!! In the quiet hours of the bootcamp grind, I found myself: Esteban's Bootcamp Experience

B.E.L. Post # 67

After a very engaging morning meeting, I headed over to the Abbey and focused on making some solid progress there. I set two vertical posts in place, taking my time to get them straight and secure — always feels good when posts go in clean and true.

After wrapping up at the Abbey, I made my way back to basecamp and shifted gears. I put up the wooden deliveries sign at the red cabin, which should help keep things flowing a bit smoother for folks coming through. While there, I also laid sand over a large icy patch on the drive to make it safer to travel — slow, steady work, but important this time of year.

I finished out the day working on the last wooden sign task, tying up loose ends and bringing that project closer to being fully complete. All in all, a full and satisfying day with a good mix of planning, building, and practical problem-solving.

Yesterday 01/13/2026

After the morning meeting, I spent the first part of the day clearing out soil in front of the spot where the large wooden delivery sign will eventually live. This little project has a few nice benefits bundled into it — exposing the beautiful face of the bedrock, sifting through the soil to reclaim usable gravel, and setting aside the remaining dirt to be hauled off later and built up into a berm. Slow, deliberate work, but satisfying to see the area gradually take shape.

The second half of the day was over at the Abbey, continuing along with the fencing. I put up more of the horizontal pieces and dug another post hole, steadily inching the fence line forward. A good mix of thoughtful earth work and solid hands-on building to round out the day.

B.E.L. Post # 68

The first half of the day was a good mix of processing and maintenance. I processed five crates of woody bits, spent some time repairing a broken wooden sign, and did maintenance on another chainsaw. I also continued clearing soil from the rock face where the big wooden delivery sign will eventually go, carefully sifting as I went and ending up with six 5-gallon buckets of gravel set aside.

After lunch, I headed over to the Abbey to keep things moving on the fencing. I set another vertical post and framed out the last two panels in the section I’ve been focused on. At this point, all that’s left here is to run the junk poles, and then I’ll be moving on to the final fallen section. Steady progress and a satisfying way to wrap up the day.

B.E.L. Post # 69

The first half of my day was one of those steady, satisfying stretches where a lot of little things come together. I processed a few more crates of woody bits, fixed up a wooden sign that had seen better days, and broke down a beautiful purple rock from the lab so it can be mailed out. Always a bit bittersweet to take apart something that striking, but it’s headed off to a good home.

I also spent some focused time on the big wooden sign. I positioned the 10' log exactly where I wanted it, bored three holes through it, and ran three 14" pieces of rebar to lock it in place. It felt good to slow down and get that alignment just right—one of those details that will quietly matter for years.

After that I headed over to the Abbey and ran junkpoles through the horizontals, completing about 2.5 panels. Progress was a little slower than usual since I was trimming the junkpoles down to 8–10' lengths and doing some woodland care in the immediate area at the same time. Still, solid forward movement, and the fencing is really starting to take shape out there.

B.E.L. Post # 70

After the morning meeting, I headed over to the Abbey and wrapped up the section of junkpoles I’ve been working on. It felt good to bring that piece to a clean stopping point, and come this Monday I’ll finally be starting on the last section of the completely down panels — a milestone I’ve been looking forward to.

Back at basecamp, I installed the last wooden delivery sign, which tied that project up nicely. I also spent some time doing a bit of beautification on the rock face, which turned into pulling out an additional four 5-gallon buckets of material. I wrapped up the day by sharpening one of the chainsaws, setting things up well for the work ahead.