Tecopa Hot Springs & Death Valley Trip

Tecopa has the 2nd best known world-wide mineral hot springs on earth, after Baden-Baden, Germany, and while I've never been there, I do agree that Tecopa's waters are GREAT!

We didn't have a large group, but something like 6-7 guys were there as a part of our group, with most of us staying in a 3-bed room at Delight's Hot Springs Resort.  (FYI, it's a desert resort with mineral hot spring tubs, not an anything-star resort of the major cities, so basically it was camping in very old-style brick buildings that are somewhat dorm-style, with no doors other than the ones to the outside...  Incl. the bathroom area.  -Other cabins may be considerably different, as I know there is one larger with a full-size fridge that we were not able to book due to a busy weekend, so made due with a cooler and ice to back-up the fridge space.)

It was a very relaxing weekend, after the first day for myself, as I did a lot of packing & unpacking, mostly with the food that I picked-up for most of us for the long weekend.

A few of us tried out that "Wild Palm Spa" - in other words the lone tub in the desert about a mile away from Delight's that was once in a dwelling that's no longer there...  And some of the guys also tested the hot mud ditch, and found out the mud mites apparently aren't present, usually, around April when we were there.  -The mud was scalding hot in some places, and was clearly boiling, so it's not necessarily a safe place.

We saw all sorts of neat things, incl. one of the guys and myself spotted a baby Great Horned Lizzard near our cabin one day...  It was sunning itself, but scurried away when we got too close.

Me and some of the others couldn't get enuf of Tecopa's waters, so we're planing another trip - perhaps next Spring - Check out our own web site (see comments) for more on us and our mostly Orange County/L.A. County area events, incl. a soon to be poll for the next Tecopa trip!

Our next one is likely to Starland in Yucca Valley, CA this Fall.

BTW, ask me if you want to see our Flickr page with the uncensored version of the picture on this report, as well as 5 others from the trip.  (Or see our Flickr page linked on our web site, assuming the link is preserved.)

The guys of BA-MEN, a men's social naturist/nudist club, are planning a trip from Orange County (and possibly other carpool locations) to the world famous hot springs in Tecopa, CA, in the S.E. corner of Death Valley.

We plan to stay at "Delight's Hot Springs Resort", which has private, nude mandatory hot spring pools that guests there can access 24 hours.

While there, we will also plan to visit the nearby China Ranch Date Farm, the Death Valley Museum and other sights in nearby Shoshone, CA, and depending on guys' interest, perhaps even a trip to the nearby ghost towns of the Amargosa Valley.

In the pools, as mentioned before, nudity is required, and the only showers are adjacent to the pools in the same enclosures, so do plan to be nude at times with the other guys present on our trip.  (Don't worry if you're new to group nudity...  We will give you a little time to get naked with us.)

Besides the pools, inside our cabin(s) and on desert hikes once you get out a ways, clothing is optional...  Elsewhere clothing is required.

We are looking for guys to be able to drive their car out and back, as well as guys that might be willing to drive part of the way, if the driver(s) wish(es).

Due to the length of the trip, we are suggesting two rest and/or gas stops...  1 in Victorville, another in Baker, two of the larger cities along the way, which usually have fair prices for gas, if needed.

The costs of gas & food defiantly are in flux, and the cost of the cabin(s) may change, not to mention the number going will effect costs (more sharing gas & lodging will be less cost), but we are estimating the trip will be from $100 to $150 per guy, if carpooling and staying 3 nights.

We will refine this number as ask for a deposit based current facts, but likely around $125 and we'll accept Square (SquareUp.com), PayPal, Serve, & PopMoney, as well as accept checks & MO's and direct charges to credit & debit cards, with the deposit due after 30 days in advance (so we can process refunds online w/o a fee) but no less than 15 days in advance.

We will mail everyone who RSVP's about a deposit method you prefer, and provide a mailing address, if you need for checks & MO's.

Any amt. collected that exceeds costs will be refunded, and likewise any overage will be due once you arrive.

(You are also welcome to get their on your own, get lodging on your own, as well as be totally responsible for your own meals all on your own with nothing due to our group...  We'll let you know what cabin(s) we're in and sched. so you can join us for activities only.)

BTW, the water in the area is all from the hot springs, so you'll need to bring drinking water - more than you'd normally drink, due to sweating - as the water from the hot springs has unsafe levels of several minerals.

You will also want to bring changes of clothing (but no swimsuits!), sandals (or shoes to walk to/from the cabin & pools), walking/hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, and perhaps some spending money, in case you want something from the date farm, or elsewhere like the locally made gift shop items there or in Shoshone.

All RSVP'ers will get our cabin number(s) once we're able to give the resort an accurate number staying.

FYI, there's no reception for cell phones, radio, or TV in the area, so you will need satellite receivers for either there.  There are land line phones & free WiFi in the office area.

Please do leave comments when you RSVP if you can drive a carpool there (and from where), willing to drive part time, or if you'll be there on your own for anything and just join us in the pools, hikes, etc.

If we can get someone to bring a DVD player (w/or w/o TV), we do have a small TV (RF connector only) and a variety of DVDs we can bring, incl. some instructional massage videos.

Speaking of which, we'll also have time for massage exchanges and more while there.

This event is non-smoking in all common areas, but you are welcome to smoke outdoors, downwind, away from the group when practical.

(Note that BA-MEN does not support drugs, incl. "420" & "poppers" at any of our events.)