Mile High Cabins Townsend, Montana Policies or Rules Our guests come from all over the world. They arrive with all kinds of backgrounds and expectations. We have established these Rules to provide a common framework so that everyone can enjoy their mile-high mountain getaway. When you arrive, you will be asked to certify that you have read these Policies and agree to be bound by them. For your safety and comfort, you will also be asked to certify that you have read the US Forest Service "Know Before You Go" web pages concerning the hazards and dangers present in our wildlands. For information, or to make a reservation, visit our Contact page. You must provide at least three references, none of them relatives. We will call all your references. Two references must be camp hosts or resort operators where you have stayed in the last two years. To secure your reservation, you must present a valid credit card, on which we will place funds on hold, or cash, for 50% of the fees. Your reservation can be canceled without penalty up to 90 days in advance. If you wish to cancel within 90 days of your planned stay, you forfeit your deposit. Our opening and closing dates can vary from year to year. We usually open for the Memorial Day weekend and close after the Labor Day weekend. Minimum stay is two nights. Damage deposit is $500. Check in no earlier than 3:00 PM. Let us know in advance if you will check in later than 6:00 PM. No check ins after dark! When you check in, you will be asked to schedule your departure. Check out no later than 10:00 AM. We will verify that you are leaving your cabin and surrounding area in the same condition it was at your arrival. At that time, we will refund your damage deposit. We accept VISA, MasterCard, PayPal, and cash. Rates are subject to change, and include applicable taxes. There is no cell phone or Internet service at our cabins. If you have a health emergency, it is a 20 minute drive to the hospital in Townsend. It is better to be careful and not need emergency medical care. Bring a first aid kit. Most of our neighbors are good people, but you should still lock your vehicle, cabin, and valuables at all times. For robberies, break-ins, burglaries, and assaults, contact us right away. Our remote location usually works to our advantage in apprehending the perpetrators. We have neighbors who are law-enforcement trained and equipped. No pets of any kind allowed! No horses, mules, llamas, or other pack animals allowed! No smoking inside any cabins or buildings! Pick up your butts! DO NOT toss butts into toilets or porta-potties! If you are looking for thrills and excitement, this is NOT the place for you. If you need to drink til you're drunk or smoke til you're high, then this is NOT the place for you. No amplified music, including radio, smart speakers, cell phone, video player, etc. No warning will be given. If it can be heard outside your cabin or vehicle, you will be asked to leave. In mid-summer, Montana daylight can dawn as early as 4:30 AM. In order to provide the peace and quiet our guests expect, Quiet Hours extend to 7:00 AM. Around the summer solstice, the long hours of twilight in the evening can fool one into staying out much later than you ought. Because of terrain and forest, nightfall comes earlier to some parts of camp. This will affect guest activities and animal movement. In order to provide a uniform schedule for camp, Quiet Hours begin at 9:00 PM. If your plans include getting an early start, let us know, so that we can help you minimize the disturbance to other guests. If you plan to return late in the day, be sure to arrive before dark, so that you don't need lights to maneuver in camp. Each cabin has space to park ONE vehicle, except Hunter's Cabin, where the parking space is located at the bottom of the ridge. If your itinerary requires you to have more than one vehicle, contact us for help in planning your parking. We have limited space to park boat and utility trailers. You must reserve such space at the time of your reservation. We do not offer RV parking or hookups. There is no RV dump on site. We do not offer tent camping, and no one is allowed to sleep in vehicles. All overnight stays must be inside the cabins. Drones, remote-controlled aircraft, and remote-controlled vehicles and vessels of any kind are not allowed. Our cabins are supplied with beds, dishes, pots & pans, utensils, dish soap, SOS pads, toilet paper, dish cloth, and a dish towel. You will be expected to account for these items when you check out. You should bring bedding and pillows, bath towels, flashlight, lantern, and first aid kit. Groceries, toiletries, and camp supplies are available in Townsend, 20 minutes away. Firearms are welcome at camp. Both open carry and concealed carry are permitted at all times. We do not have a firing range for practice, but there are public lands nearby. Ask us for advice. Hunting, target practice, and plinking are not allowed at camp. Weapons should remain holstered unless needed for self defense. Avoid conflicts with wildlife. Discharge of firearms should be a last resort. Because wildfire is always a real threat, and because we are surrounded by land administered by the US Forest Service and Montana Department of Forestry, we require every vehicle to carry an axe, bucket, and shovel. Pick good quality tools that you handle well. No fires are allowed at any time. Outdoor cooking is not permitted, as it tends to attract animals. Cooking is permitted only inside cabins on the provided cook stove. Part of the mile-high experience is that weather conditions can change rapidly. Bring clothing and accessories (coat, hat, gloves) suited for cold temperatures (down to freezing), as well as hot weather (up to 100°F). Rainstorms usually do not last long here. Summer thunderstorms occasionally bring large hail (pea-size, grape-size, and golf-ball-sized). The largest hail can injure people and damage vehicles. We are not responsible to protect you or your personal property from these acts of God. The US Forest Service publishes guides to enjoying the outdoors, being aware of the ordinary hazards to be found there, and common sense steps one can take to reduce the risks. We recommend that you read these guides before you arrive. (Internet service is not available at the cabins.) These will allow you to pack the right equipment and clothing for your mile high adventure. Bugs of all kinds are native to our area. Mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks are the most common pests. You might wish to wear long sleeves and long pants during parts of the day, just for insect protection. This is NOT the place to work on your tan. Most of the camp is densely forested, so spots with sun exposure are limited. A lot of exposed skin is an invitation to bugs. At a mile high, the atmosphere is thinner, and exposure to the sun will burn your skin much faster than at lower elevations. As a family-oriented camp, we expect modest attire in all common areas. The thinner air at Mile High Cabins can affect your breathing. If you normally reside at lower elevations, you should expect to get winded more quickly. Plan your hikes and walks with this in mind. The Montana mountain air is also drier. This will cause you to become dehydrated more quickly. When walking or riding, always carry water for hydration. Do NOT drink water from the creek! Our well water tastes great and is tested for safety. The drier air will also dry out your skin more quickly. You might need to use a lotion while at camp. Choose one with no scent. Be sure to bring lip balm. Several kinds of snakes are native to our area. Some are benign, helping to control pests. Yes, we have rattlesnakes, too. Be sure to read the US Forest Service web page about snakes before you arrive. If you are walking about or hiking, we recommend wearing long pants and sturdy shoes with socks. Stay alert! Carry a walking stick. If you are comfortable with firearms, carry "snake medicine." We have all kinds of wildlife in our neighborhood. The most common four-legged critters will be deer, elk, moose, bear, cougar, bobcat, squirrel, weasel, coyote, and wolf. Be sure to read the US Forest Service web pages about wildlife before you arrive. (There is no Internet service at the cabins.) Most animals will stay clear of the campground and cabins during the day, but everything changes after dark. Our trail cameras have caught bear and cougars wandering through camp at night. If you must be out after dark, carry a walking stick and make some noise with your feet. That is another part of the mile-high experience. We have not found poison ivy or poison oak or poison sumac around the camp. Wild rose bushes and wild raspberry bushes have thorns. Stinging nettles are common in the wet areas. If you expect to be poking around in the brush, wear long sleeves, long pants, and gloves. These policies are meant as a general guide for your visit to Mile High Cabins. This brief web page is not exhaustive of the policies, practices, rules, hazards, dangers, and risks to be encountered during your stay. The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared." Read the referenced documents and web pages. Come to our camp prepared to have a good time and a memorable experience. Be sure to read the US Forest Service web pages about enjoying the outdoors, safety, mountain weather, and wildlife before you arrive. Policies are subject to change without notice. For the latest information, call or e-mail. This page updated 12-Jan-2020. Jim Bender Mile High Cabins Townsend, Montana