Sagebrush,
I hope that you can join the DC volunteers on a weekend when we hike in early and work part of the morning on projects like trash pickup or eradification of non-native invasive plants and then kick back and enjoy the pools, the creek and the friendship of fellow hot springers. I'm encouraged to read that you're introducing your niece to the unique Deep Creek Hot Springs environment and the clothing optional culture that will die out unless we all encourage younger friends and relatives to become part of it.
Give us a report on how your friday visit went. I'd be there myself, but one of my daughters is getting married Saturday and I'd get killed (rightly so) if I missed that event. I hope to meet you a bit later this spring when the creek water warms up a bit.
Cheers,
Celtfire