Janna Rankin Scharf - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Off-Grid Homes for Sale
Some of you will remember my post of two weeks ago, when I got lost in the boonies trying to find a property where I had a listing appointment. This weekend I am heading a couple hours south again, into the hinterlands, with better directions, determined to find my off-grid guy in his cabin on 5 acres surrounded by national forest that he wants to sell for $100,000. I can just see your raised eyebrows right now.
WHY in the world is she doing that???
Call me crazy, but I just like this guy and his remote, off-grid property. He found me and asked me to help him. I know I can effectively market his property to the most likely buyer - someone from out of the area who wants a hunting/recreation property. In fact, I have a prospective buyer looking for something similar. I asked my guy to send me some very clear directions for my repeat attempt to find him. There is no cell phone coverage for at least an hour from his house, and there are no corner stores in the boonies to stop at and ask for directions.
We communicate via email, he turns the generator on to make ice each day, and while the generator runs he has a window of time to check email. So today, while he was cranking out ice, he sent these directions. Is it any wonder why I got lost last time? And I think as you read this you might get a glimpse at why I just plain like him and am willing to help him! (I wonder if there is enough room to enter these directions into the MLS...)
Where Rt. 6 begins/merges from Rt. 3 South is know around here as the Santa 'Y'
Curve left at the Santa 'Y'. You begin to crest a hill. At the top of the hill on the right are the dumpsters, then the URSC (Saddle Club). The hill begins to descend. At the bottom of the hill on the right is (unmarked with a sign) Tyson Creek Road.
If you go past Tyson Creek Road, you should see on your left, the Santa 'Resort' (bar). Then you would immediately cross St. Maries River and don't blink because that's Santa. I understand that letters to St. Nick are often sent there, I'm not sure if old Bill the Post man used to answer them or not. But you didn't go to Santa, you turned right onto Tyson.
There are green mile markers along Tyson, on both right and left sides. But if you use your odometer, it would be six miles to our driveway.
There are three more 'Y's to offer confusion.
At the #1 mile there is a 'Y'. Go left.
At about 3 1/2 miles there is a 'Y'. Go right. There is a forest service sign that says Tyson C.B. 7. That's because the log trucks are coming at you and the road is getting more narrow, I wish you had a C.B. because you could 'call out' as they expect... "3 1/2 to the 4, Tyson, passenger car." etc. etc. If not, just watch out and go real slow. It's a County-maintained road all the way to the driveway, but after that there is another six miles leading to numerous log trails, and annually they use Tyson Creek Road to haul logs out to the highway.
At about 5 1/2 miles there is another 'Y'. Go left. Be real careful if a truck meets you at that 'Y' because it's very narrow.
The #6 mile marker is on the left on a tree too high. Across from it, on the right is the driveway with a red 911 # 5839.
A couple hundred feet up is the gate. It's always locked because ATV's are constantly trying to come up here, and they will turn around at high speed without saying 'hi', or even go right through the place into the forest. My kids play here. Anyway, the ATV'ers are a curious sort and investigate anything they can get to - they constantly check the gate padlock, hoping that touching it will be the magic that opens that gate into a hidden paradise-like world of glorious vistas and venison that abounds with benevolence to leap into your stew-pot! I told you this section of the world really is famous for hunting, and people from all over come here, set up camp at the 'Barter Faire' rendezvous and jump from there into the glory afforded only to those worshipers of Gaia who truly are the most sincere. Sorry. I'm not judging, just trying to understand...
If you tell me when, I'll have that gate ready, or you can walk up the hill another couple hundred feet. My house has a 'dog fence' around it, so you're safe if you come up here any time.
Call me crazy, but I am really looking forward to making this trip. I had to look up Gaia to see who the heck that is! Perhaps I'll be lucky enough to happen upon the Barter Faire, which sounds to me like an old fashioned hippie encampment in the forest.
If all goes well, I will be able to present my new, off-grid listing to the world in a few days. I am going to borrow some of his verbiage for my description. Any day I can describe a listing with the phrase "glorious vistas and venison that abounds with benevolence to leap into your stew pot" is a GOOD day!
Yes, maybe I am crazy. But in spite of his reassurance that I am safe coming up there any time, I'm not crazy enough to head out to the boonies alone...
