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View Full Version : The birth of a fishin cabin



matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:43 AM
I didnīt know where to post this stuff, but I think it would fit in this section as itīs really a "height" in a fishermanīs life. Itīs also posted on my own forum, so if Adam or Gus does not find it to be appropriate with a double posting, please feel free to delete.



Hereīs the story of how I fell in love with a place and bought a piece of property without no road to it and how I travelled a considerable distance few times a year in an eight year long period just to build what Iīve been wanting for a long time; A logged fishing cabin on a river in the high country up north.

I first came to the area in the early eighties with my childhood friend who already had a cabin up there as he wanted to show it to me as well as the nice surroundings. Itīs really a nice place with fishing pretty much all over the place and if you just get off the main road youīll be able to hit some good fishing spots that havenīt seen too much people.




http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/037_34Asmall.jpg



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matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:44 AM
This was over twenty-five years ago but I already knew back then I was hooked on the place. About ten years ago, which would be fifteen years later, I got the opportunity to buy a piece of land just by this river I knew and this was when the work begun.

First thing was to check out the river just at the supposed location for the cabin. I mean, if the fishing werenīt any good right there, why should I bother? Well, it seems like the great river spirit liked my company and I was able to hook a brown within just a few minutes and from that moment the spot had my attention. I had the trout for dinner on the river bank and went the 850 kilometers back home and gave the landlord a call.

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:45 AM
The next winter I headed up there again to sign the contract and make the arrangements for being the owner of the property. The landlord suggested we should take the snowmobile and head up to the spot to make the handshake, which is pretty much the old way of making a deal and I found that to be the only way to do it. So, we went up there, made a fire and got the coffe pot going. On a raindeer hide in the snow by the fire we shook hands with a firm look in the eye and that was it. I was now the official owner of the place. Afterwards we headed back to his place and signed the papers, but that felt just like a formality...


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/200973744PMtitleFjlltomt_Kittelfjll.jpg






Next summer over a dinner he asked me how I planned to proceed with the project and I said I didnīt have any specific plans yet, more than it was time to check on a good craftsman who could log a cabin for me.
-Well, he said, I think you should get yourself a little shack to keep your stuff in meanwhile, as this was a several year project and to be able to keep some stuff under a roof.
-Thatīs probably a good idea I answered, but I need to give it some consideration first. Do you have any suggestions?
-Well, I actually have an old little hay barn not far from your place that I want to give to you. It goes with the property and you donīt have to pay me anything for it. But itīs in bad shape withouth any roof, so itīs a bit of work to get it ok.
- Done deal, I said without thinking too much about the work....

We went to the spot for the old hay barn and thatīs when I realized what I had got myself into. The misarable thing looked more like a pile of firewood than a barn. Roof had fallen in, it had sunk down into the ground at least two logs deep and I was only a second or two from saying I had to pass on it.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/003_0Asmall.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:45 AM
But somehow I saw the potential in the poor pile of logs. So that next fall I was on the spot again, marking the logs for taking it down as you do when you are moving a thing like this and it was actually in pretty good shape for itīs age and how it first looked.



http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/004_1Asmall.jpg



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After half a day of work it was all down and stacked for transport with the snowmobile the next easter (no roads, remember?)


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/012_9Asmall.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:46 AM
Easter came and the logs was transported up to the spot with the old Yamaha Viking. These are the two first logs as I wanted to get the feel for how the rig handled. The following towings were with about 6 logs each time. It took a good day to finish the job due to the distance and terrain from where the barn was. Good thing my buddy came along with a camera as I didnīt have one myself.



http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/Henriksfjll1small.jpg


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/Henriksfjll2small.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:46 AM
Next summer it was time to set up the little shack. This would make for a good combined outhouse and firewood shed when the whole project was done. But at this time, I just though it was a lot of extra work than my intentions had been.

So, here I had a new pile of logs and I was eager to get started.

I soon realized I had to get me a new good Husky chainsaw as I had to reject about 30 percent of the wall logs and replace them with new wood and also get all the lumber and logs for the roof. The good thing was that the spot needed a clear cut and I managed to gather all that stuff on the property.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/034_31Asmall.jpg




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matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:47 AM
I started out with impregnated telepone poles as bottom turns for making it all safer for rotting from moisture as the north side was not too high above the ground. It became really fun to throw around them spruce logs and after some time I had got some structure on the thing, logging fresh timber for the logs I had rejected.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/011_8.jpg





Several cut down spruce-trees later the area for the coming main cabin and the space around it was clear from trees and it felt like I was heading in the right direction with this.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/004_1.jpg




It felt good to get the steel roof in place to keep tools and stuff dry from rain.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/008_5.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:48 AM
Next summer I brought the kids with me to see the logging and I think they thought it was quite cool. We put in some rugged flooring from aspen, a simple door and made a "single seater" in the far coner with a screen wall and it was all set. Now we had us the best outhouse we could ask for. ;)



http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/Pappasaochuthussmall.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:49 AM
By this time I had got in contact with a guy in town who was a skilled logger and I ordered a logging for the cabin from him. Not some big fancy stuff, just a cabin with four walls measuring 5X5 meters inside. Problem is to keep a large cabin warm in the winter and especially in springtime when you want to spend time there so we kept the ceiling quite low also, all to keep some "economy" with the firewood.

Hereīs the logging in progress in his shop that winter. In springtime he took it down and set it up outside to make the remaining logging with the beams.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/Timring1.jpg



http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/Timring3.jpg



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The kids thougt it was pretty fun to see their cabin to be and here they are with Peder, the logger.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/timmerstomme.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:50 AM
Now, itīs really bugging me I donīt have any images from when we towed all the logs for the cabin to the property. I simply forgot the camera that trip.

Well anyway, the logging stood for 2 years to get it to "calm down" and settle before we took it down in March and drove it on a logging truck up to the high country where it was unloaded by the road. Me and my buddy towed the logs with the snowmobile the last distance. It took two days to do it and it was really easy with a big Yamaha four stroke Viking. Thatīs some neat machinery.

That summer of 2007 we headed up there and started to put the logging together. This is Peder again, the guy who made the logging, waving away mosquitos that was quite numerous that summer. My son Anders is checking so that everything is ok... ;)


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/IMGP1201small.jpg




This is in the evening a day later and the morning after we started to make the roofing with insulation and all. This time of year there is no dark or even dusk up there so we worked late hours to get the job done as quickly as possible. We had an evil overcast with some light rain from time to time which made us speed up the work as we knew the heavy rain was around the corner.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/062small.jpg



We started out on Monday by noon with the whole build-up and Peder left us on Thursday afternoon when Anders and I only had the steel roofing left to do. Friday by noon the roof was sealed and it started to rain. It rained for four days in a row and we were just plain lucky it didnīt come over us earlier, insulation and all....


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/IMGP1232small.jpg

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:51 AM
The following summer of 2008 the flooring and the windows were in place.


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/IMG_1493small.jpg





These last images are from the summer of 2009 and now the beloved cabin has all the windows, door, staircase, porch and the stove in place. So, we can now consider it ready for use although some kitchen stuff, a propane stove and some beds are to be added.

Itīs been a long journey from that handshake to this piont, not to mention the long distance and all the planning to get everything to work out and not forgetting anything. I logged all the lumber for the place and sawed it on my saw-mill at the farmplace and drove it on the truck the 350 Kilometers up there, so it has been a few trips during these eight years. And I had 1,700 Kilometer back and forth from Stockholm each trip. But it sure feels good now when itīs done!

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matsoberg
11-24-2009, 08:55 AM
Now, I have some fishing to catch up with...


http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/matsoberg/037_34Asmall.jpg




This is something Iīve been dreaming of for a very long time. This is what Iīve always wanted and now itīs done. I feel very god about it and this place is pretty much always in my thoughts. I just wanted to share it with you.

Thanks for listening,

Mats

rayfound
11-24-2009, 10:20 AM
That is amazing. Looks like a dream coming true, one log, one snowmobile trip at a time. Wow!

trout-nut
11-24-2009, 10:28 AM
Wow neat cabin. I bet you've will have some great fishing tales to tell eventually.

greendrake
11-24-2009, 11:30 AM
Very cool Mats. Looks like a great place to get away from it all. :clap: :thumbup: :clap:
Will

martin_b
11-24-2009, 04:10 PM
That is just plain awesome. You are very blessed to have such a dream come true. Congratulations! It looks wonderful and is sure located in beautiful surroundings. Good for you!

Martin

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 04:35 PM
Thanks guys.

Well it IS a dream that has come true. Although not without efforts as you can understand. I was born up north but ended up in the city in the teen years when my family moved, so all this time I have been aiming for something like this.

And as said, I have quite some fishing to catch up with. This thing took about all the time I spent there the last eight to ten years. Yes, Iīll probably have some good fishing stories to tell later on. :D

Mats

martin_b
11-24-2009, 04:55 PM
What is the fishing like up there. Trout? Grayling? Are there bears?

matsoberg
11-24-2009, 05:45 PM
What is the fishing like up there. Trout? Grayling? Are there bears?

Yes, there are Browns, Artic Char and Grayling. Also Pike, Perch and Whitefish further downstream in the lakes on lower altitude. Fishing gets pretty good when you get off the main roads, which you rather want to do in the summer during tourist season. Easy access draws people. Not that it would be crowded, but there are other fishermen at the easy spots.
As for wildlife youīll find brown bear, grey wolf, wolverine and lynx as bigger predators. Lots of raindeer. Moose have some population also.
Iīve been to the Iliamna area in Alaska and I must say there werenīt too much of a difference in terms of fauna (salmon runs of course not included) although this country has been explored for several hundred years so itīs not exactly the frontier. Also, all the speices grow smaller over this way.

Mats

adam
11-24-2009, 10:01 PM
Very cool, very very cool.

papasequoia
11-25-2009, 03:26 AM
Wow, what a heck of a story; thanks for sharing! Congrats on the new cabin. Jon

JB in SC
11-25-2009, 04:24 PM
Wonderful story....

gusstrand
12-03-2009, 08:31 AM
Amazing. Totally Amazing. Your persistence and efforts will surely be rewarded, sir!

Chef
12-10-2009, 10:05 AM
Good lord that's cool! You have just inspired me to think outwardly about a small slice of what you and your blood have created. I will now search for the perfect slice of Nirvana to build my legacy with my family.


Great stuff!

matsoberg
12-13-2009, 04:54 PM
Great that you like what you see guys, cause I do too. :D

Thanks for the compliments!

terry
01-15-2010, 12:01 PM
I can't believe I havn't seen this post till now. Thats absolutley amazing. I would like to say your a lucky man, but it was obviously more hard work and persistence than luck.

Gerard
01-16-2010, 03:52 AM
Mats, you are the man. While we all dream of something like this, you turned it into a reality. There are truly few pieces of unspoiled “heaven on earth” left and you can count your lucky stars. :clap:

martin_b
01-21-2010, 01:58 PM
Hey Mats, just browsed through the Jazz & Fly Fishing website, and stumbled upon this: http://jazzandflyfishing.com/?attachment_id=752
Is that you they're talking about? Just curious :)

Martin

casaboba
01-28-2010, 06:02 PM
AWESOME, Thanks for sharing!

utahtu
02-03-2010, 05:37 PM
Nice cabin and a legacy of rememberances.

We are also building a cabin on the north slope of the Uinta Mtns here in Utah. Currently it is about 95% finished and as soon as we can get back in (after the snow clears) we hope to finish it this year.

The local area up there (8,500 ft elevation) has a multitude of lakes and streams. We have only been in that area for four years, so there is much exploring to do in the years to come.

utahtu
02-03-2010, 05:40 PM
Forgot to add a picture of our cabin.

matsoberg
02-06-2010, 09:43 AM
Thanks alot you all. I havenīt logged in for a while so I hope my apologies as for late reply will be accepted.

Martin.

I browsed the jazz site for my name but I didnīt find it. Could be, but my guess is that they were talking about keybord player Mats Öberg. Heīs well known as he played with Frank Zappa on occasions, so you can get a hint of the caliber of the guy. Heīs blind btw.

I play some too, or more accuarate, I used to. I was a bassman for twenty-five years but not too much jazz though.


Utahtu.

Thatīs one nice looking logging, much fancier than mine. I hope youīll get to finish it this year so you can enjoy the good things this stuff brings. Good work.

Mats

utahtu
02-07-2010, 12:23 PM
We had a big delay in building in October 2008. While putting a 4x12 (dark on in pic) up between the posts that support the deck, the scaffolding we were on started to tip. Not wanting to fall on my back I jumped off and came down on a rock with my right heel. Fractured my right heel bone :o , blew out ankle ligaments :shock: , and other damages. Now have a metal plate with 7 screws holding it all together.

That is the reason we call the cabin "Calcaenous Lodge".

martin_b
02-07-2010, 12:54 PM
Mats, it was this quote from the Jazz and Fly Fishing that made me think of you:
"One of the film guys! This is the man that bought a piece of land, cut down the trees and built a big wooden house with his own hands. He also ran the marathon in a pair of 1 kg heavy boots!"


:)

Martin

Danny S
02-24-2010, 11:57 AM
Just have to comment on this, though its been here a while.

I found the story was very enjoyable reading, and the photos a fantastic addition to the story. Really liked the part about the handshake--wish more could be accomplished that way these days.

One last comment--I'd be very pleased with the outhouse as the primary fishing cabin! Guess you have a HUGE outhouse now.

utahtu
02-24-2010, 02:05 PM
Matsoberb,

There is a website for log cabin/home owners and issues they face, http://www.loghomeu.com/ You should publish your building fetes. Your story would make a great addition to their website.

Wes

Chalkstream
03-05-2010, 01:26 AM
What a fabulous story - awesome. Mastsoberg you have turned a dream into a reality via vision, hard work and dedication and I find that inspiring. Well done and I hope your log cabin brings you many, many happy days fishing.

Utahtu - that's a log mansion!!!! Hope the foot is OK :shock:

Ben

matsoberg
04-02-2010, 12:22 PM
Thanks again buddys. Iīm actually preparing for heading up there as we speak, for spending a few easter days and keeping the fire going.

Ok Martin, I didnīt get that so I was kind of off track there. I take that as the ultimate compliment. Thanks!

Danny; Yes thatīs a manly outhouse, donīt you think? :lol: Well, most of it is for keeping firewood and some tooling though but itīs really not a bad thing to have the seater "indoor" as a free standing little cube is way more uncomfortable when the weather is bad.

Wes; Thanks for that link. I might just contribute on the site even my little fishing shack is not up to par with the creations I see there. Very nice.

Ben; Iīm pleased to hear the story have spread some inspiration to you! Thanks.