Pins and Needles – A Tradition Worth Continuing

I hadn’t seen Sevi Hagen in over two years, but with a text saying nothing more than “Hot Springs?” the planning of a painful yet beautiful tradition began. Three days later six of us piled into cars and headed out of our hometown. All of us knew the mission included mandatory bare foot river crossings, guaranteed face-plants with 40lb packs, and an impending storm. Smiles came easily as our group of old friends caught up, reminisced, and imagined the promise of soaking in hot springs after paying our dues. 

Sevi and I have known each other for all 25 years our lives. Out of the dozens of camping, boating, and hiking trips we have been on this winter combination of required discomfort and earned relaxation always tops my list. The tradition started four years ago and has been an almost yearly occurrence with new friends joining us each season.

The journey starts with a short ski before each member of the group gives themselves a pep talk, takes off their boots, rolls up their pants, and joins in a one of a kind experience. The pins and needles of walking on snow, and crossing a 150ft freezing river is like nothing else.

 

The remaining 6 miles consistently include awkward top-heavy topples, steam from perspiration and geothermal features, and remembering that one thing you forgot. When you do reach the promise land of the equally painful ~120 degree creek converging with a 39 degree river the soaking begins. As you shimmy into the desired niche of temperature you feel every curl and twist of the converging liquids, a sensation worth every pinprick previously experienced.

A substantial effort for a single night, but the sensations, laughs, and awakening it never fails to provide make it a tradition I hope to continue for decades to come.