Welcome to Basecamp. Here’s everything worth knowing before you arrive, once you’re settled, and when it’s time to head out. If you can’t find what you need here, shoot us a message and we’ll do our best to get back to you promptly.

01 Getting here

You’re heading to 103 Portal Street, Packwood, WA 98361.

When you pull up, you’ll see a black gate with a vertical ‘103’ on the left and a red Basecamp logo above it. There’s a latch in the middle that releases both sides. Use the boulders on the ground to prop the gates open while you drive in. Please close the gate behind you and keep it either shut or boulder-secured for the length of your stay.

02 Settling in

Your door code activates at 3:00 PM on arrival day. The code is the last 4 digits of the phone number on your reservation — you’ll also find it in your pre-arrival message.

The door is on the LEFT side of the house — small deck, red door. There’s a keypad on the left side of the door. Press the top button, then enter your 4-digit code, then the green check. That’s it. When you leave the cabin, lock the sliding door from the inside and exit through the red door. To lock, just press the top button and then the green check (no need to enter your code to lock).

If the keypad gives you trouble, we have a backup lockbox — message us and we’ll walk you through it.

The layout — worth knowing before you unpack

Basecamp sleeps 8 across three sleeping areas:

• Primary bedroom (queen, main floor, private door)
• Second bedroom (queen, main floor, private door)
• Loft bunks (sleeps 4, open to the living room below — no door)

The loft bunks are ideal for kids or an easygoing group. Worth flagging if it matters to your crew: the loft doesn’t have a door, so if adults plan to hang out downstairs late while kids sleep upstairs, sound travels. Plan accordingly.

What we’ve stocked

• Coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, olive oil
• Malin+Goetz shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion
• Makeup removal wipes — please use these instead of the towels
• Propane for the BBQ
• Firewood and a starter kit (except when the county is under a burn ban)
• Baby gate installed at the top of the stairs
• Pack-and-play (Lumière) — just ask and we’ll set it out

What to bring

• Sandals for the hot tub — the deck gets slippery
• Any specialty groceries — Packwood’s Blanton’s Market covers the basics but selection is limited
• Highchair if you need one (we don’t stock these yet)

03 The hot tub

Basecamp’s hot tub is private to your stay — no sharing with the neighbors — and lives on the back deck. It runs quiet and keeps a steady 104°F. Please don’t change the settings on the hot tub.

Opening the cover

Ensure the safety latches are detached, and then fold the cover back. Then, slide the folded cover over the raised braces along the backside of the hot tub. Don’t push too far or it will fall off.

Please don’t stand on the cover. They’re not designed for weight, and damage means a fee.

House rules for the tub

• Shower before you get in — lotions, creams, and sunscreen wreck the water chemistry
• No glass and no food around the tub (there’s a $125 cleaning fee if we find either)
• Kids under 5 shouldn’t use the tub — their systems are sensitive to the temp and chemicals
• Adults supervise kids at all times
• Quiet after 10 PM — the neighbors are close
• Hot tub use is at your own risk. There is a risk of drowning or injury.

04 The sauna

The shared cedar sauna is at Camp Commons, just a short walk from Basecamp’s front door. You’ll see it as you walk out — follow the signs.

Please only reserve slots that you will use — the sauna is shared with Camp Gifford and Camp Pinchot next door, and morning ski-day slots go fast.

The earliest available slot is 7:00 AM, which works well if you want a quick sauna before heading up to White Pass. Just remember: turn it on 45 minutes before your slot starts.

There’s a water dispenser in the entry room — stay hydrated! It’s ok to pour a small amount of water on the heater, but don’t dump more than a cup. There is no floor drain.

05 Around the property

What’s yours, what’s shared

Basecamp itself — the house, the fenced yard, the hot tub, and the wood fire pit behind the house — is entirely yours during your stay. No sharing.

Camp Commons, next door, is shared with two neighboring cabins: Camp Gifford and Camp Pinchot. That’s where the sauna is, along with the concrete gas fire pit area and Camp Provisions — our little market for wine, snacks, and small camp goods. Please don’t wander into Gifford or Pinchot themselves; those are private cabins for their guests, like Basecamp is for you.

Camp Provisions

Camp Provisions is the small building at the front of the Camp Commons area. It’s stocked with wine, snacks, and a few camp essentials. Everything’s honor-system — grab what you want, then submit payment using the button below.

Fire pit at Camp Commons

Camp Commons has a shared concrete gas fire pit. Here’s how to fire it up:

1. Bring the lighter from your cabin.
2. Check that the red button is extended — if it’s pushed in, a gentle twist will pop it back out.
3. Turn the black timer dial — that starts the flow of gas.
4. Leaning away from the pit, use the lighter to ignite the flame area.
5. When you’re finished, press the red button in to shut off the flame.

EV charging

There’s a J1772 Level 2 charger just outside the gate on the left (technically on the neighboring lot, which we also own). Works with any J1772-compatible EV, including Kia EV6, Rivian, Ford, and Tesla with an adapter you’ll need to bring.

Parking

Four cars fit comfortably in the fenced driveway, sometimes five if you’re friendly about it. Please keep everyone inside the gate — no street parking. Please do not park on the planted areas.

Propane BBQ

The BBQ uses propane that is supplied from a line connected to the house (there is no tank). To use, ensure both the red and yellow valves are in the on position — gas will be flowing.

Trash & recycling

Both bins live at the street in front of the property:

• Dumpster with black lid — trash
• Beige lid — recycling

During your stay, take excess trash out to the street. When you leave, if your kitchen bag isn’t full, leave it in the can inside — the cleaning crew will use it.

Non-feather pillows

There are a couple of foam pillows in the upper bedroom closet. Feel free to swap yours out if you’re allergic (or just prefer non-feather).

06 Bringing kids

Basecamp is a good fit for families — space to spread out, a fenced yard, plenty of soft surfaces. A few notes worth having in advance:

• The loft bunks sleep four and are open to the living room below (see the layout section above)
• Baby gate at the top of the stairs is already installed
• Pack-and-play (Lumière brand) is available
• No highchair yet — bring one if you need it
• The hot tub is not suitable for kids under 5, and older kids need an adult in there with them

07 Bringing dogs

Basecamp is dog-friendly and fully fenced. There’s a small gap next to the driveway gate, but we’ve tested it with our 20-pound Frenchie and she can’t squeeze through — smaller dogs, use judgment.

Inside, you’ll find a basket with a dog blanket and blue dog towels. A quick wipe-down after outdoor time saves the floors and the beds.

• Two-dog maximum, unless permission given beforehand
• Dogs off the furniture and beds, please
• Pick up in the yard — don’t leave anything for the cleaning crew to find
• Make sure your dogs are on the reservation before you arrive

08 Adventure awaits

Packwood’s small, but the surrounding area isn’t. Hikes, food, White Pass, Mount Rainier — we’ve put together a full guide of our favorite spots, with difficulty tiers, seasonal notes, and a map.

09 Before you head out

Checkout is 11:00 AM. Departing on time allows our cleaning crew to begin work so the following guests can enjoy their stay. You’ll get a message the day before checkout if a late checkout is available — just follow the instructions to confirm if it’s something you’d like to do.

A few things that help the cleaning crew turn the cabin around fast:

• Turn off lights and set the thermostat to a comfortable temp (not off — just reasonable)
• Fill and start the dishwasher; detergent is under the sink
• Take any excess trash to the street bins (black lid = trash, beige = recycling)
• Leave partial trash bags in the kitchen can — the crew will use them
• Do a quick sweep for anything left behind, especially in the loft and the bunks

And take the BACKTOCAMP card from the coffee bar — it’s a discount for your next stay, whether you book with us again through Airbnb or direct at staycampcabins.com.

10 Something come up?

For anything during your stay — questions, small issues, plumbing weirdness, a lightbulb out — message us through your booking platform or call us at 206-295-1567. We typically respond right away.

A few specific things worth flagging early rather than late:

• Water leak of any kind — call us right away. We’ll walk you to the emergency shutoff.
• Power outage: the generator needs to be started manually — message us and we’ll walk you through it. Flashlights are in the laundry room.
• Winter deck ice — salt mix and sand are on the deck. If it snows heavily, message us and we’ll arrange plowing.
• Fire, smoke, or anything smells burning — call 911 first, us second. During burn bans, no wood-fueled fires at all.

Small stuff worth knowing

• Fire extinguisher & first-aid kit: in the hallway closet.
• Quiet hours: please, no exterior amplified music after 10 PM — keeps the neighbors on our good side.
• Septic system: no wipes, grease, or coffee grounds down the drain, and toilet paper only in the toilet. City sewers can handle almost anything; our septic can’t.
• Laundry: washer and dryer are here for you — but please limit to necessary loads and don’t overfill. They’re critical to running our business, and we’re on a delicate septic system.
• Wet floors: please wipe up spills promptly — the wood floors don’t love standing water.

That’s the whole picture. Enjoy Basecamp, enjoy Packwood, and reach out if we can make anything better.

— Joe & Conner