Mud bathing roots

Town hosting first annual Mud Bathing Celebration Aug. 20

It's just a typical day at the beach in Soap Lake. You have your swimsuit, your beach towel and you are covered head to toe in tar-colored, nutrient-rich mud from one of the rarest lakes in the world. Soap Lake mud bathing enthusiasts want to bring new attention to the century-long tradition of mud bathing here at the first annual Mud Bathing Celebration later this month.

Fredrick Slough, coordinator of the celebration, has been swimming and mud bathing in Soap Lake for almost 50 years.

"Although there has been mud bathing on the beach for 100 years now, we are calling this the first annual Mud Bathing Celebration," Slough said. "It's a great lake to swim in — mud bathing, sun bathing, eating good food, being with your friends, and that is what this celebration is going to be all about."

The celebration will start with a ceremonial bonfire and sweat lodge at daybreak. The fire will be used to heat rocks for the sweat lodge. "As soon as we get the rocks hot we are going to sweat lodge until we just can't take it anymore," Slough said. "Then we are going to burst out of the front door and sprint into the lake into the mineral water and cool off. It's supposed to be quite an exhilarating experience."

The sweat house will be followed by an all-natural breakfast with fruits and cereal and whole grain muffins. Staff will also supply mud from the lake.

"We are going to spend the day on the beach — it's going to be one long beach party. We are going to have natural soft drinks and food from the health food store, and a vegetarian lunch," he said. "We want to remind ourselves about the healing qualities of the lake."

Soap Lake is one of just a handful lakes in the world that are said to have natural healing properties. The lake, which has the highest diverse mineral content of any other body of water on the planet, according to soaplakewa.com, has drawn people from all over the world seeking its unique minerals and oils to cure ailments. Native Americans called the lake Smokiam, meaning healing waters. People bathe and drink the nutrient rich water as part of their therapeutic regimens.

"At one time there, were over 200 homes that had it piped into their homes," Kathi Trantham, owner of the Healing Waters Spa in Soap Lake, said.

The Wishing Well, a drinking fountain on Main Street, has both city and well water. "People from all over the nation come to fill up their containers there," Trantham said.

In the 1920s and 1930s, World War I veterans, exposed to various chemical agents during combat, developed Buerger's Disease, a painful circulatory disease. Veterans sought relief in the salty water. There have since been uncounted testimonials praising Soap Lake for alleviating such symptoms.

"I believe it has medicinal properties that help reduce people's suffering from many chronic problems," Trantham said. She said people claim to have been cured of such things as arthritis, psoriasis, eczema and circulatory disorders. "People report feeling rejuvenated and healthy," she said.

Trantham said there are researchers studying the affects of the water on the body.

"There are people who are working on proving that it pulls toxins out of the body. That seems to have the greatest benefit."

Aside from being known as a medical marvel, Soap Lake is also a scientific anomaly. Although there are no fish in Soap Lake, it is home to a variety of bacteria and micro organisms. The composition of the lake is so unique, scientists have compared it to that of Mars. Researchers from Central Washington University, the University of Washington, Washington State University, the University of Missouri-Rolla and NASA have studied the composition and biology of the lake. Researchers from CWU, WSU and other organizations will give reports on scientific findings of Soap Lake on Aug. 15 at the Masquers Theater at the Soap Lake Science Conference, sponsored by the Soap Lake Conservancy.

The lure of scientific mysteries are not why everybody comes to Soap Lake. Finessa Fann and Vinka Slough of Soap Lake enjoy the quaint atmosphere of the lake. "We feel like we are just laying out here at a resort," Fann said. "We just live a block away and we come down here and it is always quiet and nice — beautiful view, beautiful weather."

The first annual Mud Bathing Celebration, sponsored by the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce, will begin at daybreak on Saturday, Aug. 20 on the west end of the West Beach in Soap Lake.

There is a $5 admission at the gate and that includes a vegetarian lunch and all natural soft drinks. People should bring their own shade, sunblock and picnic accessories. For question, call Chuck Fogerson at 246-0571.