End of Fall Update

Does anyone even read this blog anymore? I hope so. Otherwise, I guess I'm only posting this update to serve my own ego.

Anyway, a few weeks ago we wrapped up our abbreviated fall work schedule on the cabin. We had originally hoped to do quite a bit of work this fall term, like installing windows and a door, closing in the gable ends, and putting the woodstove and the stovepipe in. However, classes and cold weather got the best of us, and we're now all wrapped up for the winter.

We were able to get all of the fancy trim up on the roof and start to frame the gable ends. We also finished putting up the joists that will support the loft. We also used the safety boat to transport all of the scaffolding and power equipment back to Hanover for storage, which isn't as cool as finishing the loft, but is just as necessary.

Overall, a moderately productive season. We'll be selecting and ordering windows very soon, and work will commence again in the spring. I finish my B.E. degree at the end of winter term, so assuming I don't get a full-time job that requires I start in March, I'll be spending spring term finishing the cabin. I'm not sure who will be around - some of our original crew (Kate, Max, Lucas) seem to have left Hanover semi-permanently, which is unacceptable.

Here is the best picture of the cabin itself at this point:


and here is a picture of the crew enjoying the first celebratory beverage in the newly-completed loft:

End of Summer Update!

Yes. That's right. This is the last update of the summer (kind of). As of about two hours ago, we achieved our goal for the 2010 summer term: we finished the roof of the cabin.

We had initially hoped to get to this point by August 28th, the end of the ten-week summer work period, but then as time went by we adjusted our goal, hoping to finish all of the logwork by the 28th. This included the five largest logs, the purlins, that run along the length of the cabin, front to back, supporting the roof. Getting to this point (spoiler alert: we did) would mean that by the end of the day on the 28th, when all our now skilled laborers went their separate ways, all of the remaining work could be completed with additional help from volunteers.

We did pretty well through the last scheduled week, using halogen floodlights at night and copious amounts of caffeine to power through the tough times. Our last log, however, took quite a bit of work. The ridgepole, the large spruce log that supports the peak of the roof, was our largest spruce, with a 21-inch diameter butt. It is supported by four posts throughout the length of the cabin, and required something like twelve people standing all over the cabin to get it in place. Jordan's dad ran the chain fall for this log, and put all of us young guns to shame. So by the time Max, Kate, and Jordan, left on the 29th, all of our logs were up and it was up to me, Lucas, and Kodiak to finish the roof.

It took about a week and a half, and lots of help from volunteers (thanks Elar, Chelsea, Parker, and Rob) but here we are with a finished roof. We chose "ivy green" metal roofing, the standard for DOC cabins, and it looks great. Here's the latest picture - sorry it's so dark, we finished around 9:30 tonight!



At this point, we've got a whole list of things still left to do before the cabin is complete - put in the stove, put in windows and the door, put up joists for the loft area, etc. However, for a week or so we'll be returning to the lives we ignored all summer. Lucas is fixing his truck, Kodiak is leading a DOC First-Year Trip, and I'm going home to spend time with my family. We'll still be updating this blog periodically in the fall as the cabin gets further towards completion.

Week 9 - a roof!

I finished my last day of work on the 21st and left Hanover for a trip home, leaving the rest of the crew one person short and dangerously deficient of X chromosomes. Fortunately they have found a replacement for me as they have a big week ahead of them, faced with the task of putting up the roof!

But first, a bit more detail on what we've been up to the last couple of weeks. The cabin walls quickly got higher and higher, until we realized that our square cabin was essentially a giant crib and it was becoming more and more difficult to get in or out. We cut a rough hole where the door will be and set up some scaffolding to make moving around easier. For a couple courses we could get away with using what were essentially giant metal hooks with a platform at the bottom. You could sling two over the top of a wall and put a 2x12 in between them to walk on.





















We had to raise the sky line to accommodate our taller cabin, so Kodiak got to climb some trees while the rest of us watched in awe and terror.


























We've since put up some more permanent scaffolding on the inside and out to make scribing, chainsawing, and generally moving around easier. Things were moving along nicely until one day early last week disaster struck! Jordan's footwear became dangerously dilapidated and required the attention of a professional of the highest caliber.
















Actually, we broke our comealong, a tool we were hoping to use to haul up the last load of logs. After bringing one log up the ramp and onto the island we decided we were confident of the chain falls "two ton" (or so they claimed) hauling capabilities and decided to go for the biggest log we have left: one of the purlins which will probably be used for the ridge pole supporting the roof which is easily two feet in diameter. It's a seriously huge log, and it promptly broke the chain fall into two pieces. This left us without any logs to carve and with a several hundred pound log sitting abandoned on our ramp.

We promptly ordered a new toy - a chainsaw powered motorized winch - and then spent several days chasing UPS trucks around Hanover looking for our package. We assigned one person to sit at the picnic table with a smart phone refreshing the UPS delivery confirmation every thirty seconds (not "out for delivery" yet... or yet... or yet...) and got started on some necessary tasks which we were planning to work on after finishing the cabin. Most notably, we decided to pretend we were trail crew for a day and built some stairs.


































On Saturday we finally got our chainsaw winch, which hauls logs up the ramp in about a tenth of the time our human-powered tools could. We were able to place the last course of long logs, and put up some posts to support them over the porch.

































Right now, the rest of the crew is undoubtedly still mourning my absence and far too depressed to work. But once they collect themselves they will be putting one more course of short logs up. Next are three purlins, and then the roof!

Time lapse of the day

So there's this little, wonderful science museum across the river in Vermont called the Montshire that specializes in really cool exhibits that show kids how science happens. Those museum-ists know something about "cool" things, so when an employee (director?) of the museum told us this morning that she thought our last time lapse was cool, I told her she ain't seen nothing yet.

This is untrue, I actually said thank you very much (hi mom!).

In any case, here's a new video! Feel free to watch it. You can scroll down first and read my explanation of what all is going on.



This video shows the process of carving a log with chainsaws and chisels to fit on top of another log. Before we put the log on the sawhorses on the ground, we use a tool called a scribe to trace the contours of the lower log onto the upper one with pencils. Next, we bring the log down, score the long sections with knives, chisel out the lines in the notches, and trace over it all in permanent marker to make it more visible. The scoring and chiseling helps our sawyers (fun fact, pronunciation is "soy-yer") cut more precisely.

In this video you start off seeing me, Max (hi mom!) finishing off the chiseling of one notch, then Kodiak starts carving the first notch on the first log and Jordan begins carving out the groove on the other log (which is slightly out of frame). The time lapse is shot from 30 feet up or so on the steel cable we've been using to lift our logs onto the building. Halfway into the video you'll notice us all swarm the log as we realize that Jordan is having trouble prying out a section of groove. Hooray teamwork!

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Unfortunately, because our resident photographers are off doing manly things with cars and chainsaws, it falls to me to update everyone without photographic assistance, since it's been a little too long.

Our walls have been growing to dangerous heights over the past week, but we have pushed on higher and higher (safety is only our #5 priority, so it's been a pretty nerve-wracking process at times). We have definitely become more efficient at the standard log-laying process than I ever thought we would be, laying a full course on an average day. The quality of our logwork has also improved a great deal, with our logs fitting almost seamlessly together at this point.

What I'm hoping is that when we put in the final hardwood floor, it brings our last couple courses of good logs to eye level in the cabin so that when people look at the walls, they'll think we've been this good all along.

As of a couple days ago we reached the height where things begin to get a little more complicated because we are nearing roof level. We moved another load of logs down from the farm (which included our hugest logs that are going to span the entire length of the cabin supporting a roof) and had quite a few adventures/disasters getting them up onto the island.


I will post again later with some pictures to completely explain the events of the last couple days, which have been much more eventful than the wall-building week before. It's been a ton of fun. Not to give out an spoilers, but still to come with the pictures are: tales of breaking hoisting equipment rated to 2 tons, Max going insane when left on the island alone for several hours, staircases, my failed attempts to get Greg to sign off on building spiral staircases, a yellow jacket massacre, 3rd degree poison ivy, UPS's blood-lust inspiring behavior, the crew's blossoming modeling careers, a visit from the Schulz family, Sokol family, my newest celebrity crush and the explanation of how our crew came to possess 13 chainsaws (besides necessity, obviously).

And because I currently don't have means to take pictures of our escapades, here is a picture of the 3rd most awesome creature in the animal creature, and the inspiration for the way I draw shave every log. The Otter. Fastest way to my heart.

New publicity!

Word on the street (and by street, I mean "The Dartmouth Homepage") is that we are currently the web spotlight of the world. Well, given the new exposure, we felt obliged to provide you, our loyal and new readers, with a glimpse of a day in the life of the Titcomb Cabin work site.

The video below is a time lapse of an entire day on Gilman Island. We start the day carving two logs, then prep and carve an entire second two logs. We finish off the day by beginning the prep work on a third pair of logs. We are only a few more levels from starting on the roof!

Also, keep an eye out for Lucas's family and our volunteers Dan and Parker. They've both come out to help a lot and deserve a round of applause for their help. Dan does a lot of work shaving logs on the left side of the frame while his dog Zealand roams the site.

To: Moms

A few photos from the week: to be commented further by DaK and myself later or tomorrow when we are not quite as exhausted.


But who is actually sawing here? 'Tis for you to find out.




"Crushed."




'Tis becoming more and more of a cabin every day.




Our newest pet Larry the hairy caterpillar, quite the escape artist.

This Post is for Patty Olsen.

We had a special visitor to the site on Tuesday morning! We might just be the only cabin-building crew to have had a U.S. National Team lacrosse player working for us this summer. Here she is hoisting a log up from the water.

Meet the Mallets

As it turns out, the only reason any young man or woman gets into construction is the hammer. Hitting things with hammers remains the most primal form of human satisfaction; it's up there with setting things on fire. Fortunately, we Titcomb rebuilders understand the value of a good mallet and hammer. They can be used to nudge, tickle, chisel, place, suggest, command, and, of course, destroy. In fact, these mallets are so important to our crew that each and every one of them has a name. I present you with the family behind the reconstruction of Titcomb cabin: the Mallets.

From left to right, starting with our larger enforcers: George, Bricktop, Mikey, and Thudbuster.

Gorgeous George, über-mallet, 60 pounds, special attack: providing the mild suggestion that several hundred pound logs move left, right, up, down, or over several inches at a time.

Bricktop, large sledge, 16 pounds, special attack: fireplace elimination.

Mikey, maul, 8 pounds, special attack: sneaking into pictures with hammers.

Thudbuster, sledge, 8 pounds, special ability: enhanced veinyness of the user.

The bad news, however, is that we can't get along with just enormous hammers. We need more delicate tools for placing log dogs (steel pieces that keep logs from rolling), chiseling (for delicate work), and chicken tenderizing.

Brian and Kate are our two quality-construction hardwood mallets for chiseling. They do fine chisel work and were a gift from our advisor, Brian Kunz.

Next is our 3-pounder, Nubduster. He does the delicate destructive work like squashing yellow jackets and bees. The two hammers to his right belong to Kodiak and Lucas, respectively. We call them the wrist-burner and the wafflemaker, respectively.

We also have a small ball hammer and a leather hammer. No one has ever used them, because a leather hammer is apparently mainly only useful for brasswork. Oh.

You'd imagine that, with such a wide variety of wonderful tools, we'd be fully satisfied for any mallet-swinging needs we may have. But you, sir or ma'am, would be wrong. Instead we decided to just build more hammers. Those big round wood mallets you see? Bullseye, Crookshanks, and Ergo. Fortunately, these mallets are perfect for all the rest of our needs, so we have one more rubber mallet just for kicks. He's kind of like a bouncy ball... we just play with him for fun.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this short, wordy exploration of the world of mallets on the island. Please direct any and all further questions to jordan.nesmith@dartmouth.edu

P.S. After re-reading this post, I was reminded that I forgot to mention our lead shot-filled hammer, Nostradamus. Much like Nos's predictions, we spend most of our time ignoring him, hence the forgetfulness.

Log Drive, Round 2

As we laid logs and and worked on building up our cabin every day, it became apparent that we would need another log drive pretty soon. So we set a date with Duff, our friend over at S&S, and okayed it with the crew coaches, and we were set.

Today we got up early again to head up to the Organic Farm and get the first raft ready. Duff showed up at 10 AM, followed by Dan Nelson in the S&S boat. We had the first raft of nine logs ready to go, and the first tow went about as successfully as we could hope for.
Because we were making good time, we decided to do three tows, bringing 36 new logs to the island. The larger size of today's haul (compared with that of the last log drive) gives us more logs to choose from as we build up, and that will help a lot.

The log raft and tow boat, as seen from the Ledyard Bridge. Photo by Rory Gawler.

Now we've got our work cut out for us as we haul them all up to the island... we'll be gettin' huge.

Us after the next few days of hauling logs up to the island.