Originally, we planned to snowmobile to Granite Hot Springs while we were in Jackson Hole, but unfortunately all the snowmobiles were rented out.
We decided to go find our own dang hot springs after that. My past hot springing experiences told me this would be an easy feat. Turns out, life was going to give me the gift of wisdom through a different kind of experience than I'd been used to.
The best prospect (well, ONLY prospect that wasn't 100 miles away)was a place called Polecat Springs, about 40 miles from us on the edge of Yellowstone Park. The reviews were mostly good. There were beautiful summertime pictures, all great scenery and pretty water. One reviewer said,"This hot spring is one of the most beautiful I've gone to. It's a bit of a walk to get to work all the snow. Snow shoes highly recommended. You do have to cross the river but it isn't too cold. Climbed up and set up our gear. It is the perfect temperature and a great place to hang out. You have the most beautiful view of the mountains from this hot spring. Definitely worth checking out.".
There was one reviewer who made it sound like it could fuel the zombie apocalypse(something about "scorching stinky water, and brain eating bacteria" 🙄), but everyone else said it was great. Idk, maybe it was just the bacteria brain zombie reviewers saying all the good stuff to lure determined tourists.
Beyond reviews, much of the info of the area indicated many of the other pools in that area are the kind of hot that will melt off any toes daring to test the water. Polecat was claimed to be delightfully NOT toe melting hot, and I really appreciated that feature.
We encountered some challenges. We realized during the drive there that the last part of the road before the trailhead is closed during winter. We'd already driven all that way by then, so we decided to rally and see if we could make it in by walking. I'd been pretty impressed with ourselves that we'd brought all of our snow gear on our trip. I'd have been even more impressed if we'd brought snow shoes.
We walked the 3 miles round trip in deep, untouched snow, and then crossed a fairly good sized stream in flip-flops. In my defense, the stream looked smaller on the map and in review pics. It had seemed romantic and adventurous from the heated seat of my car to cross that stream. It was WAY more cold in real life. And, I was super worried I might fall in and have to do the deep snow walk out totally soaked.
I didn't fall in. I think the fact that we did that crazy hard walk AND neither of us fell in the water... Well, Polecat earned a weird staying place in my heart. We did the hard thing, and then we even had fun along the way, and that'll be a big part of the memory. Still kinda want to leave a review for any wannabe soakers though.
In the end, Polecat Hot Springs was pretty gross. Not flesh eating bacteria gross, but neither of us was willing to sit in the muck, even after the crazy hike in. That pretty much says it all.
We thawed off our feet as well as possible, then re-crossed the stream and did the long hike back.
If we'd known the challenges before going, we'd just gone back to the hotels hut tub and called it a day. However, in retrospect we are glad we went, even if it didn't turn out as expected. Somehow, it was a day making good memories and I'm...
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