I lost a line cabin last fall to a fire and the area where i would like to put another one only has pecker pole black spruce. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to vertical construction. I've never built one with vertical logs so i'm looking for some input ..... maybe a few tips or tricks from someone familiar with this style. It's only a line cabin so 10' x 12' ish max.

I think you would be fine Dean. The fellow I bought my line from built a big one that way. It must be 20x30 or so. He put a two sided log on top for a top plate and it has held up real well. I moved the base camp when I bought the line so all I use it for now is storage but its still a sound cabin. A good friend who used to trap in Maine said there were lots of vertical cabins there.

Friend of mine lives in log cabin over a hundred years old where the bottom three feet is upright logs and then the rest is horizontal. Not sure why it was built that way, but seems to have held up well

I worked for an master guide for many years that built lots of vertical log cabins. He said they were easier to build because you didn't need such long logs and could haul them in a boat. They were very solid and tight. Just a few long logs for bottom plates, top plates and roof. I'd like to build one myself.

do you recall if he used one or two horizontal bottom logs. I'm wondering if i should put a long log down to start and then a second horizontal bottom plate for the vertical logs which would come next or just a single bottom plate. I'm near a gravel bar so i'm just gonna use gravel for the foundation.

Problem I could see is opening up as logs shrink. With horizontal the weight of the building helps close gaps. But it sounds like you may be able to use fire killed trees which may work well

One of my buddies built one just like that it’s about 20x30. One single long log for top and bottom plates. He used long spikes to nail the logs together. He has used some spray foam to fill space between the logs in a few spots. He got a bunch of solid core doors from a school being renovated and used them for the floor. It’s a really nice cabin. Been there about 30 years so far.

I built one for a guide friend of mine a few years ago. It was very easy because the logs are so much shorter. I used a single horizontal base log and another on the top. Both were two-sided. The vertical logs were about 7 inches thick and had been two-sided also but the taper was still in them. I used sill sealer between each log and attached then with Timberlock screws about 12 inches long. Very fast. I also wired it as I built each wall. Built a frame second story.

Very interesting .... so the two sided base log (bottom) was the same thickness at both ends I’m assuming. My thinking behind having 2 vertical base logs was to offset the taper.

Wired it ? Are you talking electrical ?

Some good points here in this thread that I hadn’t thought of, very useful stuff.

It sure doesn't seem like they would be as sturdy as horizontal , especially in a heavy snow-load area, however I never thought about the advantage of short logs; makes a lot of sense.

Yes. The top and bottom log were uniform thickness throughout.

Yes electrical

I suspect as long as the footprint is broad enough relative to the height, AND a steep enough pitch so the snow doesn't load up too badly, it shouldn't be too bad. I would NOT put it on pilings though

This is not the one I'm talking about but similar at the same location

That's the one I'm talking about. White17 did you help build the other cabins? Spent quite of bit of time out there. Great place and great people...

I built the one that is out of sight directly behind the one in the photo. C&B wanted a separate building as their private quarters rather than the main lodge.

Great place and wonderful people. Lots of lofty tales around the table !

Wondering about the shrinkage also. Are the logs seasoned for some time? pre-shrunk?
I saw a rough shelter built with split logs vertical, with staggered joints, functional to a point

Always best to use dried logs if possible