wwp@yahoogroups.com:
some lifestyle diversity
G. Donald Bain 2009-Mar-21 05:17:00
I have been out in the desert for several days, specifically the most
remote part of huge Death Valley National Park. I may still shoot an
example of biodiversity for this event, but I just experienced an
example of lifestyle diversity.
Saline Valley can only be reached by driving many miles of very rough
unpaved roads that tend to wash out in summer and get drifted over by
snow in winter. Yet still people go there, because of the hot springs.
A unique culture has developed at the springs, self-policing and
tolerated by the park service, which is usually rather puritanical. No
rangers are present, just volunteer hosts (a Dutch couple currently)
and a "guardian of the springs" named Lizard (his predecessor was
"Wizard").
What is so unusual about the Saline Valley hot springs is that
everyone is naked. Not just at the springs, but sitting around in
their campsites, out hiking and climbing the mountains, everywhere.
Conforming to local custom I stripped off when I got there and didn't
get dressed again until I left three days later. Air temperatures
ranged from 70 to 90? F (21? to 32? C) and the springs range from cool
to hot (106? F/41? C) so it was always comfortable. This is the best
time of year to go - by mid-summer temperatures rise to 126? (52?), as
hot as anywhere in the world and potentially deadly.
There are six soaking pools in three locations, each quite different.
You are welcome everywhere, you just step in and say hello. I met some
interesting people, though I might not recognize them if I met them
under different circumstances :-) A number of them were familiar with
my website, which was very gratifying!
There are nudist resorts and "clothing optional" hot springs
throughout the west (except maybe Utah), but nothing quite like
Saline. If you tried walking around any other campground in a national
park stark naked the rangers would take you away in handcuffs! So it
was an interesting experience of cultural diversity for me.
Sorry, no pictures of naked people. But I did get panos of all the
pools and camping areas.
Saline Valley is also an amazing example of environmental diversity -
imagine soaking in a natural hot spring pool under palm trees in a
barren desert landscape ringed by snow-capped mountains. It is a
magical place.
I am in a motel tonight to catch up on internet things, but head out
again tomorrow for Death Valley itself. Best wishes for everyone's
quest to portray diversity with their own distinctive perspective.
Don