Trip Report: Tilly Jane Cabin
When: 12/17/2016
Location: Tilly Jane Cabin
Conditions: Mid 30's during the day. Lower 20's overnight. Abundant sunshine.
Duration: 2 days/1 night
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Kid Friendly: No
Pet Friendly: No
Useful links: recreation.gov
The Full Report
Tilly Jane cabin is a large A-frame cabin located on the North side of Mt Hood. It is a 2.7-mile hike from the Cooper Spur ski area to the cabin with around 1,900 feet of elevation gain. I was invited along with about 15 other people to do an overnight trip. We had a great time. The weather was perfect except for a bit of wind on the hike up with great views of Helens, Rainier, Adams, and of course Hood.
Tilly Jane is a great jumping off point to explore the area more with several other historic structures close by. The area is also a great ski touring or split boarding spot with the ability to ski or snowboard all the way back to your car. Our group hiked back down the next day in brilliant sunshine and warmer temps.
A few things to note: you must reserve your spot in the cabin. Reservations are first come first serve. The website says it accommodates 20 people but it can easily sleep more than that. Another thing to note is other groups might be present. If you and 4 other friends go, there might be 15 other people there that day/night. This makes for a lively atmosphere and a good way to meet other outdoor enthusiasts.
The cabin is under renovation and several others in my group told me it was not nearly as warm as prior years. If you go in the winter bring plenty of warm clothes and a warm sleeping system. There is a wooden stove but it does next to nothing to warm the entire structure. It serves to keep you warm is you stand right next to it and to melt snow for water. One final thing. Bring a headlamp and a lamp. Supposedly fuel is provided for the lamps that are present, but this was not the case. The inside can be very dark due to the snow pack blocking the windows.
Our group had a blast and there were several other people who were present who added to the fun. This is a great spot to explore even as a resting point on a long day adventure in the area or especially as an overnight or two-night stay.
Tilly Jane is a great jumping off point to explore the area more with several other historic structures close by. The area is also a great ski touring or split boarding spot with the ability to ski or snowboard all the way back to your car. Our group hiked back down the next day in brilliant sunshine and warmer temps.
A few things to note: you must reserve your spot in the cabin. Reservations are first come first serve. The website says it accommodates 20 people but it can easily sleep more than that. Another thing to note is other groups might be present. If you and 4 other friends go, there might be 15 other people there that day/night. This makes for a lively atmosphere and a good way to meet other outdoor enthusiasts.
The cabin is under renovation and several others in my group told me it was not nearly as warm as prior years. If you go in the winter bring plenty of warm clothes and a warm sleeping system. There is a wooden stove but it does next to nothing to warm the entire structure. It serves to keep you warm is you stand right next to it and to melt snow for water. One final thing. Bring a headlamp and a lamp. Supposedly fuel is provided for the lamps that are present, but this was not the case. The inside can be very dark due to the snow pack blocking the windows.
Our group had a blast and there were several other people who were present who added to the fun. This is a great spot to explore even as a resting point on a long day adventure in the area or especially as an overnight or two-night stay.