Field notes
Short updates from the cabins. Del writes most of these. June edits the spelling.
April 12, 2026
Drove the forest road up to the trailhead switchbacks on Tuesday. Snow's still three feet deep above the second creek crossing. Not going anywhere near the lookout until mid-May at the earliest. Booked guests for June have been notified; everyone's fine. One party is using the delay to drive up to Glacier first, which is the right call.
— Del
April 5, 2026
The old Vermont Castings finally gave up in March — a crack in the firebox we couldn't weld. Replaced with a smaller Jøtul F3 that heats the cabin faster and runs longer on a load. Takes 16" splits instead of 18". We re-stacked the woodshed accordingly. The user guide is taped inside the stove-side cabinet. Give it 30 minutes on your first fire, not 45; it's more efficient than the old one.
— Del
March 28, 2026
We pulled the pump in October because the old submersible was shot. New one went in three weeks ago, pressure tank's repressurized, water tested clean on the first two tries. (Iron a touch high, which is normal up there; we've added a Brita pitcher and a note that says "drinking water preferred from the pitcher.") Back on the board starting May 15.
— Del
March 14, 2026
The owners are coming out the weekend of April 25 for the annual stain and board-replacement. Two boards on the east side are spongy; they're coming out. If you're booked that weekend at Moose Pond — you aren't, we don't book it that week on purpose — you'd hear a lot of drills.
— June
February 20, 2026
Swapped the collimation cap on the 10-inch last week. The old laser had drifted enough that we were off by about half a degree — not huge, but enough that the laminated target card felt frustrating. New cap, rechecked against Polaris, confirmed with Jupiter. Back to being aimable by someone who's never used a Dob before. The card has been updated; it now includes M13 for June.
— Del (with an assist from Marilyn, who remembered which way to turn the screws)
January 30, 2026
Had a solo guest out for four nights last week at -8°F overnight. Reports the stove handled it fine; he kept it going from 6pm to 6am with one mid-night reload. He brought a zero-degree bag and his own wool socks. Shed stayed at 58°F on the reload side. Pit toilet seat, he reports, was "character-building." This is accurate.
— Del
December 18, 2025
Blew out the lines, drained the water heater, left the cabinet doors open under the sinks. Stove's clean. Rods are oiled and hanging in the rafters. Last guests of the season left a note that said "we caught nothing. best week we've had in years." Framed, in the kitchen, behind the kettle.
— June
November 4, 2025
Met at Dry Creek. Chili was good (Hollis brought it). Decisions: rates hold for 2026 on everything except Moose Pond peak weeks, which go up $10/night to fund the dock replacement. Maintenance fund healthy. Two prospective new cabins were discussed; one is too far for us to cover and the other has an access dispute with a neighbor we'd rather not inherit. Directory stays at eleven.
— Marilyn
We keep the past two seasons' notes in a paper binder at the grange. If you're a returning guest and want to see them — particularly any updates about a cabin you've stayed at — mention it when you book and we'll scan the relevant pages into your Arrival Packet.