Studio cabin in Wayne, Maine.

A sand dune shack on Nantucket Island, MA.

Cabin on Gambier Island, British Columbia, Canada.

More information on Gambier Island

Building a home for under $5000

My friend Andrew Jones has a great post about rebuilding a yurt in New Zealand for about $5000.  Here is the post and here is the breakdown on costs.

In the past few months, we have turned a storm damaged yurt into an eco-friendly, toxic-free, funky home for our family. And it was made mostly with recycled and natural materials. Last night my wife and three of our kids officially moved in and slept on our new wood floor, lit a fire in our pot belly stove, ate some pizza and watched a movie before we all fell asleep. This morning I woke up to see sheep sleeping outside our window

Expenses:

• $2000 – yurt (storm damaged)
• $480 – replacement yurt ring for roof
• $350 – cedar wood to rebuild wall frame
• $1000 – wood to build floor (seconds)
• $130 floor insulation (recycled poly-consumer waste)
• $450 – wool insulation for ceiling and wall
• $150 used wool blankets to hold insulation
• $200 wood to support floor
• $100 rental sander and sandpaper
• $31 bathtub (1950′s retro blue tub)
• $341 pot belly stove (used)
• $65 linseed oil for floor
• $70 canvas waterproofing stuff
• $60 nails and screws
• $5 sink (used)
• $10 flue (used)
• $100 copper hot water cylinder (used)
• $10 calico fabric (used)

NZ$5204. Thats US$4,287

Embracing Saskatchewan's Winter

I have no idea why a resort in Saskatchewan hasn't started trying to create some accommodations that embrues Saskatchewan's winter like this resort and igloo village in Finland.

In winter Igloo Village Kakslauttanen offers a possibility to enjoy a range of unique winter recreation activities like spending a night in a snow or glass igloo, dining in a snow restaurant, admiring ice marvels in the Ice Gallery or getting married in our highly popular snow chapel. Igloo Village lies in a close proximity of Kakslauttanen, just on the other side of the spring. There are 20 glass igloos, 60 beds in snow igloos and an one of a kind glass kota. The snow restaurant provides seating for 50-150 people. Igloo Village is open each year between December and January depending on the weather conditions and stays open until the end of April.

Imagine yourself sleeping completely surrounded by snow. The silence is enchanting and lights inside the ice cast mysterious shadows on the snow walls. The breathtaking atmosphere lulls you into a deep, comfortable sleep in your warm down sleeping bag. The temperature inside the snow igloo stays always between -3°C and -6°C. Besides a warm down sleeping bag (rated extreme temperature is -32°C), we provide you woollen socks and a hood, so that you will never feel cold. That's a promise! 

While the glass igloos are gorgeous, they would be expensive but a luxury igloo would not cost that much money if it was alongside an established resort.  A bed, lighting, and access to showers and a bathroom would be a unique adventure that I think people would pay for.

Christmas Gift Guide for the Outdoorsman | 2012 Edition

In case you are shopping for the great outdoorsman, here are a list of suggestions for those who often prefer to outdoors rather than inside. Check out the other Christmas gift ideas that have been posted this season. More coming soon.

Fujifilm FinePix XP50 $128 | The FinePix XP50 is outstandingly durable. It's waterproof to a depth of 5m and can capture both movies and still images underwater. The camera's casing will withstand shocks or drops from a height of 1.5m, while cold environments are also no problem for this rough and ready device. The FinePix XP50 can withstand temperatures down to -10°C and dust is never a problem, with all the camera's access points specially sealed for ultimate protection.

Straight from Ned Flander’s Leftorium, the MEC Left Handed Slingpack $21 | Wendy has had a sling pack for years and just about jumped for joy when I told her that there was a left handed version available. She may have actually wept a tear or two. 

Pelican 1050 waterproof case $18.68 | These are great camera/GPS/iPod cases. They are water proof, padded, floatable, and strong enough to take a lot of abuse in the back of your trunk or any backpack. While you may not use it when you head to the park, you will use them when you are packing for a trip and don’t want your iPod, camera, or phone to be crushed. They are pretty much indestructible which means that of all of the things you have to worry about, this isn’t one of them.

Vibram FiveFingers Komodo Sport Shoes $70 - $130 | The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised. The Vibram Five Fingers shoes are designed to simulate walking barefoot while protecting your feet like shoes do. If you have any questions, check out the reviews on Amazon.

Leatherman Skeletool CX $80 |  Now you're ready to lighten your load and boost your survival skills -- with Leatherman's Skeletool. At a mere 5 ounces the new, full-sized multitool keeps weight and volume to a minimum without sacrificing quality and true functionality, and that's what the Skeletool is all about. Many multitools have multiple options, but they’re often heavier -- and they're loaded with more features than most people actually need on a regular basis. Conversely, pocket knives are light and streamlined, but they render themselves useless when the task calls for a more versatile tool. Enter the new Skeletool platform, offering minimal weight, compact size and endless capabilities. And with the Skeletool's integrated, removable pocket clip, you can easily clip this tool onto a belt, a pack, or a vest -- with no sheath or tote required.

Cammenga Lensatic Compass $88 | This is the Rolls Royce of compasses.  It has been used by U.S. troops, foreign militaries, law enforcement, and special forces for years. A total of seven Tritium light sources provide readability in total darkness for 10 years without external power or the need to “recharge” using a flashlight.

Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS $249 |  Sharpen your cycling performance with Edge 500, a lightweight GPS-based cycling computer for performance-driven cyclists. Loaded with data, Edge 500 tracks your distance, speed, location and elevation with high sensitivity GPS. Add an ANT+ compatible heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor or compatible power meter for a finely-tuned analysis of your ride.

Jetboil Flash Personal Cooking System $99 | The Jetboil Flash cooking system utilizes the same efficient design as the now classic Personal Cooking System (PCS) but adds the additional convenience feature of an external temperature indicator. Designed to capture and focus heat more efficiently than traditional cooking systems, the Flash brings two cups of water to a boil in only two minutes. The lining also houses a color change window that alerts you to when the contents are hot. A sip-through lid further helps insulate the contents of the cooking cup and prohibits spills. The protective plastic bottom of the cup can be removed for use as a small bowl or measuring device.   

If the Jetboil Personal Cooking System isn't what you are looking for, check out the MSR Pocket Rocket stove $39 | The PocketRocket backpacking stove from MSR provides full cooking function in an incredibly efficient form. Barely noticeable in your pack, it delivers precision flame control from torch to simmer while the Wind Clip wind shield boosts efficiency in breezy conditions. The PocketRocket stove’s diminutive size is also the foundation of a solid emergency kit for home or trail.

Cabin: Two Brothers, Five Acres and a Dream in Maine by Lou Ureneck $17 |  Confronted with the disappointments and knockdowns that can come in middle age-job loss, the death of his mother, a health scare, a divorce, Lou Ureneck needed a project that would engage the better part of him and put him back in life's good graces. City-bound for a decade, Lou decided he needed to build a simple post-and-beam cabin in the woods. He bought five acres in the hills of western Maine and asked his younger brother, Paul, to help him.

Double Nest Hammock $65 | The DoubleNest allows room for one, two, three, or however you decide to pack 400lbs. The DoubleNest seats more than one person comfortably and is essential for family adventures. The DoubleNest still packs down to the size of a grapefruit, so there is no excuse to be without your ENO hammock.

Outdoor Coffee Press $40 |  Now there is no reason to bring that horrible tasting Starbucks Via coffee with you when you go camping or hiking.  Instead bring some fresh ground coffee or loose leaf tea with you and make some excellent coffee when ever you want with this outdoor coffee press.  Of course you won’t bring a bean grinder with you on most trips but it gives you an idea of what it takes to make a good cup of coffee while on the road.  Of course you need something to drink it from.  You may want to check out some excellent stainless steel coffee mugs/beer mugs to drink from.

Zippo Hand Warmer $20 | The Zippo Hand Warmer is a rugged, metal hand warmer with a high-polish finish and a sleek, thin design so it easily fits into your pocket. The hand warmer is virtually odorless (great for hunters) and stays warm for up to 12 hours. Plus, it's reusable with Zippo lighter fluid and includes a convenient filler cup and warming bag. Whether you're skiing, tailgating at the game, hunting, sledding, or enjoying any other cold-weather activity, keep a Zippo Hand Warmer in your pocket and keep your fingers toasty warm.

Garmin eTrex 20 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator $168 | Garmin's eTrex GPS series offers reliable satellite navigation, making it a favorite of hikers, hunters, and geocachers. The eTrex 20 is equipped with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, a 2.2-inch color display, and ships with a worldwide basemap with relief. Add a wide array of detailed topographic, marine, and road maps, and start mapping out your next adventure.

Hennessy Hammock Expedition A-sym $143 | Next generation of Hennessy Hammock's most popular model with all the key features including full velcro entrance seal, mesh pocket on ridgeline and webbing straps to protect the bark of trees.  The rain-fly is polyurethane coated polyester ripstop or silicone impregnated nylon and may be tilted to any angle, rolled up above, removed or used separately. The No-See-Um mesh and hammocks fabric will deflect wind to provide a calm space inside. Large area of No-See-Um netting to provide ventilation and keep insects outside the hammock. When properly sealed, the entrance design also makes sure no bugs get into your hammock.  All of this means that you can sleep almost anywhere.

The Black Diamond Orbit Lantern $25 | Designed for ounce-conscious backpackers and climbers, the Black Diamond Orbit lantern packs 45 lumens of bright, non-glaring light in an ultra-portable package. A DoublePower LED (1-watt) works with Black Diamond's dual reflector system and frosted globe to illuminate everything from tent-bound reading to pre-dawn racking. A collapsible, double-hook hang loop attaches to tent ceilings and tree branches alike.  Mark and I both have one and they are simply amazing.  They are highly rated on REI, MEC, and Amazon.com and are loved by all that use them.  Whether you are a camper, hiker, or even a family who needs a safety light in the car, these are a must have.

Filzer UFO Light $8 | Alert vehicles and help keep track of your dog at night. The UFO light is designed specifically for runners, hikers and dogs. The light easily attaches to 1" webbing, dog collars, clothing, etc... with a small carabineer. Five red LEDs put out highly visible red light in three modes - steady, flash and rotate. Its waterproof design makes it ideal for any weather.

If I missed anything or if my suggestion made you think I was absolutely crazy, let me know in the comments. You can access the current edition and previous years list of Christmas gift guides here.