Off Grid Life: Racing Against Winter to Leave Our Remote Island Before Freeze-Up
As winter approaches our secluded off grid life on our island in Northern Canada, we are hurrying against the clock! The frost is getting thicker. The lake is starting to freeze up—leaving us with no choice but to pack up, secure our cabin and make our escape before the ice completely sets in! Come along with us as we experience life off grid while facing the challenges of getting the island ready for the harsh Canadian winter.
Table of Contents
- A Winter Wonderland
- Where We Will Build Our Forever Cabin
- Our Very Own Hockey Rink!
- Umm… So THIS Happened…
- Hauling the Old Cabin Debris for Recycling
- How Much Space Do We Have to Build?
A Winter Wonderland
In our northern wilderness retreat, winter is upon us as frost grows thicker while the ice slowly advances from the shorelines and marches towards the center of the lake. The scenery before us is truly captivating and our faces feel the biting cold in the atmosphere as we hasten to pack up and ensure that the cabin is properly secured before time runs out. We need to make our getaway before the lake freezes over completely.
Where We Will Build Our Forever Cabin
Upon surveying the land plot for our cabin project we noted it seems much smaller now that the cabin is gone. The vistas are too precious to be obstructed by foliage so we intend to selectively remove some trees to enhance the view from here. We have just one remaining structure to demolish in order to create space for our new forever cabin.
Our Very Own Hockey Rink!
While exploring the beach area and feeling inspired by the surroundings we thought: “Wouldn’t it be great to set up a real hockey rink next winter?” The ice is perfectly flat and smooth. By setting up some boards and nets we could organize a friendly family game of hockey.
Umm… So THIS Happened…
While moving a large stack of wood, the assorted pieces of wood turn out to be much heavier than we had originally thought. This results in our Kubota tipping forward, unable to right itself. See how Ryan manages to get out of this predicament.
Hauling the Old Cabin Debris for Recycling
Long since inoperable, the vintage fridge and stove from our previous cabin are loaded for recycling. During demolition, the roof actually fell onto the fridge, and the fridge held it up! Recycling is a key part of our off grid lifestyle – trying our best to minimize waste and maximize resources.
How Much Space Do We Have to Build?
As we contemplate the layout or our future cabin, we are inspired to think about a more spacious design that showcases the beautiful view of the lake to its fullest potential. It will be great fun planning out every detail for our new cabin as the main focal point of our off grid lifestyle to come.
Leaving our island home, even for winter, is a bittersweet moment. But we know that this is just a short chapter in our off-grid life – one filled with challenges, triumphs, and a deep connection to the beauty of the Canadian wilderness.
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