Two lady friends, first time visitors, and I arrived at the ranch before 8:30 Sunday morning and hiked the goat trail to the Hot Springs, getting there about 9:00 AM. The creek was comfortably cool and by crossing at the most shallow place the highest the water level reached was about 10 inches below my waist. Some of the Vita Nuda West folks were still there along with probably 10 or 12 campersby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The Vita Nuda West, an organization for SoCal young nudists, will be hangin' at the hot springs from Friday, the 22nd to Sunday morning, the 24th. Weather permitting, they will be birthday suiting in the hot springs and elsewhere up and down Deep Creek. Doesn't that sound fitting and proper for such an elegant place?by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Oops! I'm my last post I identified the young nudist organization incorrectly. It is Vita Nuda West. I expect that some of the long time naturists on this forum are probably quite familiar with the organization. Cheers, and I hope to see some of you on Sunday.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I plan to visit the hot springs on Sunday, 10/24, and I'd appreciate any reports on the road conditions and any other observations some of the regular visitors might make. While cruising the Internet I did notice that the SoCal chapter of Vida Nuda West, an organization of young nudists, will be at the springs over the weekend, leaving Sunday morning. Any group that encourages the non textile useby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Is the Scott referred to in some of the posts here the same guy who used to camp in the grassy area under the trees near the Anniversary Pool? The guy I refer to had a tent set up and sold drinks, food and, reportedly, grass and other drugs. As I remember, the rangers finally walked that guy out of the canyon and out of the area. Are they one and the same? If so, he is truly bad news.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
For the many years that I've been going to the springs I developed a routine where when my wife and other friends and I arrived at the springs from Bowen Ranch or the dam, we'd go for a dip in the creek and then soak in one or more of the hot pools. We'd usually arrive by 9:30 AM, and that early would often have much of the place to ourselves. By the time others were arriving, often in large grouby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Well, make sure you bring all of your wives with you when you visit the springs, but drop in to the LDS Church first and catch up on your tithing.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Paul, I looked it up on Google Earth and found it off of Paradise Way and Rt 18 just north of Big Bear City. It's mostly a bare lot with what looks like two swimming pools with water in them. Oh, the closest neighbor is the Mormon Church adjoining it. I think I'll pass.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I hate to be the one to throw the sour apple into the mix, but my experience over many years of hiking to the springs tells me that single women can be at risk. A young woman who was part of a 7 person group I organized the first time she visited the springs told me that she wanted to spend a day and night there by herself. I told her I believed it was a dangerous idea, but she went ahead with heby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the Trip Report, coyote. It sounds like a very nice day. I wish I had been there.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hey, friends of the Hot Springs, please post with your journals of what happened on your last weekend tip to the sacred place. Please!by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'm shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Dave's accident and injuries. Dave, known to us here on the Forum as, "Laughing Bear," has long been a source of good knowledge and citizenship concerning the Deep Creek Hot Springs community and environment. Dave and his Family are in my thoughts and prayers. Get better, big guy.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I vote for the squirrels. I've never seen a chipmunk at the springs. I know some will call me cruel, but I carry a slingshot to sting the intruders when they try to get into my pack, but not harm them. I find that once they get hit the squirrels usually stay away.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I just celebrated 40 years of hiking to Deep Creek Hot Springs and except for the few years when the creek and hot springs were off limits while the environment recovered from the disastrous Willow Fire, I've hiked there several, on up to many times a year since my first visit. I have news for you..... From 1970 to now a small but regular number of the DCHS visiting population have been various aby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Paul, my story is just another version of being in the wrong place at the wrong time..... luckily, not too wrong or I wouldn't be here to write about it.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thank you, Paul, for your service. I am an Army Purple Heart vet who was stationed at Fort Irwin, located just 44 miles north of Barstow, in 1967 and 68. I certainly wish I'd known about Deep Creek Hot Springs back then as I would've been hot springin' every possible weekend. I don't know whether the Hippie crowd would have appreciated a short haired Army lieutenant with a definite farmer's tan,by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Long time Deep Creek Hot Springs hiker, Sonja, and I, made the drive and hike to the loveliest wilderness hot springs on the globe. We paid the day rate to Mike Castro at Bowen Ranch and parked at the campground. The air temperature was cold and brisk blowing from the north. It felt like winter, but we expected the temperature to rise soon. The hike was great, blue skies and no serpents, due, I tby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
If the subject matter doesn't freak you out just look at the snake bite photo gallery here: Gallery of Snake Bite Wounds Snake bite venom destroys tissue in the victim often requiring extensive tissue graft operations.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Many years ago at Deep Creek I met a man resting upstream among the trees about 100 yards from the springs. I was chatting with him when some nearby birds began to chirp loudly. He motioned for me to be quiet, listened for a short while then got up, pulled a burlap bag out of his pack along with a stick with tongs on the end. I looked puzzled and he said, "the birds tell me that there's a raby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
When I was a Boy Scout the procedures one does if a person suffers a rattlesnake attack were to (1) apply a tourniquet,(2) slash open the fang wounds,(3) use a suction cup or suck by mouth the blood and venom out of the wound. All of those steps are now considered dangerous and counterproductive. I guess I'd better send my Merit Badge back.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
QuotePaul P. A guy got bit by a baby rattler about a month ago at Blacks Beach. I was running on the beach at the time and saw this guy limping badly.Him and his friend didn't have a phone, so I called 911 and the ambulance met them at Torrey Pines Park and took him to Emergency. He ended up being OK, but the doctor said it was close. The venom of a baby rattlesnake is nearly the same as a fullby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wow, no comments! I guess the Rod-Man said it all.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/snakebite.asp (Thanks for the CDC URL, Rick) How to Prevent or Respond to a Snake Bite After a natural disaster, snakes may have been forced from their natural habitats and move into areas where they would not normally be seen or expected. When you return to your home, be cautious of snakes that may have sought shelter in your home. If you see a snake in your hby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The Mojave Green Rattlesnake does have the most toxic venom of snakes in the U.S. and reportedly the New World. During the springtime mating season the snake is more aggressive than other times of the year. They are always around and are more aware of humans than we are of them.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
..... or maybe the graffiti just meant the date, 4/20.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Is "420," the graffiti spray painted on rocks along the trail a gang sign/code? Some of you with connections with the local law enforcement community might know whom to ask.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Coyote, where was the graffiti in relationship to the hot pools or other landmarks?by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Quote celtfire: "I expect that the dam controllers at Lake Arrowhead were letting the water out in anticipation of possible heavy rainfall." : "That's what usually gets the creek so high." wrote Rick with tongue planted firmly in his cheekby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I expect that the dam controllers at Lake Arrowhead were letting the water out in anticipation of possible heavy rainfall.by celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
At the Mojave Dam the beginning of the trail is at: 34º20'47.34”N 117º13'50.77”W For decades I parked at the dam without problems, then I started hearing of cars parked at the dam being broken in to, damaged or destroyed. If I were going to make the same hike today, I'd offer to pay a resident on Deep Creek Rd. (on the way to the dam) to park my car there. It may add a few miles to the hiby celtfire - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California