Adding a Solar Array

In 2019, a proper solar array was added. The solar array was installed on a south-facing ground mounted pedestal. Pedestal was 4 feet high to allow for local snow conditions. A hinged wooded frame with metal rails was installed to hold the 12-315W solar panels. Panels were wired into 4 strings of 3 panels connected to a 4-string combiner box. A 100 foot run of PV wire was run to the cabin and connected to a Midnite Classic 150 Solar Charge Controller.  A backup battery bank consisting of (8) 190AH sealed AGM batteries were installed for a 48VDC system. This is a backup up battery bank to the existing 1600AH 48V battery that is currently installed and will be replaced or reconditioned in the spring of 2020.

Solar pedestal starts with 12 4x4x8 pressure treated posts

2x6 boards and strand board added for floor and roof

Hinged wood frame with metal supports for panels

12 Solar panels (315W) added to frame

plywood sides and doors added to enclose pedestal

Solar panel array working as designed.

Will adjust angle in spring.

The solar array project was a complete success. The pedestal provides a strong base for the solar array and will keep the panels up out of the snow. The pedestal provides much needed storage for lumber and other construction materials. The angle of the array can be adjusted as needed. I am planning on using wall jacks to lift up the wall of solar panels to the desired angle in the spring.

With the solar panels now in place, I am able to leave the power on in the cabin all of the time, which allows me to keep a refrigerator and security system running at the cabin.   The next and final piece to the power system will be to add an automatic generator start (AGS)  which will start the generator automatically to charge the batteries should the voltage drop in the batteries to a preset level. This will help offset periods in which the solar panels will be covered by snow.

Adding a Bunkhouse

In 2019, we were still working on finishing after cabin after 4 years, we decided we needed to make some changes in our building/finishing plans. We have been working part time to complete the cabin, while still trying to utilize the cabin as we build. This has been a real challenge.  The cabin has most of the infrastructure in place, water system, plumbing, electrical and off grid power system. We are able to utilize the cabin as we are building but it is far from complete. We still have to complete some electrical, plumbing, propone, drywall, tongue and grove and interior finishing. We are to the point that the cabin is functional, but not yet 'comfortable', especially in the winter months.  So we decided, that we should not be trying to live in the cabin at the same time as we are trying to finish building the cabin.

We decided to add another structure near the cabin that we call the "Bunkhouse'. This will ultimately serve as some additional guest quarters, and more importantly will serve as some finished space for us to stay in as we complete the main cabin build. The bunkhouse is a 12x24 structure with 2 lofts. It has a wood stove, Futon folding bed, bunk beds, shower, toilet and sink and is fully insulated and finished so that we may stay there in both summer and winter comfortably as we complete finishing out the main cabin. We went with one of those 'prebuilt' style structures, but had it built on-site rather than trying to bring in a fully built structure given our remote location and the narrow dirt roads leading to our property.

The structure is set on 20 concrete piers. It has a an electrical sub-panel and plumbing system that is tied to the main cabin and septic system. It will have its own rain collection system, water purification system and on-demand hot water system.

Setting the bunkhouse floor joists on concrete piers

Bunkhouse is about 75 feet from main cabin

Builder's completed on-site construction in a single day

Bunkhouse exterior stained and stairs added

Bunkhouse interior fully insulated and finished

We still have some things to complete in the bunkhouse, but it is already a noticeably more comfortable stay than in the main cabin, especially in the winter. For example, as the main cabin is not yet completely sealed in, it can still get down to 40° even with a wood stove running in very cold weather. The bunkhouse on the other hand, is a much smaller space to heat and is very easy to keep between 60°-70° with a very small wood stove even in the coldest weather.   This will make it easier for us to work on the cabin in the winter months and provide a more comfortable stay during these colder periods.

Winter Access - the ongoing challenge

We knew going in that winter access to our property was going to be an ongoing challenge. Through the years, we have tried different approaches with varying degrees of success.  One of the main issues is not living up on the property full time to keep the roads open in the winter.  The first couple of years, before the cabin build was started, we stayed in the 32' travel trailer and 'dry' camped on weekends through the winter. We were able to keep the road open by using a plow on the front of the truck as long as we kept up with the snow as it fell. Once the snow accumulated between plowing we tried a large snow blower and our tractor with chains and a blade.  As long as we were only maintaining the lower road with access to the trailer, we managed pretty well even in the worst weather.  Once we started on the cabin build, we needed access from an  upper road, and we very soon found out we could not keep both roads open not being up on the property full time.  Since we would only go up on the weekends, we would literally spend the entire weekend just trying to clear the roads for access.  This was very hard on the equipment, the snow plow on the truck, the snow blower, and the tractor.

RV Cover and Truck with Snow Blade

After a season or two after the cabin build was started, we decided that since we were not going to be up there full time in the winter to try and maintain the roads, we decided to not even try to keep the roads open and plowed.  One year we only had access by snowshoes, that wasn't very much fun. The next year, we tried leaving a snowmobile parked down the mountain in a trailer, where we could park the truck and drive the rest of the way in with the snow mobile. That didn't work very well either as the trailer got snowed in and we would have to spend an hour or so digging out the trailer just to get to the snowmobile. Once we got the snowmobile, even it got stuck. I once got the runner stuck on a tree under the snow and had to walk back to the cabin in 3 feet of snow to get a come-a-long to pull me out.  I am a bit hesitant about snowmobiles. Someone once said that you should never drive any farther on a snowmobile than you are willing to walk back when it breaks down. I can attest to that.

Utility Trailer with Snowmobile inside !

Snowmobiles are great - until they ain't!

So it has been a real dilemma trying to figure out the best way to have reliable access in the winter where we can bring in multiple people, food and supplies, in any kind of weather and in any amount of snow. This year, I think I finally found the perfect solution. I purchased a Polaris RZR with snow tracks.  This is a 2-seater, side-by-side UTV with the wheels replaced in the winter with snow tracks. I put the regular wheels on in the summer to run around and work the property and then in winter the tracks go on. These tracks are amazing and it doesn't matter how much snow there is, it just rides on top. I don't even need a road and can go cross-country on the snow if I want to.  I also added a V-Plow on the front so I can plow if I want to , or just use the V-plow to push snow aside if there is lots of powder.  This is the ideal setup for reliable winter access in any kind of weather and in any amount of snow.  The Polaris also has a built-in heater so it is a comfortable ride even on the coldest days.

The ultimate Winter Access

Polaris RZR 800 with Tracks and V-Plow

Winter Access Problems - NO MORE !

The only remaining problem is where to park the UTV in the winter. I tried parking down at the bottom of the mountain as some of the other locals have done for years. Well, I guess the landowner who owns the spot where I parked didn't want anyone to park there any more so he went ahead and buried my UTV under the snow as a subtle hint that I am not to park there.  Luckily, after digging enough to get into the UTV and getting it started, it crawled right out of the snow pile like it was no problem.  I had to find another spot to park the UTV, so I left it at the entrance to our top property entrance. Even though this was a fairly remote area, someone still tried to break into it while it was parked there.

This year, I am going to try to park the UTV on my lower property under the RV cover.  I will be able to park my truck at the road entrance and will have to snowshoe in about 1/2 mile to get to the UTV, but at least it will be in a secure place. I can then ride the UTV back to where the truck will be parked, load up any people, equipment or supplies.

Lastly, since the UTV is only a 2-seater, I purchased a sled that I can take additional people, equipment or supplies as needed. Hopefully this will be the best solution for my winter access going forward.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Here's a YouTube video of a trip up to the cabin in February 2020...

https://youtu.be/gWa1-xUDLWk 

2014 - Start the log cabin build

We broke ground on the cabin build in August 2014. The site we selected was up on the hill about 150 feet higher in elevation from the where we had built the RV cover. We needed to put in a different access road from the top of the property that required a new easement from the USFS, but this road provides the easiest access to that part of the 40 acre property.  We had considered many different types of structures for the cabin but ended up finding a hand pealed log cabin kit on Craig's list for a real bargain. The logs were Larch (also known as Tamarack), which are more dense than pine or fir and have better resistance to rot and insects. The previous owners had commissioned the build but ran into some financial issues and were unable to proceed with the build. We purchased the log kit from them, had it moved and reassembled on our property.  The cabin was smaller than what we had originally wanted to build (32-x24), but we could not pass up the opportunity.  To maximize our usable space, we decided to build it over a drive-in garage and add a 1/2 loft.

Cabin foundation with 9' walls

Craig's list cabin before move - logs weathered 6 years

Logs moved and assembled on new foundation

Logs were media-blasted to restore finish, added 12 pitch roof

December 2014 - Metal roof added just in time for winter. All closed in  

2013 First Construction - RV Cover

August 2013 - Started construction on RV Cover

2013 - After seeing the amount of snow from the first winter with the travel trailer on the property it was clear we needed to have a cover to protect the trailer from the heavy snow loads.  After considering several options we decided to build a 20'X40' covered structure with an additional 10' shed roof on one side to be able to place equipment.  The structure would be open initially so we could have full use of the trailer on a year round basis.  The orientation of the structure was such that we could have one side of the roof facing south so that we could install solar panels. We would put the additional shed roof on the north side and collect rain water. We would install a 12 volt power system with 4 150 watt panels, an inverter and about 1500 amp battery bank.  In addition we would install a small septic tank and drain field to connect the RV.   Under the shed roof, we would have a small equipment trailer (8X12) to store the battery bank, inverter, backup generator, and some gear that could be stored whenever we left the property.  We built the RV Cover in the summer of 2013 and was ready for the winter.  This setup worked very well, and we were able to stay at the trailer year round, even at times when the temperatures reached 10° below zero.  In the winter, we did
'dry' camping and winterized the trailer draining the water tanks, and water lines.  We were able to also store a small tractor, and our UTV under the RV cover to provide protection in the winter, as well as to store firewood for an outdoor fire pit.  We used this setup to stay during our weekly trips to the property from fall of 2013 to Spring of 2015 until the cabin was ready for us to start staying there.  The plan is that we will ultimately close in this structure and add two large doors for moving the RV in and out and to act as a storage building in the future.

RV Cover completed and equipment moved under

Hanging out at the trailer

2013 - First Winter using new RV Cover

2013 Winter - Hardest part was keeping access road open through winter

Our Off Grid Plan

Our original plan was to build a place to retire in comfort. Rather than head south to the beaches as a lot of our counterparts are doing, we decided we would rather to head back north to the mountains that we loved so much. As we considered where we would go, we first researched all of the places we loved, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and several other areas. We needed a place that was remote, but not too remote. We still needed access to towns to work, and for me an international airport for travel. We needed to have medical facilities within a reasonable distance should our health deteriorate. Additionally, we wanted the best value for our dollar in land values and something that was within our budget. As we looked at different areas, proximity to medical and airports, and land values, we soon zeroed in on North Idaho.  It was less than 100 miles from Spokane, WA which is the largest city in the region with an International airport.  The land we selected was 40 acres of timberland outside of Clark Fork, ID, about 25 miles east of Sandpoint, ID and about 75 miles NE of Spokane, WA.

The original plan was to build a large log cabin home on the property as our primary residence.  As we made the move from Houston, TX to Spokane, WA, we realized that this was not feasible. My wife's position was working for the State of WA, and it would be too far of a commute for both her and my travel. Due to these and other financial reasons, we had to downsize our project from a large fulltime residence to a smaller cabin. We would live in WA, and travel to ID to work on the cabin in our free time.  Eventually, we would be free to live all or part time in the cabin once it was completed and we were retired. In the meantime, we would use the cabin for family recreation.

Another part of our plan was that this off grid cabin was to be a legacy build for our children. We wanted to build something that could be passed on to our children so that they and their families could enjoy the wild and peaceful wilderness as much as we do. We wanted to leave them something that we feel is more valuable than money, a sense of peace and independence.  As our children did not live in the area, we wanted the off grid cabin to be no maintenance and no ongoing costs , such as utility bills. The cabin could simply be 'locked up' and 'turned off' as needed.

It is an important part of our plan that our family gets to fully enjoy the property fully, even while we are in the process of building. We wanted our children to be able to come up to visit the property any time of the year to build memories and to contribute to the process as they are willing and able.  The first step was to put the 32' travel trailer on the property so there was a place to stay and have access to simple amenities, water, electricity, bathroom, etc.  , the second was to add some toys and equipment to assist in exploring the area and preparing the site for construction.  The RV could also serve as our base as we started to build the cabin.   Due to the high snow levels that the property receives, we decided to first build a frame structure to cover and protect the RV from the heavy snow loads in the winter. This would allow us to utilize the RV all year long as needed.  We installed a 12V Solar Panel system, a rain water collection system, and a backup generator for the first year or so that worked well. We always had AC power and water as needed.   We also planned on converting the RV cover to a fully enclosed storage building after the log cabin has been completed.

The next step was to select a build site for the log cabin. The property had only a single clearing, in which we parked the Travel trailer and build the RV cover.  The best build site on the property was up on the hill about 150' higher in elevation, but would require clearing of trees and building of an access road.  The cost of building a new access road  from the bottom of the property was prohibitively expensive, so a new access road (requiring a new easement) from the adjoining property to the north was built for a much more reasonable cost.

Once the cabin site was selected, we went to work on clearing the site, cutting down trees, saving the timber, pulling stumps, moving dirt. We also cleared out the path for the new access road, which was located over an old timber cut.

As to the cabin build, we selected a local general contractor to handle the build, from putting in the new access road, building the foundation, moving and erecting the logs, building the dormer and roof to final close in and metal roof.   Due to several issues with the general contractor and some of the sub contractors, we ended up cutting them loose after the cabin was dried in.   We continue the work on the cabin on our own from this point, which includes staining, chinking, plumbing, electrical, gas lines, heating, water system, interior framing and finishing work.

Even though we are building this cabin as off grid, it is not to be lacking in any normal amenities (TV, Internet, appliances, etc.) The design of our off grid cabin is such that we will have all of the power needed for any normal household useage.

For an off grid power system, the cabin will have a 48 VDC system, with a 4400 watt inverter. Solar Panels (PV), Wind, Wood Gasification, and a generator will all be used in the power system. The off grid power system will provide both 110 and 220 VAC. The generator will be multi-fuel and will have an auto start capability based upon the battery bank voltage. The 48 VDC battery is large enough to offer 5 days of continuous power without the need for external input (Solar, Wind, generator, etc.).  The cabin will be equipped with a satellite system to provide Internet access, in which the off grid power system can be monitored from an external source through an Internet connection.  The 48VDC power system will also be large enough to supply power to any other structures, storage buildings, water well, bunk house, etc. that may be built in the future on the site.

The cabin will also be configured with a security camera system which can also be monitored remotely through the Internet connection.  The cabin will have propane appliances, stove, refrigerator, hot water heater and furnace and will have an external 500 gallon propane tank in stalled about 100' from the cabin. For fire control, the area within 30 feet of the cabin will be cleared of brush and trees.  A pond will also be built about 75 feet from the cabin from the barrow pit built to provide fill material around the cabin. The pond will provide additional water for fire suppression if needed. The main heating system for the cabin will be a wood stove.

For a water source, the cabin will have a rain water collection system with a 1000 gallon capacity. One 600 gallon underground tank and a 450 gallon above ground gallon tank installed in the equipment room off the garage. The water tanks can also be filled if needed by use of a 200 gallon transfer tank which can be filled at a nearby spring if needed.  The water will be filtered as it is collected and before it is placed in the holding tanks.  An additional filtering will be provided by a reverse osmosis system. A water well may also be installed at some point in the future. It is estimated that the water table is at about 250'.

For waste disposal, a 1000 gallon septic tank and drain field will be installed.

Adding toys and equipment

Added a storage trailer and Rhino UTV

Now that we had the RV trailer in place, it was time to start adding toys and equipment. Over the course of the next year, we added a generator, covered equipment trailer, a Yamaha Rhino UTV, a snowmobile, a backhoe, a dump trailer, some kayaks and  a 20' cargo container. Additionally, we started planning our move from TX. We took the first trailer load of equipment including a tractor with a front end loader, box blade and mower on a 20' trailer, 1800 miles from Houston, TX.   The move north took a total of three trips.

Moved equipment from TX to property

From the beginning, we knew this process of moving to Idaho and building our Off Grid cabin would take a long time. We wanted to make sure we also took every opportunity to explore and get to know the area around our new home and enjoy the outdoors.  With each trip up to the property, we combined work with play, explored the area such as hiking the Scotchman's Peak trail, one of the best hikes in Idaho, Kayaked in lake Pend O'reille, and explored USFS roads and trails, picked huckleberries, snowshoes and snowmobiled in the winter.

Added a couple of Kayaks

Added a towable backhoe

 

Hiking up Scotchman's Peak

Snowmobiling

Our new neighbor