Friday, August 1, 2008

Hambone Springs and Bagby Hot Springs, Part Three

The drive down forest road 58 was pretty but as we got further and further down hill we started seeing more and more other cars and big RV's and such. Sommer, E, and Bos all slept in the back on the way to Austin Hot Springs; Sis was a great co-pilot riding shotgun. She fed me eyeballs (green grapes,) played dj and kept me company.

We took the turn for Detroit, south on 224, and headed down to Austin Hot Springs. None of us had been there before and it was a bit of a shock. I had no idea it was sort of a hillbilly campground/motorcross track/skeet shooting range/hot springs combo. Twas not our kind of scene at all. We turned tail and made a run back down the road to the turn off for Bagby Hot Springs.

Once there we loaded up a back pack with some PB&J supplies and some fruit and started the 1.5 mile walk back to the tubs.

It was incredibly beautiful and a nice stretch of the legs. Oddly enough there were trolls under each little foot bridge. Sommer and I couldn't see them, but the kids caught a glimpse of a couple beasties.


We passed some beautiful spots that looked like amazing swimming holes, though I'm sure the water was a bit chilly.



A troll shower.


The wait to soak in one of the private tubs was only about 10 minutes, just enough time to eat some PB&J. Soaking was so nice. Relaxing, cleansing, and fun.

The requisite GIANT LOG PHOTO.

We left Bagby and continued down the road through the middle of the Cascades, past Breitenbush into Detroit, over Santiam pass to home. We had a wonderful time!

4 comments:

Ludwig's Drivers said...

Great blog! That road to Hambone Springs looks pretty crazy, but we bet the views were pretty fantastic.
-Ludwig's Drivers

Gypsie said...

Great Pix.

It was great to have another vanagon at camp. I always feel so...Boxy... around all the busses. C'est La Vie.

That Bagby Hot Springs is a cool place if not a bit crowded at times.
I went there on Christmas Day once. Two feet of snow on the ground and icy walkways. The hot water makes it wll worthwhile.

There is a campground about a quartermile past the springs (backpack style) that makes for a nice way to top off a day of adventurin' with a soak and a shot or three...

The darkness thins down the crowds quite a bit.

Hope to see you and yours at more camps in the future. Can't wait to meet the youngest camper to join us in the outback..

Anonymous said...

I could see the troll in that b&w photo! OMG!!! Beautiful scenery. I'd love to live in that log.

Unknown said...

I'll be heading there the end of this month. Looks fun! Been camping with Hambone several times this summer.