This trip was probably a first for me to have to do my own laundry, shop, cook, and do all the prep myself as Kristen is back in Utah to bring Beth home from a stay with Jo. I have to say I appreciate my wife more, although how long that will last is currently unknown. It was a lot more work for me, but it went off without a hitch and I was fully equipped and prepared for a great trip up the Hill.I was probably on the road about 8:00 and up top about 12:30. I had left a couple messages with Diego trying to confirm he would show up on Wednesday as we had discussed last time, but he won’t respond to texts or my voice mails. I checked in with K, had a celebratory beverage, and began to unpack. I let Kelly know I was up here so hopefully he could deliver the water tank. It was a beautiful day and I had a hard time staying on task. I wandered about, walked the loop, checked out Bob’s cabin, and eventually was unloaded, made my bed, put my clothes in the dresser, cleaned up the construction debris on the deck from last time, and was ready to cook and listen to Monday Night Football on Westwood 1.

Since I kind of was prepared to work full days and not knock off early to clean up, get a shower, cook and eat before it was dark at about 6:30 these days, I wanted to cook all my food tonight so it would be ready to simply heat up or even eat cold. I was happy to have so much time to enjoy the fire and a cocktail and ease into my first evening on such a great day. I BBQ’d chicken and sausages, baked the stuffed mushrooms, and easily erased a half round of shrimps I warmed on the fire. It was a delicious dinner and I saved all the meat for other meals.

I stayed out well after dark and watched the stars. It was pretty mild even as I crawled into bed about 9:00. I talked to K for a bit and then was out. The Milky Way and stars were extraordinarily bright and clear. I slept well and woke up ready to get er done. I had a big list of things I wanted to get done as the next trip would just be to bring stuff home and get what we will leave behind protected for the Winter. I didn’t want next trip to be a mad rush so wanted to slay a bunch of things this time to make the last trip of the year a little mellower.

I got to the watering right away as that is my least favorite job. I always have a hell of a time figuring out how to prime the stupid little pump and pour water all over myself in the process. The whole apparatus is very awkward and frustrating. I eventually got the barrel filled and grabbed the green plastic covered wire cages from the garden at home, but since I had the pump working, I figured I would knock out the upstairs watering while it was running.

I am concerned we may be losing one of the Junipers we planted along the road to block Mike’s trailer. That is a bummer because they seem to be the hardiest of all the trees we planted. No signs of anyone eating the bark so not sure what is happening. Pretty sure we lost one of the Big Leaf Maples at the back of the trailer and that would really be a bummer as they were my favorite trees and had the best chance of really blocking the trailer from being seen from the road. Hopefully it will survive and regroup over the Winter. Everybody else looked to be in pretty good shape.

I had texted Diego on the way up and reached out to him again without a response. I figured he might be working up in Ash Valley or out of cell range somewhere so didn’t sweat the lack of response. I rambled down the hill to water around the cemetery and admire our new holes that Kelly dug for us. I put the healing bark protection paste on 5 trees and wrapped them with the gauze. I had 2 wire cages so made a note to bring three more down. We may have lost 1 or 2 more trees, but it is tough to tell at this point in the year. I can’t remember the name of 1 of the 3 trees species we planted around the cemetery, but they are the one’s having the bark eaten the most.

I came back up top and ate my chicken on crackers and had a powdered vitamin pack in my water to perk me up a bit. After lunch, I fixed the gutter on the outhouse, fished not 1, not 2, but 3 tiny critters out of the outhouse water tank by hand before draining the tank into the shitter hole. The mound in the hole seems to be growing like a rising loaf of bread. I hope the water settles it back down and condenses it some. I would appreciate a little more distance between the mound and the toilet seat. The drain hose was frozen and almost broke rather than bending into a different shape so it took a minute to get the hose around to the other side and into the hole.

I screwed some even bigger screws into the little drain lip above the “Leo” door on the Yellowstone. It still didn’t quite grab, but it is holding the trim piece in place, for now. While I was over there, I checked out the inside of the rooms and closed the ceiling vents for the Winter. The rooms were surprisingly clean and undisturbed by critters, so I was much pleased. There was a 2” diameter hole in each ceiling that I patched with a piece of flooring from the new room and a pot lid. Now they seem ready for Winter.

I closed the roof vents in Mike’s trailer too and drained the water as best I could. The water pump came on but just seemed to pump air through the lines. The gauge says the water level was low so maybe it is/was empty. I poured a couple bottles of water down the toilet as it sort of stunk and figured it was now ready for Winter. I think all we have left to do now is take home the batteries and propane tanks next trip. With that, I was pretty much done for the day.

Last trip up with Mike, I thought the water in the kitchen tank smelled bad and suspected a critter may have drowned in there. I guess I just didn’t want to deal then, but this trip, it had to be dealt with. I had brought a net from home and sure enough, there was a huge pack rat in there. Between the metal bucket we leave out for drinking water, the 3 in the outhouse tank, and now this guy in the kitchen tank, I bet more than 20 rodents have drowned. Once the thing was out of the tank, I was really grossed out and didn’t use the water any more.

So, with no shower to take, and not being very hungry, and the cold setting in, a beverage was in order and a fire was needed. I had a couple cocktails in the fire corral and as I was sitting there in the dark, a skunk waddled right past me and under the stairs to the deck. Maybe he has rousted all the pack rats. After a bit, I then retired to the cabin, talked to K, added a blanket to my bed and dissolved into an incredible sleep. The sky again was super clear and the stars alive with twinkle and light. I alternated between hot and cold and didn’t like the heaviness of all the blankets, but I was in bed a long time. It was really cold when I got up and went right for the coffee and many layers of clothes, hats, and gloves. I was happy I was done with the watering and wouldn’t need to deal with that again. I had my first cup on the upper terrace in the sun and my second cup over on the bench. My third cup was on the go.

When I was fishing the rat out of the tank, I noticed one of the glass panels of the shower stall was loose and so I went about securing it. While I was over there, I saw the skunk just a few feet away gnawing on a rat carcass. He was there for several hours just working this thing over, hopefully getting a good meal from it. While I was setting up my new water tank at my cabin, I saw the skunk heading down the road towards Bob’s cabin. He had a terrible limp and could only move about 10’ at a time before he would just crumple down in the road and rest a minute or two before making another short advance on his destination. It was really sad to see him in such bad shape.

I looked up the internet to see if skunks hibernate and they do not. In really cold weather they stay in their dens for weeks at a time in a very low metabolism state, but they are active all winter and actually mate in February so unfortunately, this guy will not have much time to get healthy before much is asked of him. It is tough out there. I got my tank set up on cinder blocks inside the plastic kiddy pool I brought up. I sprayed the very unstable plug again with sealer and hoped for the best. I screwed in a couple eye hooks and tied the tank up against the cabin, so it is also set for the Winter. I gathered some tools and materials and headed back down the hill.

I made 4 more wire cages for the trees around the cemetery. This wire has a larger opening so I hope it is still an effective deterrent as I am not sure what is eating the bark. I then went down, literally backed down in reverse to the gate to work on the mailbox. I brought the socket set Jordan gave me and was able to tighten the nuts down as far as they would go. Unfortunately, the bolts are a tad too long and/or the threads too short, so I need to bring up more washers and space eaters to tighten down the nuts real good to keep that thing mounted on the post and take that wind all year round.

With that, it was lunch time again. I ate my tuna on crackers and couldn’t quite finish the entire container. I was stuffed with tuna and needed another beverage to wash it all down. I was cleaning up around the cabin build, sorting the scrap batten pieces that were worth keeping, moving brush and the Juniper tree trimmings from in the front, when Kelly called to say he was bringing up the water tank. Sure enough, he appeared in his flatbed diesel with his 2 sons who seemed light years older than last time I saw them. The older boy had a slim shadow of a mustache, but they were both super nice and polite.

We got the tank off and nestled on the pile of dirt Kelly had brought up with his tractor a couple weeks back. It was the perfect size, shape, and location and the tank looked great. I got a pretty good idea that my plan to connect them would work so I was excited to get at that. The Reuck’s hung for a spell and shot the bull about this and that. It was fun to have a visit and laugh with the neighbors. Eventually they were off and it was cocktail time. Again, I wasn’t hungry for dinner so I just decided to burn all the construction debris I had piled in the garbage cans and all the un-reusable trim pieces rather than bringing it all home and have to cram it into my garbage can, especially in light of the party coming up.

I got Ken’s fire pit off the deck and some of the cardboard and packaging and set it up out in the open between my cabin, the new cabin, and Mike’s trailer. The breeze was very mild to non-existent and after a while it died down altogether. I started slowly and carefully, but with time and beverages, the flame length increased dramatically. It was a great fire, but still took several hours to burn everything. It was awesome to stay up some and burn and enjoy the heat and light. Fortunately, the wood was so light and soft, it did not create any coals and burnt completely out after the flames died down. It was an awesome productive night.

I was up pretty early and had my first cup on the upper terrace and my second cup on the lower terrace. I had called Diego last night as he was supposed to be arriving today to work, but I was currently 0 for 4 in trying to contact him. I texted him again this morning, then called every half hour until he finally answered at 9:30. Obviously, he wasn’t coming today. I held my tongue as he said a lot of words that all amounted to he wasn’t coming so didn’t interest me at all. Finally, I asked if he could come tomorrow morning and he said he would, so at least I would get half a day of progress, although him working on my departure day always adds a level of unnecessary stress.

Once I settled down, I was able to turn my attention to a free day now that Diego wasn’t coming. I figured I would go down below and wrap the other 4 trees around the cemetery that were being eaten in wire fencing and then bring the socket set Jordan gave me down to tighten the mail box nuts. I was able to wrap 4 trees and leave a roll of wire for more if needed and maybe as a test of ne’er-do-wells over the Winter. Unfortunately, I needed more washers or less bolt at the mail box, so I couldn’t get it really secured, but it is plenty good until I get back next trip with more materials.

Back up top, I connected a flexible 1.5” hose from the inlet of the big 3,000 gallon tank to the inlet of the new 1,500 gallon tank and secured it with duct tape so it should be in good shape for the Winter. It was then time for lunch so I settled into my tuna and crackers and some fruit for lunch. While I was sitting on the deck, I started to collect chairs so that next time up we can easily stash them all in the shed or in the new room and keep them out of the elements over Winter. I then began to collect stuff I wanted to take home with me this trip and pretty soon the truck was nearly packed. I continued to organize things that would come home this time, next trip, and stuff that will stay behind.

I was in shorts and a T-shirt all day, but had an ear out for the forecasted gusty winds. Fortunately, I had a very productive morning, because at about 3:15, in a matter of minutes, the temperature dropped from nice to ass cold and the wind started raging. The weather had turned in an instant. I went into my cabin and put on long pants and multiple layers of long sleeves and sweatshirts. I brought more layers, my hat, and my gloves up to the kitchen, but it was still no good. It was windy and cold and no good to be out in. Suddenly, I realized I had a new air tight room built just for this situation.

I grabbed a chair, the ice chest, and a cocktail and got inside the room. It was glorious. It literally was warm in there because of all the glass and the solar radiation, but not a wisp of air was moving. I stripped back down to a T-shirt and sat back in my chair grinning like a Cheshire cat. It was so warm and toasty in there while just on the other side of that sliding door was cold misery. It was incredible. I called Kristen to tell her and to kill some time until I could get back outside. She said I should bring in the laptop and write, but I kinda just wanted to soak in the moment and enjoy the fact that my creation had already served its purpose. We have a great set up now with no shelter for enjoying to great weather, some shelter for when it is moderate to fair weather and total shelter when it is shit. And, we have the wood stove in reserve. I can’t wait to fire that bad boy up.

The wind stopped as suddenly as it started and it was near total calm at 6:30. I again was plenty full from lunch so I drank my calories, had a little fire in the corral. I was early to bed, but not early to rise. The overnight low was 24 and the cabin felt like a meat locker. Knowing I eventually had to get up, I covered myself in many layers of clothing, my super warm hat with lowered ear flaps, and my gloves and ventured outside. Everything was white with frost. The tiny flecks of frozen crystals sparkled in the low sunlight. It really was beautiful…and cold. I again had my first cup up on the upper terrace but I had to sit on the ground as all the chairs were frosted.

I had my second cup walking around the loop to see everything covered in frost. It was a lovely sight. I settled down on the Yellowstone deck as the roof extended far enough over the deck as to keep the frost from settling so it was dry. It was also in the sun, so I was quite comfortable. I got a sudden pang to call Jordan and we had a really nice talk. It was a bit stressed, or at least I was since it had been so long since we had talked, and even longer since I had reached out to him, but it was really good to talk to him for a minute.
As I was sitting on the deck, the Diego mobile drove by and he had both his guys with him which I did not expect as he had told me otherwise. I figured maybe this was an olive leaf. Nonetheless he was here and he got his guys going. I asked him to focus on the gutter so he had Bryan attempt that while the other guy worked on the floor and Diego finished the paneling and then put on the roof pipe collar. Diego is really good but his guys are very slow and inexperienced. It wasn’t long before he was finishing the floor and finishing the gutter while they looked on. But it was progress nonetheless.

While I tried not to watch the crew, I called Hat Creek Construction that Kelly had recommended as a possible source for cinders. I got the office in Burney who gave me the number for the Alturas office. They did not have cinders but she suggested I try to get a hold of the Burney office, so I called them back. She thought they might but would have to check with the guys out at the pit. She also gave me a number of another outfit, actually located in Hat Creek.

I still haven’t heard back from Dale at Hat Creek Burney. I may have a shot at a private one-truck hauler, Ron, who subcontracts with Hat Creek Alturas to bring road base instead of cinders, but the most responsive and professional outfit has been Adam at Packway. He called me back with an estimate and said he could definitely deliver on the 7th, so that is who we will go with. This is a little bit of a rabbit pulled out of the hat at the last minute. I had hoped and prayed and tried to pull TNS along to a Wednesday delivery of the same cinders I have on the road now, but they couldn’t get er done, so I was OK with delaying the road work until next year, but this sudden movement makes me happy and will allow us to fulfill our goals of building the cabin, adding water storage capacity, and rocking the road this year.

Once I had exhausted my rock phone calls, I got back to packing up the kitchen and my cabin and was soon near ready to roll. This gave me some time to screw in the deck. I was impressed that Diego didn’t let the boys stop for lunch since they would only work until 2:00 or so, and to some extent, they were trying to make up time. Diego and I discussed possibly leaving them behind to work a full day, but I don’t think either one of us was comfortable with the idea, so at about 1:30, I let Diego know we only had 1 hour until I had to leave. He got his guys to install the gutter on the back of the cabin (but not the connector arm over to the water tank), the floor was finished, the paneling was almost finished, the extra support arms still needed to go on the roof pipe, and a trim collar piece still needed to be attached to the wall around the stove pipe. Despite not yet being 100% complete, the cabin has already been awesome.

I talked to Diego about coming back in 2 weeks when we come back to close up for the season and gave him a hard time about not showing up this time. He told me he is going to Mexico to marry his girlfriend next week, so I am even less confident we will see him in 2 weeks, but it is what it is. The crew was packed up and rolling about 2:00, and the dust had barely settled back down on the road as I followed. I had done my best to scratch and claw some productivity out of this trip. We got some, but it hadn’t come easy. I was happy to have talked to Jordan and stoked we had road rock cinders set up with Adam and allegedly a return trip by Diego and gang. I am super excited to turn my attention to our 50/15 party on the 2nd and then focus on our last trip of the year. Hopefully Bob and a couple of the other fools will come along for the ride.

As I was getting ready to roll, I saw a big smoke to the SW. I don’t recall the name of this fire, but it turned out to be another massive one. It was even more visible heading South on 395 and again around Susanville.

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