Re: Not So Great Trip Report

Back in the days when the Bowen Ranch was under the gentle command of Mrs. Bowen, computers were the size of walk-in freezers and the only phone that was portable was one with a VERY LONG cord..... (I digress). In those days just about everyone went nude at the springs and the occasional prude hiker didn't dare confront the skinny dippin' crowds. It seemed logical that the clothing optional lifestyle would soon spread to the Pacific shores by enlightened generations of Mother Nature's suntanned kids.

Oops! Something else happened along the way.

Those kids are now parents and grandparents with seemingly little memory of the freedom of the 70's hot springs lifestyle. Their 21st century children wear city clothes that expose as much of the body as is legal, but are seemingly repelled by the unclothed body. That attitude sometimes is very evident at Deep Creek Hot Springs. There are days when an unclothed body there attracts frowns, stares and sometimes hostility, as Mr. Wizard discovered. Have faith, MValley, there are other days at DCHS when just about everyone is unclothed and newbies join in as readily as we veterans did in the old days. The water will be warming up by mid-May and even weekend crowds will have more folks showing their epidermis. Follow the advice here, come early in the day and as the water warms up head upstream where you will find wonderful beaches and deep swimming holes. Find one or more couples of like mind to join you on your holiday. There is reassuring strength in numbers.

Come back to DCHS again, MValley, and bring your friend. She deserves to see our magic oasis in a more flatteringly light.