Rebirth, Repair, then Rebuild! |
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Behind The Scenes Of Our Repairs:
Our Hot Springs
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The September fires damaged half of our property and 60 of our buildings, but did not cause damage to our hot springs infrastructure or pools. In this newsletter, we invite you on a virtual tour of the state of each of our soaking options. |
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What Creates the Hot Springs? |
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The short answer is that during the formation of the Earth tremendous heat was generated and is still contained in the interior of the Earth, covered by the outer crust of the planet. Breitenbush is located on the shoulder of a volcano, Mt. Jefferson—or “Pahtoo” as it was called in the ancestral environment. When a volcano forms, it creates fractures in the earth’s crust around it. Water trapped in the crust moves through these fractures, called aquifers, propelled by heat and pressure. Along the way, the trapped water moves through mineral deposits, and some of those minerals are forced into solution (water is, after all, the universal solvent). When an aquifer breaks through to the surface, its contents are released as mineral water and steam. We call these places hot springs. Breitenbush has many aquifers that come to ground containing an unusually large number of minerals in its water. |
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The Meadow Pools
Our Meadow Pools are the cornerstone of the Breitenbush soaking experience. The Near, Middle and Silent Pools sit snuggled against the tree line, overlooking the meadow above the Breitenbush River. This soaking experience is filled with a more natural feel of smooth river rock and small waterfalls. The fire damaged the tree line and some of our changing stations but did not damage these sacred soaking pools. With a little healing to the land and rebuilding of changing stations, we will once again be able to offer these healing waters.
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Our Spiral Tub soaking experience is the perfect combination of relaxation and healing. With each tub increasing in temperature, ranging from 100 to 110 degrees and ending with a cold water dip, this is sure to awaken the internal senses creating the perfect wheel of sacred water medicine. Our Spiral Tubs remain unharmed by the fires. |
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Our sauna is kept at 115-120 degrees. The sauna is fed by the artesian mineral water from Well House 1. The artesian water geyser would rise 30 feet in the air every few minutes, just like Old Faithful, had we not capped it off. That water now creates our natural wet steam sauna, the favorite water feature of many of our guests.Thankfully there was no damage to the sauna or to the well that feeds it. |
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Our Response to COVID:
Individual Tubs
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In response to Covid 19 protocols, we have installed multiple clawfoot tubs that are perfect for individual or couples use. These new additions quickly became a favorite of both guests and staff, creating the perfect combination of private relaxation and meditation. Individual tubs are located near the Spiral Tubs and the Sauna and were not harmed by the fire. |
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The Springs
Breitenbush is the largest thermal spring area in the Oregon Cascades. Every condition known to promote the emergence of hot springs exists here: subduction zone, volcano, glaciers, permeable rock, deeply incised intersection between volcanic ranges, watershed apex, floodplain and adjacent quaternary formation converge in this idyllic land nestled in a curve of the Breitenbush River.
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The Mechanics: Well House #1 |
This building protects a geothermal well drilled by Breitenbush Community in 1978 (496 feet deep) that accesses the hot water. This is where the geyser referenced above is capped off and was named New Faithful.
The hot mineral water from this well would clog our pipes with mineral deposits if used directly, so the heat is extracted with a down hole heat exchanger. A two inch diameter pipe goes down the well 400 feet, makes a U-turn and returns to the surface, becoming very hot in the process. Domestic cold water flows down the pipe to the bottom and back up, raising its temperature to above 190 F. This heated domestic water is then distributed to radiators in our buildings before returning to the well in a closed loop. In this way, the Lodge and all other structures at Breitenbush are kept warm and cozy.
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A Poem of Rebirth from the Spiral Tubs |
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Illumination
East is the direction of Spring and the element air.
Its time of day is dawn.
Its time of life is birth.
Spring is the season of bright new beginnings.
As the sun’s rays appear in the East, Earth awakens.
Sleeping creatures begin to stir.
New life is born.
Illumination is the virtue of the East,
when fresh ideas, new thoughts and inspirations
spread their wings and fly.
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Photo taken by Melina Meza |
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We need your help
more than ever!
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As Winter is swiftly approaching, we have been pushing to complete our most weather-dependent projects. This week alone we finished the restoration of the footbridge, re-established hydroelectricity and cleaned our water reservoir, which had collected ash from the fire. These projects were made possible with financial donations from our extended community; thousands of our guests. With so much happening all around us and so many in similar straits, we are in complete awe of your generosity. You are the heart of Breitenbush and without you, we could not rise from the ashes, much less thrive. We appreciate you. We love you. And we look forward to welcoming you back to the land and these springs in the near future.
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PO Box 13249
Salem, OR, 97309
office@breitenbush.com
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Donations to support the rebuild effort are greatly appreciated and can be made here: |
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