Moving into the high mountains ?

Traveler said:
In addition to the rainwater catchment, with a 500 gallon underground tank, I plan on having a 250 gallon tank that is designed to fit neatly into the back of a pick-up truck. Thus, when I go to town, once/month, for groceries, doing laundry at the laundromat, picking up mail and special orders from Amazon (especially books, lots and lots of books), I can fill up the water tank at the same time.

I did some checking on the amount of annual rainfall. Generally speaking, that area gets 23"/year. That works out to 4,088 gallons/year just from my metal roof. Asphalt is BAD NEWS for collecting safe potable water. The rainwater catchment will yield an average of 11.2 gallons/day/year.

For those interested, the water filter system, is gravel, small pea sized gravel, sand, and on the lowest level, activated charcoal. Survivalists tell me that produces crystal pure, delicious water. :D

I am still thinking about a septic system that can produce a clean/safe garden fertilizer. I have not yet worked out the precise details, but I know I'll need a biodegradable T.P, and some of that live organism stuff (I forget the name right now) that turns human waste into mulch.

Another factor I have not yet investigated is what kind of dish and hand soap to use so that I will be able to water my garden with "gray water". This will be a simple matter of having 2 separate holding tanks (R.V. Style).
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Gawd, I hate to be the naysayer

But
Water…is heavy
250 gallons weighs 2100 lbs
That’s payload….one…ton
That’s a considerable sized pickup
One that better be less than 5 yrs old, and has been babied most it’s life

also

If, the plan is still to ‘live in the high mountains’, getting up those mountains, carrying a ton of water, is a bit of a trick
Going down, even empty, on a mountain road, is just as tricky
Gravel mountain roads tend to washboard
Braking on washboard, in an empty pickup, gleefully on the way to town to pick up water, lotsa books, and biodegradable toilet paper...can be quite a thrill
That's about the time one wonders about the decision to be out of horn honking range from yer nearest neighbor


I don’t know why I’m typing all this
He’ll figger it all out
Just don’t wish the ol’ goat to end up in a bad way

ps

'For those interested, the water filter system, is gravel, small pea sized gravel, sand, and on the lowest level, activated charcoal. Survivalists tell me that produces crystal pure, delicious water.'

Uh, no
Delicious mountain spring water produces delicious water
Water filter system water produces water you can drink....of which can taste delicious after building a thirst...but so does desert water
 

Regarding the water: their are people who claim all the water on MY property belongs to THEM. I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that I would be gunned down (yes, literally murdered) if I attempted to use ANY water on MY property, spring water or otherwise. Besides they are not the only ones with guns. Not that I would expect to find any land parcel with a spring.

I have no thoughts of living on the side of a steep mountain. There are thousands of isolated mountain parcels which are not the least bit steep. A shallow grade , yes. But not remotely steep.

A tough old mountain gal told me about hauling 150 gallons of water in her tiny Subaru pickup truck, in Northern, Idaho. However, a Full-size Dodge pickup with over load springs is more than capable of hauling one ton of water, no matter what the age of the pickup.

Off grid people are rather ingenious folks. They have to be, if they wish to survive. City folk would be shocked to learn of the novel ways of getting around any problem.
 

Thank you, PVC. I'll check them out.

One minor point here. I am doing this because I want to end my last few years in peace and quite and to get away from the insanity of American society. However, I do not see myself as a survivalist who is expecting the end of the world. Small point perhaps, but important to me. :)
 
Traveler said:
Thank you, PVC. I'll check them out.

One minor point here. I am doing this because I want to end my last few years in peace and quite and to get away from the insanity of American society. However, I do not see myself as a survivalist who is expecting the end of the world. Small point perhaps, but important to me. :)
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I understand. The main reason I gave you the survivalist websites is that they live off the grid for long stretches and have acquired wisdom and resourcefulness you could learn from and avoid making their mistakes.
 
Traveler said:
One minor point here. I am doing this because I want to end my last few years in peace and quite and to get away from the insanity of American society. However, I do not see myself as a survivalist who is expecting the end of the world. Small point perhaps, but important to me. :)
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We are one on this

Not so minor

Big point, to me
 
Traveler said:
Interesting. Why would you say that ?
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Because a survivalist is geared so differently
I know a couple of them within two miles of our place
Had coffee
chatted about the whys
nice bunker, but whew...paranoia city
with a religious icing

his arsenal had more guns than the gun show I just attended

I get what you're doing
(I'm doing it too)
 
Traveler said:
Interesting. Why would you say that ?
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couple more thoughts;

Traveler, I could write reams on the whys
But, it’s been done
And done well
Mother Earth News had many good articles in its beginning years, before going so commercial
But even before MEN, were the Nearings
Helen and Scott became gurus if not gods for many
Even now, considerable years past their deaths
Peaceful living, sans most modern amenities, but living well, were this controversial couple’s mantra

Anyway, I get what you’re saying, and heartily cheer you on

Enough from me, I don’t wish to steal yer thunder
But, if you don’t mind, I’d like to interject what we’ve learned, from time to time.

I’ll keep it serious.
No snide sarcasm.

In any event, my thoughts or not, I admire this endeavor

Yessir

(Back Woods Home is a more current mag of which contains many articles worth reading)
 

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