21 years ago I wrote an entry in the family “cabin diary”. As had countless others before me, I documented everything my friends and I did during our weekend in the pines. Now, all these years later, I was able to bring my new family to this sierra hideaway as well.
The thing is, this cabin doesn’t even belong to us! The Young family has been inviting me here for many years – offers that I’ve always been more than happy to take them up on.
While the exterior of the cabin may have been modernized over the years, the inside still retains its vintage charm. There are shag carpet-era blinds on the windows, and the kitchen still has those groovy 70s hues. The walls are adorned with family photos…my favorite being pictures of the cabin itself, being built in the early 60s (by hand), and by the owners themselves.
This place even has its own old-timey aroma…you could take me anywhere in the world, blindfold me, bring me back to the cabin, and I could take one whiff and know exactly where I was. It’s endearing, and instantly takes me back to that time and place.
Put simply, the cabin is a vibe. So much more than just a vacation property…to me, it’s the story of a family. A slice of post-WWII Americana – a symbol of ingenuity and prosperity. It’s a time capsule.
In fact, my brother bought property with an old house near Yosemite, and I used this cabin as my inspiration to try and create something similar there. It’s got the same 70s feel, complete with a classic hi-fi and a wall full of vinyl records.
Still though, I realized it could never compare. It’s just an old house pretending to be a cabin…and the family I grew up in would never be the Youngs. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but as Sinatra liked to say…”that’s life”.
Anyhow, this time Billy invited us here while we were on an epic trip through the West. We had actually just seen them at their family ranch in Montana, and had been on the road for quite some time. Even though I was a bit beat up from our adventure, I still couldn’t pass up more quality time at the cabin.
Of course, the Youngs went all out with quite a spread to BBQ and partake in. There’s nothing like sitting out on the deck enjoying your food under the canopy of trees above. Abbie had fun playing with Billy & Gina’s son Jamo.
Activities around the cabin usually include a trip to “the meadow”, where one can find wildflowers and butterflies during the day, and plenty of stars at night.
A day trip to the small, community lake never fails to hit the spot as well. The kids had a blast here.
Billy loves to take people to explore the forest roads on the side by side.
His enthusiasm for this is matched only by Abbie’s excitement to come along.
Driving up to the lookout is a great way to catch a golden sierra sunset.
As the little ones nod off after plenty of forest adventures, the adults catch up and reminisce about the “good ol’ days”.
Boating on Pinecrest Lake
Billy surprised us with a trip out on a pontoon boat. Pinecrest really is beautiful.
The warm weather was perfect for a day out on the lake. His twins enjoyed climbing and exploring the granite rocks. Pinecrest is much more crowded than it was when we were younger, so it was nice to be able to cross the water and find a “beach” of our own.
Billy and Gina took turns driving the boat with Jamo. He seemed to revel in it.
Plenty of sunshine, great music & food…this is what summer’s all about. It was Abbie’s first trip on a boat, we couldn’t even peel her away from looking at the water long enough to take a family photo! Haha.
I later met up with Billy and he recounted that this was one of the best cabin trips he’s ever taken. I agreed, and when I thought about it more, I realized it’s probably because it’s the first time he’s had an old friend up with their family, too.
There’s something special about watching the next generation – your own children – partake in the same rituals you did when you were younger. They’re exploring the same meadow, boating on the same lake, and even playing with the same classic toys. There’s real continuity there.
Billy and I have a sort of brotherhood that has spanned decades, and now it’s extending out to our spouses and our kids. I realized I, too, have history at this cabin. In a way, their family story has also become my family story. We are now “honorary Youngs”.
Before we got back on the road to finish this epic 6-week trip, I snapped this photo of Shella giving Billy a big hug. The picture says it all.
Cheers,
Nathan
