https://www.davidryanscott.com/about daily 0.75 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/19a7fa64-6d4f-43e1-9789-2574089ef17a/headshot.jpg https://www.davidryanscott.com/homecabin daily 0.75 2025-05-15 https://www.davidryanscott.com/home daily 1.0 2026-03-04 https://www.davidryanscott.com/reel daily 0.75 2026-02-24 https://www.davidryanscott.com/reel_with_text daily 0.75 2022-07-05 https://www.davidryanscott.com/mobile daily 0.75 2023-04-10 https://www.davidryanscott.com/mobilesite daily 0.75 2023-05-04 https://www.davidryanscott.com/lost daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/1d29c700-09fe-4a4c-8e4e-e9698463041c/slide_show_00001.jpg lost Last minute packing on the day of departure. (image 1 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/d2ccf549-e554-49e0-ac85-743a311a1280/slide_show_00002.jpg lost Thawing hydraulics and breaks before taking off. (image 2 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/2137d382-b636-46d5-a68a-00e14ec6c911/slide_show_00003.jpg lost Hour and a half flight from Thompson with 1800 pounds of gear in tow. (image 3 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/e333b1a7-c655-44a1-b5a8-0a3676e19244/slide_show_00004.jpg lost The only thing you see for the hour and a half flight - pure wilderness. (image 4 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/e36d3bee-70b7-42a1-b43f-457c4e87b513/slide_show_00005.jpg lost 15 minutes to unload our gear before the plane started freezing up. (image 5 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/752a44aa-a3dc-4627-8156-b6f70832ec4c/slide_show_00006.jpg lost Parting shot of us with our gear. (image 6 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/b9f5970b-76b0-4860-8e1d-869d45587ecd/slide_show_00007.jpg lost Waving goodbye to the last person we would see for the next 4 months. (image 7 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/2a6c3295-a845-443d-b77a-b9710f820adb/slide_show_00008.jpg lost A very powerful moment. Watching the plane disappear and realizing we are truly alone. (image 9 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/8222e815-67ea-4390-90c1-fd5efac7b3b8/slide_show_00009.jpg lost A grueling hike through the frozen muskeg. (image 9 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/deef4b7a-3be1-49b8-906f-21a6d9074644/slide_show_00010.jpg lost Arriving at the river with no cabin in site. (image 10 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/f02b6985-7506-43b7-864f-70981c1fd9db/slide_show_00012.jpg lost Searching for another 2 hours before finally succumbing to the cold, exhaustion, dehydration, and hunger. (image 11 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/671b88ce-87ad-4d16-ad89-74165b7aaf64/slide_show_00013.jpg lost Surviving our first night in a makeshift bivouac in temperatures exceeding -40ºF. This photo was taken 4 months after that first night. (image 12 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/8f502a60-1cf4-49b4-84de-f967faf61ccb/slide_show_00014.jpg lost Uncertain if we'd survive through that first night, the sunrise was an incredible sight. (image 13 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/f09443a9-eb5f-47d6-a0b1-df5d797bdf89/slide_show_00015.jpg lost Back to the lake and all of our to regroup. We set up a canvas tent and began melting snow. We were extremely dehydrated at this point. (image 14 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/3f00fc42-159e-4a41-ab08-11719ae65af0/slide_show_00016.jpg lost A tent fire prevented us from hydrating. Our only source of warmth was our frustration. Our tent was beaten by the wind being so exposed on the frozen lake. (image 15 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/041f2654-1318-4b05-8f26-7d0cfb03dfc4/slide_show_00017.jpg lost Day 3. Back to the river with a more modern tent. Unfortunately at -30ºF the elastic cords holding the poles together loose their elasticity and we were forced to remove our gloves and cut each shock cord free from the poles. (image 16 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/53c00f2c-3c4b-4649-9307-59cf7bb38ca0/slide_show_00018.jpg lost Our view from inside the tent - looking directly at our bivouac which easily could (and probably should) have been our final resting spot. (image 17 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/726fe4e6-0bff-4dcd-aad8-c859b1ff3470/slide_show_00019.jpg lost A coleman 1 burner backpacking stove saved our lives. We finally had heat, food, and water. For the first time we could shed some of our heavy winter gear. (image 18 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/b902f6ac-b4a5-49e6-b93b-af4fbccf914b/slide_show_00020.jpg lost That evening was spent reviewing the maps and trying to determine where we were and where the cabin was located. (image 19 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/b7821064-ff00-4ab4-af5a-af3bfa212fc8/slide_show_00021.jpg lost Day 4. Waking up in the morning only to discover Scott had frostbite. Now a 2 man team is cut down to 1 as we can't risk refreezing his frozen extremities. I returned to the lake to retrieve more food and medical supplies. (image 20 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/00ce5317-71fc-40e5-9b04-c3250d3a8742/slide_show_00022.jpg lost Day 5. I hiked a mile or so upstream and while I didn't find the cabin, I did find a stand of huge spruce trees. Despite the risk, I decided to climb one to see if any landmarks were visible from a higher vantage point. I spotted this tiny lake which no one had ever mentioned. If the lake was on our map, I'd be able to locate our position. (image 21 of 22) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/55b9e3ec-ff2d-4e88-8e98-1ee3e4814a6e/slide_show_00023.jpg lost Day 6. Sure enough, located the lake on the map let us know were about a mile upstream from the cabins location. The following morning I found it. After inspecting everything, I took this photo before heading back to our tent camp. Now our adventure could actually begin. (image 22 of 22) https://www.davidryanscott.com/paradisecreek daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/1e22adca-141e-49b5-b49e-58e753beedc3/lost_button.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/a9f0d140-565e-40dd-a6f9-bd9641e9fb21/hunt_button.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/c236ba11-4360-49aa-8ab4-0e5c2f55df99/cabin_button.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/6f6e81cf-7eb7-4cc9-b9b2-b7818da65370/Paradise_Creek_Cover.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/9d2a8d71-03f1-4845-aaf4-22d458cbc0aa/explore_button.jpg https://www.davidryanscott.com/explore daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/94d8a07d-d506-472a-99fb-93c30abb5197/01_scott_picking_route.jpg explore Scott picking out a potential route. (image 1 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/d90f3442-389d-4356-80fa-10536def0744/02_trip_to_the_churchill_river.jpg explore Reviewing the map on the Churchill River. (image 2 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/2b357e11-24ae-439e-b3ad-a2b14fb0744a/03_me_on_churcill.jpg explore Taking a break along the bank of the Churchill River. (image 3 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/abd60b0e-3ca7-4276-b5d9-7ceebe4d9c1b/all_the_gear_on.jpg explore cold. (image 4 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/74ab80bc-acc3-4f0f-88ef-1b7f885eb740/ptarmigan_for_dinner.jpg explore Ptarmigan for dinner. This was an extremely hard day. Lot of "post holing" through a crusty layer of ice then into deep snow beneath. When pulling your snow shoe up it would hang on the crusty ice shelf. After seeing these ptarmigan we decided to call it a day. Certainly one of the top meals we had (perhaps the suffering made it that much better). (image 5 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/b3077fad-7b41-4611-bbe5-bb33bf623b6d/scott_coming_out_of_treeline.jpg explore Scott punching through the trees. (image 6 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/a469a68b-5de9-432b-a250-b67b4d9a40a9/Scott_on_skiis.jpg explore Headed upstream from the cabin with the goal of exploring off the edge of our map. We had a couple very close calls during this trip. (image 7 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/7e465111-9edb-4242-babf-95e6288cc736/02_off_the_map.jpg explore One of my all time favorite photos. Everything about it screams "hard work" in no mans land. At this point we're currently 25 miles up stream from the safety of the cabins. (image 8 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/28dbef67-58db-49f4-9366-8aa5cde42c8a/breaking_down_tent.jpg explore Early morning tent break down. (image 9 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/730101b6-057c-4c55-8664-841a69166f98/challenging_terain.jpg explore A tiny spec of a human hugging the left bank. (image 10 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/33175aa2-ef5c-4431-bed4-fad7c13456c8/churchill_hill_1.jpg explore On the Churchill river, the only real elevation we encountered. You can see me doing a "Rocky" pose in the upper left of this image. (image 11 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/7f3565ac-4f29-4b54-af28-fc445f46ce9b/churchill_hill_2.jpg explore We took the hard way up and the fun way down (image 12 of 18). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/fdecca0c-a476-455e-bc7e-e1c5f3c0414a/churchill_hill_3.jpg explore Wipe Out (image 13 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/38a5b414-e392-4f26-80cc-b3cb5de49d69/drink_near_bastard_rapids.jpg explore Trying to hydrate in bitter cold temps (image 14 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/be2fb61e-0dfa-42ae-9401-4d22effe31e7/Me_on_skis_near_open_water.jpg explore Couldn't be happier (image 15 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/90690be1-1522-463e-a116-f1fc3ee4aae3/me_on_skis.jpg explore Sketchy skiing near open water (image 16 of 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/fa506b23-6cac-4c9e-8235-825558afdd5a/off_the_map_2.jpg explore Ran out of white gas on our last night of this trip. We built a huge fire to try and warm up but to no avail. Wasn't bad once we got in our bags but the following morning was brutal (image 17 or 18) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/90572887-19d7-45f1-a5b8-b57089861f61/sking_past_open_water.jpg explore VERY sketchy skiing (image 18 of 18) https://www.davidryanscott.com/hunt daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/a47501eb-1ca7-4a6e-88cd-30db81b21ad5/slide_show_00062.jpg hunt Shooting a moose was a day of celebration. This was not about trophy hunting or killing for the thrill of the hunt, this was a tremendous gift that would provide us with fresh protein through the long winter. image 1 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/b8df9fed-492e-40b7-a251-81fcf6080fb4/slide_show_00063.jpg hunt Skinning, quartering and butchering was a massive undertaking. Luckily, the moose fell on the bank of the river just upstream from the cabin allowing us to transport the meat with relative ease. image 2 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/bbb937f2-5105-489f-8687-238b2849fbd6/slide_show_00064.jpg hunt butchering one of the hind quarters. image 3 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/c4c10e91-6d2a-480d-acbe-ab24a1b515d1/slide_show_00065.jpg hunt Hide thoroughly scraped, salted and stretched. image 4 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/a56500d8-cfbb-44d8-9876-5b1fa24f7a95/slide_show_00066.jpg hunt We smoked roughly 150 pounds of meat which provided us with protein packed snacks and meal supplements. image 5 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/e52b0c1e-289a-437b-a8b4-2dfff5f6aacd/slide_show_00067.jpg hunt The smoking process took several days and required a constant smokey fire. image 6 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/16ac304c-0437-4782-b002-79b7c266affa/slide_show_00068.jpg hunt All fresh meat was stored in an insulated box buried in the permafrost. image 7 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/602097b4-14ba-4607-b2c6-a08d6162ec14/slide_show_00069.jpg hunt The head of the moose was buried and we placed a willow hoop over the site out of respect for this great animal. image 8 of 9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/3d0a7191-7227-4f4b-acd5-5ea46696d6b6/slide_show_00070.jpg hunt Of course, bear activity picked up after we shot the moose and extra precaution needed to be taken. image 9 of 9 https://www.davidryanscott.com/cabin daily 0.75 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/63adf337-a38c-4863-b524-74695912b304/01_lining_logs_sq.jpg cabin 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). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/e29dacd5-3539-44f0-b1c5-89319372b6fc/02_flipping_logs.jpg cabin 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). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/f8d2552b-6429-4af0-b758-d05c53b78f2b/03_log_stack.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/374286b2-6076-432f-abd7-07c33cf73ded/04_scott_notching.jpg cabin Scott tacking one of the logs in place. (image 04 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/d0b3c31e-9399-42d9-9418-1310e2953401/05_waiting_for_coffee.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/c008bfa2-085b-4c54-a59e-8374302bcad8/06_me_diagonal_floor.jpg cabin We decided to lay the floor at a diagonal for no reason other than it looked cool. (image 06 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/0fe68cc5-1cb6-45bf-8a4c-9fa4516bf042/07_scott_diagonal_floor.jpg cabin I'm not sure how practical the diagonal floor was but it was something unique so we ran with it. (image 07 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/9b7437c4-80fd-4aa8-b790-cc10ace10a96/08_walls_growing.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/743d5ce1-0d19-4c96-adf3-355f5cedf0d6/09_dangerous_notching.jpg cabin Notching one of the wall logs. (image 09 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/181f9521-3651-4ff5-9f87-69eb9425fd22/10_notch_detail.jpg cabin One of the notched logs. (image 10 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/76fd5beb-5ec7-4a5e-90c9-860be65f9a89/11_scott_stackin.jpg cabin Scott placing one of the notched logs over a pile of Sphagnum moss. (image 11 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/7fd4d988-3a60-4e85-87fb-4746dc1207e3/12_good_shot_scott_nailing.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/15357632-bf50-414a-8650-8f7006586ceb/13_window_hang.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/f2ecf760-922b-4f01-963e-cc7c5136cb9d/14_window_cut.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/41aa4a98-93ea-4400-b3d5-27f12f7a0e69/15_me_in_door_final.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/851e7180-0410-4a12-90fa-1b6bcd297c10/16_scott_roof.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/2aa862ed-2454-4992-8028-a49072fbb0b0/17_completed_skeleton.jpg cabin Cabin now entirely "framed" and ready for roof logs. (image 17 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/78b9d29c-bd42-403c-8bdc-a6229c5d0289/18_roofing_scott.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/887c4b58-0b5d-4aad-9e2a-562ac8d6565f/19_roofing.jpg cabin Nailing roof logs in place. (image 19 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/4661d64e-88d2-4c34-ab10-e345b9bef920/20_shell_1_front_window.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/1607abdc-e871-4a9b-8d18-501760a17765/21_shell_with_roof_logs.jpg cabin Another shot of the cabin with all roof logs on - we were procrastinating cutting in that second window. (image 21 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/d8443ae0-b19d-4176-8e58-465b4f0abcf2/22_cutting_in_second_window.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/1853355d-3a97-4357-abe6-84fafd36a923/23_both_windows_in_place.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/5a08723f-1a1a-477e-a902-0c0961ea1a08/24_view_from_front_window.jpg cabin View from one of the front windows prior to having the wall properly filled in. (image 24 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/bbc9bb7c-204d-4ace-848a-2d6007527865/25_scott_handing_up_roofing_roll.jpg cabin We insulated the roof with sphagnum moss which was covered in visqueen and roofing roll.(image 25 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/84d581d2-2f11-444c-bbbe-806de0852571/26_scott_adding_door.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/be10b800-b55a-4351-8536-21e32c3eb0cf/27_completed_front_winter.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/abcef87b-a1f0-4210-897b-6a86ac0a903d/28_completed_back_winter.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/3bb620c6-f690-415a-a47b-bb7efd14f681/29_inside_bunks.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/2ea7adba-657e-4826-8dde-7fd989fb6c03/30_cabin_from_river.jpg cabin 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) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/d9d9b20f-5ad8-4132-98a6-0827f22c505d/31_PC_Front_Face_summer_93.jpg cabin Shot of the front door in summer. Beautiful. (image 31 of 32) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7b7ed408564b51eed0b10e/59ad934c-bcf5-463e-aea1-cf346e1f87fc/32_closed_for_departure.jpg cabin We made some "shutters" to protect the plexiglass windows. This is how the cabin looked when all closed up. (image 31 of 32) https://www.davidryanscott.com/testreel daily 0.75 2026-02-24