Guide to Roadside
Hot Springs
Adventurous Spirit Beginners Guide by
Suniechick
Slipping into the hot water, feeling
it envelope your soul and relax every essence of your being
while washing away the every day stress of life. This is what it
feels like to soak in a hot spring. To me, there is nothing
better than soaking up the earth around you, overwhelming your
senses with nature’s glory.
Before you can indulge in the
serenity, and to be able to enjoy soaking to its fullest, you
must be prepared. First decide on what type of hot spring you’d
like to venture to. Are you planning on just stopping road side,
backpacking in for one to several days or some where in between
those trips? Despite which time line or hot spring suits your
fancy there are still some basics that you should know and bring
with you to be prepared.
Items to Bring
First off, know where you’re going,
how to get there, and be sure to let someone know where you are
headed to. Safety first.
Towel: very important
especially in the winter months.
Swim suit for road side soaks. You’ll want to check for
etiquette on springs that are further than the beaten path.
Remember that clothing can be optional particularly in back
country hot springs, so be prepared to see others au natural. If
you don’t feel comfortable with that situation you can always
quietly make your presence known and wait the other soakers out.
A note about your suits, do not wash
them in detergent. Detergents will release into the springs and
can cause foreign algae and mosses to grow which can threaten
the native ecosystem. This also goes for soaps and shampoos,
even those labeled “biosoap”. There are many natural
alternatives that can be used. Better yet, just rinse your suit
out when you get home and hang it up to dry. Fabric softener is
considered a detergent that can go into the water be it springs,
rivers, lakes, or any other body of water.
Water and
plenty of it. Your body can become dehydrated while soaking,
especially while enjoying the hotter soaks. Also, it is not a
good idea to mix alcohol with hot springs. The heat from the
spring raises your body temperature and can cause ill effects.
Good shoes are a necessity
when hiking. Your feet have to last your whole life and the
better you take care of them the better they’ll take care of
you. Snacks
are a great idea. I always seem to be ravenous after soaking.
Try something with a good mix of carbs and protein to help stave
off that too tired to drive feeling after becoming incredibly
relaxed. If need be, take a nap. (There’s that safety thing
again.)
Garbage bags are a definite item to bring.
-
To pick up trash so
all can continue to enjoy the area. If everyone leaves the place
of beauty in better shape than when they arrived there will be
less to continually pick up. This also means to leave the
plants, trees and animals where you found them.
-
They double as a
protector for your clothes and other items incase it
rains/snows. At many springs the ground around them is wet, so
the bags help keep everything nice and dry.
-
Garbage bags also
double as a floor mat to stand upon while changing, keeping your
feet clean and dry.
First Aid Kit:
fairly self explanatory, it’s just a good idea.
Back pack to carry everything in. Keep one loaded with your
towels, suits and garbage bags for those spur of the moment
trips.
Camera: captures nature’s beauty. Mine is attached to my hip
at all times.
Last but not least….
A Good Attitude! Remember
that you are not the only ones out there to enjoy these wondrous
springs. We need to do all we can to preserve nature and all of
its splendor.
Of course, this list is just the basic beginning. If you wish to
go beyond a road side soak you need to take into consideration
where you’ll be going, for how long, and all of the items that
may potentially need to be brought.
Check List
Backpack loaded with:
-
Garbage Bags
-
Swim Suit
-
Water
-
Snacks
-
Towel
-
Camera
-
Hiking shoes
-
Spirit for Adventure
-
First Aid Kit
Thirsty for more?
Check out the
Backcountry Guide
Guide to
Roadside Hot Springs Credits
Author/Contributor:
Suniechick
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