FYI: Cool Water Temperatures

Microspikes/Yaktrax: YES
Snowshoes: NO
Skis: NO
Parking: SUMMER

March 20th’s 2-foot snowfall, which was quickly followed by many days of heavy rains and daytime temperatures in the mid-50s, resulted in an extreme snowmelt situation that has permeated the water table beyond what we expect during normal springtime conditions.

We even diverted flow away from the small upper pool in order to keep the large pool warm (which is why the small upper tub is currently empty), but so much meltwater permeated the hot spring source zone so quickly this week that the hot spring water has been powerless against the cold melt water. 

Here's a more detailed description from Mike, the property owner:

Scenic hot springs come from rain or snow that soaks into the ground, heats up in temperature and changes composition over several years, and then erupts from cracks that occur in faults or other places near the surface of the earth. The temperature of the spring is 122°F at the upper spring and 112°F at the lower spring. The fracture zone, which is the source of hot water for the pools, is affected if a large amount of rain or snowmelt occurs and cold groundwater seeps into the source passageway. Depending on the amount of snowfall, the temperature of the hot water may drop for several days in early spring when there is an abundance of meltwater.

There are years when there is almost no change, but unfortunately, since it is a completely natural hot spring, it is inevitable that the temperature and amount of water will change depending on the weather, including snowmelt and rainfall.

Water was diverted away from the small upper pool this winter in order to maintain a hotter temperature in the large stone pool, but even that was not sufficient to keep the large pool warm this week. We are planning to restore the small upper pool to normal operation through renovations scheduled for this April.