Yurt Raising

The moment we've all been waiting for...the yurt is up!
In looking at the calender last week, with my work schedule and Tanner's long list of building to be accomplished pre-yurt raising, we decided that Sunday, June 24th was going to be the day.  We had several friends volunteer to help us, and rain or shine, we needed to get it done.  Thankfully, after many days working in the rain, we were blessed with the most beautiful day.  No rain, no strong winds, sunshine, and warm temperatures.  We couldn't have dared asked for anything more perfect, and the day went off without a hitch.

Tanner and Roger building scaffolding

 With a bright and early start, Roger was our first helper for the day.  He and Tanner got the scaffolding built and the trailer unloaded in preparation for extra hands to arrive.

lattice walls on each side of the platform

Bringing up doors

Kyle, Roger, Tanner, Chilko, Nathan and Caleb on hand to set the doors

East wall up!

Next, the top ring was hoisted to connect all of the ceiling joists (all laid out on the floor, ready to raise)

Looking like a structure, fast!

While all of this was happening, and like I said, it all happened fast, The ladies were futzing with the insulation some more.  Many hands make light work, and it all went very smoothly.  I was glad to have some extra hands to tape all of the ceiling pieces together.

Kim and I taping sections together, getting a killer farmer tan.

Aidan and Owen helping us out

Jen and Peggy helping to hold sections for taping.  It was a hot, obnoxious chore but we did good!

The insulation fit perfectly

Brother Nathan, getting all of the insulation fitted under the roofing

Tanner at the top, adding the dome skylight

Chilko didn't leave sight of Tanner, he was so concerned about him being on top of the yurt ( so was I!!)

A much needed and earned break followed in seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  All that was left was the sides!

Mom and Dad relaxing with the Moose

Kim, Kyle, and Nathan, sitting in the shade

The sides went up with no problems

Nathan and Roger, taking the scaffolding back down

Our amazing crew!  Jerry, Roger, Nathan, Kyle, Dad, Jardy, and Tanner

Properly celebrating with some Glacier Whiskey

Enjoying a moment on our front porch

Emblazoned in my mind's eye..

Kim, amazingly, went home and fixed us dinner and brought it back up.  We have amazing friends, we are so Blessed!!!

Dinner!  Morrell Alfredo pasta

Perfect skies, made us feel like we were on top of the world.

All in all, we couldn't have made the yurt raising go any smoother.  We are blessed beyond belief at how willing our friends were to come and help us get established in this stage in our life.  As we ate our delicious dinner on our deck, talking with friends new and old, I could see our future at our new place unfold, and I am so excited for what is to come!

Cheers!  The Mcgurts

The floor is on!

As the longest day of the year approached northwest Montana, we have made use of every last bit of sunlight our 15 hours or so gave us on the longest day of the year.  We have made some nice milestones and on the eve of our yurt raising we are excited and exhausted to see our project round one of the final bends in the road to establishment.

With the platform enclosed and protected from weather, Tanner was able to get power hooked up to the yurt, and our well guy came to finish all preparations for our water supply.  You know what that means:  We have water, baby!

Garden spigot

Water pump & breaker box installed.  Frost free hydrant will supply water to the yurt.

Waiting out the rain in shelter

Supports for front deck

With water and electricity all taken care of, the rest of the week was spent on laying flooring for the yurt in preparation for our team of friends scheduled to come help us on Sunday.  Tanner spent two days laying flooring and decided he was not a fan of that chore, but boy, does that floor look nice!

Back deck and yurt flooring, looking south

With the flooring laid, Tanner had my brother, Nathan, out to help him load the trailer with the remainder of the yurt.

insulation and ceiling joists loaded on the trailer

Strapping it down

Teamwork makes the dream work!

 We are all set for our yurt raising!! 
Cheers, The McGurts

Progress

Things are starting to really come together at our yurt site.  Once the weather decided to cooperate, Tanner was able to get the support pillars cut to the correct height for the platform, and some friends corralled to help load some cross beams onto the top of the structure to reinforce the yurt base.

Cutting the pillars to the correct height

Beams are up!

view from yurt floor

This small change looks so dramatic to me.  Being a very visual person, this really ties the yurt platform together.  Very exciting progress!

Next, Tanner stabilized the floor joists, began laying plywood for the floor, and enclosing the sides for the platform.

Looking Northwest, sides are closed in

All closed in on the north side

King of the castle

Roger and Tanner securing floor panels

Tanner had some help for a couple of days from a long time friend of my family's, Roger, who helped secure floor and side panels, maneuvered a shovel, and helped keep Tanner company.
The next day, Tanner added house wrap to the remainder of the sides to close in the first floor, and insulated the section of the floor where the well pump will be coming indoors.  We do not plan to insulate the ground level, so from here we just need to figure out what to put on the outside of the ground floor (siding, tar paper, keep the house wrap, etc).  Our main priority at this point, however, is to get the remainder of the platform ready on top of this section so we can raise the yurt on time.

Insulation around the frost-free hydrant

Add some floor...

All wrapped up...

Plastic sheeting covers this level, and is now ready for flooring

Lots to back-fill on the north side of the yurt.

Just a few more finishing touches before we are ready to have a crew come to help us raise the yurt!
Tanner is building front and back decks for the yurts two doors, and a catwalk encircling the structure to assist in the raising of the second story, and tongue and groove flooring will be laid across the entire base. 
Pictures to come!
Cheers!