What makes a secure practical long-term bug out or survival shelter? What makes a good primitive cabin which is safe from rodents and other animals during periods when you are away? What makes a cabin that’s cool in the hot hot weather of summer and warm during the below zero temperatures of winter? This is my solution for a wonderful primitive camp. No electricity, no telephones, no urban noise and wildlife all around. Its simple and it works! A refrigerated container or refer with a nice little wood stove will provide dry, warm and safe living deep in bear and cougar country. From this base we can hunt, hike, ski, snow mobile, or snow shoe. Or as is often the case just sit back by the campfire and enjoy the natural world.

Some of the TREES* on this timber lot:

DOUGLAS FIR (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
PONDEROSA (Pinus ponderosa)
WESTERN LARCH (Larix occidentalis)
ENGLEMANN SPRUCE (Picea englemanni)
QUAKING ASPEN (populus tremuloides)
BLACK COTTONWOOD (Populus trichocarpa)
RED ALDER (Alnus rubra)

Some of the WILDLIFE* in the region:

MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemiohus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
BIGHORN SHEEP (Ovis canadensis)
BLACK BEAR (Ursus Americanus)
MOOSE (Alces alces)
ELK (Cervus elaphus)
MOUNTAIN LION (Felis concolor)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
WOLVERINE (Gulo gulo)
BOB CAT (Lynx rufus)
LYNX (Lynx canadensis)
FISHER (Martes pennanti)
ERMINE (Mustela erminea)
LONG-TAILED WEASEL (Mustela frenata)
MINK (Mustela vison)
PORCUPINE (Erethizon dorsatum)
SNOWSHOE HARE (Lepus americanus)
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT (Marmota flaviventris)
NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL (Glaucomys sabrinus)
RED SQUIRREL (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus lateralis)
COLUMBIAN GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus columbianus)
YELLOW-PINE CHIPMUCK (Tamius amoenus)
HOARY BAT (Lasiurus cinereus)
SILVER-HAIRED BAT (Lasionyeteris noctivagons)
TOWNSEND’S BIG-EARED BAT (Plecotus Townsendii)
YUMA MYOTIS (Myotis yumanensis)
LONG-EARED MYOTIS (Myotis evotis)
LITTLE BROWN MYOTIS (Myotis lucifugus)
CALIFORNIA MYOTIS (Myotis californicus)
FRINGED MYOTIS (Myotis thysanodes)
LONG-LEGGED MYOTIS (Myotis volans)
GAPPER’S RED-BACKED VOLE (Clethrionomys gapperi)
LONG-TAILED VOLE (Microtus longicaudus)
MONTANE VOLE (Microtus montanus)
MEADOW VOLE (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
BUSHY-TAILED WOODRAT (Neoloma cinerea)
DEER MOUSE (peromyscus maniculatus)
WESTERN JUMPING MOUSE (Zapus princeps)
MASKED SHREW (Sorex cinereus)
MONTANE SHREW (Sorex monticolus)
WATER SHREW (Sorex palustris)
VAGRANT SHREW (Sorex vagrans)
*These lists are compiled from Washington State flora and fauna information for the Okanogan Highlands. An internet search of the scientific names will bring forth a remarkable amount of fun and very interesting information.