For us, getting to the cabin in the winter requires a 5 mile x-country excursion from the nearest plowed road. This wouldn't be such a big deal if we had a snowmobile; but having put our last dime into the cabin we get by w/ a pair of ski's. Needless to say by the time you get to the cabin things need to be in order for a comfortable stay. After making our first winter trip, here is a quick list of things that we realized we should have done in late fall in order to be better prepared for winter:
- Fill Propane and have an extra portable propane tank for the time things run out
- Extra gas for the generator, latern, etc.
- Have a bucket of sand set in a handy spot for the stairs
- Cut lots of wood and then a little more
- Extra pair of snowshoes
- Think about putting in a cellar; vegetables in a bin aren't eatible after freezing
- Portable ice shanty and extra fishing set (rod, scooper, auger); perhaps a ground blind would double as a portable ice shanty. Fishing w/out a shanty in the UP is doable but difficult on a cold blustery day!
- Pair of slippers or house shoes; cabin floor is cold and it would be nice to walk out on the porch w/out having to put on shoes
- Tire chains, rope, high jack, chain saw, jumper cables and comealong all seem like necessities
- Drinking water from fall, which is now a frozen block, is of value as it melts slowly and provides good cold drinking water after a day or two in the cabin. This is a good boast to melting snow supplies can be slow and time consuming
- Emergency plan for evaculation; phone numbers and know methods for emergency contact
