Yes Paul, a bit of extra hiking is certainly not a bad thing. One of the main reasons I go the way I do is to get a closer place for my Munchkins to hike to the springs. An extra hour of hiking, counting the hike in and out would make the trip to the springs less inviting for the little ones. Also the trail I take goes through areas that were unburnt by the Willow Fire. Of course as Paul mentioned hiking in nothing but skin is definitely one of the highlights of a trip to the springs :-)