This, our third ski and soak vacation after our honeymoon to Iceland, and Montana with Brian and Caitlin. We skipped last year (2024) but were back to our old tricks, this time in central Oregon. For this ski and soak, we skied Willamette Pass and Ski Hoodoo and soaked at the natural McCreedie Hot Springs (on the south side of the river), and in the hot pool at McMenamin’s Old St. Francis School in Bend, Oregon.
The first night we stayed with Lizommy in Cottage Grove, and…
This year the ski and soak trip started with soaking at McCreedie Hot Springs near Oakridge. We wisely stayed at Arbor Inn Motel the night before, our new Oakridge favorite. The pools on the far side of the river are great and we were able to not have anything in our car, important since there are piles of glass indicating break-ins at the trailhead. Back at the hotel, we went out to 3 Legged Crane Public House brewery (nee Brewer’s Union), Oakridge’s only brewery for some time now.
The next day we met up with Kevin, Niki, and kids at Willamette Pass ski area for a true spring ski experienced – t-shirt weather! Too bad I didn’t bring one! Therefore I was hot and sweaty in a full helmet and long-sleeved shirt. Because Willamette does dynamic pricing and we bought our tickets so long ago, we only paid $19 for our tickets, and they come with a $10 “shred it” credit! We spent our credit on stickers! A great day on the mountain and man can Kevin’s kids SHRED!! They were down the black and off to the lift before Katt and I could make it halfway down!
Our next stop was my first “real” trip to Bend although I’d been through town a bunch when mom was alive and I lived in Missoula. Katt had also never been(D). We stayed at McMenamins Old St. Francis School for access to their indoor soaking pool with the open roof. The old Catholic school turned hotel and pub is just our style – there are five hidden rooms on the campus, with one of them being the speakeasy-style bar the “Broom Closet” which takes a keen eye to spot. We also completed our McMenamins Passport for Bend, something in the works for over ten years.
Bend has gentrified into a rich town, with the following stores within a 2-block radius: Patagonia, Stio, and ArcTerryx. It smells like money almost everywhere we went. Our pals Johnny and Candy were in town, so we met them at J Dub for some late-night beers.
The next day we met Liz, Tommy, and Johnny up at Hoodoo Ski Area for some spring shredding! Conditions were warm and somewhat slushy but always a fun day on the mountain with friends! From here we debated on driving to Madras for Kaa Nee Tah, had already discounted Belknap for the too-cool pool, and ultimately we drove back to Cottage Grove to stay another (free) night with friends.
All told we only got a couple days of soaking and skiing in, but our central-Oregon trip was a blast and we left ski areas like Mount Bachelor and soaks like Ka Nee Tah and Cougar for next time!
McMenamin’s Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Once back through Portland on March 29th we stopped and knocked out the locations on Hawthorne, save for the Theater which we would go back and get in 2026.
In 2026 we would complete our fourth Occasional Annual Ski and Soak, Stamp and Stoke Spring Break Spectacular at Mount Hood Meadows a mountain hot tub, and McMenamins Grand Lodge, Lighthouse Pub, and Baghdad Theater! If you want to see our Second Occasional Annual Ski and Soak, go here.
You guys are going to have a BIG problem.
“I need to speak with the manager.” “Well, I guess I’m the manager today” lol