A quick search for "Olene Hot Springs" will find all kinds of web pages referring you to a pipe draining into a bath tub. Bad news, the flow from the pipe is just a few trickles and there is no water in the tub.
There are, however, several hot springs still in the area.
Park at the suggested coordinates and follow a game trail down the hill to the river bank. Watch out for muck.
Most days, as you drive through the Olene Gap along Hwy 140 east of Klamath Falls, there is steam rising out of the river. This is especially evident during winter time, when overwintering waterfowl will gather around this area.
Most hot springs in the area are formed by the same method. As rain falls on the surrounding peaks, it percolated through porous volcanic and sedimentary rocks. As the water moves further beneath the surface, it can heat up as it reaches down to protrusions into the crust formed by the folding and faulting found in the Ring of Fire. Eventually, it encounters a large thrust fault, or crack. As water descends behind it, it forces the now heated water to ascend along the fault-line to the surface as a hot spring. The hotter the underground rock, the hotter the water at the surface as long as that water has a quick and easy flow to the surface.
As it descends through the rock, the water also picks up a variety of materials, everything from radium to sulphur. You can tell suphur springs from their smell, as anaerobic bacteria in the water break down dissolved sulphur into hydrogen sulfide (H2S). You will recognize this as the rotten egg smell when there is a natural gas leak. Water must reach a deep level in order to have this happen. The water must also reach the surface quickly to prevent the H2S from dissapating into the surrounding rock.
Geothermal drilling in the area has tapped into the source water for these springs, and have reduced their flow, but they do flow constantly throughout the year.
To log this Earthcache you must meet the requirements listed below. Please do not use the messaging feature to contact me.
- The coordinates take you to a hot spring that may be under water. There is another hot spring close to a greyish rock. How far apart are these two springs?
- Feel the water. You will not be harmed. What do you estimate the water temperature to be? Best guess works, but bonus points if you use a thermometer.
- Is this a sulphur spring? Why or why not?
- You are in the Olene Gap. About how wide is the gap between the two large rock outcroppings on either side of you? How did you calculate this?
- OPTIONAL: Take a picture of your self at the springs.
