Diary of a Wilderness Dweller

In Chris Czajkowski's first book, Cabin at Singing River, she wrote about building a cabin and living the wilderness life in British Columbia. In this book, she moves away from her first cabin in southern Tweedsmuir Park and sets up camp on the shores of a high-elevation lake, about a day's walk east from her old location. This book is written in the form of a diary, covering the period from June 1988 to July 1990. She writes about the mounds of paperwork and red tape she must get through since she is living on Crown Land. She also writes about the difficulties of building the two cabins that will be the base for her new "Nuk Tessli Apline Experience" business, finding the best route out to the road, run-ins with bears, violent storms, the complexities of getting supplies flown in, and the beauty and peace of her wilderness life. My one complaint about this book is the lack of a good map. There is a large-scale map showing SW British Columbia, but I would have appreciated a more detailed map of her immediate area, especially when she talks about her explorations of the many surrounding lakes and mountains. More than once I trekked down to the library to take a look at the topographical map of that area. As with the first book, this one is a fascinating tale of life in British Columbia's Coast Mountains. Even if such a lifestyle holds no appeal for you, you have to admire Chris for her tenacity and courage. She tells a great story here.

This woman has done things I have always dreamed of doing - building my own log cabin out in the wilderness. Her descriptions of her life during that time is wonderful and I just wish I could have been there too - to help her and learn from her. I loved the book.

This book came out of nowhere to me, and consequently enthralled me. Chris Czajkowski is a thoughtful, detailed writer (and artist) writing about an amazing place. She, also, is amazing to any society-dweller, living alone in the far wilderness (although she is no hermit). Fortunetely she chose to share what happened to her over the course of building her two cabins in the wilderness, as otherwise this book would never have come to be. Although this book is not for everyone, there are lucky people who will enjoy it. For them, it is superb.

If you have ever dreampt of walking away from the frantic pace of modern day living, you must read the story of Chris Czajkowski (pronounced Tchaikovsky). My wife and I had the priveledge of spending three glorious and unforgetable days with Chris in the cabin featured in this story. Three years might have been enough to begin absorbing the depth of this womans wilderness challenges. You must read this book!!!