Crystal Hotsprings Trip

After school obligations, and other necessary visits were over, David, Bryan and I piled into Dave's car and headed out towards Crystal Hotsprings. About an hour later we arrived at the campground still speckled with snow in spots. Sure enough, there they were, the several pools and tubs of geothermal heated saltwater. We got passes for the campsite, as well as the pools, plus we also got a discount for being boyscouts... always a plus. After setting up the tents, we tried out the pools. We spent a long time soaking in murky heated water, and just lounging like the manthihi. When our body core temperatures reached critical levels, we jogged outside in the rapidly dropping air temperatures, to the waterslides. They had 2 enclosed tube waterslide also fed by the springs. Not as warm, but refreshing. I found it odd that here I was going on a waterslide way out in the middle of the desert in the winter. After gettin our fill of heated salt water, we returned to our campground, started a fire, and ate foods. I took a number of pictures as the stars came out, and we had a cool train come past our campsite which also provided entertainment. As the hours progressed, hundreds of boyscouts arrived in the droves. Soon the campground was rather packed with... well, boyscouts. Just how boyscouts are. After cooling off for a while, we returned to the liquid sanctuary from the cold. This time the changing process was rather crowded, as well as the pools themselves. There were times where it was necessary to expose our large stature to intimidate irritsome adolescents splashing, and goofing around. It was an interesting experience. The waterslides were a bit more exciting in the pitch dark of night. After getting our fill of mountain baboon behavior, we steamed back to our campsite and dried out by the fire. We ate more nutritious peanut M&M's, and Tim's Cascade Jalapeo chips. Dave brought a portable DVD player, and we sat down and mocked the film with its pathetic attempts of being a "serious" movie. During the movie David shouted, "Tents on FIRE!" Sure enough, one of the boyscouts leaders tent had caught ablaze by their chimney flute. We poured water on the canvas to extinguish the rapidly growing inferno. After the scout leaders realized what was happening, they tried to downplay the whole situation to make it sound like a minor detail that their tent almost burnt to the ground. I wish I could have been the "Unreal Tournament" announcer and shout out, "HUMILIATION!!!"

With that we went to bed. It was a bit chilly, but not too bad. In the morning, we packed up and left towards the desert to go dispose of some lead, and to cure David's gun firing virginity. We found a nice spot a ways past the "stinky springs" on the way out towards the golden spike monument. Loud noises, and fun times were had by all. Hit Carl's Jr. on the way back for some Jalapeo burgers, and showered upon arrival at home.

Thats the report... Possible return trip this coming weekend, plus trip to spiral jetty.
Here are some random pics I snapped during the visit.