The Fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be Decided Soon

The US Congress will soon be deciding upon the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This a is huge deal!

You can help in 4 easy steps! Click Here

Support Sara James
Many are mobilizing to DC and plan on remaining until the outcome has been decided. Sara James is one of those individuals. While most of us can't make it we can show our support by supporting Sara, she needs it!

Years of her work to protect the Refuge have come down to a vote expected as soon as next month. On September 20, we can stand together, and make clear to Congress that drilling the Refuge would be a grave -- and irreversible -- mistake.

Join Sara, myself and thousands of others across the country in a powerful pledge of support! Click Here

Scenic Hot Springs in Washington Revisited!

Scenic Hot Springs

08.20.05 Trip Report
Ahh yes! This trip was excellent! I was a tad bit nervous just because of all the PR surrounding Scenic, but after taking a look at the official Scenic Hot Springs Blog I felt much better. The mild sunny temps made for a great hike up the hill towards the hot springs. We arrived to find 3 friendly guys from Seattle enjoying a soak. We soaked and chatted for a while then the 3 headed out... good guys too, packed out more than their fair share of trash.

Scenic Hot Springs

I was awestruck; here I was enjoying this incredible hot springs that I thought inconceivable to ever have to myself, one last time before it turns completely into a commercial hot springs. It was one of those good and bad moments. I found out from a couple friends that on 08.21.05 (Sunday) the owners were present and working on building construction. Last time I soaked here I meet some people from Sweden and Finland, not too mention experience the gourmet cooking of the naked chef. Seems like eons ago. The single pool was in great shape, and apparently is a temporary soaking solution until natural rock pools can be developed.

Scenic Hot Springs

Much has changed since I was here last. Wikipedia hosts a general description of the hot springs along with a brief history of the springs back in their day as a commercial resort - ironic that now it is once again becoming commercial.

Here's what Wikipedia currently has to say about Scenic:

"...a very popular natural hot spring in Washington State. Located on US Route 2, about 8 miles west of Stevens Pass (via road) and high on a steep northwestern slope.

Known as Madison Hot Springs in the 1890's, a lodge was built to accomadate seekers of mineral baths who arrived by train from Seattle. The name was later changed to Scenic Hot Springs and survived as a commercial venture until 1928.

Construction by the Great Northern Railroad of an 8-mile tunnel under Stevens Pass dumped rubble into the front yard of the lodge and effected its destruction.

Largely forgotten until the 1980's, it then became a popular gathering spot for mineral water bathers with several tubs constructed of various temperatures.

Reports of vandalism to vehicles, as well as rowdy behaviour prompted the landowner to instruct the King County sheriff to destroy the tubs in October 2002.

A new landowner is in the process of reconstructing the tubs and making improvements to the property to support visitors in the near future. The two external links discuss this progress."

Rating A+

Exxpose Exxon!

Sign a Sierra Club petition (you do not have to be a member) pledging not to buy ExxonMobil gas!

This is because of:

• ExxonMobil's active support of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;
• ExxonMobil's efforts to block meaningful action to cut global warming pollution and its funding of junk science to hide the real facts about global warming;
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Basin Creek & Basin Creek Campground Hot Springs Updates!

Basin Creek Hot Spring

Basin Creek Hot Spring in Idaho has been updated with a trip report and pictures, and Basin Creek Campground Hot Spring in Idaho has been added to the website with a picture, general description and trip report.

Basin Creek Campground Hot Spring

Happy Soaking!

Traffic Update Posted for Kirkham Hot Springs in Idaho

Kirkham Hot Springs

07.27.05 Dusk
I was shocked to see the entire campground vacant save for the hosts as we passed on by; it was soooo tempting to stop but it was quickly becoming dark and the hosts enforce nighttime closure.

Read more about Kirkham here >

A Sad, True Story Continues...

It's terrible that we live in such a world were animal cruelty, brutality and even killing is common place and even legal in some areas. Don't turn your head away with a blind eye. Click on the link below to read about the Mute Swans, then go to HSUS - together we can do something about it!

HSUS: Mute Swans Could Find the World an Alien Place >

BREAKING NEWS

Egg company MORAK in Missouri was caught on video disposing of LIVE chickens in a dumpster!!!! Now is your chance to do something about it!

GO HERE, READ ABOUT IT & TAKE ACTION! >

These cold and cruel corporate bastards think they can throw live chickens away! Don't let them get away with it!

Sunbeam Hot Springs in Idaho Update

I drove by Sunbeam twice on 07.26.05; each time the pullout and pools were both packed. This time of the year you have to literally stand in line for a hot soak @ Sunbeam. Or, do what I do and go visit some of the other hot springs in the area.

Sunbeam Hot Springs

Ever Wonder Why Yellowstone Has So Many Hot Springs? (Article Link)

Yellowstone, the SUPER VOLCANO, is actually 10,000 times more powerful than Mount Saint Helens!

Read all about it here >

Slate Creek Hot Springs in Idaho Update

My friend and I cruised into Slate Creek hoping for a much needed soak after a backpacking trip. What we found was hard to believe. Every primitive campsite between highway 75 and the hot springs was full except for a couple located just down the road from the highway. We arrived at the parking area just in time to see some idiots moving the large rocks and boulders between the parking area and the short trail to the hot springs. Then, after two street bikes (!!!!) floored it off-road down the trail toward the spring, the pickup followed - backwards! I guess since there was no nearby camping these nutty partiers decided to camp and park their vehicles right next to the hot springs in hopes of having it to themselves....

My recent experience varies with that of a recent trip report I received a few days ago, check it out here.