In the sixties, many social and cultural trends were undergoing profound change. There was a war in Vietnam, and a huge anti war movement. Esalen was never an antiwar nexus, it was then a quite apolitical place.

In the winter of 1967, IIRC, a typical Big Sur rainstorm was coming in from the south. High winds and blustering rain were beating on the grounds. At this time, the area to the west and north of the parking lot circle was just a big empty grassy field. The original Hot Springs cabins were all that were there, several below the staff housing, and probably 20 above the lodge. No Firo ( the "new" building above the path to the baths), no new cabins anywhere. Staff lived in tents, cabins, treehouses, and whatever.

Despite the official Esalen Policy, a signed document written by Dick Price that strictly stated drugs were not part of the Esalen experience, drug usage and possession was common. I suspect 3/4 or more of the people there dabbled in drug use. I certainly did.

So, back to the cold and windy night. Around dusk, the sound of whap whap whap helicopters was heard, and two Hueys suddenly loomed off the lodge, circling the area. Of course we all knew this was IT! The big bust! People scurried away to grab their stash and flush it down the toilet into the overburdened septic tanks.

The copters were two Hueys being ferried from Hunter Ligget to Fort Ord, and the pilots decided to land and avoid the worst of the storm, they chose the big field. Jim Larson ( then known as "Lars", later to be called James) was a former Air Force guy, and he went out and signaled them in.

The pilots were astounded at the place. They were welcomed, given a room for the night, entranced by the skirted waitresses at the Lodge, and dumbfounded by the baths, an experience I am sure their wives never found out about The next morning they took off, and the occupation of Esalen by the US military ended.