Willow Creek Cabin

As we rode along west Willow Creek, nine miles from the nearest trailhead, we were surprised  to find an intact cabin.  Since it's unlikely that this area was ever accessible by road, this was probably a rancher's line cabin, used mostly in the summer season when the cows had good grass at 8500 feet. 

The cabin wasn't locked, so I went in. 

This chair appears to be handmade with willow branches.

The bed is hand hewn, too.  I assume a mattress of some kind was laid across the bare logs. 

The wood burning stove would keep the single room cozy. 

The cabinets are unique. 

They must have been scavenged from a military base somewhere, because the print says "Rocket ammunition with smoke (or explosive, in one case) projectile."

The outside is decorated with antlers and various tools. 

Someone (the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources that manages the land?) has recently repaired some of the outer logs and added a hitching post.  Buckets, a couple of coolers, and a cot indicate someone may have cleaned up the inside and slept there in the last few years, but otherwise the cabin stands much as it did when it was built.  We couldn't find any information about it on the internet, so I don't know the cabin's age.  Since it's in such good shape, it's likely no more than 50-75 years old. However, the occupant's lifestyle clearly wasn't much different from that of pioneers in the early 1800's. 

A couple of the windows were bear-proofed with an old iron bedstead.  Very practical use of materials, don't you agree? 

The rear of the cabin sports more antlers. 

The hitching post came in handy.  Daisy liked the view.