House Rules & What to Expect

We love hosting hikers, and a few simple expectations keep it relaxed and sustainable for everyone — us, you, and the hikers who come after. None of this is meant to be fussy. It's just how our home works.

Before you arrive

• 📩 Always reach out first. Message us before you show up so we can confirm there's room and get ready. Same-day is usually fine — just give us a heads-up.
• 🕓 Let us know your timing. A rough arrival window helps. If your plans change on trail, that's normal — just send an update when you can.
• 🚗 Need a ride? Ask early. We can sometimes help with a lift to or from the trail, but it doesn't always work out with our schedule. The earlier you ask, the better the odds.

While you're here

• 🛏️ Where you'll sleep. Pitch a tent in the yard, or take the mattress and couch down in the basement — whatever suits the weather and how you like to rest.
• 🌙 Give us the house from 7 to 9 p.m. We have a little one, and the bedtime routine is sacred. Please plan to stay out of our living space during that window unless we've arranged otherwise. The yard, basement, and your gear are all yours.
• 🚽 Use the upstairs bathroom. Please use the upstairs bathroom — not the one on the ground floor.
• 🚿 Showers & laundry. Both are yours to use — just follow the instructions posted on the machines. Wash, dry, or hang things on the lines, whatever you prefer. One favor: pre-wash your hardcore thru-hiker socks before they go in with everything else.
• 🍳 Kitchen is shared. You're welcome to cook and store food — please clean up as you go and wash what you use. Ask before raiding the pantry; we're glad to share, we just like to know.
• 🚭 No smoking or vaping indoors. Outside only, well away from the house and tents, and pack out your butts. Wildfire season, please be extra careful with anything that burns.
• 🔥 No open flames or stoves indoors. Run camp stoves outside only. Ask us before lighting anything — burn bans happen here.
• 🐾 Pets & trail dogs — check with us. We can often make it work, but ask first so we can sort out where your animal sleeps.
• 🔌 Charge up freely. Outlets are fair game for phones, batteries, and headlamps.
• 🥾 Boots off at the door. Muddy trail shoes stay outside or in the entry — bare feet and camp shoes inside.

A few honest limits

• 🚬 No drugs, and keep it mellow with alcohol. A trail beer is fine; getting loud or sloppy isn't. We've got a kid in the house.
• 🛏️ Usually a night or two. We're a rest stop, not a long-term stay. If you need extra time to heal up or wait out weather, just talk to us.
• 💵 No charge — but don't feel obligated to anything. We do this because we love it. If you want to pitch in on groceries or pay it forward to the next hiker, lovely, but never expected.

When you head out

• 🧹 Leave it like you found it. Pack out your trash, strip any bedding we set out, and break down your tent site. The next hiker should never know you were there.
• 📦 Double-check for gear. Chargers, socks drying on the line, that one tent stake — give the place a sweep before you walk out.
• 📖 Sign the log & say hi on FarOut. Leave a note in our book, and a comment in the Port Angeles FarOut thread helps the next hiker find us.