1)  Opening

Opening/Closing Instructions

WINTER ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In the winter (Nov 15 - May 15) there is a locked gate into Spring Creek Tract.  This gate must be kept locked at all times and only opened to pass into or out of the tract. The SCTA locks are clearly marked and you'll need to use the numbered keys to unlock the gate. 

2. Please watch this video for instructions on how to use Gate Locking System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ad_soJ6paY 

3. NEVER LEAVE THE GATE OPEN OR OPEN THE GATE FOR OTHERS WHO ARE NOT CABIN OWNERS IN SPRING CREEK TRACT.

4. Parking is allowed on the street in front of our cabin. Vehicles must be parked facing out on the right hand side of the street (South Side of the street). Parking is not allowed on driveways in Spring Creek Tract during the time when the gate is closed. Do not shovel a place for the car on the driveway.

SPRING CREEK CABIN OPENING INSTRUCTIONS

The are two main doors for the cabin. One is on the deck facing the street and the other is facing away from the street on the south side of the cabin. The gate onto the deck swings upward from left to right from the stairs as you face the deck. Keys for the cabin are located in the lock-box to the left of the south door opposite the street. We will email you the combination for the lock-box or will loan you a set of keys to use. After opening the doors, replace the keys from the lock-box back into the lock-box. Spin the dial to lock the box. A complete set of cabin keys is located on the key rack next to the door opposite street.

Electrical supply to water heater is located above water heater. Insert the breaker bar after only after water heater has been filled up. Otherwise heater element(s) will burn out and have to be replaced.

1. Go inside cabin and turn on lights. Unplug motion sensor "barking dog" alarms in front room and back bedroom. Plug wall heater in (if left unplugged). Wall heater thermostat is located on the wall above the microwave. Move switch at bottom of wall heater thermostat to the right and set temperature. 

2. Internet/TV:  There is broadband internet service at the cabin.  The network is Cabin42.The password is 977karok. There are two Internet-ready TVs: One downstairs above the fireplace the other is upstairs in the loft. Both TVs have Fire Sticks for streaming videos or live TV. Remotes for TVs and Fire Sticks should be easily located close to the TVs.

3. Winter: Close drain at bottom (turn clockwise) of the water heater (under stairs).

4. Get T-wrench on top of water heater to turn on main water to cabin. The main valve is outside in  approx. 15' north of the deck. It is inside the 2" dia. black pipe coming up from the ground. Remove the cap and then turn the valve a 1/4 turn counter-clockwise to open.

5. Go back inside and turn off all the faucets that were opened during the previous closing procedures. Let the hot water in the bathtub run until the air clears out. At this point the water heater will be full.

6. Open outside green shutters for the rooms that you will be using. The small Master Lock key works on all of them. Hang the lock on the shutter while visiting. Secure shutters open with eye hooks. The door and window shutters are not usually fastened from the inside. If they don't open easily, check the inside eye hooks.  If they are latched, then, they will need to be unlatched before opening shutters.

7. Remove breaker bar from the hot water circuit box located on the wall above the hot water heater by pulling straight out. Flip the bar over and reinsert into the breaker box. The "ON" position is clearly marked on the breaker bar on the blue tape. Close cover on breaker box.

1. Fireplace: The Lopi fireplace insert is a very efficient source of heat. During start up, the top knob should be pulled all the way out until the kindling is well lit.  The bottom knob (under the fan control knob) should be pushed in during start-up.  It will be used to regulate the flow of air into the firebox and can be throttled down once the cabin is warm.  The top knob should only to pulled out during start-up and when placing wood into the fire-box.  At other times it should be pushed in all the way.  If the outside air is warmer than the cabin air (winter time when you have just arrived), it is advisable to roll up a newspaper into a torch shape, light it, and hold toward the back of the open fire-box to establish a good draft. The fan switch is "Off" when turned all the way counter-clockwise. When turned on (clockwise) the fan speed starts out high and then gets progressively lower as the knob is turned clockwise. Wood and kindling are stacked in the cabin and should be replenished before you leave.  The kindling pile and wood pile are under tarps on the southeast side of the cabin.  Please secure the tarps with the bungee cords after getting firewood/kindling.

2. Bathroom Floor Heater - Push button on right hand side of thermostat located on inside wall of bathroom to start heater. It is pre-programmed so no need to set a new program temperature.

3. Never leave trash or food outside at the cabin.  Do not throw food waste, even organic waste, into the forest. Bears and bear break-ins are a major problem in the Lake Tahoe area.

   1. May 1 - Oct 31:  Three trash dumpsters are located on Spring Creek Rd.  Use these dumpsters only for household trash. Follow the instructions on the dumpsters and never leave them open or unsecured.

   2. Nov 1 - April 30:  There is no trash service in Spring Creek Tract during these months.  All trash needs to be either hauled away to the refuse disposal site in South Lake Tahoe or brought home with you. Never leave trash outside when you're at the cabin.  Bears are often active year round in Spring Creek.

4. When leaving the cabin please close all windows and doors.  Food smells are attractants to area bears and open windows and doors are an invitation for bears to investigate.

5. Never feed bears or other wildlife at the cabin. These are wild animals and they should not become habituated to human food.

6. Close and lock your car doors/windows when you're at the cabin.  Many unsuspecting cabin visitors have had their vehicles broken into by bears.