February

I last visited DaCabin late in December 2025. After that the snow was too deep to drive in, or worse, I might make it in but getting back out is more difficut - it's an uphill climb getting out. But after a two full months I got itchy to return so I had my cabin neighbor plow me a little parking spot at the end of the private road and Dog-O and I hiked in....


I dragged all the necessary provisions in on a sled, you know - ham hocks and guitar strings. It's not a long haul, just a bit less than three quarters of a mile...

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's into DaCabin we go!

It was pretty warm that day, in the upper 40's. The snow was soft and mushy so the sled was sinking down in a bit, making for some strenuous exercise. We reached the halfway point, crossing onto private land...


...and soon arrived at DaCabin!

Note to self: next time bring fewer ham hocks and no guitar strings

It was approaching 50 degrees outside, but it was freezing cold inside DaCabin. First order of business - get that fire going!


It wasn't my most productive visit to DaCabin, but work did continue on the tile floor...

At this point in the project every other tile had to be cut to size. It didn't help that my little improvised tile cutting table was pretty deep in snow...


...I calculate only 47 more tiles to install....


MARCH

At the end of March I returned to DaCabin. My neighbor told me Vegas gave me "...a three in ten chance of making it in..."
It turns out that was optimistic.


I was able to make it only a short distance in so once again Dog-O and I had to hike the rest of the way.

This time we didn't have a sled so we had to hike in to retrieve my wagon, hike back out to the car, and hike in with the loaded wagon.

Hey Dad!, What happened to "...fewer ham hocks and NO guitar strings?...

I continued working on the latest tile project...



The day we arrived it was above freezing, and the next day was even warmer. We hiked out to the car and were able to back out of the driveway and head into town for provisions - ham hocks and guitar strings.
When we returned we were able to make more progress toward DaCabin, but eventually hit a deep pocket of snow and the trusty Acadia got hung up on the frame. I figured with the warm temps the snow would continue to melt and the next day we'd be able to break loose and leave.

WRONG!!




I gave it my best effort, but I could not clear the snow from underneath the engine compartment. The temperature was barely above freezing and the next day would be below freezing. I had no hope the snow would melt enough that I could get out.
I had to call my neighbor to give me a pull to dislodge me from the snow compacted under the frame.
About forty minutes later he arrived and I was quickly free to navigate. We both headed out, with him in the lead.

Suddenly he stopped. After a minute or so I walked over to his truck and he told me he had run out of gas.
To make a long story short, Dog-o and I walked out of DaCabin about 11 am. Four and a half hour hours later we were finally on the road and heading home.


APRIL

Part of the charm of DaCabin is that it's deep in national forest land. But I have learned it's a good idea to be proactive about cutting down trees hanging over the driveway. On this visit I took down another oak.


Progress continued on the latest tile floor...


MAY 2026

Late spring is a dangerous time to be out in the woods, you might encounter a tick or two...


Progress continued on the latest tile floor...





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