What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
Built with many natural and native materials, including standing dead timber logs, native stone and envelope air insulation it utilizes passive solar heat, sun light to generate photovoltaic power and natural ventilation for air circulation and cooling in summer. At 9,850 feet in the San Juan Mountains the cooling is never a problem.Property Description
We found this land in a high mountain valley when it was entirely vacant, except for the ruins of an 1876 Post Office. This is the most natural ecological environment left in the lower 48 states. (See \"Science\" 4 May 2007, VOL 316, page 736). According to a study by the USGS, Hinsdale County has the lowest number of people, fewest roads and most roadless area in the US, outside of Alaska. We built our home without cutting a live tree and used standing dead timber to mill logs. It has an envelope roof connecting the south facing two story sun room to native rock heat storage via the roof and north wall. This provides passive heating and insulation. Photovolaic solar panels provide electricity to 16 deep cycle batteries and power the house with both 120/240 volt AC current via two inverters. All fixtures and equipment are standard AC. We have two propane fired gas generators for back up power. An underground, 1,000 gallon propane tank provides ample storage for long winters. The stove/oven, water heater and refrigerator all operate on gas as do two small wall heaters in the basement. The cold winter nights are overcome with two wood furnaces, which double as great room fireplaces via the glass doors, which can be opened to expose the fire directly to the room. Heat is circulated from the furnace shells via blowers to the rest of the house and has thermostat control. The lowest level is a walk out basement with the garage, electrical/mechanical room, wash and dryer room/pantry, work shop, water heater and rock heat storage. The main floor has a closed foyer with native stone floor for entry off the wrap around veranda and storage of skis, boots snowshoes and outside gear before entering the west great room or the east kitchen and great room. The sunroom also provides access from either the west or east via double pane sliding glass doors and through french doors into the great rooms. The first floor is tile with great sun angles for warmth in winter and shade in summer. The second floor is accessed by either of two log stair cases and is fully carpeted with four bedrooms and two full bath rooms. The third floor is accessed by two seperate log staircases and has open lofts that provide office areas as well as additional bedroom areas. Although it is remote, it is modern and a visitor feels no difference from the comforts they have in a home in the city. Satellite service is available for television, internet and radio. Both AM and FM stations are available with a small antenna. The Satellite telephone provides good service via an up-link antenna and service is now available on cell type phones with the Iridium Low Earth Orbit satellite system. So you can enjoy solitude while remaining connected.Neighborhood Description
This is a remote cabin in a high mountain valley, peaks reach 13,000 feet on all sides and day hikes can reach three of the five \"fourteeners\" in the county. It is accessible by county road most of the year, but the road closes when the snow gets too deep. Thus acess in winter becomes snow mobile, cross country skis or snowshoes for 4.5 miles from the end of the plowed road at Nellie Creek. You must be fit and enjoy solitude to reside here in winter. The land the house sit on was surveyed in 1876 as a block of the Capitol City Townsite. This was home to as many as 1,000 people at the peak of silver mining. By the early part of the 20th century it was abandoned and no homes were built until 1987. Now a few homes dot the valley.Market Area
The county road is a portion of the National Scenic By-way known as the Alpine Loop. It connects Silverton, Ouray and Lake City via Cinnimon and Engineer passes. Our home is below Engineer Pass and most easily accessed by Colorado Highway 149 to Lake City then up Henson Creek on County Road 20. Showings will be by appointment only for pre-certified buyers. Allow one week to make appointment.School District
Community
Location of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Mountain
Air Quality
Agriculture in Area | no |
Industry in Area | no |
Air Pollution in Area | no |
Pesticide Free | yes |
Fragrance Free | yes |
Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
Heating System | Fireplace Solar - Passive Wood Stove |
Cooling System | Passive Cooling |
Ventilation System | Other |
Whole House Filtration | None |
Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
Energy System | Photovoltaic (PV) Off the Grid Solar - Photovoltaic |
Water System | Well |
Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
Exterior Finish | Masonry Stucco Wood |
Interior Finish | Gypsum Board - Sheet Rock Wood - Solid |
Interior Paint | Other |
Floor Material | Carpet Tile |
Roof Material | Metal |
Window Material | Wood Dual Glazed |
Insulation Material | Fiberglass Other |
Garage / Car Port
Garage / Carport | yes |
Garage Type | attached |
Number of Cars | 2 |
Garage Area | 500 sqft |