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During what was supposed to be only a day trip to Telluride, Colorado, Ron and I decided last minute to book a hotel on our way home at Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs in Ouray, Colorado. This was the first time we had ever had the opportunity to experience a natural hot spring and see for ourselves what all the hype is about. All we knew at the time was that in this day and age hot springs are often sought out by many as a means of vacation, relaxation and healing and are often found turned into resorts or popular attractions in the towns they reside. What we did not know however were how the springs were formed and their benefits to those who utilize them. So, upon our arrival back home I did some research and am happy to share my findings with anyone who is interested!
Image used from Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs Website
How are hot springs formed?
To begin, a spring, no matter the temperature, refers to groundwater that emerges from the earth's surface. This occurs when rainwater slowly permeates through the Earth's surface and is collected in aquifers, which are essentially pockets that have high concentrations of water. When these aquifers continue to collect water, the pressure of the aquifer increases and pushes water towards the path of least resistance which is typically the earth's surface in this case.
Hot springs are created in a very similar way, however water permeates low enough into the earth's mantle that it is heated by the surrounding rock. The rock increases temperature the farther into the mantle you go due to the earth's geothermal gradient, the lowest layer of the mantle is made up of magma. When water is heated it is excited by heat energy and as a result the molecules are able to move around one another faster and more freely. As the molecules collide at an increased rate of speed they are creating a larger distance between one another. With the distance between molecules greater, the amount of molecules taking up a certain volume is less than that of room temperature water. Like we have seen in middle school science experiments, less dense liquids rise and stay above more dense liquids. Take for example oil and water, oil sinks to the bottom while water stays on top. The same is true for the hot, less dense water deep in the earth's mantle, it rises to the top and creates a spring at the surface. This process repeats itself over and over and a hot spring is formed.
Image used from Booked.net of Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs
In the case of the hot springs at the lodge, the water that is pumped into the pools is retrieved from a hot water aquifer below the earth's surface and is cooled slightly using cold water to ensure the temperature is acceptable for skin exposure.
What are the health benefits of hot springs?
Along with the fact that hot springs can be very relaxing, they also provide some health benefits as well. The study of natural mineral springs (i.e. hot springs) being used for various health, wellness and therapeutic purposes is known as Balneology and has been practiced by many different cultures for thousands of years.
Benefits from Dissolved Minerals:
Throughout the many layers of rock that make up the earth's mantle hundreds of varieties of minerals can be found. As the water that makes up the hot springs travels down into the earth and percolates back up, minerals dissolve into the water. Some of the most abundant minerals in hot springs are sulfur, sodium, silica, magnesium, calcium phosphorus and sodium bicarbonate. Although many springs contain these specific minerals, depending on the geological location of the spring there can be traces of other minerals as well.
Although each mineral has its own unique property that aids in healing and rejuvenation, collectively within the springs they are responsible for increased blood circulation, detoxification, improved skin, relieving pain and inflammation, and preventing osteoporosis. That is just to name a few! These are great aids to those who are looking to improve on any of the aforementioned afflictions, however, I would like to stress that soaking in a hot spring is NOT an alternative to medicine and should you have any health concerns it is important to seek a health professionals advice and treatment.
Image used from Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs Website
Improved Sleep:
Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between core body temperature and more therapeutic sleep. When your core body temperature is decreased, metabolism slows, resulting in an increased level of the sleep hormone, melatonin.
A hot spring is typically anywhere between 95 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Average core body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit give or take. Therefore soaking in the springs will raise your core body temperature. So, a trip to the hot springs before bed will allow your body to cool down throughout the rest of the night and create more melotonin as you fall asleep.
Improved Metabolism:
Simply sitting and enjoying a hot spring burns 140 calories per hour! Meaning your body is getting a workout minus any actual physical exercise...it can't get any better than that. The principal is very similar to how you would burn calories while sitting in a sauna.
How to stay safe and healthy while using the hot springs:
Although there are many benefits to utilizing the hot springs, there are also some dangers that can accompany them if you are not careful and conscientious.
Burns:
As I said before, the hot springs at the Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs are cooled to regulate an appropriate temperature. However, the temperature of the water is sometimes hard to regulate perfectly and natural hot springs not regulated by a resort or facility can vary even greater. If the water feels too hot to you, do not soak in it. It is an obvious possibility that if the water is too hot, your skin will get burned. So, if you feel the water is too hot, do not endure it simply because hot springs are expected to be hot. Use your discretion.
Lightheadedness, Fainting & Heatstroke:
Soaking in hot springs increases blood circulation and in turn, lowers blood pressure. Along with lowering your blood pressure, soaking dehydrates your body at a faster rate than normal. Between these two factors it is possible that after getting out of the springs you can become lightheaded, faint or in extreme cases, develop heatstroke.
To avoid this, make sure to drink plenty of water before enjoying the springs to ensure your body stays as hydrated as possible. Another way to stay hydrated is to avoid alcoholic drinks before soaking, as increased alcohol in the blood will also result in dehydration. The more time in the hot spring, the more likely these afflictions are to occur, it is suggested to keep soaking time to 10-15 minutes at a time. It is also important to slowly exit the hot springs to ensure your body has enough time to adjust to the outside temperature before walking around and exerting too much energy.
Our Experience:
Personally..I cannot say I enjoyed the hot springs. I do believe they proved to be beneficial however, I simply had trouble enjoying the high temperatures of the water. I am not the type to shower in extremely hot water so bathing in it was just as unpleasant to me. Even when using hot tubs I often sit with only my legs in and cannot endure sitting all the way in for more than five minutes without starting to feel lightheaded and dizzy.
Ron on the other hand showers in water hotter than hell. He loves hot tubs and now hot springs, however, they do not like him. After emerging from the hot spring Ron felt very lightheaded and dizzy. I had to help him back to the room and get him some water. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened, he has passed out getting out of a hot tub before. We have come to the conclusion that if we are to ever use hot tubs or hot springs again we will drink copious amounts of water before and during. We believe dehydration is what caused his symptoms, completely our fault and definitely avoidable.
That being said, being at this style of hot springs resort is still very relaxing and there is plenty of other activities to partake in as well as heated pools that are nowhere near as hot as the springs. We wish to visit other hot springs resorts close by to us just as a means of a small vacation!
Disclaimer: These suggestions are based on the research I have done and what I have experienced personally. I am not medical professional. If you have any health concerns or are not sure how the hot springs will affect you, consult with a health professional. Hot springs are not for everyone and can be dangerous if not taken seriously.
Sources:
-https://www.healthline.com/health/hot-potting#benefits https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/nature/hotsprings.htm#:~:text=These%20minerals%20include%20silica%2C%20calcium,known%20as%20limestone%2C%20is%20deposited.
Glad you finally got to check that place out!