Tilly Jane A-Frame FAQ

Q – How many people can fit in the cabin?
A – The cabin can accommodate 20 people per night. COVID-19 Update: Please follow current CDC and Local guidelines.

Q – Will I have to share the cabin with other parties?
A – This depends, as stated, the cabin accommodates 20 people per night. If you booked all 20 reservations, you won’t be sharing the cabin with another party. If you reserved 6 spots, you may be sharing the cabin with 14 other people, potentially from different parties. In short, it’s a shared cabin with a max capacity of 20 people per night.

Q – Why are Day Trippers coming into the cabin? Do I have to allow them to come in, warm up, eat lunch and look around?
A – Historically the cabin has been open to all visitors, both overnight guests and day trippers. The cabin remains open to those who would like to look around, eat lunch or just warm up if overnight renters are present.

Q – How will I obtain the facility door access code?
A – Once you book your reservation, you must print your permit reservation to view/obtain the gate lock access code. Permits may not be printed prior to 7 days before your reservation date. This code will NOT work for the locker located to the right of the sign board. The bottom two lockers are reserved for cabin maintenance supplies. The upper three drawers are available for food storage use during your stay.

Q – What do I do if the facility door access code doesn’t work?
A – Make sure you entered the correct access code. If you don’t have the numbers aligned just right, the code won’t work. Try again, make sure you’ve entered the correct code and that the numbers are aligned perfectly. Also, sometimes, you have to push the lock hasp in before pulling to open the lock. Push/Pull a couple of times and make sure the numbers are aligned. Finally, sometimes the lock tumblers freeze due to water/moisture inside the lock. Try warming the lock with your hands or a lighter. This will loosen/unfreeze the tumblers and allow the lock to be opened. Attempt all these fixes multiple times. If you still can’t get in, email: reservations@tillyjanecabins.org Someone is monitoring this address 24/7 and will get back to you ASAP.

Q – Do I have to hike into the cabin if I make a reservation?
A – This depends, during the winter months, yes, you’ll need to hike 2.7 miles with an elevation gain of 1900 feet. This route follows the historic Tilly Jane ski trail. You can also follow the 9-mile road. In summer months you can drive up to the cabin, park in the Tilly Jane campground parking area and walk ¼ mile to the cabin. The USFS typically closes the road in October, and it is not reopened until the snow melts, usually in early July. We recommend that you contact the Parkdale FS office for up-to-date road condition information.

Q – Can I drive up to the cabin?
A – This depends, the Cloud Cap road is gated and locked during the winter months. It typically closes in mid-October and is not reopened until the snow has completely melted, typically by early July. Please check with the Hood River Ranger District for up-to-date information. You’ll park at the TJ Campground trailhead and walk the ¼ mile to the cabin. Parking permits are required.

Q – Do I need a parking permit?
A – Yes, both the winter snow park and Tilly Jane Campground require parking permits.
Winter: Sno-Park (Nov 1 – Apr 30th)
Summer: NW Forest Pass (May 1 – Oct 30th)
Use these links to find a retailer near you: Sno-Park or NW Forest Pass

Q – Where do I park?
A – Winter: You’ll park at the trailhead, either across from the trailhead or just down the road. Do not park in the Cooper Spur parking lot, you will be towed.
Summer: You’ll park in the Tilly Jane Campground parking area. You’ll need a NW Forest Pass or daily parking permit. This is NOT included within the cabin rental fee

Q – Can I bring my Dog?
A – Dogs are NOT allowed in the cabin. Remember, you’ll be sharing the cabin with other parties. It gets pretty tight with 20 people staying over and some groups may not appreciate your pet. We recommend that you leave your pet at home. Also, most people melt snow for water, we can’t control where pets do their business and where people dig snow for their water. It’s just not a fun thought! We also use poison to control rodents.

Q – Are cooking pots/pans provided?
A – There are several large pots available. They are NOT for cooking. They are reserved for melting snow or transporting water. Bring everything you’ll need to prepare your meals including camp stove unless you’d like to heat your water on the wood stove with the on-site pots.

Q – Where do I obtain water?
A – Winter, Melt snow or obtain water from Tilly Creek (you may be required to dig an access hole). There are several 5-gallon buckets with lids available in the cabin specifically for hauling drinking water, these are ideal if you’re carrying creek water. We recommend that all water be treated before drinking.
Summer, you’ll need to bring all water from home or use Tilly Creek as your water source. Water is NOT available at TJ campground. We recommend water obtained from Tilly creek be treated. There are several 5-gallon buckets with lids available in the cabin specifically for hauling drinking water, these are ideal if you’re carrying creek water.

Q – Is electricity available? Are there lights at the cabin?
A – No electricity, 2 propane lanterns are available. You will need to bring the 1lb green propane canisters if you plan on using them. We also recommend you bring a headlamp for your personal use. Please leave the lanterns on the extended hooks provided. They are fragile, generate a lot of heat and are an extreme fire hazard. The extension hooks are designed to keep them away from the wood structure. Extra mantels are located on the message board. Please do not bring or use candles within the structure.

Q – Are there restroom facilities?
A – Yes, a new de-composting pit toilet has been installed within the alcove area. Toilet paper is NOT provided. You’ll need to bring your own supply. No feminine hygiene products or garbage into the toilet please, it will NOT compost. To “flush” the toilet, simply use the foot pedal (pump 6 times) until your business drops into the pit

Q – Is garbage service provided?
A – NO, please remove all garbage generated from your stay. If you brought it, please take it home with you.

Q – What’s the heat source/how do I stay warm?
A – First off, bring lots of warm clothing for your stay. A woodstove is available but it’s a large structure and is difficult to heat. Seasoned wood is provided along with a splitting maul, hatchet and paper for starting a fire. We recommend you bring extra matches.

Q – Is firewood provided?
A – Yes, 6-7 cords of wood are carted over during the annual wood haul and cabin maintenance weekend which takes place the 1st Saturday, every October. Once it’s exhausted… it’s gone. Please be respectful of those that follow you and only burn what you need. Avoid overfilling the stove and follow the wood stove operating instructions located on the wall near the stove. Please do not use the wood for outdoor bon fires.

Q – Where do I sleep?
A – There’s a 2nd story sleeping loft. Bring sleeping bags and pads. There’s ample room upstairs to rollout your bag/pad. We recommend a 20-degree bag at the minimum. Bring extra clothes if you run cold. Earplugs are also highly encouraged as you’ll be sleeping with up to 19 people!

Q – What is there to do once I arrive?
A – There are multiple hiking trails in and around the cabin area. During the winter months, they will be snow covered, so route finding is required. A Mt Hood Wilderness map is available at the cabin for reference. We recommend you bring your own for on-trial reference. Major landmarks include Polallie Ridge, The Stone Hut and Eliot Glacier.

Q- Where can I sled?
A – Do not use the roof as a sledding hill. Cedar shakes are extremely expensive. We want to make the roof last for a long time. There’s a great hill behind the cabin or near the Cloud Cap cabin and campground.

Q – Where can I learn more about current weather conditions?
A – Unfortunately, there isn’t a telemetry station within the Cloud Cap recreation area. We recommend you use the conditions links from Mt Hood Meadows: National Weather Service, NOAA Forecast, Temira’s Mt Hood Forecast, Snow-Forecast.com, NW Avalanche Forecast Center, Trip Check-Road Report. These are just a few different sources. The best tool you can use is your brain. Make smart decisions!

Q – What’s the history of the cabin?
A – The cabin was built by the CCC in 1939 and served as a mountain retreat and basecamp for the American Legion in its early years. It’s had many caretakers over the years including a church group in the 1970’s. They built the concrete blocking system to support the structure. More recently, it was managed by the “Friends of Tilly Jane,” a loose group of individuals led by Rich Kadney. Rich has since passed away and the cabin is now managed by the all-volunteer Oregon Nordic Club, Portland chapter. The ONC donated the wood stove and recently completed a multi-year restoration of the structure. While the cabin itself isn’t on the National Register of Historic places, it is included within the Cloud Cap National Historic District. The nominating materials is located in the “library” at the cabin. This is a good historical source.

Q – Who is Tilly Jane? How was the cabin named?
A – Tilly Jane was the nickname of Mrs. William S. Ladd of Portland. Caroline Ames Elliott (AKA, Tilly Jane) loved the area so much, they named it after her!

Q – What happened to all the trees? Why are they burned?
A – This resulted from the Gnarl Ridge fire which started on 8/7/2008 by lightning. The fire raged for several months before fall rains reduced the potential for the fire to spread and ultimately the long winter extinguished it. You will notice that the fire came within 50 yards of the cabin! While the FS didn’t take extra precautions to protect the cabin during this fire, they did wrap the cabin in fire resistant sheathing during the Dollar Lake fire, which threatened the area again in late August 2011. Fortunately, this fire didn’t reach the Tilly Jane area and the cabin dodged another bullet. While no one want’s to see fire ravage our wilderness areas, there are a few benefits we can enjoy. These fires have opened new areas to great skiing.

Q – Can I have a fire outside?
A – YES and NO. We ask that you avoid having outdoor fires as they burn A LOT of wood. Remember, those that follow you because when the woods gone, it’s gone. We haul over 6-7 cords of wood in early October, it needs to last the whole year! There is a designated fire pit out back, please use this if you must have an outdoor fire. You are required to follow all Forest Service fire restrictions and burn bans. So, in the warmer months or in times of extreme fire hazards, play it safe and refrain from building and having a fire. For more information, visit the Mt Hood National Forest website for up to date fire restrictions. There are several 5-gallon water buckets to help you completely douse your fire if you have one. Always keep these buckets full of water. You can fill them at Tilly Creek, a short walk from the cabin.

Q – How can I help maintain the cabin?
A – First, please treat the cabin with the respect it deserves. Treat is as you would your own home. We completed a multi-year restoration plan in the summer of 2020. It’s managed by volunteers. We always need volunteer help with different projects. We hold two work parties per year: one in July and the other on the first weekend in October. Please come to one of these events and show your support and help keep the cabin open! If you’d like to be added to the e-mail distribution list, please send a note to: reservations@tillyjanecabins.org. You’ll receive 2-3 e-mails a year including the annual cabin newsletter. Please use this e-mail if you have any other questions, not included within this document.

Q – What’s the date of the annual wood haul and maintenance weekend?
A – This is the main cabin maintenance weekend and serves to prepare the cabin for winter usage. It occurs the 1st Saturday of each October.