Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

When we were first married in 1979, we lived in Casper, Wyoming where
i was an oilfield engineer. We would go up on Casper Mt and go cross
country skiing or simply wander around and enjoy the peace and views.
Three years ago, while looking thru Wyoming property on Craigslist, I
saw a pic of a cabin and I immediately recognized it from those days.
We took a trip to WY and bought the place, 4 acres half level with
Aspens and half with a mild slope with Lodgepole pines. Year-round
access on a paved road at 8500' it is immediately adjacent to miles of
snowmobile trails. The view is astonishing looking southward toward
Muddy Mt. Wildlife is prolific with deer wandering across the place
every day and bears are a problem. Mountain lions have been a problem
off and on and this year they have wolves.
So, what is the problem? The cabin. It is made from hand cut logs
cut on site. It's age is unknown with one source saying it was built
in 1903 but the earliest official record is from 1953. It is roughly
400 sf with a fireplace of on-site stone and has a huge porch added at
a later date. The floor was also added later as the original cabin
was built on the ground with no foundation. It is falling down from
rot in some of the logs.
Before we bought the place, I had a local guy inspect the cabin and he
said it is a lost cause and his best advice was to "Tear it down, burn
it down or allow it to fall down". We discussed this with people on
the mountain (some seriously crazy people there) and many of em were
appalled at us tearing it down until they see its interior condition.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with it.
I can put my hand on the logs and I just know it was built by two guys
in a couple of weeks and they had very few tools except their axes.
Touching the logs and seeing the axe marks you can almost feel their
presence. Inside, two enormous logs span the space above to hold up
the roof logs and these logs have depressed on one side due to rot in
side logs so the whole structure leans, The roof sags a lot in the
middle. Snow load in the winter is as much as 6' but is dry snow.
After spending time there for two summers, I can no longer allow it to
fall down. Without my wife's knowledge, I applied for a building
permit to re-roof it and replace the logs. The county there called me
back telling me that if I got a permit for this I could not get a
permit to build a "real" cabin my wife wants. My wife and kids do not
like the old cabin and want to see ti go or ignore it and allow it to
fall down. I simply cannot do this, it has to stay somehow. Somehow
I think I am destined to rebuild it and I have no enthusiasm for my
wife's "dream cabin". Am not sure how to deal with this.
BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
When we were first married in 1979, we lived in Casper, Wyoming where
i was an oilfield engineer. We would go up on Casper Mt and go cross
country skiing or simply wander around and enjoy the peace and views.
Three years ago, while looking thru Wyoming property on Craigslist, I
saw a pic of a cabin and I immediately recognized it from those days.
We took a trip to WY and bought the place, 4 acres half level with
Aspens and half with a mild slope with Lodgepole pines. Year-round
access on a paved road at 8500' it is immediately adjacent to miles of
snowmobile trails. The view is astonishing looking southward toward
Muddy Mt. Wildlife is prolific with deer wandering across the place
every day and bears are a problem. Mountain lions have been a problem
off and on and this year they have wolves.
So, what is the problem? The cabin. It is made from hand cut logs
cut on site. It's age is unknown with one source saying it was built
in 1903 but the earliest official record is from 1953. It is roughly
400 sf with a fireplace of on-site stone and has a huge porch added at
a later date. The floor was also added later as the original cabin
was built on the ground with no foundation. It is falling down from
rot in some of the logs.
Before we bought the place, I had a local guy inspect the cabin and he
said it is a lost cause and his best advice was to "Tear it down, burn
it down or allow it to fall down". We discussed this with people on
the mountain (some seriously crazy people there) and many of em were
appalled at us tearing it down until they see its interior condition.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with it.
I can put my hand on the logs and I just know it was built by two guys
in a couple of weeks and they had very few tools except their axes.
Touching the logs and seeing the axe marks you can almost feel their
presence. Inside, two enormous logs span the space above to hold up
the roof logs and these logs have depressed on one side due to rot in
side logs so the whole structure leans, The roof sags a lot in the
middle. Snow load in the winter is as much as 6' but is dry snow.
After spending time there for two summers, I can no longer allow it to
fall down. Without my wife's knowledge, I applied for a building
permit to re-roof it and replace the logs. The county there called me
back telling me that if I got a permit for this I could not get a
permit to build a "real" cabin my wife wants. My wife and kids do not
like the old cabin and want to see ti go or ignore it and allow it to
fall down. I simply cannot do this, it has to stay somehow. Somehow
I think I am destined to rebuild it and I have no enthusiasm for my
wife's "dream cabin". Am not sure how to deal with this.
BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Now you did it. No further comment.

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:04:48 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

When we were first married in 1979, we lived in Casper, Wyoming where
i was an oilfield engineer. We would go up on Casper Mt and go cross
country skiing or simply wander around and enjoy the peace and views.
Three years ago, while looking thru Wyoming property on Craigslist, I
saw a pic of a cabin and I immediately recognized it from those days.
We took a trip to WY and bought the place, 4 acres half level with
Aspens and half with a mild slope with Lodgepole pines. Year-round
access on a paved road at 8500' it is immediately adjacent to miles of
snowmobile trails. The view is astonishing looking southward toward
Muddy Mt. Wildlife is prolific with deer wandering across the place
every day and bears are a problem. Mountain lions have been a problem
off and on and this year they have wolves.
So, what is the problem? The cabin. It is made from hand cut logs
cut on site. It's age is unknown with one source saying it was built
in 1903 but the earliest official record is from 1953. It is roughly
400 sf with a fireplace of on-site stone and has a huge porch added at
a later date. The floor was also added later as the original cabin
was built on the ground with no foundation. It is falling down from
rot in some of the logs.
Before we bought the place, I had a local guy inspect the cabin and he
said it is a lost cause and his best advice was to "Tear it down, burn
it down or allow it to fall down". We discussed this with people on
the mountain (some seriously crazy people there) and many of em were
appalled at us tearing it down until they see its interior condition.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with it.
I can put my hand on the logs and I just know it was built by two guys
in a couple of weeks and they had very few tools except their axes.
Touching the logs and seeing the axe marks you can almost feel their
presence. Inside, two enormous logs span the space above to hold up
the roof logs and these logs have depressed on one side due to rot in
side logs so the whole structure leans, The roof sags a lot in the
middle. Snow load in the winter is as much as 6' but is dry snow.
After spending time there for two summers, I can no longer allow it to
fall down. Without my wife's knowledge, I applied for a building
permit to re-roof it and replace the logs. The county there called me
back telling me that if I got a permit for this I could not get a
permit to build a "real" cabin my wife wants. My wife and kids do not
like the old cabin and want to see ti go or ignore it and allow it to
fall down. I simply cannot do this, it has to stay somehow. Somehow
I think I am destined to rebuild it and I have no enthusiasm for my
wife's "dream cabin". Am not sure how to deal with this.
BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Build her a new cabin. Keep the old one as a shed. If it were a shed,
would you have to have a permit to repair the roof?
--
John H

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:25 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:


"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
When we were first married in 1979, we lived in Casper, Wyoming where
i was an oilfield engineer. We would go up on Casper Mt and go cross
country skiing or simply wander around and enjoy the peace and views.
Three years ago, while looking thru Wyoming property on Craigslist, I
saw a pic of a cabin and I immediately recognized it from those days.
We took a trip to WY and bought the place, 4 acres half level with
Aspens and half with a mild slope with Lodgepole pines. Year-round
access on a paved road at 8500' it is immediately adjacent to miles of
snowmobile trails. The view is astonishing looking southward toward
Muddy Mt. Wildlife is prolific with deer wandering across the place
every day and bears are a problem. Mountain lions have been a problem
off and on and this year they have wolves.
So, what is the problem? The cabin. It is made from hand cut logs
cut on site. It's age is unknown with one source saying it was built
in 1903 but the earliest official record is from 1953. It is roughly
400 sf with a fireplace of on-site stone and has a huge porch added at
a later date. The floor was also added later as the original cabin
was built on the ground with no foundation. It is falling down from
rot in some of the logs.
Before we bought the place, I had a local guy inspect the cabin and he
said it is a lost cause and his best advice was to "Tear it down, burn
it down or allow it to fall down". We discussed this with people on
the mountain (some seriously crazy people there) and many of em were
appalled at us tearing it down until they see its interior condition.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with it.
I can put my hand on the logs and I just know it was built by two guys
in a couple of weeks and they had very few tools except their axes.
Touching the logs and seeing the axe marks you can almost feel their
presence. Inside, two enormous logs span the space above to hold up
the roof logs and these logs have depressed on one side due to rot in
side logs so the whole structure leans, The roof sags a lot in the
middle. Snow load in the winter is as much as 6' but is dry snow.
After spending time there for two summers, I can no longer allow it to
fall down. Without my wife's knowledge, I applied for a building
permit to re-roof it and replace the logs. The county there called me
back telling me that if I got a permit for this I could not get a
permit to build a "real" cabin my wife wants. My wife and kids do not
like the old cabin and want to see ti go or ignore it and allow it to
fall down. I simply cannot do this, it has to stay somehow. Somehow
I think I am destined to rebuild it and I have no enthusiasm for my
wife's "dream cabin". Am not sure how to deal with this.
BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Now you did it. No further comment.

Yep, sometimes you just have to put your foot down, and show who's the
boss.
I assume that's what you meant.

--Vic

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:25 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:

BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Now you did it. No further comment.

Were you expecting someone to mention "birds of a feather"?

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

jps wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:25 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:

BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.
Now you did it. No further comment.

Were you expecting someone to mention "birds of a feather"?


I'd wear a kevlar vest and mask if I were anywhere near Cheney...the guy
either is a really bad shot or shoots when drunk.

--
The modern GOP is little more than an army of moral absolutists led by a
gang of moral nihilists.

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:25 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:


"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
When we were first married in 1979, we lived in Casper, Wyoming where
i was an oilfield engineer. We would go up on Casper Mt and go cross
country skiing or simply wander around and enjoy the peace and views.
Three years ago, while looking thru Wyoming property on Craigslist, I
saw a pic of a cabin and I immediately recognized it from those days.
We took a trip to WY and bought the place, 4 acres half level with
Aspens and half with a mild slope with Lodgepole pines. Year-round
access on a paved road at 8500' it is immediately adjacent to miles of
snowmobile trails. The view is astonishing looking southward toward
Muddy Mt. Wildlife is prolific with deer wandering across the place
every day and bears are a problem. Mountain lions have been a problem
off and on and this year they have wolves.
So, what is the problem? The cabin. It is made from hand cut logs
cut on site. It's age is unknown with one source saying it was built
in 1903 but the earliest official record is from 1953. It is roughly
400 sf with a fireplace of on-site stone and has a huge porch added at
a later date. The floor was also added later as the original cabin
was built on the ground with no foundation. It is falling down from
rot in some of the logs.
Before we bought the place, I had a local guy inspect the cabin and he
said it is a lost cause and his best advice was to "Tear it down, burn
it down or allow it to fall down". We discussed this with people on
the mountain (some seriously crazy people there) and many of em were
appalled at us tearing it down until they see its interior condition.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with it.
I can put my hand on the logs and I just know it was built by two guys
in a couple of weeks and they had very few tools except their axes.
Touching the logs and seeing the axe marks you can almost feel their
presence. Inside, two enormous logs span the space above to hold up
the roof logs and these logs have depressed on one side due to rot in
side logs so the whole structure leans, The roof sags a lot in the
middle. Snow load in the winter is as much as 6' but is dry snow.
After spending time there for two summers, I can no longer allow it to
fall down. Without my wife's knowledge, I applied for a building
permit to re-roof it and replace the logs. The county there called me
back telling me that if I got a permit for this I could not get a
permit to build a "real" cabin my wife wants. My wife and kids do not
like the old cabin and want to see ti go or ignore it and allow it to
fall down. I simply cannot do this, it has to stay somehow. Somehow
I think I am destined to rebuild it and I have no enthusiasm for my
wife's "dream cabin". Am not sure how to deal with this.
BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Now you did it. No further comment.

Yep, sometimes you just have to put your foot down, and show who's the
boss.
I assume that's what you meant.

--Vic


Don't assume anything, Vic.

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

"jps" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:25 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:

BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Now you did it. No further comment.

Were you expecting someone to mention "birds of a feather"?


.....or much, much worse.

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:24:58 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:25 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:

BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Now you did it. No further comment.

Were you expecting someone to mention "birds of a feather"?


....or much, much worse.

No worries. I'm happy they find the remotest parts of the US
attractive.

The further the better.

Burn it down, let it fall down or tear it down
 

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
When we were first married in 1979, we lived in Casper, Wyoming where
i was an oilfield engineer. We would go up on Casper Mt and go cross
country skiing or simply wander around and enjoy the peace and views.
Three years ago, while looking thru Wyoming property on Craigslist, I
saw a pic of a cabin and I immediately recognized it from those days.
We took a trip to WY and bought the place, 4 acres half level with
Aspens and half with a mild slope with Lodgepole pines. Year-round
access on a paved road at 8500' it is immediately adjacent to miles of
snowmobile trails. The view is astonishing looking southward toward
Muddy Mt. Wildlife is prolific with deer wandering across the place
every day and bears are a problem. Mountain lions have been a problem
off and on and this year they have wolves.
So, what is the problem? The cabin. It is made from hand cut logs
cut on site. It's age is unknown with one source saying it was built
in 1903 but the earliest official record is from 1953. It is roughly
400 sf with a fireplace of on-site stone and has a huge porch added at
a later date. The floor was also added later as the original cabin
was built on the ground with no foundation. It is falling down from
rot in some of the logs.
Before we bought the place, I had a local guy inspect the cabin and he
said it is a lost cause and his best advice was to "Tear it down, burn
it down or allow it to fall down". We discussed this with people on
the mountain (some seriously crazy people there) and many of em were
appalled at us tearing it down until they see its interior condition.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with it.
I can put my hand on the logs and I just know it was built by two guys
in a couple of weeks and they had very few tools except their axes.
Touching the logs and seeing the axe marks you can almost feel their
presence. Inside, two enormous logs span the space above to hold up
the roof logs and these logs have depressed on one side due to rot in
side logs so the whole structure leans, The roof sags a lot in the
middle. Snow load in the winter is as much as 6' but is dry snow.
After spending time there for two summers, I can no longer allow it to
fall down. Without my wife's knowledge, I applied for a building
permit to re-roof it and replace the logs. The county there called me
back telling me that if I got a permit for this I could not get a
permit to build a "real" cabin my wife wants. My wife and kids do not
like the old cabin and want to see ti go or ignore it and allow it to
fall down. I simply cannot do this, it has to stay somehow. Somehow
I think I am destined to rebuild it and I have no enthusiasm for my
wife's "dream cabin". Am not sure how to deal with this.
BTW, where the pavement ends just beyond our property, it is dirt road
for 10 miles to junction with a paved road at which intersection is
Dick Cheney's mailbox.

Oh boy. This type of dilema is always in the paper here.
We have an active heritage society who want to preserve all the old historic
buildings and a bunch of developers who want to knock 'em all down for
highrise development. On and on it goes with all taking sides, city council
and the province get in the middle etc.
As for your situation...would you feel lonely taking your vacations up there
by yourself? ( except of course the 'old ghosts' to keep you company)