The Cabin

Here in Fairbanks, Alaska it's all about the dry cabins. When I say dry I mean absolutely no running water and no plumbing. All you have is a roof over your head and a toyo heater to warm you up! The locals haul water back to there cabins two ways: 1) most people place large water tanks in the bed of there pick-up and fill up every few months or 2) people buy 5 gallon jugs and fill up every few weeks (this is the route I chose, since I don't have a truck). You might be asking yourself, why dry cabins? Since the ground is frozen (permafrost) for several months out of the year, it makes it hard for all the proper construction to take place. The closer you get to the coast the less dry cabins you see. I met people form Juneau the other day and they had said that living in a dry cabin was very new to them as well! 

Not everyone lives this way in Fairbanks, but it is very popular within the college community. It's not as bad as it sounds, but then again it's -40 degrees outside yet!

Autumn was just starting when we arrived in Fairbanks. It is now in full swing, the colors are amazing to see. From my office I can see the whole valley and the view is just stunning...


So, here is our new home taken just a few days ago:

This is the street Roland Dr, which the cabin is on

Now when you drive down the road the cabin sits off to the right about 1/4 mile, here is the driveway

the cabin...notice the outhouse!!! right next to the outhouse there is another wooden structure...that's where you pour all the grey water that you use.

Now I had mentioned a heater...it runs off of oil and they are really efficient (in cost and heat). What you do is fill your tank up with oil once a winter and run your heater off that tank, it acts like a well for water. Depending on how much you use your heater determines how much fuel you need (duh right!!), but they say that anywhere from 150-250 gallons should do it. I think our tank is roughly 300 gallons, maybe a little more.

This is the backyard, not much of a backyard! It is linked to trails that go all the way to campus.

The front yard from the pourch

Just on the other side of the trees it opens up to field that follows the power lines, good for an easy hike.

looking west

looking north

 

here is the kitchen inside that cabin. There are no cabinets for glasses or pantry for food, it's very simple. Everything about the dry cabin life style is simple!!

It's like camping...you buy a jug, fill it up with water, place the spout over the sink and do work!!

Where does it drain, you ask??? Well it goes into a bucket, hahahahaaa!! No joke the sink drains into a bucket underneath. When it's full you just take it outside and pour it down the whole next to the outhouse. I haven't really got used to washing your dishes, washing your face and brushing your teeth all in the same sink...it bit weird, but it works!

I guess another thing I am still getting used to is taking showers...since there is no plumbing there is no shower at the cabin. I got lucky and my office has two showers in the men's locker room. I just take showers before I leave to go home, not bad...