Our cabin site was roughly 2 miles upstream from our main cabin. This was the same spot I climbed the tree to discover our location when we were lost that first week. Logs would be felled a mile or so upstream, tied into rafts and floated down the river ala Huck Finn to the cabin site. (image 01 of 32).
Floating the logs to the site was the fun part, getting them up the hill to the build site - not so much. (image 02 of 32).
We felled and stacked the first couple layers of logs with axes partly to be more "traditional" and partly out of the concerns of using a chainsaw given the circumstances. It didn't take long to realize fatigue from using the axes made them more dangerous. Neither of us liked the sound of the screaming chainsaw but we welcomed how much easier it made the work. (image 03 of 32)
Scott tacking one of the logs in place. (image 04 of 32)
Morning ritual - waiting for the coffee water to boil and preparing a freeze dried meal. I'm guessing this was Hash Browns O'Brien, a particular favorite especially when smothered in tabasco sauce. (image 05 of 32)
We decided to lay the floor at a diagonal for no reason other than it looked cool. (image 06 of 32)
I'm not sure how practical the diagonal floor was but it was something unique so we ran with it. (image 07 of 32)
We lived in a tent while building only returning to our main cabin for supplies when necessary. Each morning we would roll out of our bags almost too sore to move. After coffee and breakfast we would get to work and work until the sun went down. Our bodies would be bruised and bloodied, covered in tree sap and sawdust. Even so, peering out of the tent and looking at the days progress was a tremendous thrill. (image 08 of 32)
Notching one of the wall logs. (image 09 of 32)
One of the notched logs. (image 10 of 32)
Scott placing one of the notched logs over a pile of Sphagnum moss. (image 11 of 32)
Once logs were placed, we would tack them in place with long nails we found in the "tool shed" of the main cabin (image 12 of 32)
Determining the placement of one of the cabins 4 windows. Windows were made with 2 pieces of heavy plexiglass. A gap was placed between each piece to create a small pocket of insulation. (image 13 of 32)
Poking the bar of a chainsaw into a wall of beautiful logs was a bit unsettling. Luckily we managed to do so without incident or damage to the cabins structure. (image 14 of 32)
Sitting in the (very tiny) doorway of the cabin. We kept this small both because the cabin was small and to keep out as much cold air as possible. (image 15 of 32)
One of my fondest memories was finishing the framing of the cabin. At the end of that day, we both climbed on the unfinished roof, ate popcorn and enjoyed one of those sunsets that you never forget. (image 16 of 32)
Cabin now entirely "framed" and ready for roof logs. (image 17 of 32)
The roof logs required a lot of timber and I think we underestimated how much work would be involved in getting those all cut and placed. (image 18 of 32)
Nailing roof logs in place. (image 19 of 32)
The plan was to have 2 windows on the north wall of the cabin however we began to wonder what would happen to the logs between the windows after the second window was cut. Nothing was supporting them. This spurred a lengthy discussion. From an aesthetics standpoint, leaving just 1 window in place would drive both of us crazy. We discussed making the 1 window much wider but this seemed a poor decision structurally. We ended up bracing these logs and cutting in the second window which turned out to be the right move. (image 20 of 32)
Another shot of the cabin with all roof logs on - we were procrastinating cutting in that second window. (image 21 of 32)
After bracing the logs between the windows it was time to make a scary cut. Thankfully, the logs held fast and the structure was secure. (image 22 of 32)
Both windows in place - not only did this allow in more light, views from these windows were spectacular and the front face of the cabin was beautiful. (image 23 of 32)
View from one of the front windows prior to having the wall properly filled in. (image 24 of 32)
We insulated the roof with sphagnum moss which was covered in visqueen and roofing roll.(image 25 of 32)
Scott built an incredible door which was insulated with a couple old, closed-foam sleeping pads. It was a perfect fit. (image 26 of 32)
The cabin was finished just as the weather was starting to turn and the rive began to freeze up. Despite its small size, the cabin was beautiful. We completed this in 19 days and it was the one of the hardest, greatest jobs I've ever had. (image 27 of 32)
Of course we had to make good use of the antlers from the moose we killed earlier that year. Anytime you would exit the cabin you would ultimately hit your head on these antlers. You would also have to be careful not to gouge out your eyes as you entered the cabin. I suppose the moose had his revenge. (image 28 of 32)
Our only option for bedding was a bunk system. Sleeping in the bottom bunk was like lying in a coffin. If we were both staying at the cabin we would often play a game of chess - looser got the bottom bunk. (image 29 of 32)
One of my favorite pictures of the cabin. This was something WE made. The feeling of being perfectly warm inside and sipping a cup of coffee while the wind howled and the temperatures plummeted to -20ºF filled us with a tremendous sense of pride. (image 30 of 32)
Shot of the front door in summer. Beautiful. (image 31 of 32)
We made some "shutters" to protect the plexiglass windows. This is how the cabin looked when all closed up. (image 31 of 32)
“I hear the world-call and the clang of the fight; I hear the hoarse cry of my kind;
Yet well do I know, as I quit you to-night, it’s youth that I’m leaving behind.
And often I’ll think of you, empty and black, moose antlers nailed over your door:
Oh, if I should perish my ghost will come back to dwell in you, cabin, once more!”