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Montanan
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2012 05:26pm
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Thanks trollbridge and leonk.
My recovery continues...am out of the brace and re-learning how to walk normally. We were up at the cabin last weekend and did a lot of relaxing. One day was pretty nice and the other was rainy. Rode dirt bikes, played cards, read books, napped, fished, etc. Hubby did some ditch work and pretty well channeled the run-off along the side of the road. He also replaced the pressure gauge for the water system so we're back in business with running water, hot showers, etc. We have a very lengthy to-do list for the summer so we'll need to be working most of the time we're up there from now on. We're headed out of state for a wedding next weekend, so it will be 2 weeks before we're back up there.
A couple of photos from last weekend:
Rainy day view from the front porch
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Snow line just above the cabin
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No snow at all on the mtn on Friday...looked like this when we drove home Mon.
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Moto fun
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:15pm
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Montanan...Hi! I saw your stone foundation work under another thread...looks like you've been very busy? How's your knee? all healed and good as new? Hope so! I hope you had a great summer at the cabin and got all your projects done. Would love to see new pics!
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Montanan
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2012 05:39pm
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Hi trollbridge! I just posted on your thread and then saw your message here. 
Life is busier than ever. We did have a very nice summer and managed to spend a decent amount of time at the cabin. The highlight was my birthday weekend in August (I turned 40- gulp!) We invited a few of our closest friends so it was also kind of a "cabin unveiling" since no one outside our family had seen it. It was an absolutely fabulous time. I could not have asked for it to have turned out better! We had 8 adults and 12 children (between the ages of 4 and 11.) Two families brought their own campers and another brought tents and we had people spread out all over the property. One night, the cabin housed hubby and I, 8 children and 4 dogs. 
We hiked, biked, played horseshoes, lounged in the hammock and generally relaxed. The kids had a zipline, an archery station, BB guns, motorcycles, bikes, etc. Everyone pitched in on meals and dishes and the adults stayed up talking by the campfire until the wee hours of the morning every night. It was all I ever hoped the cabin would be.
The downside is that we didn't do near as much work on the cabin or property as we had intended to accomplish this summer (oops.) We did get the rock perimeter done around the pier foundation (photos below) and did a few minor other things; put up some curtains, installed pendant lights above the bar, cut some firewood...but there's a lot left to do. We've been stuck in town since Labor Day weekend because of kids sports and activities but we are headed up to the cabin a week from tomorrow (hubby and I both took Friday off work so we can make it a 3 day weekend.)
Our big task for that trip is to prep for winter (though it still feels like summer up here- grrr.) We need to cut and stack a LOT more wood and we have to address our water freezing problem. We bought a small pancake compressor to use to make sure we blow all of the water out of the lines when we drain the system but the real problem is that it freezes in the intake pipe to the pump (suspended in the center of our buried, spring-fed collection barrel.) There's no way to drain the water out of that section of the system and it freezes, even though we've done our best to insulate the cover. So, we're thinking we need to get some kind of heat tape (we have power) to keep it from freezing. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.
We also have plans to put up a shed for storage and also some kind of small guest cabin...down the road. We'd like to have the shed before next summer, though. We never got around to the dirt moving/landscaping that we planned, so that will have to wait until next summer too (though we did do a bit of road improvement that was definitely helpful in getting our friends' camper in!)
My knee is slowly getting better. I've been cleared to start jogging again but- wow- it is slow and painful. I have to see the orthopedist one more time before ski season to see if I can be cleared for that. Thanks for asking.
Rock perimeter 1
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Rock perimeter 2
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Kids in teepee
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Just
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2012 10:27pm
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we used a 4 ft heet tape for that at our old place, the tape had it's own builtin thermostat , worked well for the 8 years we had the place .
we had grid servise so power was not a issue ,diden't brake the bank so we left it on fall till late spring ,never froze once ...[canada -20* f].
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2012 10:45pm
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Hi Montanan...looks like you may have found your solution to the freezing pipe-I've never heard of heat tape. Hope you can get it all worked out.
It is great to hear you had a fantastic birthday weekend!! Sounds like a great time-one the adults and the kids will always remember! Happy 40th btw!
Your foundation looks great with the stone around it...you must have put the kids to work on that one
I'm glad your knee is getting better. Hope you will be ready to ski this winter, I know how disappointed you would feel if you couldn't. Snow will fly before ya know it!
Don't worry about the projects you didn't get done...there will be time for them. After working so hard last summer it is good to just enjoy the place in a more relaxed way...and besides, it gives you time to change your mind or think up new projects to do  Yikes!
Glad you have a 3 day weekend coming up! We need to do that too!
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Montanan
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# Posted: 8 Oct 2012 12:47pm
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Had a great long weekend at the cabin. We put up firewood for the winter and hubby put heat wrap on the pipe to the water pump (we ended up going with the stuff you use on roofs and gutters to keep ice from forming.) We'll see if it works, I guess. It snowed Thursday and Friday but the sun came out Saturday so we had some gorgeous days.
Thanks for the compliments on the stone perimeter, trollbridge. And YES, the kids helped a lot!
Thanks for the info on the heat tape, Just.
Wood pile
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Fall colors (and family checking out the water pump)
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Fall colors along the stream
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A rare shot of the "view side" of the cabin.
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hattie
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2012 01:55am
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Your place is beautiful. There are going to be lots of happy memories made there!!
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dstraate
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2012 11:26am
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Good to get caught up on this thread. Looks like a lovely place in all seasons. I hope that knee firms up and lets you get back on the slopes. Looks fantastic. I think we're kind of doing the same thing (rock foundation) on a much smaller scale. You never know how much work that is until you've done it. I've carried more rock than I care to think about in the last few years. Send some of that snow down our way!
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2012 04:41pm
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Love those pictures Montanan!!
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Montanan
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2012 04:44pm
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Thanks All!
dstraate~ yep- we haul a lot of rocks around our place. We haven't even begun the "landscaping" work we're planning and the site still bears the scars of the construction process. We'll be carrying/dragging/towing a lot of boulders out of the way when we start that. Our property is just SO rocky. It's up to 73° here in town, so I'm guessing the snow at the cabin is probably melting. You guys getting any snow down there this week?
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iktumi
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2012 11:50am
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Pretty amazing stuff, just ran across this thread today.....
You'd mentioned that a log company provided the logs and
basic structure(beautiful), roof....would you be able to share the rough
approx. cost for the work and materials they provided?
Our "micro-cabin" was lost in the High Park fire in northern
Colorado this past summer, and i'm trying to get an idea of
how we're going to re-build.
Thanks!!!
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Sustainusfarm
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# Posted: 5 Dec 2012 07:40pm
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Montanan ....just read your thread all the way through! WOW...what a great place! YOu did great work!
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BigDuke6
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2012 11:16am
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Recently got turned on to this website by Montanagirl. Great to see other folks places, and to get idea's for upgrades to my place. And, of course, I always love to see other Montana folks here.
Montanan, great place you have.
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Montanan
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# Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:06am
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Thank you all for the nice words.
iktumi~ the package we purchased included all the logs and log work, including window and door openings cut to our specifications, 3/4 loft with ladder stairs, roof structure with purlins and hand hewn 2x6 boards (which you can see exposed in the interior shots), pier block foundation and delivery and set up of the whole structure...basically what you see in the photo below. The "log wall" package from the company is about $55/square foot. We paid a bit more than this to have the loft, stairs, roof, etc. included. The package also included an 8' deep deck across the front of the cabin and all chinking work.
We did all interior walls, flooring, plumbing, electrical, kitchen and bath installation, wood stove, roofing (insulation and metal), window and door installation, and rock skirting.
I hope that helps. I'm sorry you lost your place last summer. I'm originally from Colorado- moved here from Fort Collins- and was down there during the fire. Just awful.
Stage of construction when we took possession.
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PorkChopsMmm
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# Posted: 31 Dec 2012 01:26pm
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From a few pages back you show a picture of your bathroom with a clawfoot tub. I believe your shower curtain rail attaches to your wall -- is that true? Do you know where you found that? We have a very similar tub and bathroom set up but our rail attaches to the ceiling -- it is not ideal. I would like to try and find one like yours. Can you provide a link or let me know where you found yours?
Thanks and beautiful cabin!
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Montanan
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2013 12:38pm
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Hi- our shower curtain rod attaches to both the wall and the ceiling (there is a single ceiling rod.) But we have one at our home that only attaches to the wall. It's an "L shaped" we found it on eBay.
This is the style we have at the cabin:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/D-SHOWER-CURTAIN-ROD-FOR-CLAW-FOOT-OR-REG-TUB-60-/12084104503 4?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c22b0042a
Here's the kind we have at home, with no ceiling bracket required:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fixed-Aluminum-L-Shower-Curtain-Rod-WATTS-6633032-60-/3007880 27585?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46085d10c1
Hope that helps- and thanks for the compliments.
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Montanan
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2013 12:44pm
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Hi All. We had a wonderful week at the cabin over Christmas- got in a couple of days of skiing too (I was on my snowboard, as I'm not yet cleared to ski after my knee injury.) Here are a couple of fun photos:
Kids helping hang the stockings
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Tree all trimmed
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Convenient for decorating to have the tree under the stairs :)
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Investigating their loot
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2013 04:43pm
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Looks like Christmas at the cabin was a success!!! Very nice...would love to hear more about what the kids thought. I would really enjoy having Christmas at the cabin.
Enjoy the remainder of your school break...I assume you have a couple weeks left?
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:39pm
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Awesome Posts. I am building a cabin about 2 1/2 hours from yours in the bear paw mountains. We have the ground leveled and should be starting construction May 1 if the
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BearPaw
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:43pm
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Montanan, I really enjoyed reading about your cabin. I am building one in the Bear Paws about 2 ½ hours from you. I really like your flooring and am thinking about doing the same exact thing. Keep posting.
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Montanan
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2013 03:41pm
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That's great BearPaw! Are you planning to build yourself or will you hire someone to do the log work? If you are thinking of hiring someone, I very highly recommend our builder.
It's so exciting to be getting ready to break ground and get the structure up!
We're headed to the cabin on Wednesday and will be there through Monday. I CANNOT WAIT! We don't have any work planned (other than shoveling to get in and thawing the water system!) But we've developed quite a to-do list for this summer:
1) Build a wall in the loft to separate the kids sleeping area from the adult sleeping area.
2) Rent a bobcat and move some dirt around to create a level area for grass (will be more like a wild meadow than a lawn, but still nice for hanging out.)
3) Take a first stab at building a little storage shed out of materials on the property (rocks for the foundation, log walls and possibly salvaged roof metal from the abandoned mine nearby.)
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 12 Feb 2013 05:04pm
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 Have a great time Montanan!!!
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BearPaw
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# Posted: 13 Feb 2013 09:13pm
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I am having someone build the shell however I will be helping and doing as much as I can. I actually talked you your builder but i wanted a little bigger cabin then I could afford if I used them. They seemed very professional. Have a great long weekend!
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George
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# Posted: 14 Feb 2013 09:53am
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Nice project.When you were putting on the roofing, I saw the rags tied to your ladder to protect the roofing.Thats old school.Now days we go to the dollar store and get those foam sticks kids play with.each is about 3' long and lant forever. Again, beautiful cabin.
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Bevis
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# Posted: 14 Feb 2013 01:42pm
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Quoting: George foam sticks kids play with.each is about 3' long and lant forever. Again
Noodles
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Montanan
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# Posted: 21 Feb 2013 12:39am
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Using Noodles is a great idea! We were actually using the kids' tshirts tied around the ladder...best thing we could find on the premises.
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old old buddy
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# Posted: 2 Jun 2015 10:09am
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Montanan....are you guys on here anymore? We fell off the forum for about a year with my wife's bout with breast cancer and the big move from our primary residence to a different primary residence "in the sticks" ...so to speak.
Did you ever fix your water freezing problem? Hope you and your family are doing well. Old Old Buddy.
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Sugarloafin
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# Posted: 23 Jun 2017 10:01am
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Montanan
Are you all still on this site? I borrowed some of your cabin ideas and have been building my own for the past year. I'm nearly finished with it, at least with the fundamental parts. I wanted to share some pics if you're still keeping up with the site.
Thank you,
Sugarloafin'
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