What's it REALLY like to live in the mountains? (Colorado Springs: lease, insurance)

[chilaili]

Hello,
I live in Colorado and frequently drive into the mountains at the weekend for a little R&R, fresh air, a walk around Lily Lake, etc. I often see the houses that are situated along Hwy 7 between Estes Park and Allenspark, or those along the Peak to Peak highway to Nederland and wonder: What is REALLY like to live up here? I’m sure 100s of people come to the area every year and think Oh gosh, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a cabin the mountains. But they/we have no idea of the reality of living up there all year round. So I was hoping someone who does live up there or maybe has a weekend cabin up there could answer this question: how many of the following are easily available?

1. Connection to heat, hot water and electricity that doesn’t run off a gigantic propane tank in the back garden?
2. Connection to the water mains rather than having a tank built underground in the back garden?
3. Connection to the sewage lines rather than septic tank?
4. Is it possible get internet/cellphone/TV up there without a satellite dish the size of Montana?
5. A paved road leading all the way to the front door rather than a dirt track?
6. Regular plowing of said road during the winter rather than buying one’s own mini snowplow and doing it yourself?
7. Does living on 1 or more acres of land require you to maintain it? How many people lease their land to ranchers who need the grazing rights?
8. Other considerations non-mountain people may not always realize is an issue?

All comments gratefully received

[Spock'sUpline]

We should hype up the thing air and mountain sickness so we don't have a ton more moving here.

We don't want to be Californicated. Perhaps the meltdown will be a blessing in descise(sp?).

I think the high altitude may also be hard on cars.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by Spock'sUpline

We should hype up the thing air and mountain sickness so we don't have a ton more moving here.

We don't want to be Californicated. Perhaps the meltdown will be a blessing in descise(sp?).

I think the high altitude may also be hard on cars.

Plus the horrendous driving conditions in the Winter. My realtor tells me all the time of customers who buy in the Summer and then the snow hits and they realise they can't get to work or the kids can't get to school or driving up and down Sunshine or Lefthand Canyon when the road is iced over is not that much fun after all. Or in the Summer the forest fires start up or their dog gets attacked by a mountain lion. Or getting anything delivered up there like a new couch costs twice as much.

[Neditate]

Right on, SpocksUpline! YES to what chilaili said (second post)!
Hey, if that's what keeps people from moving up here that's a good thing
What is it REALLY like to live up here? It's awesome. BUT it's not for everyone.
We've lived in the mountains west of Boulder for 12 years. We love it.
Many of our friends have lived here for 25 years or more. The summers are wonderful. So is fall come to think of it. Winter really is not that bad (at least not this year or last). We're close to hiking, so close that we've got trails right out our back door. We have an incredible view of the Indian Peaks and we can be there in 20 minutes for a hike. I can go skiing at Eldora in less than 20 minutes.

1. We get our electricityfrom Xcel. Propane gas heats our home very well (but it doesn't make electricity )
2. We have a very good well. The water tastes fantastic compared to the over-chlorinated swill we had in Boulder.
3. We have a septic tank. Get it pumped every 5 years, no problem.
4. DirecTV or Dish Network satellite dishes are small and everyone has one. (No big dishes or cable here.) We have a good cellphone signal and we have high speed wireless internet.
5. We live on a dirt road so our cars are always dirty. Oh well, doesn't bother me.
6. Our road is maintained by the County as we are on a school bus route. It's always plowed. (BTW we lived here for 10 years before we bought a snowblower and haven't needed it since we bought it.)
7. We have 2 acres of land and there is NO maintenance. None. No lawn mowing, no watering. I have hundreds of Columbines growing all over with no assistance from me. Mother Nature landscaped our property beautifully with huge moss rocks, aspen and Ponderosa pine.
8. We can't leave our birdfeeders out at night in the summer months because of the bears and raccoons.

Certainly there are people who come here in the summer, buy into a fantasy, make it through one winter and leave. We snicker. Us mountain folk like to think that we're a little bit tougher than the low-landers.

[ottodog]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Hello,

I live in Colorado and frequently drive into the mountains at the weekend for a little R&R, fresh air, a walk around Lily Lake, etc. I often see the houses that are situated along Hwy 7 between Estes Park and Allenspark, or those along the Peak to Peak highway to Nederland and wonder: What is REALLY like to live up here? I’m sure 100s of people come to the area every year and think Oh gosh, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a cabin the mountains. But they/we have no idea of the reality of living up there all year round. So I was hoping someone who does live up there or maybe has a weekend cabin up there could answer this question: how many of the following are easily available?

1. Connection to heat, hot water and electricity that doesn’t run off a gigantic propane tank in the back garden?
2. Connection to the water mains rather than having a tank built underground in the back garden?
3. Connection to the sewage lines rather than septic tank?
4. Is it possible get internet/cellphone/TV up there without a satellite dish the size of Montana?
5. A paved road leading all the way to the front door rather than a dirt track?
6. Regular plowing of said road during the winter rather than buying one’s own mini snowplow and doing it yourself?
7. Does living on 1 or more acres of land require you to maintain it? How many people lease their land to ranchers who need the grazing rights?
8. Other considerations non-mountain people may not always realize is an issue?

All comments gratefully received

1. Propane is expensive, electricity is outrageuous. You don't want to heat your house with electricity. We have propane forced air heating, but only use it when we run out of wood, or the house drops below 52 at night. We also use propane for hot water and cooking.

2. No water mains up here, well only. Town is probably on main. Water tastes great, no chlorine.

3. Same as water, no sewer, septic only. But what does it really matter?? You have it pumped every few years, no biggie.

4. Have had both Dish Network & Directv no problem. Not sure you can even receive satelite on the big dishes any longer. We have Sprint Cellular broadband here. Works great. No cable or DSL available.

5. Paved road?? You need paved roads, stay in the city!!

6. Around here and other areas there is usually one neighbor that will plow for everyone. YMMV. County does the other maintained dirt roads, but they only maintain them during certain hours so be prepared for anything.

7. Maintain what?? The forest?? It's al natural around here. No water wasting bluegrass. If it can't survive on it's own, it doesn't make it. No watering, mowing, trimming, shoveling, etc, etc.

8. Boy where to start.. Wildlife can be a blessing and curse. Mountain lions will make a treat out of your pets/kids given the chance. Deer will eat anything you do try to plant. Bears will always be poking around for food. We don't have garbage service, so I have to haul it into town. Forest fire is always in the back of your mind, especially with all the dead trees now days. Can't just run to the corner store. Peace, quiet, privacy, nature, space... oh wait those are the good things!!

[reginhild]

Biggest recommendation for mountain living: Get a home or have one built using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) or Structural Insulated Panels (SIP). These construction methods have walls with R values of R-30 to R-50 compared to 2x4 or 2x6 "stick" construction where you have R-11 to R-18. Building with ICF or SIP will cost about 5% to 10% more than "stick" construction but you will save big in energy costs and pay for that difference in a year or two. You will definitely not need air conditioning in the mountains with R-30+, when it gets up to 80's - 90's on occasion the home will still be nice inside. Of the two, I recommend ICF as the concrete acts as a heat sink that regulates temperature between day and night further reducing heating requirements. There are some builders in Woodland Park that I had considered that do SIP. There is also a ICF factory in Colorado Springs.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by Neditate

Right on, SpocksUpline! YES to what chilaili said (second post)!
Hey, if that's what keeps people from moving up here that's a good thing
What is it REALLY like to live up here? It's awesome. BUT it's not for everyone.

Certainly there are people who come here in the summer, buy into a fantasy, make it through one winter and leave. We snicker. Us mountain folk like to think that we're a little bit tougher than the low-landers.

I do think it takes a certain mentality and attitude to do it all year round and for more than a couple of years. Kudos

[wanneroo]

When my great grandparents retired in 1967 they retired to their home in Big Elk Meadows near Estes Park and lived there for 20 years. There are a lot of positives about living in the mountains but the practicalities started getting to them as they got older. Dealing with winter conditions for much of the year, a short garden season, the high altitude, distances involved in getting to the store or elsewhere, etc.

I lived up in the mountains for seven years and it is certainly something which takes a bit of commitment compared to living elsewhere. I think for some things you might give up by living in the mountains others you lose, so you have to weigh all that and go with what suits your liking.

[Spock'sUpline]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Plus the horrendous driving conditions in the Winter. My realtor tells me all the time of customers who buy in the Summer and then the snow hits and they realise they can't get to work or the kids can't get to school or driving up and down Sunshine or Lefthand Canyon when the road is iced over is not that much fun after all. Or in the Summer the forest fires start up or their dog gets attacked by a mountain lion. Or getting anything delivered up there like a new couch costs twice as much.

LOL I forgot about how we have some of the worst drivin and insurance rate. I know technically divin has a "g" in it. But language is fluid. I say let's get rid of of some some "g"s and add extra "of" if more did this I'm sure it would frustrate some.

We have driving habits from other places that don't mesh. I hate the people who blast their brights on you if they want to pass.

And MT cabins fun when people first retire; but, then to far from medical care a decade later.

[esya]

Well if you have a a septic tank you also have a leach field, and they have to be dug out and replaced every once in a while!