“If you were to hike nearly nine miles into a wilderness area, paralleling a creek through alpine meadows and woods, you might expect to find solitude. But that’s not the case at Conundrum Hot Springs, an extremely popular area of natural pools at an elevation of over 11,000 feet with views of surrounding peaks in White River National Forest. Dozens — and on busy weekends, sometimes hundreds — of overnight visitors hike in. Some even carry speakers and cases of beer. “It’ll be like you’ve gone to someone’s backyard for a pool party,” Karen Schroyer, Aspen-Sopris district ranger, says.”

One can read the rest of this article here: http://www.hcn.org/articles/recreation-the-conundrum-of-loved-to-death-wilderness?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email

 

bigsurkate

Appointed appellate counsel for indigent defendants (retired.) I have lived in Big Sur since 1984, first on the north coast, and on the South Coast since 1989.

View Comments

  • Very little is respected or safe from the adoring public. So unfortunate that many feel entitled to do what they want without regard for anything else.

  • yeah, about that possible delay in opening the bridge? yes please. how about a few more years of this blissful quietude?

  • This really brings up the question whether we can be designated as civilized. Some of 'us' are most definitely not deserving of that label. It's pretty disgusting.

  • The world population is still growing and people want to do cool stuff. I don't have any answers. We must enjoy what we've got. Try to be respectful of others and nature.

  • So those yahoos were upset to "have to sleep in the snow", so went "to town and got 'revenge' burgers"???? Society has lost it. It really has.

  • Hi Kate, I used to go to this Spring back in the early ’70’s. We’d usually go when at least one snow system had blown through…it was COLD…but we were young and “backpacker tough”. we ALWAYS had the entire area to ourselves. It was like being extras in Jeremiah Johnson. I went to college in Colo Sprngs so the trip wasnt too bad…even in a Toyota Land Cruiser that had manual hubs and very few creature comforts… but was close to perfect when the going got tough! Back then, Aspen was still “just Aspen”…gentrification hadn’t overrun the area and, like most things back then, things were just more basic etc… hope all is well. Best, Howard

    >

Share
Published by
bigsurkate

Recent Posts

Sunday Photos, 5/10/26 – Happy Mother’s Day

From Heather Cox Richardson today: “If you google the history of Mother’s Day, the internet…

13 hours ago

Parking at Bixby Bridge

I find the MoCo website a nightmare to navigate or I would post links to…

3 days ago

Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council Meeting, 5/29/26

Notice of Meeting County of Monterey Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Big…

4 days ago

Highway 68 and Traffic Signals

HIGHWAY 68 CORRIDOR TO MOVE TO ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL BEGINNING MONDAY, MAY 4 MONTEREY…

6 days ago

Sunday Photos, 5/3/26

All photos taken at River Inn on Friday, May Day. I would rather give my…

1 week ago

Granite Bridge Repairs

Date:Thursday, April 30, 2026District:05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa…

1 week ago

This website uses cookies.