FS Gate Padlock Shot up Saturday

FS Gate padlock shot up Saturday 
Photo courtesy George

You know, whomever did this is giving a bad rap to people who supposedly like the great outdoors, and especially Scenic Hot Springs. What on earth could possess someone to engage in such silly vandalism? What is it going to prove? We will simply have the lock cut off and replaced . . . only first, we have to notify the Forest Service . .

How Not to Make a Campfire!

I took a quick trip up to Scenic this Wednesday to get some measurements and because I figure this might be the last time my trusty Honda Civic is going to be able to negotiate the FS road up past the gate . . . snows forecast for Wednesday night. Earlier in the week we had found that someone was building campfires up there so I figured I'd also get some shots of that and then spend some time

Snow Warning at Scenic this Thanksgiving Weekend

The snow levels are dropping and the precip going up . . . in other words, a lot of snow is going to be dumped in the Scenic area starting Wednesday night and continuing throughout the weekend, so be prepared.

- Snow levels around 1,500 feet . . . that's well below the FS road entrance on Highway 2 and you can just bet the snow plows clearing the highway will be piling a snow/ice dam across the

Updated: Why No Camping at Scenic?

Posted in TribeNet


I've been just a casual user of Scenic over the past few years, having made the trek perhaps a dozen times since I first learned of it. I always wanted to become involved in the community so I could give back, but I could never find contact information. So hey, I'm glad to have found this tribe.

Anyway, I understand that there's a no camping rule there now. I respect that,

Campfires on the Deck of the Pool?

Saturday night right at dusk as I was awaiting Mike to head back down and home, I turned away two visitors hiking their way up to the springs with larger than normal backpacks . . . campers. When I confronted one on the BPA road and informed him he was on private property and didn't he see the sign on the side of the road, he was ready with his excuse. He said 'but I thought this is forest

Commentary: Patterns of Possession

For those that have been following the comments to my article on volunteer-ism, the anonymous poster does open up some very interesting and important considerations about how people tend to claim things for themselves and it seems to be a pattern at many hot springs as they evolve through illegal possession to ownership involvement (positive or negative). There always seems to be a 'Friends of'

Vandalism at Scenic

Also posted in TribeNet

It seems that some people just don't give a f**k and are going to ruin any chance that Scenic will open again in the foreseeable future.

Today, or more precisely sometime last night, some a**hole removed all the signs we had put up in accordance with the wishes of the sheriffs department. Those signs were carefully worded to protect the owners liability without being

Photos of Trail Erosion Control Measures

The major undertaking of the work party last Saturday was the placement of four water bars on the lower portion of the trail from the property line up to the first creek, or Honeymoon Creek.

The county specified no more than fifty foot seperation and logs of at least 8-10 inches in diameter. The logs were to extend completely across the trail and extend, or overhand, over the downhill side.

ADVISORY: Vehicle Theft at FS Trailheads

The Forest Service reports some vehicle thefts are occurring by the use of a rollback truck. When a Forest visitor parks on a road it is very easy to back the truck directly to the vehicle, lower the bed and winch the vehicle onto the truck in a few minutes. It could be a truck with flashing red or yellow lights and look like a legitimate service call. It is suggested that if you park on the

The Meaning of Volunteer-ism

From a post in TribeNet concerning Scenic and Work Parties . . .

Why does the new owner need volunteers? Can't he get a business loan or some venture capital together to get the springs operational without using volunteers? Can he get things operation without volunteer work?
Complete thread here

And my response after NG got finished with him . . .


Sometimes you just have to get aboard to

The Curious Route Water Takes Underground

Ever in my quest to understand the therma-hydrodynamics of where the hot water comes from at Scenic I thought I'd park this interesting little factoid here in the hopes it would explain something at a later date.

Scenic has an unusual configuration for a hot springs. Normally, the water emerges hottest at the lower elevations but Scenic is the exact opposite. Supposition is that this is

No Trespassing Sign at Property Line

The sign says it all. Don't presume it's okay. 

Work Party is at 9AM this Saturday

Robert has just posted the time on TribeNet and asks that we meet at the gate, 9AM, Saturday for the work party

Just some snow Pics of Scenic at trail entrance

Actually, I love the snow . . . that's the backside of Stevens in the background

and the drop offs are getting dangerously close 

Yes, it can snow. Here we are right at the trailhead last week 

WARNING! Car Vandals are at it again!!!!!

This from George (sorry to preempt you George but I was not certain you could post yet).

Last Saturday, a group of individuals went up to the springs against advice and warnings; intending to also camp overnight at the springs (though we did not know that at the time.

On the following day, as they arrived back at the gate where they had parked their vehicles, they discovered that they had been

Don't Forget the Work Party This Saturday!

WHEN: The work party is scheduled for Saturday . . . the time yet to be determined but hopefully Robert will get that word out and I'll publish it here when I know.

WHERE: We will meet at the FS gate and then drive a limited number of vehicles up to the BPA power lines . . . and for a few vehicles that are capable, on up to the trail entrance.

For those on a different schedule, you'll have