Realities of Winter In A Ghost Town
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- Опубликовано: 21 янв 2023
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Hey everyone! We have been getting some winter weather up here at Cerro Gordo and I wanted to show a bit of what it is like living up here during the winter. It's a challenge, but also the most beautiful the town ever is. I'm hoping to add more winter activities as the winter continues. What should I add next? Maybe a rope lift to do some skiing? Let me know in the comments. I'm trying to get better at snowboarding through all this as well.
Thank you all so much for the support through the years!
You can follow my journey on Instagram: / brentwunderwood
Cerro Gordo merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, flasks, & more): store.cerrogordomines.com/
Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Lone Pine, CA 93545
Thank you!!
You should definitely build an attached woodshed to your cabin to keep the wood from freezing. Having grown up in Idaho, this was absolutely important to keep the fire going.
In Oregon we couldn’t have it next to our house. Different laws for each state.
@@Fairies00 do you have self defense laws? If so I bet there is a court case setting precedent that you don't have to keep your wood away from the house.
@@Fairies00 what's that?
@@kellybenhart3244 wood storage
@@alexislaisney3404 moved away, so not sure?
Hey guys! Obviously could have been a bit better prepared for this first storm but it came a lot quicker and nastier than expected. The winds topped 70mph and blew open a bunch of doors and even knocked out some windows. We check the doors each night, but the wind can blow in hard and fast. We've got that all sealed up now and are limiting the buildings available for tours. Firewood has made it's way indoors and building a shed for the bikes. We're prepped for anything else the winter might want to throw our way. Thanks for the tips! Always a student up at Cerro Gordo.
You need some snow chains for your wheels.
@@fatarsemonkey ordered!
hi there. I am no master of the elements and I am not sure how much of my advice is applicable in this situation but I want to at least offer some help if I can. for some of the window issues try finding some indoor insulation kits, I know 3m makes them and can be ordered online. Though I am not sure how effectively they will hold with the older windows you have. I will also say that having some caulk and foam insulation tape on hand to seal any visibly drafty window sills is very helpful. The tape is also good for doors! I genuinely wish you the best and hope that you can keep warm and safe for the rest of this season.
Your ghost that lives in the bunkhouse didn't want you to bring snow in with you, so he locked you out.
@@comfortouch It did feel that way.
As someone who lives in the arctic circle, I would seriously suggest preparing your wood for winter in the previous spring. Furthermore, you must build or retrofit an existing building to store 2 times more wood than what you think you need for the season. Otherwise, you will get to a point where it’s too dangerous to be there in the winter months.
I heat with wood stove exclusively and I have learned about what you suggest. Also, I prepare and store a LOT of ready kindling and old newspapers etc... and I keep my Husky chainsaw in good shape and my Swedish axes well sharpened.
Right on
agreed!
With a woodstove in such weather it's best not to let the fire go out at all, embers in the morning is better than starting from scratch.
General tip for getting warm while dealing with significantly cold mornings from a swede:
(Mostly just from camping outdoors in Swedish winters, our houses tend to be built to handle the cold with ease)
When you go to bed take a thermos with you of a hot drink of your choice. I tend to go with tea, but a hot chocolate or something else will work, as long as it’s warm and you can drink it and it’s in a thermos.
Put the thermos into the foot of the bed under the covers with you (added isolation that helps keep the thermos warm until the morning, also helps keep your feet a bit warmer)
That way if you wake up and are cold either in the middle of the night or in the morning, you have something to get you warm very quickly right by you.
Drinking something warm probably is the most instant way of getting your internal body temp up.
And having the option to instantly feel warmer be super accessible, as the thermos is right there with you. Within 5 seconds you can have a sip of something warm. It’s basically no effort at all.
And in the morning you have this small kick of getting yourself warm, so you are already warm while you go up and actually start a fire.
I mainly use this for camping outdoors in Swedish winters and also for the wet and cold parts of autumn.
I also tend to drink a little bit of it right after I’ve gotten under the covers, as a way to get really warm and cosy to fall asleep easy.
Since I started doing that for camping trips in cold weather I haven’t been tossing and turning because I feel cold like I used to do.
Good tip, thank you
I am living in Norway with temps like that from November to April. We have small/big cabins all over Norway and some of the cabins are without power and running water during the winter. We usually boil the snow to make water for tea or coffee. Ice can also be made in small pools if you don't have a lake nearby. Then you can use the ice that the weather creates and make small ice cubes for water usage during the winter.
Also. There's never bad weather. Only bad clothing as we say. We use layers of clothes during the winter. It is now -12C (10.4F) in Oslo, Norway, and because power prices going a lot up, we need to be creative.
So, before next winter. Make sure you are prepared with enough clothing. Also, buying a pair of skis would be great. Easier to move in the snow.
All the best... and stay warm! Ohh.. and the wood cubes should never be in the open air during the winter. You should have a space for it inside where you can keep them dry at all times. We use to fire a lot during winter for our cabins.
I feel bad for you ☹️, I live in the southwest desert in Texas, so I'm not a cold weather person, nor do we get much snow, maybe some winters, one day in January or February, so far not a single bit of snow, not that freezing cold weather like you have, at all, I couldn't take it, I'm used to the burning hot summers, so I'm used to heat, lots of heat, it's OK with me. So far this winter has been nothing much, the coldest in the 50's.
@@texasgal3903 lol. think of him as the alpaca, at home in his environment.
Brrrrr! Great video!
I love Norway what a lovely country, will visit one day for sure from the UK here
Hello fellow nordmann! 😉 and yes! Layers and some good woollen socks can get you a long way. Wear woollen underwear under my clothes all winter long.
If my count is correct, this is your third winter up there. I was surprised in observing your setup and struggles to exist in the winter after 3 years. Some recommendations after watching your video:
-Never let your fire go out. You may have to get up in the middle of the night to keep it going. That's the sacrifice you make when heating with wood heat as a primary source of heat.
-Your wood pile needs to be much larger and covered. Less sledding and more wood gathering, if you ask me
-A free standing wood stove both radiates heat and provides a cooking surface as well. You're losing lots of your heat outside with an exterior wall mounted fireplace. A simple kettle filled with snow or ice makes tons of food items that only need boiling water.
-Consider putting 55 gal water barrel with the top cut off near the door inside so you can easily fill it with snow, but yet have a water source that is not frozen.
-I heat primarily with wood, and if it gets down to 50F inside, I've messed up. Hopefully come Spring you don't have a bunch of plumbing to fix.
-Your truck's fuel gauge on empty is....disappointing. As you live waaaay off the beaten path, the "fill up at 1/2 tank, never let below 1/4 tank" should be deeply ingrained at this point. Running a fuel pump with no fuel around it to cool it is a good way to burn it up.
-Tire chains work well in mud when needed as well. Get a set for your truck's front axle first, then see if you need ones for the rear axle. Make sure your tire choice allows for inside clearance of the suspension components for chains.
-Gaps in windows can be sealed with Plumber's Putty or similar to keep drafts and snow out. If a brown tinted option isn't available, I'd imagine one could add color to putty to make it blend in.
-Install automatic closers, or large springs, or even pulleys with weights on your doors to ensure they close each time. To err is human, find ways to use technology to reduce the impact.
-If you have electricity to keep your animals' water bowls heated, then you have the ability to install heated options on your water pipes and toilet tank to keep them from freezing.
-Propane loses its ability to convert to vapor at -44F. So a tank may be full, but is useless. Find ways to keep your propane tanks warm. Paint a few black, or wrap with black magnet sheets so it can soak in sunlight. Build a shack to keep them out of the snow. Leak check all your fittings with soapy water to ensure no leaks and make the call on where you want to place the tanks to keep them wam. Larger portable propane tanks are available, but a 40lb is a lot easier to move with one man than a 100lb tank.
-Some valuable info on propane and temperature effects: flameengineering.com/pages/propane-information
-If you continue getting deep snow, then a snowmobile is a good choice, but its a one-trick pony. What would the costs be to get tracks for the Kubota? Or possibly convert the dirt bike to rear track and front ski configuration. A snowmobile that only gets used every so often will become a rodent's best friend with chewed up wiring.
Keep your chin up and find ways to always improve your surroundings instead of using baling wire and bubble gum to barely keep things working.
I would add on to that list, having proper thermal layers to keep warm, and having clothes used in places in Ak, or Northern Europe/Asia that are proven to work in the weather he is facing. He should also have spare fuel for his truck, and look into Homesteading channels on RUclips to show how best to prepare for harsh winters. Root cellars, Rotating pantry, generator for when electricity from other means drops, water and wood storage, and so much more is covered in them.
I would also have the animals in a more secure set of pens. At the very least, the outside fencing needs to be a lot taller and reenforced.
He's doing good work for someone who sort of fell into it, but if he doesn't take on board some of the advice I've seen in the comments, things may become unnecessarily more difficult.
I wish him all the best and want to see him succeed.
We're rooting for you, pal.
Right on
I really hope he reads this, but I honestly don't understand how he's even managed to keep going for this long or that if this is even his full time residence anymore. I guess the YT revenue allows him to have the money to make mistakes, but I can't fathom how he doesn't have a grasp on the fire situation, his water supply or the fact that he doesn't even bother to seal up the nicer buildings so snow doesn't get inside. Its very odd...
@@Ro7ard yup great points. button things up before the season moves in.
The "Boy scout " motto applies!!!!
As a Canadian living in the prairies, it often having days colder than Siberia, the concept of this video is somewhat funny but at the same time very serious. winter prep is something you must get down because it ultimately is life or death. because you're so high above sea level, you need to bury pipes deeper than the rest of your state to stop freezing. consider looking to building code for more northern states for information. Make sure any pipes replaced enter the building at full depth and do not come up anywhere close to exterior walls unless you're going to insulate them and keep them above freezing at all times. if this can not be done, you have to either drain the pipes when you're done using the water or keep them running none stop. moving water freezes at a much lower temperature and will stop pipes from bursting or freezing up. another thing is, fire wood must be stored out of the elements it is important to have seasoned, dry logs or else there's wasted energy while burning, also causes excessive smoke and less heat output. hope this helps and feel free to reach out if you need more information.
As an Australian, who lived in a place with 4 months of 40C degree weather, it is also interesting to see Americans cope with long periods of hot weather.
As a Swiss I'm amazed you use no chains on your vehicles to move around better, wow that's what I call adventures lol well it seems you have a lot of work, to solve all the windows and door problems in your town and prep for the next winter... you got many good tips from your viewers how to solve this! Amazing video Brent and Thank YOU!!!!
Apparently the road is fairly treacherous even in the summertime. But you’re right, prep for this town is tough.
well he mentioned Florida was his home most of his life, however I agree.
Fair to say a number of mistakes were made. Not deliberate for the video of course.
@@richardhampson2435 Exactly... no doubt he'll learn from it all and move forward.
Grüezi from Austria! Glad to be not the only one from across the big lake who's watching Brent's progress :)
Thanks everyone for checking out the video! What other winter activities should I try out up here? I'm thinking a rope lift for skiing? What's everyone else think?
A nice sledding would be awesome
currently binge watching all of your other videos ill brb though
You should build a igloo
I used to love going tubing.
It look like sweden just in this moment. Cold and a lot of snow. I hope you got food and a lot of Wood. Love from sweden.
All doors locked.(for winter only)
Wood in shed.(dry)
Window have protected covers(shutters) on wind side ( for winter)
Insulation on pipes.
Water on hand for needs.
Winter package on vehicles.
A garage for vehicles
with a wood stove.
Plant more trees for
wind protection.
Hope this helps.😃
And don't forget snow shoes.
@@ozlo AND the Flamethrower
Melt snow and collect water i should recommendet.
I'd just burn that ugly house and move to a civilized city
These are all really good tips :)
I’d recommend boarding up the doors and windows during the heavy snow seasons, especially on the buildings that aren’t exactly In use as you won’t have many visitors. It will help preserve the amazing history that you are already doing an incredible job at doing!
I’m a 33 year old burnt out finance professional. I found your channel and it has put a fire in my soul to go do something like you have done. I am so tired of our 9am-5pm (7am-7pm in reality) culture. Thanks for the inspiration my guy!
Add functional shutters for all the windows to protect them and add warmth. String heavy rope between buildings so you don't get turned around in a white out. Set up your fire for cooking (cast iron Dutch oven with flat lid, kettle, frying pan). You have mines which should work as a good cooling most of the time in winter if you vacuum seal other food you have a deep freeze all winter. You could also put big bubble wrap between the window and shutter or a strap on the inside it will insulate until you can afford something better.
These are great ideas! I was thinking the same, why not use one of the mines for food all year round for deep freezing.. I already use bubble wrap on my windows in the winter in Ohio, it works great!!
yeah time to buy a toe toaster and all that 1800s/ Pathfinder school type kit, also a backup jetboil stove and small bottles of white gas wouldnt go amiss. you can cook alot of things with just a camping stove.
Tips for the firewood; keep it in a woodshed or cover it with a tarp, and always have a few days worth of wood in your house near the stove. That way you will always have dry wood right at your fingertips. None of those doors or windows should have been left open in the first place, but I think you learned that lesson already. 😉That sled ride looked awesome, but I wouldn't want to do the walk back!
Could the propane be sheltered so it doesn't freeze ? Also will the propane lines possibly freeze and crack causing more problems ? Or maybe wrap some type of insulation around stuff ?
@@cjw648 He needs a larger tank. Those little tanks freeze-up too easy. I believe the largest refillable one is 120 gallon, but he would be far better of with a full sized tank @ 250 or 400 gallon if he can find delivery. It gets -40℉ here in Wisconsin, and our big tanks have never frozen.
@@cjw648 the propane itself doesn't freeze, pressure goes down tho. insulation doesn't help as such the tank cools when the pressure goes down more when you're letting it out and there's no heat source so it just cools more. having it in the sun or something would help.
30 years ago I lived in North East Scotland and winters there were very similar. The house I stayed in had no electric, gas or running water and was in the middle of nowhere 2 miles down a farm track. We learned very quickly to bring everything indoors (water, gas, wood etc). Winter can be very harsh if you're not prepared. Hopefully this winter will be a learning experience for you. It was for us!!
aye, it gets awfy cauld here, but its bonny tae!
This is the only RUclips channel my cat will watch. Brent is a total cat magnet.
Haha that's hilarious :D
Hope you have the purrfect time :D
I was disappointed we didn't get a cat update though. He talked about all the other animals
@@_JellyDonut_ Indeed, I always wonder about the cats.
We live in Montana and have had this weather since October! Everyone’s giving their tips but the best thing you can do in the winter is have your equipment covered! Whether that’s your wood or your dirt bikes keeping things covered/out of the weather is the best thing ever.
That's what I was thinking. I was getting frustrated at the lack of preparation.
100%
@@dafyddchandler2514 Yes, it is.
Exactly, what I was thinking too... Like WHY didn't he cover or winterize... Anything?
@@jens.9155 inexperience..
I know there's a lot of work going on but it feels like the basics and necessities are left undone. Somewhere to stack firewood in the dry, doors closed all around, somewhere to get vehicles out of the weather, spare water. Simple things make life easier.
Brent needs to find himself a partner from the north to teach him how snow bunnies live. 😂
Reminds me of my 10 year stint off grid in the Washington’s Cascades. It took a couple years to anticipate and prepare for problems but eventually I was ready for whatever winter could throw at me. Your ingenuity will keep you alive.
I am surprised the doors are left open. Just a little planning before a storm comes in could easily prevent that. Fascinating content as always.
The windows and doors are usually always open to let air in and so guests can walk straight in but the snow kinda happened suddenly, so not much time to make sure everything’s closed up.
@@Zozowilson Plus, if his internet connection is inconsistent (likely not as solid and stable as in developed areas) he may not have gotten his weather info in continuous real time.
lol.. this is crazy to me.. its winter, snow is common up there? 😆😆😆😆
@@Zozowilson How suddenly? Can't lock everything up at night time and open up doors in the morning every day?
@@Zozowilson i dont think that the old buildings with one pan windows and no insulation is so well buildt that they keep fresch air out. Closing windows and doors to keep out wind, wet, dirt and animals is an easy way to dont ruin your buildings and belongings
I can tell you don't have experience with winter weather. During the video I was saying to myself, "Why don't you have a snow shovel, snow blower, a plow for the truck, chains for the tires, some SALT for the walkways , and who are the inconsiderate jerks that left every door open in the town?" You'll learn, Brent. You always do. Stay warm and take care!
A lifetime of learning up here. I've got the shovel and salt. Just need some chains and maybe some 'please close door' signs to boot! THanks!
@@GhostTownLiving Brent, I'm gonna be real honest with you. Knowing the way people are, I think signs won't be enough. Get some padlocks.
And, like the other commenter said, a snowblower.
Also PLEASE keep your wood indoors or at least in a dry shed or something. That's actually the very first step you should be taking because it could be done today.
@@GhostTownLiving you have to say to them what my mother used to say to me: did you grow up in a barn?!
This is supposed to be a bad winter for California. Kind of like with the rain, don’t know how much more you got there, but all of California is suffering with all the rain. I’m hoping you have a couple of generators…..or battery banks? I know it’s been suggested, but a shed for you firewood is a good idea. Hard to implement at this point, when you can I’m sure you’ll keep it in mind. Lots of smart people here that have great ideas…..take care Brent, stay warm as possible.
@@Katseye102 Suffering from all this rain, Suffering from all the snow, Suffering from all the drought... Sounds like a matter of perspective than an actual suffering...
Brent, you are an inspiration. Your honesty, humility, passion for life and history, it's such a pleasure to watch in a world where all the words i mentioned don't seem to be relevant.
Thank you, bless you bro
Although there were many mistakes us snow folks saw in your video, just think about how much you learned from this experience. This is a real lesson to all of us that life's experiences are limited to your exposure. I could listen to you reflect on life all day long.
The doors blowing open or possibly being left open by visitors is a drag. As for the windows possibly being blown out, simple wooden shutters would take care of that problem. You are an inspiration Brent. Thank you for sharing.
Not to mention they would provide a bit better insulation by at the very least keeping ice and snow off the glass.
Yep, can't believe that wasn't a priority. Glass isn't cheap these days
@@nunya2954 with the amount of things going on, give the guy a break, maybe you should be up there advising him or even better, doing it yourself, since it sounds like you know it all... smh
@@MikeT-TheRetiredColonel - I know better than to be caught "out" Grew up on a farm, live in Florida, farming and hurricanes, you don't pussy foot around making preparations, EVER.
Yes hinged wooden shutters on the windows and home made draught excluders against the bottoms of the doors inside. Fabric sausages stuffed with hay, balled up paper, sawdust etc
A garage for your vehicles is a must if u want to keep them in good shape!
Remember, Brenton says that he is from Florida. Not oriented toward responsibilities
@@paulhobbs227 He should be a little wiser by now. this wasn't his first winter or winter storm in Cerro G. Poor latches, unlocked, etc. There was no excuse for flapping doors, no wood inside, frozen wood outside, etc.
I'm pretty sure he was in Costa Rica for Christmas
.
.
Hello "Glutton for punishment"! 🙂 After wheeling and camping for a week in Death valley we stopped by yesterday (1/30/23) to see how things were coming along. Talked with 2 of your carpenters (?) just finishing their lunch. Quite a project you've got going there! You probably noticed my tracks in the snow up to your motorbikes. Miserable cold, even around 1:00pm. We didn't feel proper about going into any of your buildings without you there, but did notice your kitty was out running around. He liked something on the front of my truck, but he high-tailed it before I could get too close. Having lived in the Rockies for a couple of years, a little trick for "things frozen" Carry a bottle of MAPP gas (for plumbing) with a trigger lighter to melt frozen hinges, etc., and also a 4" heavy duty scraper, maybe a "5-in-one". But you MUST store your wood covered, even just by a $5 tarp! BTW, I didn't see a flag to sign in at... If it were me (and, it's not), I would get full control of the insulation on your primary living quarters immediately before any further plans to expand for anything for "play". Keep your head on straight lad, your life depends on it ;-) Best wishes for you!
This is my first winter with a wood fired cook stove in my cabin (Rocky Mountains, Colorado, about 8,000 feet). I can’t describe what an enormous difference it makes for heating and cooking. Having a conventional wood stove and a cook stove, you can be as warm as you want, even though these are the only heat sources. Definitely recommend this for your desert winters!
Pro tip, keep 5 gallons of water by the toilet for a few extra flushes after you find out the pipes are frozen.
Second tip, pex without brass fittings is freezeproof. It will freeze and stretch but not burst. It saves on repairs when they do thaw.
We've got the pex and 5 gallon bucket, now just to melt some snow!
@@GhostTownLiving good luck, and keep having fun.
You need to do some things after seeing the mine in the snow, wether you are there or not:
Composting toilet 12v
Secure all doors with some kind of latch
(basic combo lock)
Get a tiger torch or roofing torch up there if you are gonna be up there in winter. To defrost metal stuff frozen
Wheres your snowshoes man!?
Get an air tag so your loved ones know where you are ❤
Yea... like it is his first Winter!! How could this happen?? Too Funny!!!
This is solid advice!
also in addition to the snow chains he is planning on getting. Studded Winter tires ARE a must when you have snow and ice and can't use chains.
The composting toilet will freeze too. Old School outhouse is best. The poop freezes.
He has his snowshoes on at 33:24
I live in a 110 year old house in a mining town Called Miami AZ and I fear the wind and cold affecting the integrity of the house and pipes. Just got done covering any exposed water pipes. I was lucky last night I had a hard freeze and my kitchen sink would not work. It didn’t burst or crack. Good luck this winter dude!
Dude you are a trooper. not many people can do what you do. thank you for what you show us. it really shows us the real hard side of living where you live and what you have to do.
Just a suggestion for the firewood problem being frozen. Make a space near the fireplace to pile up wood for the fire next morning. And then when you start your morning fire afterwards go get more wood for the “warmer pile”.
Does the obvious really need to be said like wtf?
We have an indoor firebox built into the wall next to the fireplace; about 3 feet deep, 4 feet wide, 5 feet tall, with a louvred door for introducing warm air and letting humidity out. It's a little annoying because it turns a corner like an awful corner kitchen cabinet. Holds a few weeks worth, i use a garbage can to bring wood indoors from the wood shed that has about 3 years worth of firewood in it, frozen and wet though, so the indoor firebox is quite great.
@@007nadineL I guess so.
@@paddington1670 I like yours! Good idea.
You aren’t really supposed to store wood in the house because of termites, but to have a large quantity of wood nearby under a lean to shelter would be good.
If you even think snow may be coming, make like a boy scout and be prepared...all building doors securely shut and windows covered......way less work to do that than the cleanup and risk of moisture damage you exposed yourself to! Beautiful video Brent!
Yeah like even a hammer and nail could shut the windows and doors temporary.
Signs don't always help but you'll need to start making signs for those who just self-tour so the doors and windows hopefully get closed more often. It's pretty sad how many can't leave things how they found them. Good luck Brent! Stay warm!
As our inlaws are now seniors they made changes to increase comfort, and cut down on work and winter emergencies. This is also ideal for your hotel and possibly your house simply because winter temp changes can be extreme.
The main heat is now propane. Large propane tank by the house. It gets refilled a couple times a year. Your challenge is, can a propane truck make it to Cerry Gordo and run the line to wherever you put the tank.
A propane line can run to your BBQ also. Good place to hook in a refill valve to refill smaller tanks IF needed. If you want to use less propane set your heat enough to keep pipes from freezing. Augment with wood. It depends what you want to spend more on, wood or propane. And how much time you want to spend doing wood duties or making wood and propane runs. You can adjust at any time.
Bonus to adding the large propane tank. There's now a propane backup generator outside. (it holds it's own propane too, does not rely on the house tank, and can run for over 48 hours) When the power kicks out, it kicks on to power and heat the house. If the power goes off during the night the backup system keeps you, your pipes, and inside pets from freezing. The internet is restored within 60 seconds. You can run the backup in intervals if needed to extend the propane.
The wood is now no longer as critical and lasts longer, but still:
We built a covered half-shed. It stores a season's worth of dry firewood. To replenish that there are 3 seasons of uncovered wood outside. A hopper in the house stores a couple days worth of wood. No more wet or frozen wood, no freezing while gathering wood. Always prepared for an emerg whether heat or power related. Getting the larger propane system and backup generator was expensive to put in but they added comfort, and reduced worry and constant chores. More time for the hot tub.
If it's tough for you remember the ones who came before. They still mined, cooked, used the bathroom, and survived the elements mother nature threw at them. But you're doing great, Brent. Forging ahead despite the weather. Making lemonade out of lemons. You got this, Brent!
See told you, you needed chickens! BTW. Your drone sounds like a thousand hornets chasing you! LOL 😅 Also, build a miner snowman too 🤣
I'm happy you talked about the animals and how they react to the snow, they are so cute.
Yes I agree as well
What a fantastic episode! I could not help but be concerned for your safety during your sledding don the mountain. You have come so far and accomplished so much in Cerro Gordo. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
I feel for so many of these struggles as I start to spend more winter time across the valley from you. Some extremely valuable lessons I have learned is to use a modern wood burning stove. The fireplaces are fun and run that too but pellet stoves will keep the temp up all night and will help keep your pipes flowing. Insulate your pipes too (in December I had to fix a broken pipe when it was 22 out, insulate them anywhere you can). Cover your firewood with a tarp or something and keep a few bins of it inside to dry out. I use a shed about 40’ from the cabin that’s open on one side. Don’t forget you can also cook on a stove when your gas isn’t working.
I am so happy I finally made it up to Cero Gordo and meeting you was one of the highlights of my trip. You were such a great host and took the time to talk to us and educate us about the mine. You are such a great storyteller I can't wait for the next episode.
Thanks for coming up!
A Wind turbine generator would be awesome for those circumstances because there is a lot of wind and excess electricity can be used to heat the pipes so they don't freeze. Also, burying water tank and water pipes underground would prevent them from freezing to some degree.
Noone could ever accuse you of painting an untrue, cheery picture. Thank you for the unvarnished reality.
Always informative, but more important, you speak with a passion, commitment and courage, sprinkled with life-affirming and eloquent narration of your experiences. All Best!
It's easy to imagine how, at that altitude and isolated, things could go quickly from mildly inconvenient to life threatening.
We Live In A Time Where, One Man And His Daily Life In A Former Ghost Town Is Far More Interesting Then The New Hollywood' Blockbuster... Thumbs Up For Brent
My favorite comment so far! Ive turned to youtube for the “vlogs” . Scripted TV just isn’t fun any more.
i'm watching from serbia.. you are absolutely right.. this is tranquilizing .. i just wonder why he doesnt have someone to help or keep company at least during the winter?
So true tho I'd love a horror based in the town done right would be amazing
@@cline3290 I totally agree. Brent is amazing, great attitude, koko.
So true!!
Omgoodness nightmare, takes a very tough special and dedicated person to cope with and enjoy these conditions. God bless you xxxxxx
Brent...first of all, Thank YOU, for sharing your wonderful journey with us. I'm not sure you realize just how inspiring your videos are. Especially for someone like me, housebound, disabled. You and Cerro Gordo have become important for my emotional health. I can still be stuck in my crappy low-income apartment....BUT I can escape, at least for a little while, into the wilderness, and my soul and spirit are refreshed. So again, THANK YOU!
As an avid outdoorsmen in the winter I would recommend trying back country skiing/skinning. It’s basically where you get downhill skis and you put “skins” on them which allow you to go up mountains like your nordic skiing and then when your ready to go down you take off the skins and go downhill. It’s super fun and you have the best “yard” for it!
probably not the best idea for a guy who is alone...one mistake and your stuck somewhere weird hurt
You need a set of snow tracs for your Kubota. They are easy to swap out and are reasonably priced. With those you should be able to get around anywhere. You might want to consider adding a mini plow on front.
I would LOVE to live there for this experience! We experienced -30 here where I live, frozen pipes, I was under the house fixing pipes in the coldest temps I've personally ever felt. Over the summer I spent 32 days without any human contact....just my 2 dogs and cat. I kept myself busy and I did listen to music. *I almost never watch the television and did not during my "human" break. I had bought groceries in advance and since I live in the middle of no where, I was pretty prepared to stay on the farm to begin with. I'm kind of hard-core when it comes to how I choose to live...not as hard-core as yourself...but I have built up plenty of skills, stamina...bust most important to me, my mindset is solid. Sending many blessings your way. Stay safe out there!
Deep cold like this has its own sound. Watching this almost made me feel cold and it's well over a hundred today.
You are definitely one of my favorite RUclips channels Brent. Thanks for all your content.. you're awesome. 😎🤘
Absolutely!!
Well said, I will second that
Thanks for the video, it's good to catch up on CG. I've lived in Minnesota for 60+ years so while I'm not at high elevation the snow and cold Is just part of life. A few suggestions if that's ok, every fall a list of winter prep chores helps when cold weather arrives. Part of the winter prep is planning for your every day needs when the snow arrives and temps drop. We currently have had 50+ inches of snow so far this season and while it's been mild we have had temps in the teens below zero fahrenheit this season. While the moisture that snow is bringing inside your buildings is a concern in the short term it's probably not as big a issue as you think. Especially when you consider how dry your climate is the rest of the year. It's more of a issue if it would be present for long periods of time. We frame buildings year round up here and snow falls inside while we are working we shovel it out and when you heat the building it evaporates quickly. So having a seasonal mindset becomes part of your planning. Best wishes.
Thank you for bringing us into your winter wonderland! What a beautiful place, but at times so harsh! ♥️
So many of the problems that you experienced were the same things that happened to people during the Texas Grid Fail. A friend of mine almost died in that…she thought she was prepared with a well serviced generator, gas, propane…the electric went out. Everything else froze up in her house and travel trailer. Plus vehicles must be winterized. I’m from Minnesota where even -30 is no excuse to not show up at work.
Thank you for making a wet and cold morning in Ireland 🇮🇪 feel warm
I can’t understand why people don’t just close the doors behind them
This is an example of why you need to prepare ahead of time.!!!!
Your sheer force of will and positivity is always inspiring. Best of luck in 2023!
I absolutely love your videos. So insanely well done, and your perspective and feeling towards the land is so pure and so unbelievably beautiful man. You're fully in it, nice job
Stay well and safe my friend, and know many do care about your well being, hope you have supplies and a way to get in and out, hoping to hear that the road gets a fix that will take care of all the problems so that people can come up safely and leave to offer help to you and your town. I look forward to the day I can drive up and stay at your hotel, this is amazing where you have come on this remodel of the ghost town. Please if anyone is reading this post buy merchandize off the official site and you can send funds to his checks or money orders mailing address, all the help he gets goes towards remodel and his immediate needs, gas, building materials, and labor and driving in his vehicles all needs constant repairs, or if you can offer services for free it is most appreciated. What I would like to do is Thank all the volunteers who are from the past and those who will do it its future you keep this channel alive and well, lets support his channel by a check mailed or purchases off his web site. thank you.....
Focusing on protecting what you have, may need to be a priority ahead of building new. I understand that rebuilding the hotel is very important to you. Having buildings that you can use to house helpers to assist with all the other projects you wish to accomplish.
Wow, great to see you are handling the cold. But your smile warms up the coldest day. 😀
Hi Kevin,
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
We use wood shutters inside that lift-up and stay with a hook/eye. Post signs to close doors tightly (tight big hook and eye) We use shutters for keeping out heat in a wind storm.
Your windstorm will blow and we’ll have it, compressed and 70 mph. North-East winds start the fires. When your place is 💯calm, our place is crazy.
Bud, you should try wrapping your tanks with an electric tank heater blanket. Propane turns into LPG (liquid) when it gets too cold.
I lived in a remote village in the mountains and yes, winter sucked. Snow was guarenteed. A wood burning stove is all I had for heat and it took about 4 or 5 hours to fully warm the cabin from cold, but when it was warm it was cosy af. The beauty of the place and the 40mins drive to decent ski slopes was the compensation for an otherwise harsh and not so fun winter.
As much as I dislike ads, it nice to finally see them on here. You deserve the revenue Brent.
These videos are brilliant. The town will benefit from it in the long run.
Amazing to watch your progress. I haven't come by in a while and my goodness how far your fortitude has taken you. Amazing.
I will never be able to wrap my head around how Brent maintains a full-time job and does all this
I believe it's known as "Investors"
I thought this was his job?
Hes lying, hes a well known hoaxer, the whole town is just cgi, its is just a greenscreen
@@ffn8917 I knew it!
@@ffn8917 drugs. Your on them.
Absolutely winter beautiful. 2 things I took away from this 1) make sure all the doors are closed and latched. 2) add an ankle leash to the snow board 👍🏼
I love your videos
I was wishing he had at least a rope tied to it when he was carrying it back. I'd have left it there and gotten it later.
Wow! That was a gifted challenge with those winds wipping drifts and freezing the water lines. You're a great story teller, and I felt for your safety in the music that played along. Your sense of adventure is inspiring. Just need prepperation before the weather changes. The fresh snow is so beautiful, even the drifts with their dance in the winds. Thank you for sparking that drive to explore more with each day, no matter what the day brings.
STAY WARM BRENT......STAY WARM AS U CAN ..GOD BLESS&TAKE CARE&THANKU
Hang in there, man: you’re learning the ropes of how to handle winter living gracefully. It’ll take some time and some mistakes. I really appreciate how you’re willing to show that. A lot of people would pretend there is no learning curve and it’s all just a natural and easy process.
Good luck! I’d recommend some crampons for walking on hard pack and BOG boots: they’re neoprene and bulletproof and made my winters in Wyoming much easier.
Man ur positive attitude during these challenging times always amazes me. You certainly don't have the the 'give up' gene. Great stuff as always.
What do you mean “these challenging times” I wish people would stop saying that.
Bro, life in the West is so easy. No way any of it is challenging. At most a small inconvenience
He is definitely having challenging times out there at Cerro Gordo. That's all I meant. It wasn't a social commentary.
I think this has been one of my favourite videos so far. The visual beauty is just outstanding, but then the sound of the wind and the voiceover reminds you of the reality and tenuity of life. Thank you.
Thank you for your continued updates - what you're doing is amazing.
Enjoyed you showing us the reality of winter in Cerro Gordo. So glad you, Scottie and the animals are survivng well!
Who’s Scottie?
@@skidmark7845 a volunteer who now stays there to help out the one who drove the kabota to pick him up
You should consider getting a Lopi stove or something similar. They are super efficient at heating and use less wood to produce the same amount of heat as a fireplace. Also you can cook on top of them so there is no need for propane stoves.
Truth, love my Lopi!
I agree. Regular fireplaces lose a lot of their heat as the hot air and smoke rise out of the chimney. A cast iron wood burning stove absorbs and radiates that heat outwards. I've spent some time in a ski cabin that only had wood burning stove for heating and cooking, and it was plenty toasty. Those suckers get so hot you could theoretically cook directly on it (might make clean up a little hard if you do that lol).
Just come back in the summer
Your strong will to keep going and your incredible work ethic to restoring the town is truly inspirational. I live in a city with no snow. It's such a wonderous thing to experience. Keep up the good work!
Stay safe, have a great fun filled winter! Keep kicking ass, I love your spirit and I love what you're doing for this town. Here in Iowa winters can get very brutal as well, however we don't get the 70 mph winds. Just, -50s wind chill. So I can say with certainty I know about what you're going through and I applaud your endurance. I loved watching you take the time to play. That is so important! Heppy to see you are well. I am excited for this year for you and for the town!
Seeing the struggle makes the town feel so much more real. Feeling what the old miners would have felt, sparring with the inclement weather in a landscape not made to bear humanity. Thank you for sharing your struggles.❣
Hope you and your animals can stay warm and stay safe up there.
Thank You Brent Loved Seeing the Snow
I was so into your walk and words at the end - I was shocked when the video ended. Love watching and listening to you. Such a beautiful rugged place. Always an adventure watching.
You are an inspiration to me, and so many. I have taken on a huge project that scares me to death but it's been a lifelong dream. Ive taken this on , in part, because of your strength.
I had a family farm for 8 years, and I’ll never forget the water line to one of the barns freezing. It was late December. I eventually had to get on my stomach to dig around the pipe in order to put a heat tape on it. I was frozen solid after that day. A lot of calories were burned that day.
I would suggest building a shed for the firewood, where you can store the wood all around the year and it keeps it dry. Also having a lot of wood reserves inside the house during winter so that it’s not taken from outside where they’re frozen/wet.
I loved your analogy about those contrasts! It certainly rings true for me!
Since 2001, I provided 24/7 care in my home for an elderly gent named Arthur.
The last 4 years of the 22 years that I cared for him, Arthur was on hospice, palliative care, then hospice again,status.
I have to say not a kinder,tougher, braver & courageous man ever lived!
As his friend & caregiver, I had the obvious moments of stress, heartache,physical & emotional exhaustion, & grief that a situation like a long illness brings.
Living in a town on the Colorado plains, I would sometimes step outside to take a break to recharge.
I would gaze upward & outward , at the marvel of the contrasts of the prairie & the sky.. It really helped me recharge & refocus on my purpose of ensuring his care & comfort on his journey, so I could carry on.
There is just something about the connection with nature and the serenity & strength it brings. I called it “the view from deck”,
Here’s to those contrasts!
He passed peacefully on January 2nd , 2023 & those contrasts bring me strength & comfort. RIP Arthur ❤
Thank you Brent for posting & sharing the adventures of Cerro Gordo & the wisdom you’ve gained! Hang in there & keep powering through! 😊❤️
I love and support you, what you are doing and this channel. As a winter-hardy Canadian I would like to suggest one of your layers to be 100% wool. November may need some penciled in winterizing duties. Storm doors and windows may be a good pencil in spring job. I am so glad you packed for overnight when you headed out. Not sure if you could hear my internal screaming of noooooo at the idea. The sled blowing away was a sign. Having said that - I completely understand the joy you got out of the adventure. Very glad to see you have snow shoes, too 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 thank you so much for sharing. I feel like I understand this town thanks to all your videos and dedication. 💕💕💕💕
Brent. I loved the sledding adventure. The snow really emphasizes just how many trees actually exist up at Cerro Gordo. And what stood out to me on that adventure was the sheer solitude. And although you've taken many far off adventures to the outskirts of Cerro Gordo, there's something about the snow that really brings out the solitude. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
So nice how you explain to city people what happens when the water freezes in the country , and how hard it really is to start a fire in freezing weather.
Ive never been in a situation like this so I don't know if its the best solution to any problem but always having access to a water filter like a sawyer or any other brand (make sure to keep it from freezing that could ruin it if it has been used) is always a good potentially life saving idea and if you pair that with a small wood burning cooking furnace during winters like this you could heat a room with less wood, cook breakfast on it, and melt snow for filtering or use in things like filling the toilets tank so that you can flush! I also recommend looking into how hikers and campers deal with emergency situations. Even though this is technically a homestead you are a lot closer situationally to long distance hikers/campers due to your isolation. A great channel I would recommend especially for info on dealing with being isolated in cold climates is ALinsdau who is a polar explorer and could potentially share some life saving tips! Be safe out there, your videos are awesome!
Love and light to you and wishing you a warmer winter
A mini split heat pump would do you good in those cabins. They make them crazy efficient now and can pull heat well below 0 without aux heat. You would need to create a barrier to block the snow drift from freezing the coils.
Heat pumps are crap in cold climates. The cabin I've been staying in this winter has an LG unit. This past Thursday night it got down to 7 and was putting out no heat.Have to run electric space heaters when gets t o 10 degrees or lower. Cabin is 4 years old and had been a problem from day 1.
@@davidkramer6585 I have one in a cabin I'm living in and it can be -30 outside and 85 above inside. I live in northern Wisconsin.
@R. A. Facklam what brand is yours?
We had 3 pioneer mini splits in a single wide trailer and when it was below zero we would have never known it. The only problem we had is when we would get freezing rain it would all stick to the coil and the defrost cycle couldn't compensate
@Robert Keiser glad to hear some of you have good results with heat pumps. In Dec. we had cold with -45 wind chill. Was running 3 space heaters as this piece of crap LG does not work when gets to 5-10 degrees. Have 2 minisplits in 6oo Sq. ft. cabin.
I know nothing about living in cold places, and I know a lot of experienced people already left you great tips here! Just wanted to say I applaud you for sticking with it and doing all of this (what appears to be mostly by yourself) in your crazy winters! Wind in cold weather truly is the bane of my existence! You're doing great! Always learning and preserving that cool history! And although it's so problematic and freezing, Cerro Gordo truly is so beautiful in the winter. Amazing work in dreadful conditions!
I did that when I was six years old I kept dried chopped wood that I prepared the evening before I kept a light bulb lit in the pump house that keeps the water flowing plus a drip at the faucet. I had elderly grandparents to cook for every morning on a wood stove
1970ish hills of NC. Hot apple sauce and toast with eggs and sausage with hot coffee. six years old 7 am was my time to warm the house up. this brings it all back thanks. wow, those fireplaces burned all day till bedtime.
The imagery and story telling within the first 5 min alone is fantastic! Makes you wonder how the townsfolk were able to live there 100 years ago! Great work Brent!
I'm imagining that work in the mines pretty much halted during the winter, but maybe Brent can inform us?!
Wow, this video really shows how discouraging it can be living up there. Brent, please know that every second of despair and hard work that you go through helping to build back this town = YEARS of progress. you inspire so many people. If you were to reach out and ask for help during some of the hardest winters you get, I guarantee you’d have an army of people ready to change your life like you’ve done to ours. Keep your head up and at least 1 eye on all the great accomplishments you’ve done with this town! Cant wait to come visit and help out, keep it up!
Yes❗❗
Always watch forecast, and have plenty of wood and propane inside. also, have water stored aside in a closet or pantry for drinking ect. Have a dish pan full of water ready for dish washing. Have foods that don't require heating, or cook over the wood stove, also foods that don't require much cleanup. Keep doors closed , latched. Oil lamps or lanterns for light. Cell phones charged for emergencies. Avoid going outside, if possible, because of your area, you don't need to risk injury to scrape ice. I do see you need to take care of animals, but only worry about the necessary chores til conditions improve. I was raised in these conditions and we prepared ahead.
Thank you, all the best!