As I sit and look out the window of our small and humble cabin the snow has started to fall on the wilderness landscape. Mt Nesuntabunt towers to the right of our cabin as our lake follows along its base to the south. Our lake for the week is not very big, maybe a half mile wide and 6 miles long. Deep and cold it’s great for ice fishing which is part of our plan for the week.
The weather man out of Millinocket who is barely understandable from the static filled battery operated radio struggling to pull in the distant signal , he claims it hasn’t quite reached 0 degrees yet and its almost noon! It sounded like he said low over night about -25! I will have to be extra diligent with the wood stove tonight! He did say we would get a reprieve from the cold tomorrow and it should hit mid-teens. Tomorrow we will try to snowmobile to the next pond over. I hear the ice fishing is good there!
The air is still and crisp as the tiny flakes of snow slowly make their way to the ground. The snow is falling so slowly it almost looks like it’s in slow motion as it makes it way to the resting place of the ones who came before.
As I strain to peer through the falling snow I see a dark small figure down the lake moving out from the shadows of the shoreline and making its way across the snow covered ice. Although I am too far away to see exactly what it is I know from the shape and color it is a coyote making its way to the other side of the lake. A welcome guest in the retreat from “Our” reality.
A quick glance at the old couch reassures me that my new wife is still napping as the time slowly passes in our own private paradise.
We are alone in our vacation cabin. The type of “alone” most folks never get to experience! We are the only humans on the entire lake. The closest plowed road is 35 miles by snowmobile. The closest town is nearly 100 miles away. Closest human? Could be 50 miles or more as the crow flys. You see alone takes on a new meaning when you are in the North Maine woods.
Our humble cabin has no electricity, no running water . We heat with an old wood stove and a pile of seasoned wood stacked against the outside of our late 1800’s log cabin. The stove casts shadows and flickers of light all around our one room cabin from the holes that have formed in its old and tired frame. At night our old stove casts a light show that can sooth one to sleep in no time ! We do have the luxury of propane lights and a propane stove to cook with. And yes the outhouse trips are quick and calculated when the mercury hits negative numbers for those already wondering!
We won’t see another human for 8 days, no phones, . no alarm clocks ,no meetings, no commitments, no deadlines , no responsibilities. Simple existence at its purest form! We packed our way in with snowmobiles and sleds and we will pack our way out when we leave. No help, no support. No one to call if things go wrong, no one to help if life throws you an unexpected challenge. Alone!
It was 1985, Lisa and I deep in the North Maine woods. It was a cold February week In a cabin far from civilization.
A peace few understand today! A calm few ever experience. Oh to look out that window again!
