Imagine . . .

. . . if you will, hewing a log this thick.

And look how smooth the face of the log is, using an axe!

One more - holding logs - Log dog

No, this is not a Log Dog, but a dog on a log.















This is a log dog. Used to hold logs still while they are scribbed, or marked.
Or if you need to keep a log from rolling while it is hewn they can do that.

Moving logs - Cant Hooks or Peavey's?

 I have used a Cant Hook a lot moving logs around over the years.
The little tooth or hook on the end bites into logs really well for rolling and moving.

Peaveys can be used the same way but does not bite as well, but the point comes in handy if you have to move a log on a log drive.

I have two Cant Hooks and have used them for many years.
Both are in need of new handles.

 A. Cant hook

B. Peavey

C. log carrier

Now a couple just for fun.

I have posted many times here the history of the first Log Cabin I built, which, by the way, the owner called Red Tail after seeing a Red Tail Hawk land on the gate post when he first came out to see his new property.

The above photo is of my first (and only) British sports car in front of my first log cabin.
1962 Austin Healey Sprite.

Loved that car!

This one is of my second Saint Bernard (as a puppy), Sherlock.

Boy I loved that dog.

Well I guess we are still on Maine

While going through old slides last night I came across a cabin from Baxter State Park Maine.
We did not stay in this one, but near it in another cabin.

Since we are talking about Maine anyway. . . . .

That same summer I worked in Maine that I mentioned in the last post, on one of my canoe trips I got to stop by an old hunting fishing camp called Nugents Camp on Chamberlain Lake.
It is one of those places the old guides would tell you you had to stop at if you were passing it.
Accessible only by boat or float plane, it was built in 1936.
And it has log cabins.

Way back when I was there, and I would imagine is still the case, the property had no electricity.
Lighting and cooking and water heating was done by propane.
Refrigeration was done by way of an ice barn (log building) built into the hillside.
In the winter they would cut ice blocks out of the lake and store them in this ice barn, covered with saw dust.
I stopped by in July and there was still plenty of ice. Ice ponds and ice barns were a big deal before refrigeration.

This project - Where it all began.

Many years ago I had the privilege of working at an High Adventure Base in Maine. Right on the boundary of Baxter State Park.

Wilderness, lakes, rivers, wildlife and one of the best places to camp anywhere.
I, needless to say, fell in love with the area.

Depending on which way you are going, Baxter State Park is either your finish or your start to the Appalachian Trail.

And one of my favorite places to camp in the park is Katahdin Stream Campground.

Surrounded by trees, right along Katahdin Stream, the campsite is ideally placed for one of the best hikes up Mt. Katahdin.

 The entrance has this view of Mt. Katahdin, but the campsites soon take you into the woods.

 And way back in about 1978 is the first time I got to experience an Adirondack shelter like the one pictured here at Katahdin Stream campground.

These are ideal for sleeping in and looking out at the woods, and hearing the stream just beyond your picnic table.
If it is a rainy evening, a great place to hang your lantern and read a book.
Up off the ground, nice and dry.

 The closeness to others allow for visiting with like minded campers, yet far enough apart to be private.
And usually when I go there are not many people around anyway.

 Here in autumn colors.

Although built of much smaller logs than the ones I am using, this is where I got the idea to begin with.

While this campground is not the only one in the park that has these, these are the ones I think about the most.

 And a great place to hang things up to dry.















An old post card of Katahdin Stream Campground.

And look, even the ranger station is made out of logs.

I have also stayed in these shelters (below) at South Branch Pond. . .

. . . as well as some at Nesowadnehunk Field, both in Baxter State Park.

(These at South Branch are my second favorite, but much closer to where I worked near the park.)
Although also built of logs, the building style is a little different.

Another couple of days on the project.. . .

 Went out Friday straight from work and got the evening and Saturday morning to work on the project.

Two of the three key areas I got to work on are pictured here.

Just a few little things to do before the roof goes one.

The red circle with the orange arrow is where I bolted down the over hang plate now that the rafters are set.

I used ten inch lag bolts to attach both ends of the top plate.

The red circle with the green arrow is where I bolted the front log support to the logs.
Here I used eight inch lag bolts.
I countersunk the bolts so I can come back and put a piece of dowel rod over each bolt to make it look like it was pegged.

All that took till about dusk, then it was time for steak, beans and a beer.

 I tried out a new hammock for sleeping Friday night.

While my first two attempts to get into it looked like a bad parachute landing, third attempt proved successful and it was pretty comfortable once cocooned inside.

Saturday morning found me finishing off the top plate bolts and then closing in the rafter ends on the back plate log (circled in red in the next photo.)

This is a lot easier now than waiting till the roof decking is down. It will keep any breeze from coming up under the eaves once it's all finished.

 With these couple of chores done I was able to remove almost all the other supporting lumber that had been holding it all together.

It gives it a cleaner look, and you are better able to see what it will look like when finished.
With this end facing a nice fire, it will be a fun place to sleep in cooler weather.

 I put the tarps back over to protect the logs a little from the incoming rain expected Sunday evening.















The inside with the supporting lumber removed.

Here is how it looks in front of the fire pit and the main cabin.

Can't wait for cooler weather!

This paper is a lot of fun! - Building with Logs, Olympic National Forest

Building with Logs, Olympic National Forest

Another picture of that first cabin I built.

 Probably 1979.

From the previous post. Same orange hat, and the same red coat is hanging behind me.
History of the cabin is linked here.

Another good day on the project.

Saturday I got time off for good behavior and got to get out to the cabin and worked.

I got up early and was placing rafter joists before 8am.

Here they are looking from the north-west.

I went with 2 foot centers on most of them, with the framing on the ends changing that just a little.

With the kind of decking I plan on putting down, 2 foot centers will be plenty strong.

 From the inside looking up.

This is the front from the south-east corner.

I think you can really see the shape and plan now.

 Took a little time to plan and build the over-hang.

I went with a one foot over-hang to give the logs plenty of protection during a shower.

Without a ridge beam on the over-hang I had to do a little math (guess work) to adjust the length of the rafter.

Here it is on the other end.

The back side (west) will still be supported on the plate at the back wall, while the front is floating free, thus the need for the box framing.

 Here you can see the framing finished from the north-east.

We already enjoy sitting up here with chairs and looking out towards the fire pit.

 Same view from a little higher angle.

 Back and front came out nice and even and will be easy to put a board along the front to finish it off.

Looking from the east into the front.

Decking on the roof next.