I have a log cabin made of douglas fir logs in New Mexico. This winter I had snow on my balcony that dripped on the end of one log all season and caused damage. It has dried out all summer, but trying to figure out how to repair. I have addressed the drainage of the deck to prevent this going forward. The wood is soft. I do not suspect rot per se as it is very dry in New Mexico and the log has not been moist since the winter, but uncertain what next step to take. I thought I could upload a picture here, but will try to describe – there is cracking and the wood is dark and discolored about 18-24 inches from the end – the log itself is about 18 inches thick and about 25 feet log as it extends from the cabin to form the balcony.
Since the wood is soft, there may be some level of deterioration. Use a tool to probe the area gently. If it penetrates easily and deeply, the damage might be more extensive than it appears on the surface. In this case, it may need to be repaired by a professional. If you can find a log home professional in your area, have them come out and take a look. We usually recommend American Log Restoration but they aren’t currently servicing the western states.