ENGINEER LAKE CABIN TRIP, KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, ALASKA, MARCH 2-3, 2023
THE TEAM:
Austin Baumeister
Elizabeth Hufford
Wally Hufford
LOGISTICS:
We met Austin at the West Entrance of Skilak Loop Road just before noon. The road hadn't been plowed and the snow was deep so it was an adventurous drive to the Engineer Lake parking area. Once we were there we loaded our backpacks and sleds before snowshoeing across the lake to the cabin.
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| Approaching Engineer Lake cabin with food and gear. (photo courtesy of Austin Baumeister). |
We have visited the Engineer Lake Public Use cabin on a number of occasions. Mostly just stopping in to check the cabin and read the journal entries that have been made by various occupants. Each time we are there we comment on how it would be such a nice place to stay and promise ourselves that we will make reservations for a visit very soon.
We had some prepared some taco meat at home using some Sitka Black Tail deer meat a friend had given me. So, we warmed it up in a pan on the flat surface of the wood stove. Once it was ready we piled it and all the taco fixings on our plates and dug in. All of that was followed up with cookies for dessert and then the games began.
Once the games were over it was time for an evening stroll on Engineer Lake. We put on our boots and headlamps before stepping outside. Looking up we gazed at one of the most gorgeous winter skies you could ever imagine. It was crystal clear and the constellations were in perfect position. We could even identify and name many of them. After marvelling at all of it we began walking. Every once in a while we would stop to re-stare up at the stars and planets.
Well, after umpteen years of saying that we finally did it. Early March would be a good time to go as the daylight has extended itself by then and the mid-winter temperatures should have moderated enough for us to stay thawed out. Besides, our friend Austin was keenly interested in making the trip and he had that week off, so reservations were made and preparations began.
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| A very warm and hospitable cabin. |
It didn't take long for us to snowshoe across the lake and arrive at the cabin. We immediately got a fire going in the wood stove to get the structure warmed up as quickly as possible. Then we unloaded our excessive amount of gear and food. Even though we were spending just one night the counter was piled high with enough food for a week.
With everything stowed away we decided to do some ice fishing. Austin and I marched out on the lake and found a place where it looked like someone had fished before. We briefly discussed how this must be a good spot and Austin used his ice auger to drill two holes. He made it look easy, but the ice was thick. It was a massive effort.
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| Austin used an ice auger to drill a couple of holes through the ice so we could try our luck at catching a fish. |
We stood around for a couple hours, or longer, waiting for a fish to bite. We were about to give up when suddenly out of nowhere Austin hooked into a substantial fish! He reeled it to the top of the ice, we took a couple photos, and released back through the hole into Engineer Lake. Of course, we couldn't stop while the fish were biting and about 10 minutes later Austin caught another one. We must've been happy with two fish because not long after we decided it was time to return to the cabin for dinner.
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| Austin and an Engineer Lake fish. |
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| Dinner consisted of Sitka Black Tail deer tacos. They were delicious. |
Austin had the youngest eyes in the group so he ultimately had to read the finely printed directions for a game called Bananagrams. We all tried to follow the rules as best we could while sitting under the light of a headlamp hanging from a hook in the rafter. We also played several games of cribbage, although we never crowned a tournament champion because the brackets were too difficult to figure out.
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| Of course there was a cribbage tournament. |
It was one of those moments when you felt like everything was the way it has always been. We could have been standing on that frozen lake thousands of years ago looking up to see the exact same thing. It ties a person to time and the cosmos.
A last look at the cabin before we left. We made certain the fire in the wood stove was out before we departed.
This trip was flawless (the exception being not having any bacon and eggs). From the moment we met Austin at the West Entrance of Skilak Loop Road we fell into an easygoing rhythm that led from one activity and topic of discussion to the next.
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| Star gazing at Engineer Lake. |
After walking on the lake we returned to the cabin and got everything ready for a night of slumber. We filled the wood stove with wood and let it work up to a good blaze. Then right before getting into our sleeping bags we turned the damper down so it would burn as slowly as possible, hopefully providing heat long into the night. All of that worked because the cabin stayed warm the entire night and I didn't even turn the Buddy heater on until 5:30 AM, and that was just for fun because we really didn't need the extra warmth.
When we got up I checked the outdoor thermometer located outside the back window of the cabin. It read -4 degrees Fahrenheit. A chilly morning by most standards. But, all was good inside the cabin where we prepared for the admittedly unimaginative breakfast of oatmeal, banana chips, and coffee (next time I'm bringing bacon and eggs).
By the time we were done eating the sun was shining full force on the lake and we decided to go out for another round of ice fishing. The holes Austin drilled the day before had frozen over and we had to use an axe to open them up enough to make them fishable. After an hour or so with no luck we decided to pack it in. We headed back to the cabin and began the process of loading up and getting ready to leave.
Of course, the cabin and the setting had something to do with it. Staying in a basic structure heated by wood brings the most important and elemental aspects of life into clear focus. Then walking out onto the frozen lake in the dark and looking up at all creation can be profound and humbling. It's quite the juxtaposition if you think about it. I can't explain it any better than that.
But I do know this--I have a feeling we will be returning to the cabin at Engineer Lake very soon.
