California 10/2008 Ricky - Beer and Soaks

Ricky has reading week at RTS, and we head off to California to read, rest, restore, and recreate. Our destination was Sierra Hot Springs, which is fairly close to Reno, Nevada. Unfortunately, Northwest does not fly to Reno, so we have to fly to San Francisco. We arrive with no trouble, but fellow RTS student and USM alumni, Daniel, has special instructions for us. We are to make a beer run, and Daniel has given us specific instructions. So after picking up the vehicle, we head east, toward the Sierra Mountains and a beer stop.

Daniel has located the source of good beer in California. Apparently, the traditional grocery store has very limited choices for craft brews. BevMo! is a chain, and Daniel locates one right on our way to the mountains and hot water.

One of Daniel's requests are some products from the Stone Brewing Company. Looks like they named one after me.

I was also able to pick up some old favorites that we use for our monthly PCA meetings....

Black Butte Porter and Moose Drool Brown Ale

I also made a wonderful discovery...

Old Foghorn, which is a barley wine and mmmmmmm good.

Our shopping done, we continue our trip to the Sierra Mountains and finally arrive at Sierraville.

Sierraville is located in the Eastern Sierras, at the south edge of the largest alpine valley in the continental United States, Sierra Valley.

Sierraville was one of the earliest communities settled in the Sierra Valley and prospered during the Gold Rush era. Sheriff John Campbell developed the local hot springs, which were known far and wide for their healing properties, to accommodate over 80 overnight guests. Having become the eastern entrance to the northern Sierra Gold Country, the town of Sierraville, was established in the 1850s. Nestled along a small creek that escapes the dense conifer forest, the quaint rustic town is home to about 350 people. Known as the hub of recreation, Sierraville boasts over 130 lakes in a 25-mile radius. The Gold Lake region is one of the most beautiful sights in Northern California, offering many shimmering alpine lakes lying just below the stunning Sierra Buttes. Majestic views and world class hiking trails at the Yuba Pass or Gold Lake region are unforgettable and lie about 20 minutes from town.

The Sierraville business district is limited but surprising for such a small community. In order to increase your experience of Sierraville, we would like to introduce you to the following local businesses that provide services you may require.

Sierra Hot Springs is a non-profit retreat and
workshop center located at the cusp of an
enchanted forest and a beautiful alpine valley.

Here, it is impossible to resist the overwhelming
sense of tranquility. The natural spring water is as smooth as silk, and the pools are a true experience.

For centuries, Native Americans have regarded this land
as a sacred healing place.
Now we invite you to discover its incredible
powers for yourself.

The Hot Springs has over 700 acres bordering National Forest land, so biking and hiking possibilities abound. During winter, nearby cross-country skiing is another attraction, and our location is less than one hour from major Tahoe ski resorts. Sierra Hot Springs is a non-profit organization maintained and operated by a group of resident workers. Our goal is to provide stewardship for this sacred land.

This is the Lodge, where we took a room.

Now, let's check out the hot water.

These signs seem to set the stage for taking the waters here.

The hot water is found in the Temple Dome.

For almost 150 years, this land has hosted popular hot springs resorts. The spring water here is as smooth as silk and the pools are a true experience. Within the last several years, the springs have been beautifully redeveloped.

The Temple Dome Area is the main pool area and consists of The Hot Pool which is enclosed in a large geodesic dome, featuring stained glass and skylights. Complimented by two cold plunges this pool is also sand bottomed, with mosaic tile sides.

The sand bottom in the pool is a special treat for the feet.

One of the special features of Sierra Hot Springs are the cold plunges. Check them out in the background....

Both cold plunges

Closer views



The Temple Dome is a temple, it has its own Buddha.

There are also some really neat animal themed benches here...

Froggy

Mr. Bear

Piggy

Cupids

Stained glass water woman

Outside the dome, the large Warm Pool is complimented by a large sundeck.
A closer view of the warm pool.

Here is the pool looking back toward the Temple Dome. Note the movable shade to protect folks from that bright Sierra sun.

A closer view of the back of the Temple Dome.

There is also a new and improved dry sauna at the Temple Dome Pool area.

It's really hard to photograph the inside of a small sauna.

The Phoenix Baths are seasonal pools inside private rooms, and the warm spring water is drained and refilled between users. The Phoenix Baths also house the newly remodeled spa area.

Oregon 10/2008 Ben - Day 6

The workers who built this Ranger Station in the 1930s left here and worked on the Timberline Lodge. It is one of the few of this style that survived a Forest Service order to tear them all down. This particular cabin is located in an area that was the responsibility of 3 different ranger districts. Since it was not clear which district was supposed to take this building down, none of the 3 did anything, and hence it survives to this day. We head on up the road toward Mount Hood and find some interesting places.

While Crater Lake is one of my favorite places in Oregon, Little Crater is another of my favorite spots. It was the scene of the Freelands great mis-adventure back a couple years ago when we toured the Pacific Northwest (see that post for the complete details). The Pacific Crest Trail is just a little ways down the trail.

The hike to Little Crater Lake takes you through a beautiful meadow with a view of Mount Hood. It is interesting to note that the grass is brown.
If you check some of the photos of this meadow from Asa's trip back in July or Kyle's trip in August, you will see how green it was then. Most folk think it rains all the time in Oregon. Not so. While the western part of the state (that part that is west of the Cascade mountains) does get a lot of rain, the eastern part of the state is high desert. The rain in the western part generally stops in June. July, August, and September see very little rain, and hence the once lust meadow has died off. The meadow is brown because of a lack of rain, not a frost and cold weather.


When you arrive at the geological oddity, an artesian spring, the Forest Service provides a little information on how the springs seem to work. The water temp is just above freezing. Bet you could really use it to cool down some Black Butte Porter.

The blue water is crystal clear and did I mention that it is really cold.

Ben twice!

Hard to imagine, but those logs are about 40-50 feet deep.









Ben is looking for Rebbecca again.

Back on the road to Mount Hood.

Finally, we arrive at the Timberline Lodge.

We check out the Blue Ox Bar.

That's Paul and Babe on the back wall.

Here's the mountain up close. It's October, but there has been no snow yet. When Henry and I were here years ago in early October, they had already had a good snow. That patch of snow in the upper center of the photo is the Palmer Snow Field, where there is snow skiing/boarding most of the year. The difference between a snow field and a glacier is that a snow field does not move.

Here's the view of the Cascade range to the south from the Lodge. That mountain in the clouds is Mount Jefferson.

A closer view of Mount Jefferson from the Lodge parking lot.

Here are several of the animal cravings that are found in the stair ways.


Here's some of the Lobby furniture, all hand made on the mountain by the builders of Timberline back in the mid 1930s.


Even in the mid 1930s, Oregon was green. These fire dogs were railroad rails. The fire screen chains were once snow chains used on the trucks that brought materials and men up from Government Camp to work on the Lodge.

One of the neat light fixtures in the Lobby.

The Timberline Lodge Dinning Room. Mmmmm good!!

Some of the Timberline art work:



Although we did not spend the night at the Timberline, we found a room that was open and checked it out.

What's Ben thinking about here?

Here's the Timberline hot tub. We didn't qualify, too much chlorine for us guys.

Ben at the back of the Timberline.

We are about to wrap up our visit, here is the indian head that graces the main entrance.

Here the main entrance, with the snow tunnel being installed. It's basically a quonset hut that keeps the snow off of the main entrance.

We make our way back to Portland and go into town and check out Powell's City of Books (and have a last bowl of Chowder) before catching our flight back home.