Diamond Hot Springs

This weekend my adventurous friends and our sometimes obedient canines and I, set off to Diamond Hot Springs! Diamond Hot Springs is located in the Uinta Mountains in Spanish Fork Canyon. The reward at the end of this hike is a relaxing dip in a hot spring. Be warned if you choose to hike Diamond Hot Springs, nude bathers frequent this spot. Yikes!

Jody, Tony, Brittainy and I started off with a great breakfast. Fresh squeezed apple juice, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, toast and cinnamon rolls. We decided to carpool, I have a CRV and the three dogs fit nicely in the back. This however does not stop Jax from whining the majority of the way, he gets so annoyingly excited.

We arrived at the trail head, Third Water spring or something like that. I was happy to discover the weather was warmer then we were anticipating. It was sprinkling a little while driving up and though I don't mind being in the rain, I was a little worried about being cold.

The hike was perfect, not too hot and not too cold, no rain and perfect light jacket weather. The river was running fast, but that did not stop us from throwing Ty in. Jody and I did this hike a year ago and taught Jax to swim by throwing him in the river. This year was Ty's turn! Ty screamed like a banshee, but he learned to swim!! By the end of the hike Ty was voluntarily getting into the water all by his self.

Bear is my beloved godson and canine son of the Nelsons (Brittainy and Tony). Bear loves, loves, loves sticks and water. Needless to say he was in heaven in the woods next to a river.

Before you arrive at the hot springs you can smell the sulfur from the hotsprings. Who would have thought you would get excited to smell something so gross. When we arrived there were probably about 25 people already there. (I had never seen it so busy) Well, I knew there were more Springs above the falls so I direct our party onward. It took awhile to find the two additional pools, and once we did we had to cross via a make shift bridge (a.k.a a 2x4 and a tree log).

Once at the pools, I regretted not wearing my swimsuit underneith my hiking cloths (smart Brittainy). Now, I had to find a private area to change and the only private area I saw was up a very muddy hill. I struggled up the hill and I was almost at the top of the hill when and I grabbed a tree root,.. Opps!! The root snapped and I slid back down to the bottom (screaming the whole way down, of course).

Finally, I made it up the hill and into my swimsuit. Now the challange was to get back down the hill. I had a brilliant idea which was to throw my shoes down as it would lighten my load. This proved to be a really, really bad idea!! One of my shoes bounced and rolled right into the raging river! OHH CRAP!!! Jody, tried in vain to find my shoe but had no luck. There I was, about 2.5 miles up the canyon with only one shoe.

The hot spring was well worth it! It felt amazing! With the sound of the river rushing by and a light sprinkle of rain which had just started, I could have fell asleep right there.

The way down the canyon was rough with only one shoe. Jody let me have his two socks and I put both of my socks on my right foot. I also filled the last sock with grass and moss in hopes to add padding. For the most part it wasn't bad, although occassionally I would step on a sharp rock. I can not express how happy I was to see the car!! I will never again take my shoes or shoe for grantit.

I LOVE SHOES!!