What's housing like in the rural areas outside McCall? (New Meadows: for sale, vacation home)

[80skeys]

Driving on forest roads between McCall and Yellow Pine and Big Creek a couple weeks ago, we came across lots of new housing (log cabins) along rivers with For Sale signs for land and housing. The whole area looks fantastic in the summer, but what's it like in the winter? I imagine everything is covered in loads of snow and it's virtually impossible to get to these houses.....?
What do people typically do - are they there year-round or are these places mostly used as summer cottages?

[80skeys]

I guess local Idahoans don't wanna answer. I can't blame them.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Come on, you know this is a small forum, and we probably don't have any members right now who live in the area. Heck, some of us don't even live in Idaho permanently (like me). It's only been 2 days since you posted your question. Just give it some time, and another member will drive through McCall on a nice fall day and remember what you were asking, and come up with an answer, and post it.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

Driving on forest roads between McCall and Yellow Pine and Big Creek a couple weeks ago, we came across lots of new housing (log cabins) along rivers with For Sale signs for land and housing. The whole area looks fantastic in the summer, but what's it like in the winter? I imagine everything is covered in loads of snow and it's virtually impossible to get to these houses.....?
What do people typically do - are they there year-round or are these places mostly used as summer cottages?

I've never lived in McCall, but I know some folks who do. I live in SE Idaho, where we get snow too. It's hard to live anywhere in Idaho that doesn't get snow. This is a high, cold state that always gets snow.

Your guess is right about the winters. There is lots and lots of snow. McCall holds a winter snow sculpture carnival every winter. Their snow is probably a bit wetter than in some other areas due to the lake.

Whether or not those cabins you saw get snowed in is probably something that the owners who live in them year round have made accommodations for of some kind.
They may vary; in similar snow country, snow machines, ATVs, sno-cats and other vehicles are used, and in some places the roads are plowed by contract snow plow companies. Still other ways such as skis and snow shoes are also used.

It just depends on the person, how remote they may be, what their closest or best access is, and where most of their destinations are.

When you live in snow country, you learn how to live with snow. It's not much harder to get around inside the McCall city limits during the winter than it is in any other Idaho town, most likely, and the main highways get plowed regularly, just as they do all over the state.

But even driving just a car, a person will still need to learn how to drive in snow, and the car will need some specialized tires to keep from getting stuck all the time.

[nm9stheham]

The OP's guess of vacation homes is probably right. Look up the census population of Yellow Pine ID.... 32. With average snows of 2'+ in Dec and Jan and average overnight lows of 9F in Dec & Jan, that is a similar pattern of winter weather as other snowy places in that region.

[80skeys]

That's cool, thanks for the replies. I figured local Idahoans don't want hoardes of people moving in to buy up mountain homes. I wouldn't blame them.

I don't have any plans to do so. Just curious.


Also I was more curious about the remote Yellow Pine and surroundings than McCall. Only dirt roads out there in Yellow Pine.

[snowave]

here's a log about yellow pine which may give you an idea on roads in that area in winter. It sounds like access to yellow pine is posible, but beyond that... not sure.

https://yellowpinetimes.wordpress.co...s-jan-22-2020/

https://yellowpinetimes.wordpress.co...ow-pine-times/

I have not been out there yet, as I'm a new resident to the New Meadows/McCall area. however, most side/dirt roads in the region that are normally plowed are snow covered most of the winter. Sometimes plows don't get to these remote areas very quickly (for various reasons). so, if living on this area, you have to be pretty hearty and prepared/expect for the worst, and just go with it.