Just days after Paul and Kathy retired, the pack loaded up the travel box and set out for Burgdorf Hot Springs. We met up with Charlie the poodle and the rest of his pack, Jim and Abbie, in Baker City for food and rest and then headed out for Burgdorf in the morning.
Burgdorf is 20-some miles north of McCall Idaho. Like many hot springs it is remote and has a history of great popularity in the mid 1800's when hot cleansing water was rare, a decline in interest as indoor plumbing became common, and a resurgence in popularity as the pressure of city life led to a need for retreat. Paul, Kathy, Jim and Abbie are hot spring affectionados, Jack and Charlie - not so much.
Facilities at Burgdorf range from primitive, run down to primitive, restored - our cabin was the latter. There is no power or water to the cabins. Meals were made from what was brought, and were prepared on a low, oval heating stove.
The spring water is wonderful. There are two very hot (110 degree) small pools where the spring water enters and a very large main pool (102 degrees). The water runs through to a quaint bathtub at the outlet and then into a stream. The pools are shown above. Additional photos are available in Picassa.
On our last night we were presented with entertainment that shames modern digital media. While sitting on a cabin porch in near total darkness and silence, a thunderstorm rolled through giving us a light and sound show that was truly awesome. At its peak there was bright lightning crashing around us and a downpour of tropical proportion. The only down-side was mosquitos - they were a bother.
On the way back home we took a side-road (aah, the pleasure of not having to hurry) that ran by Medical Springs (now private) Cove Hot Springs (which was closed) and Hot Lake. Medical Springs and Hot Lake are shown below.
Facilities at Burgdorf range from primitive, run down to primitive, restored - our cabin was the latter. There is no power or water to the cabins. Meals were made from what was brought, and were prepared on a low, oval heating stove.
The spring water is wonderful. There are two very hot (110 degree) small pools where the spring water enters and a very large main pool (102 degrees). The water runs through to a quaint bathtub at the outlet and then into a stream. The pools are shown above. Additional photos are available in Picassa.
On our last night we were presented with entertainment that shames modern digital media. While sitting on a cabin porch in near total darkness and silence, a thunderstorm rolled through giving us a light and sound show that was truly awesome. At its peak there was bright lightning crashing around us and a downpour of tropical proportion. The only down-side was mosquitos - they were a bother.
On the way back home we took a side-road (aah, the pleasure of not having to hurry) that ran by Medical Springs (now private) Cove Hot Springs (which was closed) and Hot Lake. Medical Springs and Hot Lake are shown below.
