I misled you yesterday when saying we’d visit my short wussy walks in Mineral King. Instead today’s topic is Cabin Life: what in the world does one do in a place with no electricity, internet, or phones?

These are the photographical items on the agenda:

1. Enjoy the views.

2. Help people hold down their porches.

3. Go exploring for things not noticed before, like these 5 trees growing off one downed tree.

4. Split wood (I’m downright scary with an axe.)

5. Test out a new method to oil the cabin. Looks as if nothing happened here; should have taken an “After” picture.

6. Dig through books trying to identify wildflowers.

7. Clean up messes from dropped trees. This is a giant long project.

8. Examine plants that are growing, with cautious victory dances that some transplanting may have FINALLY taken hold.

9. Spy on kids climbing The Big Rock, thinking how cool it is that kids still know how to play without screens (and then discover that they were inventing a way to get a tablet to the top of the rock.)

Non-photographical activities

We also listen to a lot of country music and try to guess the singers, read, and I knit. Trail Guy naps when he isn’t fixing things at other people’s cabins. (“Hey Mike, could you look at my fridge/oven/toilet/faucet/shower/water heater?” This is endless.) We hang out with neighbors, help strangers figure out appropriate hikes or walks, visit with people that we can’t avoid, and sometimes we hide from all the social activities.

And of course, we hike and walk. Hiking is when you carry a pack with water and lunch; walking is when you don’t have to carry all that stuff (but you can if you want—I rarely do.)

Next: Walking to Crystal Creek