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Aaron Spencer

My roots began 44 years ago, born the oldest of ten children in a small town west of Packwood. My great-great-grandfather was one of the original homesteaders in town. Because our family was so large, my parents could never afford vacations beyond loading all of us kids into the vans to head out into the wilderness, to places like Packwood and the surrounding Gifford Pinchot. Many camping and hiking trips were had. I even learned to ski on the rope tow up at White Pass in the late 80s.

Back in 2014, my father passed away, which brought me back to Packwood for his memorial service. That weekend I rented a house with two of my closest friends. I remember hiking a local trail, and realizing something about this place made me feel at peace. It wasn’t an epiphany, rather a subtle whisper that took some time to hear. So, I eventually took a leap and bought this house. The environs made me feel good, and I needed to follow my heart. It wasn’t until sometime later that I realized this place made me feel grounded, renewed and invigorated. To date, it’s been the best decision of my life. While I currently live and work in Africa, my heart remains here.  I’ve learned to appreciate and love the richness that comes with calling this community home.  

None of what you’re seeing on this website would have been possible without the sweat equity of the contractors, management and cleaning teams, neighbors & friends who helped me design, realize, and maintain this place. A special thank you to all of these people in my life. Cabana del Oso wouldn’t exist without all of you.