S
Odin
ANTISOLIPSIST
Cabin discovered in Arcata Community Forest
July 23, 2015
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The lovely tiny house in the woods. Photos by KLH | Union
Kevin L. HooverMad River Union
ARCATA – Mark Andre was marking trees in one of the Arcata Community Forest’s most remote sections recently when he happened upon something that wasn’t there the last time he’d been in the area. That was back in 1985, when Arcata’s Environmental Services director was a city forest technician.
It was a cabin. And not the usual ramshackle, trash-strewn heap of debris, but a proper house, constructed, if not for the ages, for more than just a brief stay.
The sturdy shack, measuring perhaps eight by 12 feet and 15 or so feet high, features a concrete block foundation, stout frame, peaked roof, small porch with wooden awning, multiple windows and walls of plywood covered on the outside with brown tarps, black plastic sheeting and lots of concealing forest duff.
Take a few steps away, turn around, and the building is all but invisible. “I didn’t see it until I was 12 feet from it,” Andre said. “It’s in the perfect out-of-the-way spot where it wouldn’t be detected.”
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From about 100 feet away, the cabin is virtually invisible.
No trails lead to the small home, and the faintest of footpaths in the immediate area trail off to none of the environmental abuse normally associated with forest campsites – no trash piles, no discarded clothing, no open-air latrine strewn with toilet paper; nothing to show anything but scrupulous regard for the natural surroundings.
A Friday trek to the site required serious bushwhacking through dense woods, over fallen trees and through brush and brambles. Environmental Services Forest Technician Javier Nogueira had last visited the cabin three weeks earlier, but, along with fellow Forest Tech Nick Manfredonia (in his first day on the job) and APD Park Ranger Heidi Groszmann, had to fan out across the general area to re-locate the stealthy structure. After a few minutes, Manfredonia’s voice rang out: “I found it!”
Groszmann, the ES crew and a reporter peered in through a dislodged side window, which offered a partial view of the interior. The ranger had to make a decision. If the cabin was in use as a residence, then even though it is located on public land, a search warrant would be required for entry.
But if anyone was inside, possibly incapacitated or worse, leaving them unaided would be irresponsible. Nogueira said the cabin looked unchanged and unvisited since he had last been there. After multiple shout-outs to any occupant went unanswered, Groszmann gave the go-ahead for Manfredonia to cut the padlock on the plywood front door.
The ranger entered the cabin with gun drawn, announcing “Arcata Police!” But no one was inside, and she began to inspect the quarters for clues to the user’s identity.
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Tidy, sparsely furnished but complete and comfortable.
The cabin’s interior appointments are spare, tidy and yet more than ample for comfortable habitation in an idyllic spot. One enters into a combination kitchen and living room, where well-organized cans of food and housekeeping supplies line the walls, their product labels facing forward. A rocking chair sits next to a pot-bellied stove across from a cushioned seating area. Small lanterns are located about the space, while shelves hold a variety of tools and curios ranging from a vintage Royal typewriter to a small library. One title is Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale. Storage bins contain fabric, camping equipment and other long-term supplies.
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An eclectic library.
Thick curtains and small wooden panels made to fit window frames keep telltale light from escaping. The kitchen window opens to a gorgeous view of redwoods. A ladder leads to a roomy upper berth, where sleeping pads await. There is no bathroom.
Decorations are sparse – a print of A Young Girl Reading by 18th century painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard, a pair of crossed knives at the edge of the second floor, a postcard here and there. One slip of paper lists species of plants and trees found in the area, while another “Things To Do And Get” list includes tasks, some lined out, like “Build Bench” and “Big Spoon.” A few entries bear dates, presumably when the item was accomplished, the oldest being “Get tongs 1/22/11.”View attachment 24185
If 2011 was the oldest habitation, the most recent would be a copy of the March 25, 2015 Humboldt State Lumberjack, found in a kindling bin by the stove.
Little identifying information was found. A shipping label and a California driver’s license bore two different names, but they may have been random objects found in the woods by the resident.
Andre speculates that the cabin is used as a seasonal retreat. A major mystery is how so many cumbersome, weighty objects such as lumber and the wood stove were physically transported to the site, leaving no mark on the land and undetected by forest workers who travel the trails daily. “Someone took a long time to walk in heavy items,” Andre said.
From the cabin’s contents and their arrangement, an overall portrait emerges of a settled, possibly older individual with life experience and minimal material needs. The thoughtfully composed, uncluttered tiny house appears to be the work of someone who knows who they are and what they need, guided or inspired by a succinct declaration of principles stapled to a wall.View attachment 24186
Titled “Different Everywhere,” the single sheet of paper features a nude woman holding a knife. In typewritten, white-on-black text, the photocopied micro-manifesto states that “every community creates its own outlaws,” and celebrates “those individuals, who, willingly or not, have not abided by the laws of the gods or authorities [and who] have always been banished.” Concludes the statement, “we will carry our difference everywhere as individuals determined to subvert the rules of the community.”
The rules of the community, having been subverted – or at least eluded – for at least four years, are now about to end the cabin’s utility as a secluded getaway. Camping on public property is, of course, illegal. And despite its ultra-low impact and thoughtful design, the structure exists in what is supposed to be a nature refuge.
A warning notice and Groszmann’s contact information were left on the cabin’s front door.
The area, last logged in 1984, is set for a harvest next month, so the structure will have to be removed. If the responsible individual can’t be located beforehand, their possessions will be packed out and stored for later retrieval.
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News tag and article body added...
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EphemeralStick
Andie of the House of Queer
Wow that's cool. It's a shame they're going to tear it down but I guess that's to be expected. At least they're saving the person's belongings, presumably. I feel bad for who ever was staying there, no one should have their stuff being rifled through without permission.
S
soodoenim
Guest
That patch of woods is host to a year-round Cavalcade of squatters, and I suspect that the forest service and police are well acclimated to the folks living there. When I squatted in those woods, there was a cat-and-mouse game of sorts with the authorities but a live-and-let-live attitude seemed to be the order of the day.
K
Kim Chee
Guest
@soodoenim, thanks for sharing.
For everybody: kindly copy/paste the body of the artical along with the link you are referring to when they are the subject of your post.
For everybody: kindly copy/paste the body of the artical along with the link you are referring to when they are the subject of your post.
S
soodoenim
Guest
Andrea Van Scoyoc
Animal/Enviro Activist, Tree Hugging Nature Fae!
That is so awesome. I'd love to live there.
I hate to hear that it's going to be torn down...but...can't say I'm surprised.
Progress...
I hate to hear that it's going to be torn down...but...can't say I'm surprised.
Progress...
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Andrea Van Scoyoc
Animal/Enviro Activist, Tree Hugging Nature Fae!
This is what disturbs me.
Not sure how many non US StP family members we have here, but those that are not based in the US...is the US the only country that insists on tearing down every tree and uprooting every blade of grass in the country?
Just wondering...
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Odin
ANTISOLIPSIST
Gonna go off topic here. But no the US is not. Deforestation is a world wide problem. For example Borneo an Island country has at current rates half of they're forests depleted where once they had a full lush prime jungle.
By 2020 they should be down to something like 30%
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It is disgusting and there are better alternatives.
I do know that there are ways to do sustainable and responsible forestry.
Costa Rica is an example of recovery.
http://knowledge.allianz.com/enviro...how-costa-ricas-eco-economy-saved-its-forests
This article here shows they went from 20% cover to over 50% by implementing protection and eco tourism.
I don't want to go on too much... last thing I say is that there are alternatives I understand. Industrial hemp being the prime example that comes to mind.
Hemp as a textile material was used for ages until the marijuana prohibition that was put in effect by governments. Now its making a comeback I hear. I don't know enough about it but Hopefully it can be a viable industry to take the pressure off of the worlds forest ecosystems.
By 2020 they should be down to something like 30%
View attachment 24199
It is disgusting and there are better alternatives.
I do know that there are ways to do sustainable and responsible forestry.
Costa Rica is an example of recovery.
http://knowledge.allianz.com/enviro...how-costa-ricas-eco-economy-saved-its-forests
This article here shows they went from 20% cover to over 50% by implementing protection and eco tourism.
I don't want to go on too much... last thing I say is that there are alternatives I understand. Industrial hemp being the prime example that comes to mind.
Hemp as a textile material was used for ages until the marijuana prohibition that was put in effect by governments. Now its making a comeback I hear. I don't know enough about it but Hopefully it can be a viable industry to take the pressure off of the worlds forest ecosystems.
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Andrea Van Scoyoc
Animal/Enviro Activist, Tree Hugging Nature Fae!
Yeah...didn't mean to start down the off-topic path, but this subject and the continued advancement of destruction and deforestation just pisses me off.
[emoji35] [emoji36]
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Kal
New member
Me to sister.
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Indeed.
TOP SECRET...
Mystery (Apparently) Solved: They had Yaks. Thats right, I said ''Yaks''...
http://madriverunion.com/yak-tracks-lead-to-new-cabin-revelations-concealed-bunker/
Mystery (Apparently) Solved: They had Yaks. Thats right, I said ''Yaks''...
http://madriverunion.com/yak-tracks-lead-to-new-cabin-revelations-concealed-bunker/
aconclusion
New member
Hello.
I noticed there was not a conclusion posted in this thread.
As this website is closing soon, I thought it would be nice to show you where the previous residents went, and dispel a few myths as a reward to those still here.
This small building was not built by older people; nobody involved was more than 24 years old when it was constructed.
This small building was not built by the yak man, and the other shelter found a year later has nothing to do with these people and this shelter.
This was a seasonal home.
The foundation was made of cinder blocks.
The construction was with screws so that it may be disassembled and recycled/reused.
It was entirely built from discarded materials retrieved from waste piles/dumpsters.
The purpose was as the image of the woman of the knife stated, which includes 'leave no trace' as a means to that end.
All waste was packed out; diet was non animal.
This small building was more than a mile away from the other people in the forest.
This small building was less than 40 feet from a well traveled path.
The 'wood burning stove' was a found propane cylinder.
The 'stove pipe' was a discarded metal chimney pipe.
I did not construct, live in, or visit the structure.
The entire structure was removed in less than 24 hours, within a week of it being found, by the same people that constructed it.
There are no current squats in this forest, and they are discouraged by the local community.
The first attached image is from the forestry service members who found the structure, and the symbol you all may recognize as where the residents went. The other images were collected on the discovery of the structure. The local community doesn't know anything else about the structure, and I won't share anything else I know, just that I respect what was done here by those that assembled the building and those that allowed it to be removed with out further incident. I have not seen the residents since the week it was removed, and I miss them but I'm certain they are well as they are quite to adapt where ever they go. I may not see them again, but until then I have these memories:
I noticed there was not a conclusion posted in this thread.
As this website is closing soon, I thought it would be nice to show you where the previous residents went, and dispel a few myths as a reward to those still here.
This small building was not built by older people; nobody involved was more than 24 years old when it was constructed.
This small building was not built by the yak man, and the other shelter found a year later has nothing to do with these people and this shelter.
This was a seasonal home.
The foundation was made of cinder blocks.
The construction was with screws so that it may be disassembled and recycled/reused.
It was entirely built from discarded materials retrieved from waste piles/dumpsters.
The purpose was as the image of the woman of the knife stated, which includes 'leave no trace' as a means to that end.
All waste was packed out; diet was non animal.
This small building was more than a mile away from the other people in the forest.
This small building was less than 40 feet from a well traveled path.
The 'wood burning stove' was a found propane cylinder.
The 'stove pipe' was a discarded metal chimney pipe.
I did not construct, live in, or visit the structure.
The entire structure was removed in less than 24 hours, within a week of it being found, by the same people that constructed it.
There are no current squats in this forest, and they are discouraged by the local community.
The first attached image is from the forestry service members who found the structure, and the symbol you all may recognize as where the residents went. The other images were collected on the discovery of the structure. The local community doesn't know anything else about the structure, and I won't share anything else I know, just that I respect what was done here by those that assembled the building and those that allowed it to be removed with out further incident. I have not seen the residents since the week it was removed, and I miss them but I'm certain they are well as they are quite to adapt where ever they go. I may not see them again, but until then I have these memories:
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