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NaturistDoc
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 Posted - 09/15/2015 : 3:11:12 PM
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The historically awful Valley Fire west of Sacramento has destroyed a venerable clothing-optional venue. For more than forty years, Harbin Hot Springs, while not a typical nudist resort, offered a clothing optional "retreat center" with a strong New Age emphasis. (They had workshops on things like "Tantric Massage" and Reichian Therapy".) If that sounds a little too hippy-dippy, I understand (and agree), but Harbin was a 'live and let live' sort of place, and didn't force their world-view on visitors. Perhaps they'll re-open some day, but for now their buildings, trails, and forests are all gone. So sad.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4478485-181/valley-fire-harbin-hot-springs?gallery=4478807
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1054 |
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Warmskin
Forum Member
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Posted - 09/15/2015 : 7:02:03 PM
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Thanks for the link, Doc. I went there once, on a whim. Very impressive place, and well developed. Hard to believe it's gone, but with this state being as dry as it is, nothing can fail to be at risk.
I wasn't into their spiritual side at all.
They might want to rebuild elsewhere, because of the need for trees to have a nice setting. They do have their sister site in the Sierra Nevada, though, which I have been to much more often.
Hopefully, with a fire insurance payoff, they can rebuild. There are perhaps other hot springs nearby. It's an earthquake prone area all around where it was, and thus the chances of other suitable hot springs is probably good, if they wanted to rebuild quickly, rather than wait for their current site to arise like a Phoenix from the charred, treeless condition it's in.
One thought, though. If they engage in a lot of tree planting, they can have a nice place once again on their existing spot. One advantage would be is -- one huge fire break would exist all around.
If they did relocate in the Calistoga area, it would save that long winding drive up the mountainside to get to where their current site is.
Yes, it is certainly sad. Of all the places to have to burn! Sigh.
“I rise early almost every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
Ben Franklin
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| Posts: 1964 |
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NaturistDoc
Forum Member
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Posted - 05/11/2016 : 7:42:19 PM
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Here's an update from Harbin. They hope to re-open on a very limited basis as early as this coming Fall, but their complete recovery will take years.
http://harbin.org/community/news/
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Warmskin
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Posted - 05/29/2016 : 8:34:03 PM
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Thanks, Doc. The place is reasonably close to me, and I look forward to seeing it open, howbeit very limited in scale. Their sister site, fortunately, is open and untouched.
A map is at this link.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Harbin+Hot+Springs/@38.5107801,-122.101662,7.96z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8084724dbe981ba5:0xde57c3ab0ecaa2c9!8m2!3d38.7867005!4d-122.6517954?hl=en
“I rise early almost every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
Ben Franklin
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| Posts: 1964 |
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Bill Bowser
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NaturistDoc
Forum Member
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Posted - 07/15/2017 : 4:26:23 PM
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Harbin is slowly rising from the ashes. Here's the June update.
harbin.org/community/news/
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NaturistDoc
Forum Member
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Posted - 09/07/2019 : 4:31:45 PM
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By chance I will likely be visiting Harbin Hot Springs next week. I'll report back when I get home.
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Warmskin
Forum Member
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Posted - 10/09/2019 : 05:57:38 AM
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While waiting for Doc to let us know his thoughts and feelings on the rebuilding of Harbin, here is aerial picture of the facility, fairly recently:
https://harbin.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/mainside.jpg
Looks a bit like our great neighboring state, Nevada, with so many of the trees gone.
“I rise early almost every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
Ben Franklin
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| Posts: 1964 |
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Nude in AK
Forum Member
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Posted - 10/09/2019 : 08:19:34 AM
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While I do not know what it was like before the fire, it still looks like a good place to visit.
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NaturistDoc
Forum Member
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Posted - 10/28/2019 : 7:15:06 PM
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As so often happens, life intervened and our planned visit got canceled. And once again Northern California is on fire. I'll try again next year ... assuming Harbin survives this year.
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Nude in AK
Forum Member
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Posted - 10/29/2019 : 10:06:29 AM
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With all the fires in California, will they ever get a break?!?!
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Warmskin
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Posted - 11/15/2019 : 05:09:24 AM
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One of the only side-benefits of a California fire is that it creates one dickens of a fire break. For Harbin, there is only grass, and I imagine a few trees that managed to escape the fire of a few years ago.
I would imagine that Harbin will be safe from fires for a while, save for grass fires which are probably not as bad as fires in more heavily treed areas. The Sierra Nevada comes to mind. By October, it's a desert with lots of trees. The first thorough rain will weaken the fires and help prevent fires through May, or so, if we get a normal rain season here.
“I rise early almost every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
Ben Franklin
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1964 |
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Warmskin
Forum Member
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Posted - 11/28/2019 : 02:56:52 AM
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Over 3 inches of rain will hit Northern California next week. Should put an end to the fire season. That should convert the dry grass around Harbin into a state of harmlessness.
“I rise early almost every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
Ben Franklin
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| Posts: 1964 |
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Harbin Hot Springs destroyed
