Small Cabin

Small Cabin Forum
 - Forums - Register/Sign Up - Reply - Search - Statistics -

Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Hows your winter going at your cabin?
Author Message
groingo
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2013 11:27 - Edited by: groingo
Reply 


Mine here in Western Washington has been very mild and actually rather dry and uneventful, I wanted a real winter and prepared for it and got just blaah weather....like a fall that never fell or a spring that never sprung, how bout you?

bobbotron
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2013 12:17
Reply 


Been going well! We've been up a number of times, not when it's too cold though. Slowly picking away at the interior panelling and other random projects. Last week I made a firewood shelter, so happy to get that going, I'm sick of wet, snowy firewood.

DaJTCHA
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2013 14:20
Reply 


Photos of said "firewood shelter"? It is my next project.

Dajtcha

bobbotron
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2013 14:30
Reply 


I'll try to get some next time I'm up. Pretty rudimentary, used up some old lumber that was in the way (2x4's, 2x6's and 2x8's), I'm not sure it'll last a long time. Four legs, a skirt around the top, some bracing, flat top, left over sheet metal roofing on top, with some old OSB "strapping" underneath. Weighs a fair bit, held together with a bunch nails, fun rough carpentry project. I'll probably level it some in the spring.

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 22 Jan 2013 08:45
Reply 


Much better this year than last year.(much warmer with insulated wall's floor and ceiling's.)

jcorrigan
Member
# Posted: 19 Feb 2013 17:13
Reply 


Only been to mine a few times this winter in Gananoque Ont., but it's been great every time! Last weekend got to try the new winch on my jeep and it worked like a dream. Also discovered my area is a haven for trumpeter swans this time of year with the open water! I've never actually seen them 'in the wild' as it were..and never in flight before. I tried telling my girlfriend I imported them for valentines day for her but she didn't buy it!

Montanan
Member
# Posted: 19 Feb 2013 18:57
Reply 


Lots of snow! We were up for the long weekend and were disappointed to discover that the entrance to our property was blocked by a 5'+ wall of snow. Hubby was on his way up our road in waist-deep snow to retrieve a shovel to try to clear enough snow for us to barge the truck into a parking spot when the kids and I saw a DOT plow coming up the highway and flagged him down. He was nice enough to plow us a nice big parking spot and then came back the next day and plowed out the whole entrance- enough room for 4 vehicles. We were SO grateful!!

We had a wonderful snow-filled time:
Three cheers for the plow!
Three cheers for the plow!
Trail in to the cabin (taken from the back door.) Snowshoes a must!
Trail in to the cabin (taken from the back door.) Snowshoes a must!
Kids making tunnels through the snow.
Kids making tunnels through the snow.
Bluebird conditions on the slopes- taken from the chairlift.
Bluebird conditions on the slopes- taken from the chairlift.


TheWildMan
Member
# Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:53
Reply 


less snow than an average year but a lot more big storms. the percipetation is condensed into fewer and more intense events, like the little rain we got in the drought

thinking of the drought, every time i walk into town I check the price of a few select "monitoring" food items at the grocery store (ones i check each time). the price of things has gone up 30% in 6 months. likely the drought, economy and the things with mon santo. if i wasn't used to growing and preserving food i would be hurting just to pay the grocery bills.

Anonymous
# Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:20
Reply 


The economy is getting better. I've been so busy at work I've had no time to visit the cabin this winter.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 22 Feb 2013 13:09
Reply 


Decided to overwinter at the cabin in late Nov. Insulated with Roxul. Scored ultra deal on polyiso 1.5" insulation. Did the ceiling, walls to R25. Did the floor with a slate look flooring and iso underneath R10 or so? Thankful for the mild December.
At Christmas the cold set in. It's been pretty cold and some good snow storms here in Ontario. Thankful for the wood stove.
Even more thankful for a girlfriend who lets me "head to the city."
And now it's the end of february and cabin fever has set in... Bought a pump and an on demand propane water heater (thanks to the two excellent threads on that issue) and now I wait for warmer weather. Fermenting plans to build solar water preheat and solar hot air for the "shizzer shack."
Montanan, I like your snow gophers.

beachman
Member
# Posted: 22 Feb 2013 19:12
Reply 


Plan to try to ski into our place tomorrow. It's about a mile and a half from the parking area (road) - across the frozen lake. Thinking about a snowmobile but will ski while still able. I'll take a few photos if I can. Don't know about staying the night. Maybe next time out. Too many supplies to drag in. Cheers all.

SubArcticGuy
Member
# Posted: 23 Feb 2013 13:12
Reply 


I don't exactly have the cabin yet...but it is finally warming up enough to start getting more work done. Here is tomorrows supplies getting loaded up. I can usually take about 1000lbs at a time without too much trouble. I think I have about 2 more big loads to go this year and then I should be able to get it to a shell with a tarp roof.

Now that I have the insulation I can get the floor finished and throw up some walls.

I may also try to haul a small boat out there this spring too. I have about a 40km snowmobile ride to get to the site so I usually only get one trip done a week. In a couple of weeks I can bring the tent out and finally spend a few days working.
DSCF0260.JPG
DSCF0260.JPG


Montanan
Member
# Posted: 23 Feb 2013 16:08
Reply 


Quoting: beachman
Thinking about a snowmobile but will ski while still able.


A snowmobile will be our next machinery purchase! We don't have as far to go from the road as do you, but with a family of 5 and all our gear for a long weekend, trudging up and down our steep, winding road in snowshoes hauling boxes and bags on sleds is getting old.

Our snowmobile budget is less than $200 so it might take a while to find one! (Thankfully, the husband is a mechanic so we can buy cheap and he can make it run.)

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 23 Feb 2013 16:46
Reply 


You'll have fun on a snowmobile and it will be useful. Good luck on your search! A two-up would serve you well.

beachman
Member
# Posted: 24 Feb 2013 16:00
Reply 


Got out to the cabin yesterday - a beautiful sunny day with temps a little below freezing and no wind. It was actually warm in the sun (haven't seen much of that this winter). Thankfully not much snow to trudge through with about a half inch of new snow over a heavy crust on the lake. Made the skiing easier and our dog (yellow lab) loved it. I was tempted to start a fire and relax on the couch but figured I'd fall asleep so had lunch on the steps of the old camp and headed back. We will go back and spend a night or two in a few weeks.

Your reply
Bold Style  Italic Style  Underlined Style  Thumbnail Image Link  Large Image Link  URL Link           :) ;) :-( :confused: More smilies...

» Username  » Password 
Only registered users can post here. Please enter your login/password details before posting a message, or register here first.