Trip Report: Mount Hood National Forest

OGE Staffer Caity explores Bagby Hot Springs

Where: Mt Hood National Forest
When: March 3, 2012
Gear Used: Pack Towel, Chico Day Pack
Wish I had: Yaktrax

I have always dreamed of heading west with visions of powdery peaks and beautiful views so on March 2nd I hopped a plane to Oregon in search of gold. Our first stop was Portland and after a long plane ride and good nights

sleep, my legs were ready to adventure. We loaded up the cars and headed towards Bagby Hot Springs. The roads were clear and the weather was beautiful but as we left Portland the air turned damp. It wasn't raining by any means, but the fog that drifted through the mountains as we drove upwards towards Mt Hood National Forest left a wet feel to the air.

We got lost on our first attempt towards Bagby, pulling over to search through maps, GPS's and directions only to randomly pick another option. Eventually we made it to the signs that pointed our way towards a snowy pass that would lead us to the trail. The roads were lined with snow and we joked about the last time our hosts tried to journey here, they were left pushing the car on the steeps. Suddenly, the snow appeared. The road was barely visible under the platform of snow except for the tracks which resembled an amusement park car ride. The cliffs down into the river that bordered the road were breath taking but also terrifying as the car slipped around in the snow. We somehow made it up to the trail head and took turns pushing our two cars into parking spaces.

The hike in to the hot springs is about 1.5 miles on slippery, packed down, wet snow with the excessive snow on the sides acting as bumpers for your feet. I fought with myself to keep my eyes on my feet in fear of falling but I was often distracted by the huge trees covered in beautiful mosses. I felt like I was in Once Upon a Time and that I might bump in to Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretal. Along the way there were wooden bridges and rocky streams that could not be captured properly in a photo. Now I know where all those computer background stock photos come from.

We approached the cabins that were hidden away just off the trail and quickly changed into our swim gear. There were four tubs that could each fit four people comfortable and seven people very uncomfortably. Luckily a group of naked men cleared out just as we arrived and after draining and scrubbing the tub, with quite the show on the side, we piled into the hot steamy water, mixing in snow to even out the temperature. We enjoyed a long soak before toweling off with our quick dry towels and heading back to Portland for some 100% grass fed beef. Don't worry, we requested to see its' paperwork and it lived a very happy life.