Can we apply for 2032?

Since we travelled about 10,000 miles from Canada to go visit hotsprings in Australia and New Zealand, we figured we could make the 26 mile trek from North Bend, WA to get to Goldmyer.  Of course we weren't disappointed. Not only did we have one of the first sunny days in weeks to walk in, we went on a weekday to camp overnight to hopefully enjoy the springs without a full capacity. You must be patient to get through on the phone line to make reservations and then listen to the lengthy guidelines about the wilderness values and general hotspring etiquette, but once that is accomplished, the rest of the journey is relatively simple.

Of course the reason why the place remains so special is that it's very carefully managed by a non-profit, Northwest Wilderness Programs, Inc that was set up to protect the hotsprings and the 20 acres surrounding it.  

Northwest Wilderness Programs  is

a non-profit organization whose  goal is

the preservation of  Goldmyer  Hot

Springs. 95% of all funds  received  are 

used for charitable purposes. Information 

regarding NWWP is available from the 

Washington Secretary of State. With the 

exception of the Goldmyer  property

manager and part-time office help, the 

staff and work force of Northwest 

Wilderness Programs is a  completely 

volunteer organization. We receive  no 

compensation  for our efforts except the 

enjoyment of the Goldmyer property and 

the fulfillment  that comes with the 

efforts of attaining a worthwhile goal

After checking in with one of the caretakers and signing a liability release we found a place to camp near this pelton wheel.  It was installed to power the resort that operated on the land in the 1930's by Bill Morrow, whose family later donated the land to the current land stewards.  

  

This rock must have sat here in this creek for thousands of years, witnessed by the indigenous people before European American explorers.  All this land was ceded to the United States by the indigenous people in the Point of Elliott Treaty in 1855.  Prior to that the indigenous people fought "the indian wars".  The Goldmyer area was staked as a patented mining claim for the hot water in the early 1900s.  He ran a lodge for miners and loggers and later probably tourists as it became more well known.  

More information about Mr. Goldmyer is on this excellent website about the middle fork giants.  According to that website,  Burlington Northern Railroad came into possession of the land before the third owner bought it.

The third owner, Bill Morrow who put in the pelton wheel had people coming up on the middle fork railway, the same line that we travelled by foot on the way back down to the road.  At that time, the springs had tubs carved out of cedar logs and apparently he charged 35 cents per soak.  He also provided services to people living with TB.   Apparently the lodge burned down in the 1960's and the place went to hell.

 

Thanks so much to the dedicated people who work so much to steward this property.  Without you, it would be much more difficult to enjoy the beautiful setting - 20 people a day to visit this place at $15/head.  Nobody is making any money on this deal.  And the 800+ year old trees get to keep standing. Oh, yes.  And can we apply to work as caretakers for the summer of 2032?  If you like these pictures, you can look at more here.