Cabin in the Woods
Winter 2015
Follow us on: 
Cottage Life
First Entries: Cottage Life - August to December 2014
This summer we bought a cabin in the woods north of Muskoka.
It is situated on 28 acres of forest with trees ranging in age from saplings to about 130 years
when the forest was last clear cut.
We get about 1200 feet of river, lots of rocks, some small creeks and a swamp.
Living accommodations are a one room hunter's cabin and an old trailer.
Looks like the last owner had big plans but no one has touched the place in maybe five years.
The access road is in bad shape so we cannot get the car in.
This is the story in pictures and a few explanations.....
To contact Mike: Mike@Mikesjournal.com
February 28, March 01, 2015 --Back to the Woods
So for the first time this year we returned to the cabin. We came in the For F150 hopeful that we could get close but the snow was too deep and immediately we could see there was trouble. It meant a one hour walk to the cabin. Fortunately our neighbour rescued us and drove us the last half by snowmobile. The hard pack meant that we could walk out without snowshoes.
We had fun with the Ecofan which uses the heat differential between two pieces of metal to create enough current to operate a fan. The fan acts to spread the heat from the woodstove into the cabin more efficiently. By the same manufacturer we tried out the Joi Light. This uses the same principal to generate 19 candlepower from a little tea light. The electricity is enough to run 8 led lights.
This week I posted two videos. Just click on the photo of the fallen snow or the Joi light to be taken to the You tube channel.
So for the first time this year we returned to the cabin. We came in the For F150 hopeful that we could get close but the snow was too deep and immediately we could see there was trouble. It meant a one hour walk to the cabin. Fortunately our neighbour rescued us and drove us the last half by snowmobile. The hard pack meant that we could walk out without snowshoes.
We had fun with the Ecofan which uses the heat differential between two pieces of metal to create enough current to operate a fan. The fan acts to spread the heat from the woodstove into the cabin more efficiently. By the same manufacturer we tried out the Joi Light. This uses the same principal to generate 19 candlepower from a little tea light. The electricity is enough to run 8 led lights.
This week I posted two videos. Just click on the photo of the fallen snow or the Joi light to be taken to the You tube channel.
A lot of Snow
Minus 19 C
(Two below zero in non-communist temperature)
Joi Light -19 candlepower from 1 tea light
Click on the image to see the video
Trailer
I Fell Down and I Can't Get Up
Click on image to show walking on snow without snowshoes
(The frozen kind)
Across the River
March 14, 15 2015 --Tapping the Maple Trees
The weather has been below freezing at night and above freezing in the day so it is time to begin the maple syrup experiment. We tapped 26 trees. We tried ten pails and 16 taps connected with a long plastic hose.
The stove we made last fall is still covered in snow. If there is sap in the pails next week we will have to dig it out and start cooking.
This week Javier brought his snow shoes. It was a blessing to have them as we had to trek through deep snow to tap the trees. Once the first person made the trail it was easier for the next in line. After a number of circuits we made a nice trail that leads to all of the sap buckets.
The power drill was quite useless but Javier brought a hand brace and we made short work of the trees. We also used a hand auger to drill 8 inch holes in the ice to try a little ice fishing. Unfortunately all we managed to catch was some ice. Perhaps I used the wrong bait. Perhaps the fish were still frozen. The ice is about 1 foot thick.
We rarely see animals around the cabin in the summer but they must be there. We see many tracks in the snow. I believe there may even be a lynx. I hope that one day I may get a photograph of that shy animal.
The weather has been below freezing at night and above freezing in the day so it is time to begin the maple syrup experiment. We tapped 26 trees. We tried ten pails and 16 taps connected with a long plastic hose.
The stove we made last fall is still covered in snow. If there is sap in the pails next week we will have to dig it out and start cooking.
This week Javier brought his snow shoes. It was a blessing to have them as we had to trek through deep snow to tap the trees. Once the first person made the trail it was easier for the next in line. After a number of circuits we made a nice trail that leads to all of the sap buckets.
The power drill was quite useless but Javier brought a hand brace and we made short work of the trees. We also used a hand auger to drill 8 inch holes in the ice to try a little ice fishing. Unfortunately all we managed to catch was some ice. Perhaps I used the wrong bait. Perhaps the fish were still frozen. The ice is about 1 foot thick.
We rarely see animals around the cabin in the summer but they must be there. We see many tracks in the snow. I believe there may even be a lynx. I hope that one day I may get a photograph of that shy animal.
Javier using hand brace to tap Maple Trees
(Click on photo or this link for the Video)
Snowshoes
Walking on Snowshoes
(Click on photo or this link for the video)
