Building a Log Cabin on Our Island Ep.5 | (Two Nights Winter Camping at -18°)

This is my first trip to the island in 2025 and was also the first trip in true winter conditions. I was able to easily walk to the island which made transporting everything easier.

With the first night being -18c the first thing I did was set up the diesel heater Wallas sent us. I was able to set it up and it ended up keeping the tent 10 degrees warmer.

The second day it was time to get to work, I ended up finishing the second layer to the mini cabin. Once that was done it was time to fell another tree for the sauna cabin. It got stuck but I was able to use the hand puller to get it unstuck. I cut the pieces to length then started moving logs I had for the mini cabin. Once it was night time I tried debarking the tree I felled. It was much more difficult now that it’s winter and I need to sharpen my tools as what I had been doing before was not working.

Day three I managed to get most of the third layer of the mini cabin into position as well as using leftovers front the outhouse to help keep everything in place while stacking up the logs. I ended up using the rest of the day to clean up my tent as well as have some fun. I got the sauna tent moved as the snow kept collapsing it and then ended up skating on the lake a bit.

This trip did not go as planned, I didn’t expect the winter conditions to make debarking this much harder. I knew from research that debarking is going to be less effective but wasn’t expecting it to be this different. I’m going to get some new tools as well as a sharpener to try and figure out the best way to debark. The trip was still a lot of fun and it was nice to know the setup works in winter conditions. Can’t wait to get back on the island!

More about us, the island and the process:

The island is completely secluded, has no electricity or plumbing and currently has nothing on it but trees. We want to turn this island into a fully functioning summer cottage with a log cabin, sauna and other amenities. Most of the work is gonna be done in the summer months as the lake freezes in the winter and the weather conditions are tough.

There's a lot of work to be done as the island is over 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and we have no experience in off-grid living, carpentry or building. So any tips or advice are greatly appreciated, as we are planning on doing everything ourselves and transforming the island into our own little paradise. We’ll document every step of the way, starting from smaller builds to finally - an off-grid log cabin.

Our plan for this year is to put up a platform for a glamping tent, build a floating dock and start cutting down trees to begin the process of building our log cabin.

The island is located in Finland and we bought it in 2024. We are currently both students and we plan to transform the island alongside our studies.

So, subscribe and join us on this adventure. It won’t be fast, it won’t be easy, but it will be fun and challenging. We don’t know what to expect, so be a part of the journey.

[Floar]

There is no rush to debark the logs before spring. Just fell, cut and pile them for debarking in spring, all the bugs are in slumber and water is frozen so the wood wont decay. Also you should concider hauling the briks, mortar and gravel onto the island before ice melts if you plan to build anything this year. Not sure how big/busy your lake is if there is anyone ferrying them in summer but best time to bring the heavy stuff to an island in during winter.

[flagsontheat]

So funny seeing you look for a mouse with an axe in your hand - how big are mice in Finland!!! 😂

[MrManicola]

seeing you having fun and skating on the lake around the island was good!!

[Tristan-Hueniken]

wood stove is going to be the most efficient way to heat the tent

[annduke]

That LOOK when the shovel bounced up! Too funny, lol! Glad it flew away from you!

[jhamaker]

You should take advantage of the frozen lake to bring over any heavy supplies you expect to need. You could also build your dock while it's icy then install it in the spring.

[skeetsmcgrew]

I don't think theres anything wrong with no de-barking during the winter. The reason you need to debark ASAP is because of rotting, but in the winter you don't have to worry about rot. So you should be able to wait until spring to do all the debarking. If anyone thinks I'm wrong they are free to correct me but thats how I understand it anyway

[EchoesReborn]

Yay! I was waiting for this video!! I was soo bummed last time that you were unable to reach the island...

[Bill]

Make sure that food and "mouse consumables" such as paper products are stored in heavy duty plastic or metal containers. A future investment could be a metal storage cabinet to serve as a pantry.

[Schnegn]

21:43 Hey man you should get an Log peeler debarker for chainsaw, way quicker then doing by hand :) Great work man warching all your videos!

[Terribad]

I was just thinking of your videos earlier and was wondering where they went. Stoked to see you back!

[tomd.]

Your tent appeared to have place for a stove pipe. If you want heat, you're going to need a wood stove. Also, you'll save power in your power bank for more important things. EDIT: Build yourself a rocket stove, burn your trimmings in it to cook on. Saves money on butane and you're not going to run out of trimmings anytime soon.

[torbenlarsen]

I wonder if it's you who's going to Canada to help James from Wild Homestead in February?

[J_j]

don't put sauna (or anything of value) under the deck. take it home with you or put in mouse-proof container. mice will make nests inside folded tent or bedding/blankets, chew up any fabric and insulation they can find for their nests. also setup bucket mouse trap inside the tent. mice will chew anything and everything, best to not give them a chance by removing attraction or storing it inside tight metal or plastic container. although i have had mice chew their way into plastic totes that were of a thinner kind or sometimes squeeze between the lid that was not sealed all the way around. best to put a weight on top for good measure. also if you wrap aluminium or galvanized sheet metal around posts your platform is built on, rodents won't be able to climb up it. but you got to do all posts and make sure there is no branches leaning over or against platform itself. an obviously if you have stairs or ladder - remove it. mice are the bein of any cabin. damaging stuff, leaving poop and can potentially spread some bad illnesses through their excrement.

[zabuszacz]

love the vid as always!! im glad you can finally walk to the island it makes transporting stuff sm easier

[Pikaxsu]

The tracks on the ice were from cloven hoof - you did not show the size so I don't know if it was moose or deer or what. But the between of those tracks looked long.
the tracks near mini cabin were hare. two dots after each other and to side by side - all together forming kinda like a sideways T but from only dots.
Either mountain hare that (we call 'forest hare') turns white in the winter or European hare that keeps its brown fur all winter. easy to know if you see one.
You could try to make a train of your sleds. At least big and small one. If you have two big ones.. :)

[muhammadsafeernawaz]

that 2:27 feels like horror scene in medieval films, lol. like sign of human life in far away land

[galgrunfeld]

Suggestion for the future for working with wood: a Japanese 1000s-year-old technique. Just dry it first, it's easier to cut and can give you VERY strong structures.


More details:
If you dry it you can create joints with a bit of gap, then let it absorb moisture again (not when it's freezing outside though, the air has very little moisture) it will expand and create pressure seals, especially in the winter time (when water freezes it expands). No need for screws or hard work. In the spring when it thaws and water escapes it will shrink and move and stay intact.

[hughroney]

June is the best time to remove bark from a tree!!

[galgrunfeld]

For the winter time you could build an igloo around your tent which will trap heat inside and provide insulation - no materials needed other than the snow around you. It'd save you fuel/energy, too.
And you could also buy a thermal clothes - they reflects heat your body releases back at you, they can be thin and they're even better than just trapping air as an insulator (what most winter clothes do).