Off-Grid Mountain Living – Winter Prep...

10:06 am - 55 degrees - mostly cloudy...

It snows in the mountains.  Its part of the allure for most of us living here...fluffy white stuff to play in through the crisp (hopefully sunny) winters.

It does take some preparation to enjoy the winter months.  Just to stay mobile we need four-wheel drive vehicles, tire chains, and a snowblower or snowplow - our neighbor has a John Deere tractor with an Erskine snowblower attachment and we just got a 1991 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel with a Boss 7’6” commercial snowplow.  Typically our annual snowfall can range anywhere from 24 inches to 164 inches.  So it’s best to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings our way.

Tony had been searching Craigslist for the past several years and
he finally found something that he liked and fit our budget...
1991 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel with a Boss 7'6" commercial snowplow

The temperatures are dropping, the rain is falling, but we can’t sit back and enjoy the amazing burst of fall foliage just yet. 

To keep winter weather concerns at bay, a little preparation can go a long way.  Right now, for us, it’s important to get outside and ensure that our home and rigs are safe for us, our guests, neighbors or anyone else who stops by.  While these tasks likely aren’t at the top of our favorite winter activities list, they will save us from bigger headaches as the season progresses.

the sun is trying to break through the clouds this morning

Before the snowflakes start to fall (which is about a month away) we need to finish hauling, splitting and stacking firewood; clear the ditches along the driveway; service the snowblower; service the snowplow and Dodge truck; service our daily rigs;  stock our rigs with extra blankets, jumper cables, a tow rope, shovel, snowshoes, and some snacks and activities  for the kids (just in case we get stuck in the snow); stock the pantry; and try to complete as many outside projects on the house as we can before the snow comes.

  

There’s no denying that there are some headaches that come along with winter.  But if we try to be as prepared as possible, we will spend more time enjoying the season instead of laboring outside.