Wednesday, January 14, 2026 A bright, cold day. The temperature dropped to -7°F at 7 AM. My spark arrestor had clogged with creosote—a first for me—but I cleaned it and enjoyed a warm, cozy morning by the stove. We had planned a trek, possibly a loop to Horseshoe Lake, but deep snow and strong winds kept us at camp, processing firewood instead. In the afternoon, we visited Shug’s old campsite for coffee in the woods. With the wind down, the sun made the day pleasant. We spent the rest of the day enjoying sunshine, processing more wood, and preparing for another overnight low of -6°F. As night fell, stars blanketed the sky, and I even captured the Milky Way on my phone. It was a truly beautiful night.