Archive:Intro to Backcountry Hot Springs 2008

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Date

October 4th - 5th, 2008

Trip Meeting

Wednesday, October 1st @ 7pm, VOC Club Room

General Information

Main article: Hot spring trips

There is a common misconception within the outdoors community that there is a time, between summer climbing season and winter ski season, when the rain closes in, and there is nothing to do. This legend of "the off season" persists, but for centuries a (moderately) hardy band of "adventurers" have braved the elements to search out hidden pools of geothermal delight, and soak in the splendour of natural hot springs at a time when it's too wet to climb, too crap to ski, but just perfect for relaxation.

Intro to Backcountry Hot Springs is a 2-day (weekend) course intended to teach safe and efficient means of finding and soaking in wilderness hot springs, right at the start of hot springs season, leaving many weekends of relaxing bliss left for you to find and enjoy as many hot springs as you desire, before dusting off the tele skis and preparing for a "mad" winter "shredding the gnar". The school is divided into two courses:

  1. Hot Springs 1 is designed for complete beginners to hot springs soaking. It is expected that you have previous camping experience... but really, not much.
  2. Hot Springs 2 is for students with previous hot springs experience who want to learn more advanced skills such as tarp-rigging, hot springs temperature control, etc.

What Do I Need?

Personal items are in regular font, shared items are in italic font

Essentials

  • water bottle (at least 2L, unless you know yourself)
  • headlamp and batteries
  • sunscreen
  • sun glasses and/or goggles
  • map
  • compass
  • backpack
  • pocket knife
  • whistle
  • lighter and/or waterproof matches
  • first aid kit
  • Toilet Paper
  • tent
  • insect repellent or bug net

Clothing / Equipment

  • hiking boots
  • warm jacket (fleece or down)
  • long underwear (top and bottom)
  • toque / hat
  • mitts / gloves
  • weatherproof jacket (goretex or coated nylon or softshell if weather is forecast to be sunny)
  • weatherproof pants (goretex or coated nylon or softshell if weather is forecast to be sunny)
  • hiking poles?
  • gaiters


Food

  • Lunch and snacks x2
  • Breakfast x1
  • Dinner x1

Sleeping

  • sleeping bag
  • sleeping pad
  • ear plugs, because somebody will snore (optional)

Cooking and Eating

  • bowl, spoon
  • Stove with fuel. If using white gas, for each person bring 75 mL
  • Pot and matching pot gripper
  • Toothbrush
  • water treatment{{#if:|

Climbing Gear

  • Helmet}}


Other

  • Tarp (to put up between trees if it rains)
  • Waterproof sandals (for splashing around by the pools without getting your hiking boots wet
  • Desert potluck contribution
  • Alcoholic potluck contribution

The VOC has some of this stuff and will lend it out to students.

A tent and/or stove will be very useful, assuming you like to eat, and want to be warm and dry at night (as opposed to warm and wet during the day). If you don’t have one you can arrange to share with others.

How much does it cost?

Wilderness hot springs are free, and way nicer than those fake "spa" places. All you need is $25 gas money (this is subject to negotiation with your driver). Bring cash.

Expectations

Students should expect to learn the following skills:

  • How to relax and take it easy: techniques for surviving a whole weekend with only minimal elevation gain and distance travelled. (If you get all antsy without 3000m vertical and 40km in a weekend, this may not be the ideal trip for you.)
  • Travelling over beginner-friendly terrain *
  • The zen of self appreciation
  • Mud-wallowing 101
  • Knots for rigging tarps

* Note: while the terrain encountered is expected to be relatively beginner friendly, this is a backcountry hot springs trip, not a walk through Stanley Park. Accessing this wilderness hot springs location may involve a mild level of exertion, steep / slippery hiking if it is wet (which hopefully it will be, because hot springs are best in the rain. My mom survived this trip, though, so don't worry too much.

The prerequisites for being a student at Intro to Backcountry Hot Springs (School) are minimal:

Students should have overnight camping experience and a good attitude. Some camping skills are desirable. The only non-negotiable mandatory essential requirement that you have to have or you're not allowed to come, is smiles and an acceptance of unabashed nudity. (Nudity is not compulsory, but is encouraged. As you will learn, pro hot springs enthusiasts do it in their birthday suits.)

Instructors for Intro to Hot Springs are club members who volunteer their time, and are not professional guides, nor are they certified by any recognized school or association. If you don't feel comfortable taking responsibility for your own life in the context of an informal course advised by VOC instructors, you should take a hot springs course offered by a professional guiding service. If such a thing even exists, that is.

Location

Keyhole (Pebble Creek) Hot Springs, Lillooet FSR

<googlemap lat="50.667747" lon="-123.455133" width="500" height="300" zoom="7" scale="yes" controls="large" type="terrain"> (A)50.667747, -123.455133, Trailhead </googlemap>

Trailhead: 10U 467836E 5612977N (WGS84 datum)

Directions

UBC to trailhead (km 43 Lillooet FSR). The pullout is located 7km past the Meager Creek turn off.

Bivouac page for the Lillooet River FSR (no recent updates)

Note: Fill up gas in Pemberton, it's a 90km round trip afterwards

  • Drive to Pemberton
  • At the stop light turn left (into Pemberton)
  • At the traffic circle turn left
  • Turn right onto Pemberton Meadows Rd (did you get gas?)
  • At the Pemberton Farm Rd Stop sign, turn left (stay on Pemberton Meadows Rd)
  • After 22 km, turn right. There is a big sign here: "Lillooet River Forest Service Road"
  • Cross the bridge onto the start of the gravel road
  • At km 9 fork Left (stay on Lillooet FSR, the right fork is the Hurley FSR)
  • At km 37 continue straight past the Meager Creek turn-off
  • At about km 42, a shallow stream crosses the road (2WD OK)
  • Climb a short hill, curving to the right
  • The pull out is just past the climb, on the left

Additional Reading

Sign-up

No Write.png Signup Closed
This is the sign up and organization page for an old trip. It already happened on 4-10-2008. Please do not sign up for it.


  1. Matthew Carroll
  2. Elissa Smith
  3. Will Whitty
  4. Celina Whitty
  5. Andrei Lifchits
  6. Bryant DeRoy
  7. Eliza Boyce
  8. Dan Eagen
  9. Ran Z (drop like its hot)
  10. Colin V
  11. Rozzy Pedder
  12. Kyle Smith
  13. Calum Culthill

--This Trip is now OVER FULL but please add you name to the wait list - no bumping up from the wait list at this time--

Wait List

  1. Natascha Hassing

Vehicles

Drivers please post your names here along with your vehicle capacity and departure info.

  • Will (5 spots) (leaving from UBC)
  1. Will
  2. Celina
  3. Dan Eagen
  4. Andrei
  5. Bryant DeRoy
  • Colin (5 spots) (Time of Departure TBD, leaving Mt. Pleasant/East Kits)
  1. Colin
  2. Ran
  3. Eliza
  4. Matthew
  5. Elissa
  • Rozzy's Van (6 spots) (Time of Departure TBD, leaving UBC)
  1. Rozzy Pedder
  2. Kyle Smith
  3. Calum Culthill



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