Why start the project living in RV’s?
Why not a speedy project build with loans and or investors?
We strongly believe in the old sayings “cart before the horse” or “wag the dog” in the timing of when and how we develop and build our small mountain project.
Generally, mountain development is costly, and cost overruns are typical, inevitably leading to high failure rates. With this in mind, the family opted out of seeking financing to quickly build a backcountry resort, only to turn around and be forced to immediately find success to pay investors and start the repayment of loans. The family felt that slowly learning our mountain, our market, and our backcountry strengths would garner us more remarkable success.
The mountain gives a 6 to 7-month optimum build season but only a short four-month span during mid-summer of consistent 4x4 travel to the building site. Excavating building pads and quickly deploying RV fifth wheels was the only way to inexpensively and successfully inhabit the property soon.
Local Concerns
During our research the year before actually inhabiting the property, we encountered an incredible amount of local pushback to the feasibility of living at altitude off-grid in remote Montana. Statements of "you're going to die," "good luck with starvation," you know about Montana bears," and "you will freeze to death" were common themes of most conversations when discussing our plans. Not taking these conversations lightly, the family prudently thought that lightly inhabiting the mountain with a well-planned escape was the correct approach. Over time we broke down through research each challenge individually so as not to get overwhelmed; with the idiom "less is more," light began to appear, and our dream didn't seem so unrealistic.
After starting our third year of living at elevation, Mother Nature has taught us a lifestyle of tolerance, balance, and sometimes resignation to uncontrollable events. We didn't succeed at this project by throwing an endless amount of money into a pit, but we solved our issues with good old fortitude, creativity, and patience. Taking our time has given us a seasonal history of what the mountain has in store for us and a working education that we feel can now be explored with visiting guests. Remote off-grid living has also started allowing each family member to find their strengths.
In the case of our daughter Alayah, the mountain allowed her to work locally to learn how to become a professional chef and gave her the dream experience of being a ski instructor. In gaining that experience, Alayah's daily travels gave us a gauge of what snowmobile/4x4 journey up and down the mountain would cost, how much time it would take, and what to expect from Montana weather at elevation.
Living in this wild environment, the family knows where dangerous areas exist and how to avoid them. Knowledge of our local wildlife, habitat, and seasonal whereabouts has caused us to be able to give vital intel to outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and mountain bikers. Incorporating Karelian Bear dogs into our living area has created a natural barrier between us and unwanted mountain lions, wolves, and bear encounters. Our kids feel safe to hike, play, and work while our Karelians are on patrol.
Elev8150' has experienced three seasons of snow conditions, even though we have a lifetime of learning ahead. The art of avalanche understanding is a process we study and learn in real time, knowing the most severe consequences of the backcountry experience.