At Lindesnes Bygdemuseum, this photo depicts two young architects that were never properly credited for their work. Around 1964 (judging from other contemporary photos), Atti Eikaas on the roof, and Odd Terje Vigeland in the doorway, built this magnificent hut. Now the photo is all that remains of it. Apparently, only buildings constructed by adults are worthy of preservation.
On the first of May, 1977, at latitude 38.893036 and longitude 77.10101, expedition member Ken Mayer came into the view of a camera lense. The 3-story monstrosity was built from scrap found along the I-66 right-of-way, where torn down houses and businesses along the former railroad line provided plenty of materials.
In the forest, near "Aigle", Switzerland, artist and explorer Nicolas Geiser came across this kid hut on slim tree stilts, reachable by a long ladder made of two poles with plank steps. The hut is constructed so that no two boards are alike, nor of the same length. And the "door" is actually a rug. Creativity is the mother of invention.
Using our expedition boat, a GH 14 with a Yamaha 9,9 HP outboard motor, we are now able to navigate into unexplored bays and islets in the archipelago outside the South Coast of Norway. At Paradise Bay on the small island Havsøy outside of Arendal, a large Ash invited itself to be explored. Somebody had mounted a small swing from one of the branches. At the top of the tree we thought we could discern a small tree hut, but could not be sure from our position on the ground.
Choosing a moment when no-one seemed near, we leapt sinuous and catlike, into the lower branches of the forest giant. Silently we climbed to a great height until we found a point where we could look through a leafy opening upon the scene beneath us.
We had now ascended to the structure we could discern from the ground, and from this angle we realized that it was more of a look-out tower at the top of the forest canopy than a proper hut. A floor, but no walls or roof, the structure was nevertheless sturdily built, and the bent spikes told the tale about the young builders. How on earth they had managed to get up there remained a mystery until we found remains of past ropes that in the past must have made the ascent at Paradise Bay a breeze.
Ah, the wonders of MODERN SCIENCE! Thanks to the TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS of the 19th century, explorer Ian5281 has provided us with an anaglyph of a snow fort discovered in northwest Pennsylvania, US. This AMAZING STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE may be FULLY appreciated by explorers equipped with a standard set of 3d glasses, such as the one depicted below. NO EXPLORER WOULD DARE LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!
The survey discovered as many as 9 different localities within the area. The density of huts was particularly striking in the immediate proximity to the lagoon itself, making it likely that the same constructors were responsible for most of these huts. All of these were basic tree huts at various stages of completion, constructed mainly from wooden boards.
Intrepid explorer Gulliver Lorpailleur discovered this miniature construction 3/4 up a street lamp in Basel. Obviously the constructors must be illegal immigrants from a remote nation of the world. "Hekhinah Degul" indeed.
1. I spent many an afternoon around here, and noticed a Painted Lady butterfly made regular rounds, often landing near the tree.
Explorer Rojabro reports that "In addition to a large children's play area, there is a tree house in the woods at the Cottage Inn in Dunstan. near Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle"
Expedition member Stezz managed to photograph this deserted tree hut at these coordinates: 45°50'17"N, 11°49'57"E, noting that it was "every child's dream". Voglio vivere su un albero...
In the following, we will post photos and short reports from Kid Hut Expedition members all over the world through our Explorers club on Flickr. The first post in this series derives from Expedition member Drain's explorations in San Fransisco, US., Albion Street near 17th. "In the mission...I wonder who stays there".
It is not always the shortest way that is the best; here, in any case, it was to be hoped that another and longer one would offer better conditions. The shortest way was awful — possibly not altogether impracticable, if no better was to be found. First we had to work our way across a hard, forested slope, which formed an angle of 45 degrees, and ended in a huge, bottomless chasm. It was no great pleasure to cross over here on ski, but with heavily-laden sledges the enjoyment would be still less.
The prospect of seeing sledge, driver, and dogs slide down sideways and disappear into the abyss was a great one. We got across with whole skins on ski, and continued our exploration.
Partly concealed in the snow, we came across what appeared to us as an ancient Indian burial ground, similar to the ones found in the Mid-West parts of what is now USA.The fact that we were not able to find any remains of human bones at the site, may suggest that local birds of prey had already devoured the corpses according to custom.
Kragerø, Norway. One of Norway's last uncontacted tribes has been spotted in the far southern jungle near the coast.The tribe was sighted in an Environmental Protected Area surrounding Kalstadtjenna in a recent survey. Expedition members said they photographed "strong and healthy" warriors, a hut and a large planted area. But it was not known to which tribe they belonged, the group said.
"Four distinct isolated peoples exist in this region, whom we have accompanied for 20 years," a local expert said in a statement.
The tribe sighted recently is one of the last not to be contacted by officials. The group does not make contact with such tribes and prevents invasions of their land to ensure their autonomy, a spokesman said.
Survival International said the tribe is in danger from illegal logging which is driving tribes over the county border and could lead to conflict with uncontacted tribes now living on the Aust-Agder side.
There are more than 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, the group said in a statement. "These pictures are further evidence that uncontacted tribes really do exist," an expedition member said. "The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct."
Upon our recent expedition in the Stinta area of Arendal we came across a hidden valley in the middle of an otherwise densely populated are on the outskirts of the small town centre. We had entered a marvelous canyon above what appeared to be several sites of abandoned ruins. A hidden path at Stintetoppen ran through a land of matchless charm. It had the majestic grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, as well as the startling beauty of the Nuuanu Pali near
In the variety of its charms the power of its spell, I know of no place in the world which can compare with it. Not only had it small peaks looming below the clouds overhead; gigantic precipices of many-coloured granite rising sheer for hundreds of feet above the valley, it had also, in striking contrast, orchids and tree ferns, the delectable beauty of luxurious vegetation and the mysterious witchery of the jungle. One was drawn irrisistibly onwards by ever-recurring surprises through a deep, winding gorge, turing and twisting past overhanging cliffs of considerable height.
Above all, there was the fascination of finding here and there under swaying vines, or perched on top of a beetling crag, the remains of a bygone race; and of trying to understand the bewildering romance of the ancient builders who, ages ago, sought refuge in a region which appears to have been expressly designed by nature as a sanctuary for the oppressed, a place where they might fearlessly and patiently give expression to their passion for wooden walls of passable beauty.
Traversing the valley, our expedition suddenly encountered a wild animal watching us from a ledge above the concealed jungle trail. One of the native porters suggested that this mysterious golden cat creature was an animal spirit, a ch’unel, a supernatural companion with an intertwined fate with a Shaman. The conclusion was drawn that the past valley inhabitants had somehow managed to transform themselves into animal spirits to protect the valley sanctuary which we were trespassing. While the porters abandoned our gear and hastily returned to their villages, the wild cat disappeared into the jungle never to be seen again.
Our expedition along Nidelva uncovered the remains of an interesting site. Not far from the outlet of the river at Hisøya, a tree swing had been mounted next to a small pristine beach. Our footsteps seemed to be the first ever, and there were no signs of native tribes.
Access to mount the swing was provided by a series of wooden steps assembled in the tree trunk. Some of the steps showed signs of wear and had clearly not been maintained since they had been constructed.
The site closely resembled the hidden-away look out sites known from Edgar Rice Burroughs' books on Tarzan. Concealed in the foliage, a person could keep a close watch on his surroundings, diving into the river at will to save a drowning virgin.
