On Thursday, Oct. 24, a group of students will embark on that journey and will return to campus on Monday, Oct. 28th. The first day will be spent at Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, and then, the hike on the second into Stanley Hot Springs will start. Then, spend a whole day enjoying the pools before leaving early the next morning.  

The Stanley Hot Springs hike is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive out to the area near Kooskia, Idaho. The total is 10 miles, and there is a five-mile hike in and a five-mile hike back out with a 2,000-foot elevation change throughout. The Stanley Hot Springs are a series of natural thermal pools in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho County, Idaho. The pools’ temperature ranges from 100°F to 110°F depending on the season. 

According to Matt Cochran, the main coordinator of this expedition, “It’s a pretty simple hike overall with the exception of that cool log crossing at the end.” 

Cochran, who got into exploring the outdoors back in high school, says that hiking “Became a huge mental health release while simultaneously gives a feeling of independence.” Cochran continued his love for the outdoors into college and became a coordinator for hikes and adventures for Whitworth students through the University Recreation Center (U-Rec).

Getting outdoors has been found to help the overall health of human beings. Cochran says, “It is a break from everything; from all your obligations, you are able to just disconnect.” Sometimes, the break from our devices and overwhelming lives is just what we need.  

The Stanley Hot Springs backpacking trip is not the only event that Whitworth’s U-Rec offers. Cochran is leading another trip in December. He will be leading a group of students on a snowshoe hike. Cochran gave a call to all students, “You just got to sign up and commit to it… because other small obligations will come up and distract you from exploring.”  

The best ways to find out what the U-Rec has to offer is by visiting it in person or just visiting the U-Recs website to browse the different outdoor options and trips that the U-Rec offers, such as climbing trips, day hikes, biking trips, and much more. The U-Rec also offers rentals for snowboards. There are also posters and announcements sent out for upcoming events, so just keep your eyes open.