Trip Date: 8/31/2021
Find this SpotThis was the third attempt to make this trip happen. Between the Covid 19 Delta variant raging through the unvaccinated and making life rough for the responsible among us; the 850,000 acre (and growing) Dixie fire closing Highways 36 and 395 multiple times, and the Caldor fire blazing from Grizzly Flats to Lake Tahoe making air unhealthy to breathe, it has been tough to find the right time to get up here. Now was the best time in a while, and so we made the best of it.
For the past 3 or 4 trips up here, I would pass convoys of 3-6 fire trucks on 395; moving locations, coming off duty or going back on. Depending on the proximity of the fire to 395, which has burned across the road or burned up to it or threatened it about 6 different times now, 3 different evacuation orders over the past month or so for Milford and Janesville, caused CHP and sheriff rigs to be parked at all the cross roads, either preventing access, or limiting it to emergency rigs and locals.
I was really surprised in Truckee not to see a stream of vehicles coming North on 89 from Tahoe to flee the fire, but it was almost void of traffic. Same with 267. I assume folks had been gone a while already and had headed out highway 50 and then headed East or South from there. The air was brutal from the Caldor fire in Reno and on up 395 until about Halleluiah Junction. It was decent for a spell, then about Doyle, I began getting the smoke from Dixie’s Eastern arm that was threatening 395 and the steep shelf between Honey lake/395 and the forest high above. It was brutal until I stopped for gas in Standish. From there on up, the smoke was more dependent on the local air currents or morning, afternoon, and evening.
Bob had stopped in Susanville to hit up the local lumber yard for 2×6, but he pulled up the hill just a few minutes after I had begun unloading. It was great to see him and to finally be here to finish framing the deck, insulate the floor, and get the plywood down for the cabin and decking around the 2 sides. That was the plan anyway. We unloaded the lumber and materials, and tools, and got to setting up the cabin and kitchen. Bob was staying in the trailer, so no tent building this time. While I was pumping the water from the barrels to the kitchen tank, Bob was hacking away at the framing. He was dialing in the many angles and levels to make the interior cabin floor perfectly level with the outside decking. It was a marvel.
Before too long, it was cocktail time. I heated up the stuffed zucchini I made in the water bath and we mowed through those. Along with some chips and dip and carrot sticks with humus, we were filled to the brim. The Ginger Bob’s were delicious. The smoke made a very eerie sky and apocalyptic sunset. We moseyed down the road to check out the new gate and Dale’s handy work. It was really impressive. He had already come back to shorten the tongue and widen the slot in the box that the tongue slides into. Bedtime came early. I slept poorly and mostly just laid awake thinking random thoughts. I was happy for the daylight. As usual, Bob was already up.
Having given up coffee for a couple months now, I had my cereal and fruit juice smoothie for breakfast. I futzed with a few things while Bob got to the cabin. By the time I arrived at the build site, Bob had a good plan for how to proceed. We got right to it and made great progress. By lunch time, we had the last of the framing done, the chicken wire in and the insulation from the boneyard, the last of Joe-Eddy’s shed material filled in the joists. I had some eggy bites that K made, a smoothie, a delicious peach from our tree, some grapes, a couple beers, and an Ibuprofen. By the end of the day, we had used all but 1 board and had the plywood flooring and all the East side decking in place. Bob was 1/4” out of square.
We quit about 3:30, and each hit the showers. I took the first rinse out of the kitchen tank, after rigging up a hose and the shower head. It was decent, but not ideal, although it felt great to be cleaned up a bit. I BBQ’d pork chops and saaaaaaaaaausages. Bob put on some Little Feat, Waiting for Columbus I believe, and we had a great evening. The sky again was very smoky and strange, but we made the best of it. Bob would head into town in the morning for a lumber run, and I would finish screwing in all the deck boards while he was gone. I needed a good nights sleep and it definitely came. The nights were definitely cooling down, making for great sleeping conditions.
We put our plan into action the next morning, although I didn’t get up until almost 9:00. Bob was raring to go, so he was off in no time. I had breakfast and got into gear but finished with screwing in all the boards in no time. I cleaned up a little and scooped up more of the errant insulation, and headed back to the kitchen. We were running low on battery charges so Bob took the charger to run it off the 110 from his truck so he could charge 2 batteries, one on the way down and one on the way back. I had plenty left in one battery so I alternated between the drill and the saw and pieced together enough 2×2 and a couple 2×4’s to trim out the big picture window at the kitchen. I made a sweet free hand angular rip to make a wedge to fill a gap the length of the window and that worked out perfectly. It was a great little job to take care of.
Just as I was finishing that up, Bob came up the hill with another load of 2×6 and 2×4. He was stoked to be back so soon and really pleased with the lumber yard. We unloaded and got right to the last of the deck. With the 12 foot board he got, we wouldn’t have to cut any of them except for one final trim, so the North side deck went very quickly. These boards were straight as hell and we didn’t need to do much straightening, adjusting, or correcting. Bob was really happy with how it was all working out; level and square as hell. After he made the one cut off the end, he ripped a 2×4 for an end cap, and we were in business. After making sure we had accomplished all that he wanted to get done this trip, since it was only about 1:30, I suggested we leave this afternoon. He was thinking the same.
We cleaned up the site, and headed back to the kitchen for lunch and libation. We were feeling great about the progress, and about getting back a little early. While still pleasant, the smoke definitely made it weird. Also, Bob heard in town they were pretty concerned about 395, so the sooner we got past the fire, the better. Without a tent and all that goes with it, Bob was packed up in no time. I was taking my time, it being quite a bit earlier than I had expected. We talked about next steps on the cabin and materials, and potential dates, and Bob headed on down the hill. His cabin is really coming along and it makes me really happy to see him so happy and joyful with the build and the fun to be had once it is done.
I continued to pick at my stuff, ensuring the trailer was all turned off and closed up. Then my cabin was emptied and cleaned out, then the kitchen is packed up and shut down, then I loaded everything, then I showered again at the kitchen tank. It was pretty sweet. Not as warm as I would have liked it, but not cold; very refreshing. I took the shower head off too, so the water came out in a nice stream, and that was much better. I loaded up the cab with snacks and drinks, put on my clean clothes, had a beer on the bench, then loaded up. At the outhouse, I added some more water and shut the window.
At the gate, I wrestled with getting the lock in the tiny hole, but it worked. I was happy to have that gate in place and locked behind me, even though, it is another stop and another thing to have to stop at and fool with. It definitely is a higher degree of comfort. We shall see. We shall also soon see a rising structure out on the West loop and that will be awesome. I am super happy to have Bob so into the property and excited about building his own cabin. Much fun to come.
The drive home was mellow. I was very relieved to get by the fire as 2 huge and very distinct plumes were erupting just above the road on the ridges. Every intersection had a fire truck, law enforcement or emergency response vehicle staring up at the smoke, many on radios and phones discussing the new and evolving circumstances. A large plane flew through the massive smoke cloud, looking like a miniature toy scaled against the entire southern skyline filled with dark smoke and ash. I was pleased to have accomplished so much in so little time, yet never felt rushed or fatigued. No aches and pains; no headache. I was happy to be surprising Kristen with an early arrival that I did not tell her about. I was happy to have spent a couple days working on a cool project with my friend on our property. It is good.
Hart Hill, Bob’s Cabin Construction Photo Gallery
