Comments on: Wilbur Hot Springs ~ A Water Like No Other!!!

By: jeanne

jeanne — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:38:13 +0000

Daniel as a result of findaspring I was planning a special trip to Mount Shasta. I am currently getting spring water from the Morro Bay spring. I love your site and the whole idea. Thank you. I have just come across some rather disturbing information about Mountain Shasta that I wanted your opinion.

Here is the link where I found this information. http://truthmediaproductions.blogspot.com/2010/...

This has to do with Chemtrails and contamination of the Mount Shasta area with aluminum and barium. Normal aluminum content is 7ppb USDA intervenes at 1000 PPB Dr. Mengals test shows Mount Shasta soil and snow at 61,000ppb of aluminum. This is very alarming. I am rethinking my trip. Could you please comment on this for me. I would like your opinion. thank you.

By: michael

michael — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:29:05 +0000

If you are speaking of Cottonwood Springs – you have mentioned one of my favorite places EVER! Walking into a literal oasis of Palm Trees in the middle of the beautiful desert ecosystem is so — moving! I haven't camped down there in years, but from the Dunes to Hole in the Wall all over Lower Mojave, etc…. it's some of the most beautiful places ever! Here's a link to the hike: http://www.desertusa.com/roadtripblog/?p=75

By: shira7

shira7 — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:28:17 +0000

Daniel,
Yes, we also are unable to find a natural hotspring source here in the CA
desert near Palm Springs, they all seem to be developed.
Since it is quite warm here at present, we have been jumping in all the wild
water we can find, it is ice cold and refreshing. Lots of faults here that
open up to allow water to the surface, seems very high in minerals. We
filtered some and drank. There is also snow melt coming down near the Aqua
Caliente region with amazing waterfalls and swimming holes.

In Joshua Tree, we found a spring water source, we will try to post exact
location when we head up there again. It is a bit tricky to find.
Learning lots about what the natives ate in these regions...there is sooo
much, I had no idea.
Continuing to hike, explore, immerse in nature at it's finest.
See you on the path,
Shira

Disqus writes:

By: Michael at Wilbur

Michael at Wilbur — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:38:47 +0000

their? THEIR? Oh me oh my, my grammar loving cohorts will be spinning in their future graves! I believe I meant, “They are”. Whoopsie! Pardon that!

By: Michael at Wilbur

Michael at Wilbur — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:37:45 +0000

Their all natural! =) From the source they all exist that way…. but some have had communities that were built up around them for centuries, like Wilbur… it just naturally developed into a model of sustainability. Without the hotel, it's possible they would have been overrun and destroyed…. I am not sure you know this, but Wilbur Hot Springs is the only reversed developed place I can think of…. it used to have 100's and 100's of mining buildings, operations, etc…. the pollution there would rival the sprawl of a small city. Now it's just the one or two, and the maintaining isn't cheap. But here's more info about that history… with more to come! http://wilburhotsprings.blogspot.com/2009/10/li...

That being said, there are plenty of options in and around Northern California for free Springs. Depending on where you are coming from…

Off the 395, in a little town called Bridgeport, you will find a place called Buckeye Campground. There are some great hot springs there! Here is some more info: http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0409/hot_sp... There are a couple other decent ones in that link, as well.

You might also wish to try Sykes in Big Sur. It is a *GREAT* example when a wonderful, natural resource is overrun with well intentioned enthusiasts, and was the first time I was educated on why maintaining and charging for springs might be a wise move compared to allowing overzealous humans to encroach on a non regulated natural area. It is wonderful, they are beautiful, but they do get crowded!

It is in Big Sur, and a 21 round trip mile hike with crazy elevation gains. It isn't for the out of shape or weak hearted, especially as the first 3 full miles in in straight up with switchbacks the whole way. But it is paradise, and you will be happy to have checked them out:

In Big Sur, off Hwy 1, just past Julia Pfieffer Burns campground heading south, turn left into “Big Sur Station”. Park all the way in the south lot and strap on your gear! If you get there midweek it won't be as bad, but on weekends expect the trail to be overrun. I would suggest hiking in halfway with gear, pitching tent, then hike the roundtrip 10 miles to Sykes for a day tip.

If you ever have any questions about this sort of stuff, let me know! I am at wilburhotsprings@gmail.com. If you let me know where your starting point is, I can quickly find you the best free spots.

I completely understand what you mean tho… these are resources that should be available to all! It is sad that it is our nature to consume (it has been since our tribes roamed the plains and moved on when we fed from the land and depleted it. It is our contradiction, and something we are slowly becoming aware of as a species) – and you can't always trust the pattern of human consumption to responsibly and ethically use a natural resource….. They all have their own space in this amazing natural world… but I am an advocate of private springs for those capable of respecting them, since seeing the wanton carelessness of greens, backpackers, naturalists, and the like. It is quite the conundrum. In that respect, wherever and whenever I go anywhere, I pick up trash, and try to remove disturbance.

Cheers… I could ramble about this all day!