don't have time to sit by in the evening hours. Perhaps the sources need to be secured and shut down. I know I piss a lot of visitors off by draining the pools in the late afternoon . . . at the present flow rates it takes hours to refill those pools. But I can't be up there everyday. So we're going to be looking at other alternatives.

In the coming weeks, while we wait on permit decisions, I'm thinking of setting up a clean-up party . . . with the idea of litter pickup at the gate area and alongside the BPA road and trail. This is to be a mini-cleanup so if anyone wants to join in, contact me. The bonus is enjoyment of the springs for the rest of the day after the cleanup. Contact me if you want to participate.

Scenic Hot Springs Conditions, April 5th, 2007

Conditions: Clear, sunny skies, 50F @ Pools; 68F on the Upper BPA Road. Snow is still 2-4 ft deep, wet & heavy. Melt is accelerating. Snowshoes are not required as snow will support boots. Some icy areas under shade.

Spring Source
East #1 (Lobster Upper): 96.1F, Flow: 15.35 gpm (measured)
East #2 (Lobster Lower): 68.8F, disconnected from feed tube
Feed was back in place supplying the pool.

West #1 (Bear): 106.6F
West #2 (Bear): 108.3F, Combined Flow: 5.8 gpm (measured)

Pool Temperatures:
Lobster Half: Inlet 95.2F, Pool 93F
Bear Den Half: Inlet 107.5F, Pool 95.9F
Could be hotter except for some mixing with the cooler water from the Lobster side.

With the snow melting and the recent rain, you would expect Lobster to remain flowing very cold and at high rates. That was not the case; both the Lobster Springs are at higher than expected temps and more normal flow rates. At the upper source, where two springs come together at the outlet, the westerly fracture that produces most of the cold spring melt is dry. All flow is coming from the easterly fracture and it is hot enough for a warm soaking pool. It is unknown why this spring has suddenly dried up. I see no modifications to the source.

Water Quality

Someone has been cleaning the Bear Den side and it was relatively clean. The Lobster side was algae-encrusted through lack of use and attention (and cooler temps). A layer of dark algae sedimentation three inches thick covered the bottom of the pool.

Pool was completely scrubbed, algae blanket siphoned out and then a siphon set to completely drain the pool and refill with fresh water. I left the feeds in place.

Site Conditions

The area around the sources and pool is snow free, although large cornices of heavy snow remain above the pool site. The trail above the pool also shows moderate movement of the supporting soil below with fracture lines on the trail. Stay to the inside. Site is drying out with the warm weather. Some litter but under control.

Note: As of today (Sunday) we have a large series of showers running through the area. The snowline has dropped back down to 2,500 feet and forecasters are calling for two to three inches of fresh snow. The lowered snowline will firm up the existing snow and probably ice up conditions.

A couple of sunny, warm days have accelerated the snowmelt dramatically. The berm across FS850 (and down along Hwy 2) is almost gone. However, FS850 is under shade and a full two to three feet of snow remains up to the gate.

The upper BPA road remains snow-covered because of the north-facing alignment. Snow averages two feet, has become very wet and heavy . . . tricky to walk on. Snowshoes no a bad idea but you have to keep on removing them to traverse bare areas.

All of the snow bridges created by running creeks, have collapsed . . . however, melt from beneath is making some snow cover unstable.

BPA Springs Area on the BPA road short of the Meadows Creek crossing. The exposed hillside continues to show minor erosion.

A rather large boulder coming down from above the BPA Road (near Honeymoon) sits at rest atop some remaining snow.

On the trail, still quite a bit of snow in the lower section . . . here, the Honeymoon Creek crossing.

Looking back down on the almost clear area of Meadows Creek across the trail. I corrected some major melt erosion to redirect water into established channels.

Rock Alley is clear of snow and major running water. The headwall remains with deep snow above, most of it in shade and icy as I travelled over it.

Past the switchback there is still a lot of deep snow (3-4 ft) on the bench. It will take some time to melt this snow.

The approach trail above the Bear Den Bench shows earth slippage and crevassing of the soil . . . due in major part to the heavy weight of the snow that lingers on the bench.
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