There were some crazy steep angles to this project and beyond the capacity of a homeowner do it yourself type effort. Here Clark and Steve are in harms way, yet tethered via their canyoneering safety gear. This was a project I at one time contemplated doing with some family and friends. As I watched these guys work, I realized it was a pipe dream to think anybody but pros could do this correctly and safely. I am very pleased with their work.

Clark & Steve did more than just roof the cabin, they shimmed the support posts in order to straighten out the "sagging" look to the front deck roof. They worked from morning until past sundown each day for a week and I never saw them rest. They were working fools for sure. In a good way. Friendly and knowledgeable, both of them really were a pleasure to work with.

Clark Wiscombe and Steve of Darkhorse Leadership http://darkhorseleadership.com were the key component of making this roof project happen. Referred by a good friend Scott Hatch of Topline builders and precast concrete, Clark and Steve are certified canyoneering guides. They have backgrounds in home construction and metal roofs so while I had a variety of other bids, I chose these guys because once again they came recommended and had experience in the trade of metal roofs. This became obvious as they began unloading and laying out per a pattern that Rudy from Bunger Steel had made earlier. These two guys were awesome to watch. Both had energy to burn and worked as a real team. No wasted motion but an awful lot of it. I asked if it was doable with just two guys and they commented that they were a small crew but knew each other's movements and liked having just the two of them. As the project proceeded their expertise showed up time and time again. I give them my heartiest thumbs up.

Selecting a roofing company was not easy but after researching prices, quality of product and referrals I chose Bunger Steel of Phoenix Arizona. Sergio was my sales rep and I really enjoyed his professional manner and expertise. He was helpful throughout the process and at one point told me that I had come in with the second worst set of roof measurements he had ever seen in his career. I asked who was worse than mine...his reply...hadn't met him yet but was sure he would someday. With the property being 475 miles away and the roof having a bunch of crazy angles on and to it, it was difficult to get accurate drawings/measurements despite a number of attempts. Finally with the help of Google Earth and a satellite photo of the property Sergio was able to piece together his best guestimate of what was needed and the associated cuts. Turned out he was right on the money and Bunger Steel and Rudy get my highest recommendation. www.bungersteel.com
I hauled up over 4ooo pounds of steel roof and supplies behind my new (used) diesel pickup and it also performed like a champ untill just outside of Blanding. The onboard computer gauge indicated I had 77 miles of fuel remaining so I passed Kayenta without filling up. Mistake. The gauge is off. I ran out of fuel, hitchhiked into Blanding at 10:20 PM, bought the only one gallon fuel container left at the only open convenience store, hitchhiked back to the truck with one a half gallons of fuel, called Dan Sheran for instructions on where to find the inline hand pump and was up and running fairly soon.

New metal roof for 2013

Jason Swim of AzNative Roofing arizonanativeroofing.com was a tremendous help when it came time to put on a new roof at the cabin. He is successful roofer in 

Phoenix Arizona and has worked on my roof to the point that I trusted him and any advice he gave me. A classic case of saving 

money by spending it correctly to begin with. His guidance trimmed the final cost of the project and his willingness to help is really 

appreciated.

Late winter at Moab

We opened the cabin up in March after closing it down and winterizing it in December of last year. Snow was still on the ground in the shady spots but for the most part the days were sunny and warm the second week of March. Unfortunately that did not last. With the arrival of our first guests, a snow storm moved in and lingered for most of their week. The wind picked up and that was cause for some unmet expectations. First, the propane heater at the base of the stairs has a vent directly outside (with the best wind resistant cap made) and is susceptible to having the pilot light blow out. It did, repeatedly and it is unreasonable for guests to have to go through the procedure of relighting the pilot light. 

Second, with snow falling during the night then melting during the day the half mile lane into the cabin was pretty messy and really required a four wheel drive. While I tell guests that the weather is unpredictable in March I am now going to plainly state that during the month of March and most of April a high clearance 4 Wheel drive vehicle is recommended. I pro-rated money back to the two sets of guests that stayed at the cabin during the bad weather and apologized for not recommending 4 wheel drives. At 7300 feet in elevation the weather is likely to be cold at night and warm in the day but with snow melt that makes the road muddy. This is a picture of the cabin at sunset from the West looking East.

End of the season. Farland our caretaker took this picture this morning and with the last guests departing it is time to winterize the place and await for better weather. Farland reports that there will be enough snow to go skiing by tomorrow. Sitting at 7200 feet elevation the cabin has a weather pattern closer to Monticello Utah than Moab even though it sits 60 miles away. A couple friends and I will head up this week and drain the pipes etc for the next couple months. This is a far cry from the normal sunny days we enjoy for most of the season. Winter didn't arrive until today which is about normal.

One evening when I was riding in my old pickup truck down the sandflats road,

A beautiful bluebird came flying down

My eyes caught the color as it led me down the road,

Dipping and bobbing in the sun, finally resting long enough to pose.

If heaven had a window where the sun came shining through

Like a beautiful bluebird, I’d come flying back to you.

            Neil Young Chrome Dreams ll

            Beautiful bluebird