Granite Hot Springs

9/26/23

Granite Hot Springs

I believe, though it’s hard to confirm in real-time without service, that the temperature last night dropped to the mid 20s. Partly because that’s been the forecast for Jackson lately, and partly because our breath inside the van had condensed and frosted on the ceiling (the section that I have not yet insulated).

However, by about 10am I was shirtless, in what I assume was about 70 degrees, or more. So the temperature changes have been extreme, but survivable.

Today’s activity was checking out Granite Hot Springs, up in the hills Southeast of Jackson. A developed hot spring, on some river in some national forest I don’t remember. $12, cash only.

Hannah’s friend Shay met up with us in Wyoming, and we all got into her Toyota 4Runner and raced down the dirt roads. After losing service again, I entertained myself by watching the third act of Over the Hedge on the DVD player build into the back of the driver’s seat.

Run almost solely by a man named Fa, Granite Hot Springs was a lovely departure from cold river plunges. 95 degrees in the water, 70 (I think) degrees outside, and not a care in the world. I watched the clouds change shape above me. Lots of animal faces, dinosaurs, and a couple iterations of what I would call the World Engine from the movie Man of Steel. Until the sun came around the trees, and offered no escape from the warmth. I read my book, tried not to burn, and waited for the girls to say it was time to go.

On the way back out, we stopped to see a waterfall, maybe a quarter mile downstream from the springs. It was actually a really cool waterfall, in my opinion. But on the other side of the river, we saw what looked like two more, undeveloped hot springs. With the sun going down, and already being at the “I’m so hungry can we please go home” stage, I took off my shoes and careful crossed the somewhat quickly rushing current, occasionally on all fours. After a couple minutes in the hot pools, long enough to say I’d done it, I ventured back across and we headed back to the car. The cold water on my feet and hands, and the uncomfortability of river rocks under bare feet, served as a good endurance test.

Dinner was corn tortillas, rice, and black beans. As the sun set I pulled out my ukulele to play, until my fingers started going numb from the cold, which was hardly more than a few minutes.