Snowshoes and Spotted Dick: Letters from a Wilderness Dweller

Monika Rohlmann is an environmental consultant in Victoria, B.C.

Chris Czajkowski’s expertise as a wilderness dweller has been well
developed and refined over the 25 years she has spent doing what she
loves best: isolated, solitary, wilderness living in British
Columbia’s coastal mountains. Czajkowski’s three previous books, all
of which shared her perspectives and routines of rustic cabin life, have
proven to be bestsellers. Her audience and popularity grew from her
featured letters on the late Peter Gzowski’s CBC program, Morningside.

Nuk Tessli is Czajkowski’s name for a two-cabin complex on wilderness
located approximately 300 kilometres north of Vancouver near the
southern boundary of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. The building of cabin
number three is the feature story of this book. The details start at the
beginning: choosing and felling the right trees; transporting and
manoeuvring weighty trees without mechanical aid; preparing the logs;
selecting a building site; notching and placing logs, windows, and
doors; insulating walls; weatherproof roofing; installing solar panels
and wiring. (As an added bonus, there are some terrific insights into
stone oven construction.) The text is presented in letter format and
small black-and-white photographs capture the reality of wilderness
living.

Czajkowski’s will inspire all those who desire a simpler life. Her
stories are forthright and simple, but the tasks she accomplishes are
astounding. A modern pioneer, Czajkowski continues the great Canadian
tradition of bygone years when living with physical hardship was met
with humour and reverence.