Harlan's Desert Shack

Desert Hot Springs, CA

I went out to visit Harlan at his shack about 8 weeks ago and this is the stage it was at. He had just put up the framing, all with lumber he found around the desert.

I helped him put up metal roofing panels, which he ripped off of a fence at a shuttered car dealership in Venice the day before.

On my previous visit, I helped him build this palm frond hut.

Harlan was building the whole thing with this single old corded drill, so we were constantly switching from drill bit to screw bit. I couldn’t believe he put up with working like this, I’ve always used two cordless drills.

Harlan framing the door

Gave Harlan this sink that I used in my installation at Punto Lairs Inc.

This weekend, Harlan had a shack-warming party.

Since I last visited, he had gotten these glass panes installed in all the windows. The bottom two rows are fiberglass panels that he made.

He had improved the floor in the hut since my last visit by mixing concrete into the dirt floor.

Stayed with Maya in my new tent, first time using it.

Thomas and Harlan