If you’ve ever thought about selling it all and moving to a cabin deep in the woods, maybe you’ve asked yourself, “How would I get in and out? Would there be a road? Would I hike in?”

Or maybe you’ve thought, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just live in a cabin with road access?”

Yes, of course, that would be much easier. Some times I miss the days when I could hop in my car wearing just the one normal layer of clothing.

And, of course, you can find remote cabins in the woods with road access. Our neighbors across the river all have it. However, there are some advantages (and disadvantages) to living past the roads end and today I’ll tell you what they are.

But first, how do we get to and from our cabins?

The answer is simple but depends on the season. Being that we live on a river, we rely on either open water or thick ice to cross. During the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), crossing can be…dicey. We tend to get creative with our crossing strategies.

Although, shoulder season transportation is a whole other blog post of it’s own!

If we’re talking about summer, then there are several options. Being that we live at a children’s camp, June, July, and August are busy months with lots of people coming and going.

We canoe to the parking lot on leisurely evenings or beautiful mornings, which is usually a 20-minute paddle, one way.

If we’re in a hurry to pick someone up, a motorboat is the way to go. Even my two-year-old cousin loves it!

But when it comes to hauling lots of people or lots of “stuff”, you can’t beat the Barracuda!

The Barracuda is our barge, which serves as the work horse of our camp.

Once summer gives way to winter and the ice is safe, the boats are put to bed and the Arctic Cat makes it’s debut!

Our other option for crossing the river, in the winter, is a trusty pair of snowshoes with a plastic sled to pull our supplies.

Alright, so what are these advantages I speak of?

So far, I’ve explained how we physically get down and across the river to our cabins. It sounds like a task, I know, but it does have its charms!

Above all else, it’s usually fun! 

Yes, these are all methods by which we get supplies and people to and from Camp. They serve a working purpose, first and foremost. But when the work is done, we have some fun! 

For example, last Saturday, we had just finished breakfast when dad turned to me and said, “How would you feel about snowmobiling to Gunflint Lodge this afternoon?”

Ten minutes later we were suited up in snow gear and ready to hit the trails. 

To get to Gunflint Lodge, we follow over fifteen miles of trails that run on the old Gunflint Trail. Which, for me, was really exciting to see.

Before the Gunflint Trail we all know and love, there was a winding and narrower trail. A trail my grandparents drove up in their Woodie station wagon full of campers in the 1960s.

Majestic white pines tower over parts of the old trail, making it a must-see location in the area.

Dad drove us to Gunflint Lodge as I gawked at the scenery. Upon arrival, we realized we weren’t the only ones with the same idea.

Snowmobiling up the Gunflint is a popular activity for so many folks in Minnesota. Luckily, owning a snowmobile out of necessity also allows us to have some fun out on the trails.

The same goes for any of the boats we use during the summer!

Aside from recreational use, these methods allow us to be immersed in nature!

In a car, you get a pretty good feeling for your surroundings. However, in a boat, snowmobile, or on foot we are forced to interact directly with Mother Nature herself.

Rarely, I would put that in the negative column but most of the time it’s a good thing.

Not many things will make you feel more alive than whizzing along over a frozen river, under a blanket of stars, feeling the sting of below zero temps bite your nose.

Even traveling by foot across the river at night, guided by the spotlight of a full moon…I often feel a surge of joy and gratitude.

Ok, ok what are the disadvantages though?

I think it’s pretty easy to imagine the disadvantages. When I’ve just had a big meal at one of the lodges, it isn’t always my favorite thing to have to bundle up, park our warm car, hop on a cold snowmobile, and drive across the river and up the hill to get home.

But the biggest disadvantage of all is the same disadvantage of car ownership!

When our snowmobile or boat breaks down, we have to do things the old fashioned way until it’s fixed.

For example, after I drove the snowmobile back from Gunflint Lodge last Saturday, we had a bearing go out. I’m not saying there’s any correlation there…I’m a great driver.

Regardless, the shop won’t have our machine fixed for over a week. Meaning, any groceries or supplies we buy in town will have to be pulled or carried across the river and up a forty-foot hill, by hand.

This is how we used to transport everything in the winter before we had the snowmobile and even the old fashioned way has its advantages! We get more exercise, we see more animals, we stop to smell the roses, and we don’t buy as much stuff!

My point is, there are so many positives about living remotely if you choose to embrace them!

I’m about to take a hard turn into tangent land, folks, but stick with me.

When I was in grade school, my parents read me Pollyanna. If you haven’t read it, it’s worth a look but ultimately it’s a lesson in positivity and optimism, which stuck with me into adulthood.

The main character liked to play, what she called, the “Glad Game” – always finding the positives in a situation.

For anyone considering a remote lifestyle, my advice would be to practice playing the Glad Game!

Actually, that would be my advice to anyone. Period.

I’ve had many opportunities this winter to practice it. Our snowmobile breaking down is just one instance but the transportation piece as a whole is riddled with opportunities to practice optimism.

Just yesterday, I was hauling some packages across the river and up the hill, trudging through fresh snow, cursing under my breath, huffing and puffing.

But then I reached the Pepper Shack, all bright and cute, and I chose to deem my struggle across the river as my workout for the day, grateful for the exercise.

With all that in mind, I wouldn’t trade our transportation situation for the world!

I would recommend living off the beaten path to anyone who has an aptitude for positivity. For those that do not, maybe a week in the woods would do the trick!

As I’ve eluded to in previous blog posts, a little bit of hardship and challenge breeds a sense of fulfillment and simple joy that is harder to find in modern day society.

You don’t need to sell the townhome and move to the woods, like me, to experience what I’m talking about. A short trip could offer similar satisfaction and joy.

Let me know, in the comments below, if you’ve experienced this on your wilderness adventures. Have you stayed in a remote cabin? Or maybe snowmobiled to your destination? I’d love to hear your stories!

Happy Trails,