while airfare spike may have made dreams of hawaii visit fall apart...looking for new ideas to get warm over christmas...
it wouldbe nice to be able to camp without freezing our various body parts off....and at this point harbin seems least freezing in the nighttime....anyone know of other places with mild enough nighttime temperatures to camp? california (i'm in sf)....or somewhere in the southwest i'd consider too...haven't been down there much so it would be an adventure....but very cold in the nighttime i suspect. i supose camping is not required....but not too expensive lodging and pretty places to walk would be best. suggestions are much appreciated! thank you!
it wouldbe nice to be able to camp without freezing our various body parts off....and at this point harbin seems least freezing in the nighttime....anyone know of other places with mild enough nighttime temperatures to camp? california (i'm in sf)....or somewhere in the southwest i'd consider too...haven't been down there much so it would be an adventure....but very cold in the nighttime i suspect. i supose camping is not required....but not too expensive lodging and pretty places to walk would be best. suggestions are much appreciated! thank you!
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SF Bay Area
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Tue, November 20, 2007 - 3:42 AMLake Mead near Hoover Dam just north of Las Vegas is warm, beautiful and has hot springs scattered throughout.
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Tue, November 20, 2007 - 2:05 PMI juut came back from a weekend in Black Canyon - canoeing the 12 miles below Hoover dam. The hot springs along the river were amaizing. I have been told there ware ways to hike in to some of them, but am not sure of the distance or route. -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Tue, November 20, 2007 - 4:10 PMWow Cool.
It is a beautiful park and area. I bet you had a great time, hope you got some nice pictures.
There are a number of hot springs that can be hiked to. Such as Gold Strike and AZ (Ringbolt) both near the dam. The weather has been great for hiking in the Las Vegas area.
Most hikes are about 3 miles or less each way, depending on route and level of impact.. Most are manageable without to much difficulty.
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Fri, November 23, 2007 - 11:22 AMI typically participate in at least one Black Canyon Colorado River kayak trip each year, sometimes two. The hike to Boy Scout Hot Springs and Goldstrike is not too bad and we hit both HS on our way down river to spend the night near Arizona Hot Springs. This is a near perfect fall, winter or springtime trip. No special kayaking skills are required and you can rent a kayak or canoe and obtain a launch permit with cartage for about $75 per person. Add the cost of a minimal amount of food and it's a great two day getaway. If you're lucky, you may get to see some desert big horned sheep grazing the canyon or on their way down to the river to drink.
It's nearly impossible to take a bad photograph there.
Goldstrike and Boy Scout are much more likely to have nudity than Arizona HS due to accessiblity. It seems that Arizona HS is a popular destination for Boy Scouts.
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 3:47 PMI typically lead at least one group kayak trip down that section of the Colorado River. One thing that you have to remember is that there is a rather nasty brain eating amoeba that inhabits the hot springs in the area and you should avoid getting any water in your eyes, ears, mouth or nose. Other than that, the hot springs in the area are outstanding and well worth a visit.
At the moment, due to construction on the new bridge that will span the canyon just below the dam, the only hot spring that you can hike to is Arizona Hot Springs. I believe that they will reopen the trailhead to Goldstrike Canyon sometime in 2008. I'm not sure about Boy Scout trail access. -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Wed, December 5, 2007 - 4:32 PM<<One thing that you have to remember is that there is a rather nasty brain eating amoeba that inhabits the hot springs in the area and you should avoid getting any water in your eyes, ears, mouth or nose. Other than that, the hot springs in the area are outstanding and well worth a visit. >>
this one deserves its own post.....geeze
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Wed, December 5, 2007 - 11:06 PM"I typically lead at least one group kayak trip down that section of the Colorado River. One thing that you have to remember is that there is a rather nasty brain eating amoeba that inhabits the hot springs in the area and you should avoid getting any water in your eyes, ears, mouth or nose. Other than that, the hot springs in the area are outstanding and well worth a visit."
Yeah, this just makes me want to drop everything, grab the kids, and head on down there ;-) -
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Unsu...
Brain eating amobea
Wed, December 5, 2007 - 11:22 PMWell, there not just here. But they are fairly rare, but getting more common. Then again, it's only your brain! More info if interested: tinyurl.com/2cd47r
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Re: Brain eating amobea
Sat, December 29, 2007 - 2:03 AMIf it eats your brain will you be aware that you have it? -
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Re: Brain eating amobea
Sat, December 29, 2007 - 9:29 AMIf you believe that there is a brain eating amoeba out there then they will only have a snack. Some HS have red water mites but even that is very rare.
Bill Northwest
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Re: Brain eating amobea
Tue, January 1, 2008 - 8:52 PMJohn, I've heard that the only noticeable difference after the infection is a strong desire to dine upon close friends and loved ones.
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 5:25 PMThere are a few hot springs to choose from depends on what you are looking for seirra hot springs is good organic type place with facilities
but a few primitive hot spring that i think are fantastic, are spencers,potts, and hydler in northern nevada witch are between 2 and 3-1/2 hrs
east of reno toward austin, nv. all are great in the desert and the most remot is hydler not much but no body, good luck!
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Sun, December 2, 2007 - 1:47 PMif it's not raining, maybe hike in to Ventana near Big Sur? about ten miles from HIghway 1 and the ranger station.
Sierra is too cold to camp but if they have lodging space available the prices are pretty reasonable. and the people are friendly.
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 2:36 PMsykes, the ten miles into ventana, is going to be cold....i think it is almost too cold in october, but i am from SF and we like it mild. -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Thu, December 6, 2007 - 6:26 AMIf you dont mind being in one of the coldest places in CA Travertine Hot Springs just outside of Bridgeport are just amazing in the winter. They run to the hot end of the hotspring spectrum so the contrast of freezing temperatures and hot hot water is nice. . .Sykes is a semi warm spring I once froze way to much on a rainy day trip to sykes. . .it would be a winter springs if you have a spectacular day---
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Fri, December 7, 2007 - 7:43 PMI went to the Saline Valley between Xmas and NYE a couple years back - and thinking of doing it again this year. It does get cold at night, around freezing, but you're either in hot water or in your sleeping bag at night so I don't really care. The days are quite nice.
Gravity Mike -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Thu, December 13, 2007 - 8:24 PMwowee. thanks for all these suggestions. i feel a bit of a wimp in the end....not braving the cold. going to harbin for a few days and actually getting a room...a room for the first time ever. california has made me a cold weather pansy. hopefully i can visit some more of these places come warmer temperatures. i realy really want to go to saline valley at some point.....just need to set up with more reliable vehicle...i do love the desert...dreaming now of fantasy roadtrips of the future.... -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 2:07 AM"fantasy roadtrips "
This is something I've wanted to do. Either a trip out to a not-to-be-missed hot spring or a hot spring tour of 2 or 3 spots over the course of a week. Just gotta put the plan together... -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 1:40 PMi love sykes. husband and i were talking about how chilly it can get up there...and then he said.....but imagine being there alllllll alloooooone.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...i mean.....hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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marin tidal hot springs
Sat, December 29, 2007 - 2:41 PMhas anyone been to the marin tidal hot springs at steep ravine this winter? can somebody give us more precise directions?
thanks a lot! -
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Re: marin tidal hot springs
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 2:39 AMThere's two small hot springs close to each other. I've been to both.
One is a couple hundred feet south of red rock beach... or a hundred yards north from steep ravine beach.
Last time I was there rock slides covered it over and we enjoyed it by ducking in between some seriously large boulders. <read dangerous. potentially life threatening> Seriously.
The other, that few people know, can only be found at a rare minus 1.6 tide or greater, you can dig out a pit in the sand right at steep ravine beach and make your own little warm soaking pool.... just look for water seeping out from underneath the beach. Clothing is not optional at that one... =(
It has been a couple of years since I've been to either so I'm curious if anyone has been to either more recently.... ??? -
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Re: marin tidal hot springs
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 2:44 AMoh yea', forgot to mention.... the first spring can only be accessed at minus tides also.... and percolates up from below the water line.... very hard to find.
Extended tide tables show no big negative tides through Feb....
www.myforecast.com/bin/tide_extended.m
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 3:08 AMslab city...
kinda out of the way in the desert on the edge of no mans land... quite the eccentric place... with a large hill... a painted tiny mountain that feels like ur on some alice and wonderland trip... the real surreal deal dedicated to god and love by a jesus nut... albeit a very nice ol nut. and wayward nomaders... and squatin settlers... mad max land in the salten seas near the mexican border in southern cali.
the pool is quite the gem though... anyways was when i was there bout three years ago at least as i remember... the pool big enough to swin in practically do laps... think bout that one. im thinkin bout makin a trek down there soon. yah could do a little get away from the crazy city... trade it for the zany mad maxers land for a little while. and yes its a little crazy down there jus a heads up... not for the wary.
btw... did i hear hawaii... check out... airtech.com one way from sfo... to oahu or maui as little as 170 one way. was as little as 150 a month ago... imagine that.
and if any would like to do a caravan... down that would be so welcome... jus like the good ol times... except we aint prospectin for gold or homested... jus some good ol safe hot waters to enjoy. -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 3:26 AMI've always wanted to go over the pass, from the bay area, and follow 395 all the way down past Mono, and hit every hot spring along the way IN THE WINTER. I've done this in the summer many times but never when there's been snow on the ground.
Seems to me that It might be waaay more serene and peaceful. Have 4X4, will travel. =)
Hot Creek, Travertine, Crab Cooker, Saline Valley Hot Springs... to name a few. But there's many others that would actually be easier to find in the winter due to the steam plumes... otherwise invisible during the summer.
Wilbur is just so damn easy to get to and they're having a guest chef at the end of February.... I'll probably be there as friends offered it as a gift. . =) -
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Re: wintertime hot springs
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 3:41 PMI *LOVE* Saline. My other fave is Buckeye, much more beautiful than Travertine. I've been at Travertine when families have their babies in diapers in the upper cement tub (yuck). My other faves are near Crowley Lake, Moonscape, and one which I can't remember... but right now a 4wd truck is definitely in order, and it still might not be accessible....
We drove in 5 years ago, with some yahoo trying to pass us going about 35mph, and ended up pulling his very embarrassed self and truck out of a snow bank. When we get a lot of snow like this, it's best to go to Saline or a coastal spring until about May/June....
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Unsu...
Cacophany on the slab
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 10:45 AM>and if any would like to do a caravan... down that would be so welcome... <
Check it out :groups.google.com/group/ride-to-nowhere
Sounds like it might be right up yer alley! -
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Re: Cacophany on the slab
Mon, January 28, 2008 - 1:46 PMthx fido...
yup might jus be that.
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Re: Cacophany on the slab
Fri, February 1, 2008 - 7:54 PMNoice! You rock, you pitcher of scarlet goodness, you.
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