Jemez and Spence

[carolinaspringer]

Sheesh. Now they're even writing about it/them in the Miami Herald.

http://www.miamiherald.com/986/story/435918.html

[MtnRoamer]

Damn the word is out now
watch all the snowbirds head this way !
Thanks for the link Carolina..

[Kim_S]

From C&B:

This is the only place two people can soak nude together at Jemez Springs Bath House now.
The nude communal wooden tub is gone.

[Kim_S]

Another article about Jemez HS and its environs!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/tr ... ref=travel

[carolinaspringer]

Los Ojos is definitely a great place to eat (and drink).

[Kim_S]

Short article about Spence:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4407-Albuquer ... ot-Springs

[Greyfalcon]

The author used almost a third of the article to warn about natural soakers..."violators" of the law.

[Casa Blanca Hot Spring]

Hi Greyfalcon & All,

The author used almost a third of the article to warn about natural soakers..."violators" of the law.

Since we spend about half the year in New Mexico and much of that time nude, we carefully researched New Mexico Anti-Nudity law several years ago. In order for nudity in this state to be against the law, it must be done in a reckless way, intending to offend or arouse. Soaking nude in Spence or any other hot spring does not meet those requirements.

Naturally Nude,
Camilla & Bill

[Casa Blanca Hot Spring]

Hi All,

During the Golden Days at Spence, all folks who chose natural soaking, the way it was done for thousands of years before bathing costumes were invented less than 200 years ago, had nothing to worry about until county detectives, yet, (with nothing better to do), decided to cite people for simple nudity, in order to keep the rape rate down, even though there had never been a rape there. That began about seven years ago. Recently, citations have been quite infrequent. It helps at Spence in that anyone arriving in the parking lot can be easily seen from the two lower soaking pools, but not from the upper, much cooler pool, which is great in hot weather.

Mere nudity isn't against New Mexico state law; reckless intent to offend or arouse must be present. Spence HS in on federal land and there is no federal regulation against mere nudity on federal land.

That means it's legal to soak naturally at Spence.

If you are cited, don't succumb to threats of any kind, including, "You could be put on a Sex Offenders list and have to register as such". Plead NOT GUILTY and ask for a jury trial. You will be exonerated. DON'T plea bargain to a lesser offence, such as disorderly conduct and pay a fine. Plead not guilty and there will be no fine.

Naturally Nude,
Camilla Van Sickle & Bill Pennington

[Slackbaron]

Carried my bike rather seamlessly on the ABQ Ride #766 to the Railrunner #505 to the Sandoval Easy Express 4A to Jemez Springs for a 7 mile ride to Spence, will return soon via the SEE 4B/Railrunner #511/ABQ Ride #777 (feeling rather British today, rather overcast).
Soaked naturally, only one other soaker, but a few more were just leaving or arriving. The new thing is that the trail has been redone up to the HS. There are stone steps, and it is nice that the spring doesn't run down the trail, will probably be much less icy this winter. Nice waterboarding by the Forest Service, oh wait, I mean water bars.

[revdev]

wow, great detailed public transport access plan. thanks. The rail runner is the best way to go from ABQ to Santa Fe. Did check out the Jemez bath house and found the water as hot as you want it and the staff to be attentive and just plain nice. I like that the village owns the bathhouse so didn't mind the 1/2 hour charge so much.

[Casa Blanca Hot Spring]

At Jemez Springs Bathhouse, there is one place where two, maybe three people can soak nude together, albeit totally
inside. The outside redwood hot tub which used to be for communal nude soaking is gone.

[American Dipper]

I visited Spence Hot Springs on 12/28. I arrived at 9:30 and found no other cars in the parking lot. The trail was snowpacked, ocassionally icy, and only slightly treacherous. The place was generally free of trash. The water was perfect and it flurried most of the time I was there. I had the place to myself until about 11am when people began to trickle in and I went on my way.

[Kim_S]

Sounds like you hit Spence at the ideal time- a weekday and early!

[Casa Blanca Hot Spring]

Hi,

I visited Spence Hot Springs on 12/28. I arrived at 9:30 and found no other cars in the parking lot. The trail was snowpacked, ocassionally icy, and only slightly treacherous. The place was generally free of trash. The water was perfect and it flurried most of the time I was there. I had the place to myself until about 11am when people began to trickle in and I went on my way.

We're glad to hear you had a nice soak.

May we ask, were you able to soak naturally and if anyone else did?

Naturally Nude,
Camilla Van Sickle & Bill Pennington

[American Dipper]

I soaked CO but left shortly after the arrival of the first 2 clothed groups. I didn't stay long enough to judge what the current vibe was. The current Nudity Prohibited sign was in somewat disrepair. As I was leaving a Sheriff pulled into the parking lot for just a few seconds, made a loop, and left. Not sure what that was all about.

[Casa Blanca Hot Spring]

American Dipper:
> I soaked CO

Great. We're somewhat reluctant to soak naturally there, though we do at San Antonio where the sign is virtually illegible.

> As I was leaving a Sheriff pulled into the parking lot for just a few seconds, made a loop, and left. Not sure what that was all about.

Rattling his saber?

NN,
C&B

[mikel g]

.. The current Nudity Prohibited sign was in somewhat disrepair. As I was leaving a Sheriff pulled into the parking lot for just a few seconds, made a loop, and left. Not sure what that was all about.

He may have been just doing his job. Pretty likely, in fact. We can't complain about patrolling for miscreants, can we? It's a perfectly reasonable place to turn around on the highway.

As I noted in another thread, it's clearly posted that you aren't supposed to be there after dark, but the law apparently does nothing about the fact that there are cars parked after dark. We went in the dark and were the only 2 naked soakers out of 7. Enforcing no-nudity isn't a priority when almost no one gets naked anyway.

We've gotten better at stripping to soak when others are wearing suits. We have asked, "Does anyone mind if we get in naked?" That night at Spence, the missus said, "We hope no one minds if we get in naked".

[American Dipper]

No, I agree. He pulled in and continued in the same direction, but if we was simply patrolling for true criminal behavior that's great, based on the things we've heard recently from Remmington and elsewhere.


He may have been just doing his job. Pretty likely, in fact. We can't complain about patrolling for miscreants, can we? It's a perfectly reasonable place to turn around on the highway.

[NewMexicoOutdoor]

Looking forward to Spence and San Antonio ..nice hike to San Antonio ..as soon as the snow is gone! Dan