By Melissa Wynn

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Since the first pioneer yelled “TIMBER” in the woods log homes have dotted the landscape. Strength, superior insulating qualities and ease of construction made these dwellings the obvious choice for the first non-native inhabitants of the forested Sierra Nevada mountains.  Proof of the durability of the log home is often found by hikers who chance upon small log shacks slapped together by the 49ers of the gold rush in the 1800s but still standing today.

Melissa | Mountain Valley Living Magazine

Don Sabin, of the now ghost town known as Seneca, built his log home in the summer of 1947 with his buddy Duke. They fell the trees on site with hand saws, notched them with axes and lifted the  higher tiers in place using a home made block and tackle system. Mr. Sabin lives these rustic digs year round to this day.

Modern day timber frame homes come in all shapes, sizes and degrees of luxury. Rick and Vickie Nelson live in a shining example on the  pristine bank of Lake Almanor’s East Shore. Built in 2002 by Cal Thurber of CST Construction & Electric Inc.  Lake Almanor, in conjunction with Precision Craft Log Holes of Meridian Idaho, this 5000+ square foot beauty with lake view deck and built in generator is sure to be impressing passers by a hundred years from now.

The best mountain traditions never change, living simple, lakes and log homes.