Note: The charming drawings shown here are from a book, “Your Cabin in the Woods” by Conrad Meinecke, originally printed in 1945. They have been colorized for use here.

Far away from the maddening crowds and the brown clouds that hang like giant domes over large cities, and distant from the Great Plains that spell endless sameness, the Rocky Mountains loom as pure paradise. It's not enough to say the mountains and their nature is beautiful or awesome. There are simply no words to describe the deep feelings engendered by an experience so profound.

Many people are content to visit the mountains yearly or every few years while others desire a more permanent situation. Some folks want to live back home and own a vacation home in the pines, and usually the plan is to turn the vacation home into a retirement site. Others want their Rocky Mountain dream right now and move in full time. A sub group of these homeowners are called “snowbirds.” They live spring, summer and autumn around Pagosa Country and head south when the winter snows fall.

There are several types of people who move here. Some want to live close to the mountains but desire the comforts of the suburbs. These folks are satisfied living in one of several large developments. A second type is worried less about city comforts and is more concerned with the experience of living closer to nature. They usually settle in a smaller, less fancy, development or parcels of land not in developments. Still another type wants the raw experience. Some of these are found way out in the boondocks in handmade log cabins with horses and chickens around.

There are many reasons to live in the mountains. There's the obvious natural beauty to the area. There are also hidden benefits, including the slower pace of life. It normally takes a city dweller a few months, and in some cases over a year to wind down from the nervous pace of big city life. It is especially rewarding when parents realize a less hectic, more wholesome, temperament in their children.

Mountain Activities
The mountains provide a great deal of recreational possibility. Newcomers can find every sort of organized outdoor activity—or they may want to venture out on their own. In springtime, nature blooms to life in a rush of color and activity. Pastures and mountainsides turn green while varieties of wild flowers bloom everywhere. Hiking or simple walks are made along well-maintained trails. Miles of forest access roads are used by folks in cars, jeep-type vehicles, or recreational vehicles. Horseback riding is a very popular way to see the more remote forest and wilderness. Some people own horses, while others rent from stables or outfitters.

Winter season offers world famous skiing at many close resorts including Pagosa’s own Wolf Creek Ski Area. Cross -country ski trails exist throughout the mountains. Snowmobiling offers opportunity to get out in snow-covered forests mechanically.

Mountain life can be a very positive and rewarding experience. It can slowly be an overhauling of one’s lifestyle. The mountains inspire solitude and freedom of thought not found in dense, complex city life.

A Cabin in the Pines
There is a romantic notion about a cabin in the pines. For many people this began while watching movies. Many popular films in the past featured a beautiful lady and a handsome man in a setting high in a mountain forest. Usually, they were shown in a hunting lodge type log cabin and sang love songs with the moon reflecting on a mountain lake. We still see these films today, and a dream of many people is to have that cabin in the pines. For whatever reason or lifestyle there is always that romantic notion in mind.

There are a great variety of houses located in these hills. It is rare to see two houses alike. In cities people by the millions live in houses seemingly stamped out on an assembly line. Endless rows of houses in this country's suburbs are an example. In the mountains the individuality of each builder is expressed along with their imaginary dreams and notions.

Of course, the traditional log house is very popular. Other designs are frame construction made to look like logs while other designs stand on their own.

A lot of glass is evident for that view of the pines. The porch, which has mostly disappeared in the lower elevation world, is very popular even if it can be used only part of the year. The same is true for decks that sometimes are so large and elaborate that the house seems to be an addition!

Here we want to look at some of the basic possibilities in housing on the various levels that people most often want.

The Contractor-Built Home
At the top of the line is the contractor built home. You are more likely to have a high quality, well-insulated, well-built house as a result. This is, you pay the money and you move in with a “turn key” deal. Contractors working mountain areas generally are more relaxed about working with you to arrive at your desires than lowland builders, who sometimes seem to be building your house in spite of you.

Your floor plan and design should be one specifically designed for a mountain setting. There are many factors that a mountain home design must take into consideration. Designs for lower elevations do not work well in high elevations where heavy snowfall and cold temperatures exist. If you bring in an outside design, listen to your contractor's advise about changes. Local draftsmen and architects are a good bet for safe designs.

There are many fine contractors in the area. Contractors can lead you to draftsmen and architects or you may desire to go directly to them before approaching the contractor.

The Full Kit House
These are very nice homes that you buy and do the labor yourself or hire workmen to help. The full kit house is usually fairly complete with your choice of doors, windows, cabinets, etc. Naturally this is the most expensive self-built house, but it requires less talent on your part and the result is likely to be a higher quality house, depending on your skill.

The Log Kit House
This is a second level of kit that provides the basic shell of a log home. You provide the windows, doors, cabinets, all fixtures, etc. Various log mills have outlets and catalogs.

The Log House
Although there is still the possibility of cutting, working, and building your own logs, this not recommended for the average person. There are many special skills and talents required for doing a log house from scratch. If you are not willing to spend a lot of time learning these, a self-built log home is not a good idea.

The most common non-scratch log home is built using solid wood logs shaped at a mill to be easy to assemble. These logs are usually tongue and groove so that they fit together precisely. They are a standard size so the house goes up level. The log mill also has the other lumber needed to build a basic log house.

Think about your desires and situation and decide what path is right for you. Visit with locals, most will be happy to give hints to put you on the right track to a Rocky Mountain Dream House!

 
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