No More Travels!

Butte Lake: Aug 28, 2012

I took this picture about 10 miles from the Butte Lake Road. There is still smoke rising from several locations.


I have really done it this time. Arrived in good time and brought my stuff inside after many trips back and forth to the car. The keys gave me some problem, but I eventually got inside the ranger cabin. It is really nice, and I’ve taken some pictures of the inside.

I went to get the cart and had a devil of a time finding the key. I understood that the key would be with the cart, but it turned out it was on one of the key rings given to me. I drove the cart through both A and B loop to see if anyone had arrived yet – no one, and it looks like I’ll be all alone tonight. From all the mouse traps set around the place, I will probably wish I was alone! I don’t know if they are set or not. I have never looked at one up close, and won’t touch it. When it comes to rodents my feelings are that I skip the niceties and just go for the jugular.
Then I decided that since I can’t figure out if lights work or not – there seem to be some that are propane – I would get out the clothes I plan to wear tomorrow. I had already hung the uniform shirts up and delved into my pack for the khaki pants – the same ones I slaved over a hot iron to make sure looked good. I took everything out of the pack and realized the pants were still on hangers in my closet back home. I brought two pairs of jeans with me, but they won’t make it without a visit to the laundry at least once, maybe two or three times depending on the amount of dirt and dust kicked up.

Did I mention that I made the bed? I found out I brought two fitted bottom sheets but no top sheet. That isn’t all that big a problem and I just tucked it in at the foot of the bed. I also brought two pillow cases but no pillows. I don’t know what else can go wrong, but I’m mad enough at myself over leaving the khakis home to keep me mad for several days. What a dumb thing to do, and remember how I was procrastinating before I left?

Next morning, Aug 29
Because of having no lights in the cabin I just crawled into bed when it began to get dark. I woke up several hours later and couldn’t believe how dark it had gotten. The cabin is set in the trees so that the inside is not very bright even in the afternoons. There are what look to be propane lights in all the rooms, but I can’t figure out what to do with them – they seem to have mantles but the mantles don’t look to have been lit. I don’t know any other way of getting light from them other than turning on the propane flow and lighting them, but I will wait until I find out from someone. Same with the heater – I can’t figure out how to turn it on and it is COLD in here. I haven’t taken a shower yet because I’m sure I’d freeze to death, although I do have hot water and the fridge & stove work.

I was going to go outside after breakfast and took a better look at the locks on the door. What I thought was the locked position was actually the lock open position, so I slept with the door unlocked all night. As with most houses there are creaky noises during the night, and knowing I was all alone at the Butte Lake campground & day use area, I heard every noise.

While not having to set up a tent, I am getting a taste of what camping alone in a remote area would be like, and I think I prefer to have at least a few people nearby – not close in, but just to know there is someone nearby. I think it would be different if I had a dog.

One of the firefighters just stopped to ask about climbing Cinder Cone. She said she had flown over it a number of times and wanted to climb it if the trail was open. She is from Alaska. It is good to have a conversation, even though it wasn’t a long one.
It’s after 6pm and the flying insects drove me inside. I had a campfire that I just let burn down and then doused it. Indoors it’s dark and I can’t read or really do much of anything.
I fixed my dinner early so I could cook, eat, and clean up while there was still enough natural light in the cabin. Part of the problem with darkness is that I don’t see very well in dim light, but fortunately I can see the computer screen. I’ve already used 10% of my battery for the 3 times I’ve turned the computer on to add to this entry.

At 4pm I made rounds of the campground to make sure no one came in while I wasn’t looking. There wasn’t a soul then, but since there have been 3 vehicles drive in, so things will pick up tomorrow. Also I feel a bit relieved that I’m not the only person for miles around.

Today I finished Barb Thacker’s book “How Can I Be Lost When I Don’t Know Where I’m Going”. I could relate to so much of what she writes as I think any solo woman can relate, but her travels are interesting in their own right and should appeal to a broad range of folks. She traveled from New Mexico and across the northern U.S., into Canada, down the Eastern U.S., visiting family in Pennsylvania, all the way to Florida and then headed back west to Las Cruces. I just started on her 2nd book, “Blissfully Lost in Baja” and it looks to be as interesting as the first. I will need to find the 3rd in her series when I get back to electricity and internet.

Cabin living room:

The futon is not comfortable to sit on, and I can imagine it would be terrible for sleeping.

Two views of the kitchen:



The bedroom:

This is from the back side of the bedroom toward the front. There is a triple door closet on one side of the room, plus a large closet on the other side of the bed. The door you see just outside the bedroom opens to the ranger office.





Cabin from the front:


Side view of cabin:



Update Thursday, Sep. 6:
I got a very early start this morning as I still had a lot of things to take to the car, and I wanted to make a run through the campground to see if anyone had come in during the night. I found a guy who was just about ready to leave, and I told him he needed to pay for the site he used, which he did.

I had to deliver the uniforms, paperwork, radio, etc., to the Fee Office, and had a nice chat with the people there. I am sure I could get the job again next year if Ann and Andy don't return, but I think I wouldn't do it without a partner. I'm going to look into working at the Museum which is right in the heart of things (and you must know by now I'm not crazy being in the heart of things - I'd rather be on my own at the fringe), but I would be able to get employee housing. I have 2 or 3 months to think about it.