WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Home - Garden - Auto - Carpooling => Topic started by: Zarn on Nov 28, 03, 12:53:24 AM
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Hello Everyone!
We are moving to the town of Wrightwood in January, and we are as you all like to say "Flatlanders". My wife and I are uncertain of proper snow practices and road conditions in the heavy winter months.
We are hoping to get some info. from any of you who can spare a secret or two in regards to type of tires, are chains required ever, and how well are the roads maintained and cleared after a heavy snow?
I grew up in Detroit, but never got around to driving in the snow. (moved when I was 7) The house we purchased has no garage. How important is it to park in a garage? We have 4 children, so aside from having a full basketball team with 1 off the bench, we also have in-house snow plows. I hope they dont unionize!
Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for you time.
--- Zarn ---
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Thank you!!!! Slower than a turtle on tranquilizers??? We noticed the pics of the winter in 2001.. Is it like that Every winter?? We dont mind it, and actually welcome it.. but one of us will be commuting down the hill. Maybe it's a good idea to trade up for 4x's. When the roads are bad, do the school busses run at all? What does it mean to have the roads "cindered?"
How often is it impossible to get down the hill????
Thank you for your response!
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Hi Zarn. In 1997, we moved here with our four boys and quickly found out that the next one was due. They are now all in school. My basketball team. My husband works down the hill and sometimes I worry about him making it home at the end of the day if it snow badly. That has NEVER happened. He's a good driver and has made it home, sometimes late but has never been stuck down the hill. We both carry chains at all times. It came to the point when we just put it in the car and left it in there all year round. Neither one of our cars is a 4X4. I agree that it would be easier but we have the chains and don't mind putting them on and off.
First of all, Wrightwood is NOT Detroit. We do get pretty good dumps but usually it clears up and the snow plows come in and clear the streets. I wasn't here for the 2000-2001 season where it snowed like crazy so I can't speak to that. The school builds in 4 snow makeup days during the academic year. They don't usually use them all. I think that if the road conditions are too dangerous for buses (which carry chains and put them on when necessary), then the school district call for snow day. If they do run, sometimes they just run to Highway 2 and the kids and parents get home somehow.
Lucky for us, the owners of the house left all their snow shovels under the house. Looks like the owners before them did that also. At last count we have 6 shovels, one for each kid and one for me. I also carry a shovel after a dump just in case I have to shovel out while I'm trying to go somewhere.
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Welcome to Wrightwood!
When cal trans cinders a road, they spread gravel-like stuff all over it to help with traction.
I live up on Oriole, and I try not to head straight down to the highway on icy days. I go down a block, then over a block, then down a block, then over a block, all in my lowest gear. I have 4wd, but that doesn't really help with the ice; it helps with the snow.
I hate to put on chains, so I really love my 4wd. Also, I've lived in and around Wrightwood for the past 28 years. Rarely have we been trapped. Big winters like '01 only come along every once in a while. When they do, start a fire, put on the hot chocolate, and enjoy your day off!
KW
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With all the kids, I would suggest you do what I do. Sometime in late September or October every year stock up on some essentials. When the kids were little I used to keep an emergency supply of diapers, toilet paper, water, soap etc. Also I stock up on Mac N Cheese, evaporated milk, spam, beef jerky, snacks etc. Just in case you get snowed in and you run low on supplies. Additionally, when I hear that there is a big storm coming in, I do all my shopping for perishables like veggies, meat and dairy. With all the kids, I have a fear of running out of supplies and the kids going hungry. That's never happened either but I couldn't bear the whining if it did. ;D
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Welcome!!!
I live off of Highway 2 and work off the hill. I have lived here for 9 years and only missed work 4 times... 2 days for train fire or detrailment (one of those things) maybe 1 day for fires and 1 really big snow day. I have never put on chains... practice at the end of each summer just in case. My boys have 4WD's... which makes me feel more comfortable (or at least I worry just a tiny bit less).
I have had to leave work early on occasion to guarantee getting home at night. They plow the roads (at least Highway 2) pretty good... please .... just don't stop on highway 2 during the snow. If you must stop... pull over first.
Go slow and use lower gears... front wheel drive and good tires work great. :-/
Your gonna love Highway 2 in the winter! ;D If you need to get anywhere... plan ahead and leave early.
Welcome to Wrightwood!!!!
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Iv'e lived in Wrightwood for 16 years and every winter I get along just fine. My car is front wheel drive, so you just take it easy with no quick brakes or burnouts. I guess the only people that would have a real problem would be those that live all the way up Acorn or upper East cyn.
I live near town so if the snow was that bad, I just park my car in town. If you can get to hwy. 2 you'll be fine. I don't reccomend Lone Pine Cyn. early in the morning either!! People start slidding all ohter the place if they don't know what they're doing!! Scary Stuff !!!
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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Wow!! So much great advice, I love this town. We are really excited to move!!! I am really scared still about highway 2 during snow. My husband is not, and he is just happy to be moving to Wrightwood. I have an Astro Van, which doesnt seem snow worthy, so we'll see if I do a trade in or not.. My husband has a big chevy work vehicle!! Im a bit worried, but everyone who is responding seems to think it isn't so bad. We will deal with it. So stay away from Lone Pine Canyon... what about Sheepcreek??????? It seems like it would be a pain also. What can I ask you guys, my wheels are spinning.. Does everyone grocery shop at Jenson's??? I am thinking twice a month I'll have to go to Costco in Victorville.. seems a bit outrageous, and probably won't happen. I have a preschooler who will be needing to enroll, does anyone know of a good one?? Does Wrightwood elem. have after school care if needed?? One more question for this post... does Mountain High offer discounts to residents??
bye for now.
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I think the best investment you can make is snow tires. Second would be a vehicle with ABS. 4WD is nice to have, but it doesn't do anything to help you stop or maintain control when you're skidding, which is when it gets scary. People might other opinions, but I had snow tires on my car for the first time last year and what an incredible difference it made. I'm sold. Although, this year I think I will invest in a 4WD and put snow tires on it. Should be the best of all worlds I would think.
Me myself shop at Stater's in Phelan, Costco, and Jensen's. Costco for the once a month big shopping, Stater's for the once a week shopping, and Jensen's for any other little things you might have run out of or forgot when at Stater's. I like to shop locally, but the price's at Stater's are so much better.
I'm not sure if they're still doing it, but Mt High used to give free season passes to anybody who purchased a home here. If you're buying, I'd inquire about it. Otherwise, I believe you can buy season passes for $249.
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Ok.. Im going to check into the passes, thanks for the tip. Can anyone tell me about Sheepcreek? Icy in the winter like Lone Pine Canyon??
So do snow tires replace the need for chains?? Don't they have those little studs in them... are they ok for "down the hill"??? All these expenses are going to kill us.. Oh well, it's the price you pay to live in this beautiful place. Cut corners elsewhere!!! Like on pretensious perfectionism (down the hill) hee hee.
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If you bought your house your realtor should have told you about the passes. When escrow closed on our house she handed me information and I went up there and picked up 6 passes. Unfortunately for me a week after picking up the passes I found out I couldn't use it because of the baby. :-[
Wrightwood school doesn't have an afterschool daycare. But as some others have mentioned, Pincone is just across the street and the kids meet somewhere and someone from Pinecone takes them to the Daycare. There is also something called Homework Haven. I think it is run by the Methodist Church. The lady comes afterschool and picks up the children and takes them to their facility and they do homework and play.
I do the weekly grocery shopping at Stater Brothers but end up at Jensen's at least once a week for forgotten items. I too have been meaning to shop Costco more often but seldom get a chance to go down the hill. With an afternoon kindergartener I only have about 3 hours. One hour to get there and one hour to get back and only one hour to shop. Not long enough for me. But next year when she is in school all day I could do the shopping with peace of mind that I won't get stuck "down the hill".
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Im going to check out Pinecone... is that a preschool also, or just a day care. We are still trying to figure out our schedules.. We haven't closed escrow yet, so I will check it out about the passes before that happens.. gotta take advantage of that one!!!!!!! We have four kids just dying to learn to snowboard. My husband and I can snowboard, although we are a little rusty!! Ha, understatement. But hey, I can get down the mountain looking like a thirty something mom, that's for sure!! :) I can't wait.... :)
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Pinecone has two programs: Pre-School and School Age The child has to be potty trained to attend. Good Luck!!
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THANKS everyone!!!!! I will be contacting Pinecone... and my husband and I are gearing up to at least get the snowtires. I suppose we'll keep chains in the car, and eventually probably be getting at least one 4x. I suppose we will just learn to drive in the snow/ice. You can talk about it all day, but until you actually experience it, I guess ya can't tell how your vehicle will do. YIKES. :)
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... When the roads are bad, do the school busses run at all? ...
I remember once riding the school bus (back in 1980/81) it got stuck in the snow so we had the day off.
The next day down at Serrano we only wore sweaters, so what a difference! And kind of strange as Serrano is only a 15 to 20 minutes ride downhill!
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A good place to practice driving in the snow/ice is the Ski Sunrise parking lot. You have an uncrowded, wide open space, so lots of room for mistakes.
That's where I'm taking my son as soon as we have enough snow to practice in...
KW
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Wow, KW...how do you even get up to that parking lot in the ice/snow to practice?! [smiley=SMgrowsnow.gif]
I remember Bill Cosby talking about driving in the snow and ice - everyone knows you're supposed to turn into the skid - and he said that that advice always seemed wrong - like leaning into an incoming left hook.
I've always just kept the speed to a minimum - I'm not scared to drive in it when I'm crawling along at a snail's pace....
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Wow!!!! I did get a lot of responses... I am soooo going to ski sunrise parking lot to practice driving in the ice. you will see me in my grey mini van... hahahha.. I will bring the kids, and they can see what its like riding in the car while it's icey. I will be screaming at them to "BE QUIET!!!! Can't you see that the roads are slick and Im trying to drive???" We will just practice the whole scenario!!!! :) I will remember to get my fish at Costco.. and it's good to know these things about Jensen's... I will have a 6th grader at Heritage.. How do you like it there?? I am so excited for her to go there. I guess it might not be a bad idea to try a preschool in phelan, since I will be going to drop off my Heritage student also.. Does anyone know of any Christian preschools in the area? Does the methodist church have one??
After reading all of these posts, I am amazed at the town of WW.. Is this place great or what????? :)
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Those stupid smileys!!! Can't I just use multiple explanations without having a smiley or sad face???? Guess not!!!!!!!!
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Did I say explanations??? I meant something else.... let's see, what are they called... Im waiting for that person that corrects all of the spelling errors in the posts......
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The smiley police better not get you.
It was the 3 question marks in a row that created the unwanted smiley.
Here's three question marks: ???
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Welcome to Wrightwood 11 years of living on the l.a. county side and driving down the hill to work. We put snow tires on all our cars. No studs on the tires, they are illegal on the highways in calif. I've never put chains on. (tire rack .com).
Napa has deicer that you can use on your windows in the am. I love that stuff. Can't reach all of the truck window in the morning to scrape the whole thing.
A snow blower is nice if you have a big driveway. We got an excellent one at the hardware store. Grain shovels are great for shoveling snow.
If you have young ones, make a snowman or whatever and fill a spray bottle with water and koolaide mix and make a colorful snowman. We used to make dinosaurs and such in the yard. Cheap thrill.
Pray for snow
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We are firm believers in AWD - no decision to make, it's there for you all the time.
The first year we lived here we got a jeep with AWD, but were also driving our regular Astro Van. I tried to drive up Cardinal and couldn't go anywhere - had to slide back down until I could get some traction again. Couldn't get the car up our driveway either. We're now on our 2nd AWD Astro Van.
There has only been 1 day in the 12 years we've lived here that we couldn't have made it down the hill - and we were too busy have fun shoveling 4-5 ft. snow to go anywhere anyway. (We always tell everyone we don't want to drive in the rain, that's what's not safe)
My husband had a problem once when the tires just started to wear on one of the cars - he slid. So he immediately got new tires and now makes sure they are replaced well ahead of what we would have done down the hill.
I take Heath Creek down instead of Sheep Creek when it is icy - not as steep and not as many cars.
Remember while you are driving everywhere so carefully you will come across the special people who do not have to worry about driving slowly and staying in control. Your goal is to spot them and stay away from them.
Make sure you have FLASHLIGHTS. When we first moved up here, we seemed to lose power more in storms. Rarely happens anymore, but since our storms are usually heralded by big winds I wouldn't be surprised if Edison cut our power sometime during the season (as they keep warning us)
It is so beautiful and quiet when it snows - I'm sure you're going to love it.
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Oh, if I hadn't paid too much money for my Astro Van!!! I think they will give me much less than what I owe.. and Im not going to like driving it in the ice... I know it. Oh well.. live and learn. I say that so often that I wonder if Im learning anything! Anyway, We have a driveway that slopes down, but enough space at the top to park... (no garage, YET) I hope we don't regret that decision... not having a garage. My husband is a contractor, and swares we will have one. That could be a while. In the meantime, I'll get the de-icer.... scrapers, and maybe a few big brooms and shovels. I won't mind doing all of this work, because every morning I will have coffee next to a beautiful view of the mountains. It's worth it!! I didn't know Astro Vans had an AWD option... I heard that they closed that road from Phelan to WW because so many people died... what was that all about ?? I would think that with so many accidents every year, WW would get serious about the speed limits. Do we even see police in WW???
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C.H.P. was hanging out on Highway 2 yesterday.
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Yeh. We need more. And DUI checkpoints. But that's off topic. When there has been significant snowfall in the past, a cop was nowhere to be found. I'm sure they're usually busy with accidents and road closures. Besides, even a reckless driver can't get close to the speed limit when there is significant snow on the ground.
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I love that about WW.. The fact that you don't see a police car every five minutes when you are driving is very comforting!! So peaceful, you forget that your not on vacation. I am so excited to take a permanent vacation. I told my husband that every morning I would be so happy to see that view.. I'll put on my bear suit and gloves and go out and have my hot coffee... Then i'll shovel the snow.
Anyway, I hear of so many accidents.. Is it the speed limit? Or is it that people break the speed limit... Is it mainly people that are visiting during the ski season that are causing accidents? Realistically, is it just the weather??
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It's people driving too fast and carelessly.
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Plus, factor in that they are unfamiliar with the roads, possibly, and those turns come up on you real quick. If you hear sirens a lot, it is usually for Mt. High.
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i'm just kinda wondering! i live on Apple, what time do they come through here and plough in the AM. i leave for work at 4:30 any chance they come before that?
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Ya!! I was wondering also what time they plow the roads???? Especially hwy 2.
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There isn't any particular time frame when a road is plowed. I'm sure someone will post that this road or that road is plowed by a certain time.
Snow is plowed when the County or Caltrans equipment is in the area, crews have time and the road needs plowing. Hwy 2, Hwy 138 and I15 are taken care of by Caltrans as they are state highways with all other local roads belonging to SB County.
Generally speaking main roads in town are taken care of first such as Hwy 2, Apple and Lone Pine Canyon. Other streets are plowed when they get time to plow them.
The amount of snow plowing depends on how much money is available for either county or state crews. There have been times when the county has stated that they will not plow a street unless there is at least 6" of snow because they didn't have the money. Over the years I have seen times that plows do the same street 5 times in row with no snow present, while other times 12" of snow never gets plowed.
When a big storm hits it's possible that roads in town may not be plowed for the better part of a day because they just don't have enough manpower to keep up. It's rare when that takes place and overall SB County and Caltrans does an excellent job on keeping local roads cleared.
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Welcome to Wrightwood 11 years of living on the l.a. county side and driving down the hill to work. We put snow tires on all our cars. No studs on the tires, they are illegal on the highways in calif.
Have you seen this from the CHP website?
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html
I have studded tires installed on my vehicle. Are they legal in California? When?
The California Vehicle Code [Section 27454 (e)], permits studded tires to be used on vehicles between November 1 and April 30 of each year. The number of studs or the percentage of metal in contact with the roadway cannot exceed three percent of the total tire area in contact with the roadway.
Since there could be some confusion on this issue, you may wish to write to the CHP. That way you will receive an official response that you can carry in your vehicle. The mailing address is:
California Highway Patrol
Office of Public Affairs
P. O. Box 942898
Sacramento, CA 94298-0001
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Generally speaking main roads in town are taken care of first such as Hwy 2, Apple and Lone Pine Canyon.
When they do LPC, which route do they plow to get to Thrush to get over the wash: Sheep Creek or Heath Creek?
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NEVER catch snowflakes with your tongue until ALL the birds have flown south for the winter. ;)
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Well, the first snow hit and we are in our house now! Ha! After all the discussion, we weren't prepared. Luckily my neighbor who promptly said"you must be a flatlander"... helped me get the van out of the driveway!! I quickly head to the hardware store and bought my shovels and salt, AND cables. Not to mention a few extra kids' gloves, snowboots, etc. Almost bought a WW sticker for the car window out of my enthusiasm for fresh snow and all of it's problems! Forgot to though, and will have to pick one up later. The friendly neighbor down the street got the kids off to school for me, and later helped me shovel.
Nice town, nice people. :) Thanks WW.
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Glad to here you made it! Welcome!
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called a flatlander! that must have hurt. wish my neighbors would shovel my snow [smiley=bigcry.gif]
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If you're lucky, and have a warm pot of coffee, maybe..just maybe, a kind stranger will happen by with the plow on the front of his truck/jeep and help you out. It's funny how they can sniff out the coffee........................
Fortunately for us, we live on one of the smaller, less used roads in town and the plow does seem to skip us every now and then.....All I have to say is "sorry, if the plow doesn't come by, I can't get out......." my boss accepts it and the rest of the day is gravy!
As far as a time table for the plow.....good luck. It usually comes by just as you're about to finish your driveway to leave for work and then pushes all the snow from the street into your driveway and then just smiles as he goes by.....I wonder if he likes coffee?
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Ha ha!!! Well, I think we are going to have a pretty easy time getting out, as we are just off of sheepcreek. I will keep my eyes out for plowing neighbors though, looking for coffee. Maybe I should just set up a big coffee percolator out on a table in the aftermath of a storm.. with styrofoam cups???? free coffee to friendly plowing neighbors.
Sounds like a plan... [smiley=coffee.gif] [smiley=coffee.gif]
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Zarn, congrats on making to Wrightwood. So, is it all you had thought it would be? When my husband I moved here 3 years ago I felt like we had moved to heaven or something! Just so you know, you should invest in some salt for your driveway. After it snows and we shovel our drive, the salt melts all the ice and leaves us with a clean drive :)
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We knew we would love it here... and I bought the salt!! My neighbor gave me the heads up on that... so I went out and bought some. I will be using it to melt the ice.. we seem to accumulate a lot of that stuff! :) I am gearing up for another snowfall.. come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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oh, and YES it feels like we moved to heaven.. I keep wondering, why aren't more people here? Not that we want more people here, but isn't it beautiful?? And more affordable than the more crowded areas down the hill. What a find. Now, I hope all you WW'ians aren't a bunch of nuts.
:) just kiddin. ::) ::)
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[smiley=flower2.gif] :) Zarn, I am sure that Wrightwood has its share of nuts, but not anymore than somewhere else ;) We would NEVER move back down the hill. One thing that you have to get used to living up here though is driving everywhere. Just for me to get to school in Rancho takes about 1/2 hour one way. But it is well worth it. My husband commutes to Norwalk everyday and in 3 years he has never complained. Its the price you pay to live in paradise :)
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Well, let's hope I feel that way when I start my new job!! Just found out I will be commuting to Baldwin Park starting the ninth. Now I have other issues, with child care before school... I guess that's another topic area!!!!! :-/
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Zarn,
There are a couple childcare facilities up here-my son goes to Pinecone Village daycare after school. I don't know how old your children are,or which schools they go to, but Pinecone picks up and takes them to WW elementary. As far as your commute goes, of course it isn't going to be fun sitting in bumper to bumper traffic everyday. My husband looked into Rideshare but he has to leave at 4:00 am, so he couldn't do it. Now he commutes with someone that lives up here,so it saves alot of wear and tear and gas money. Anyway, after you experience all the awesome events in this town like Mountaineer Days, the classic car show, safe trick or treating on Park, etc, etc... no matter how bad your commute, it will be worth it!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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I agree with you, I think it will all be worth it... Ok, so we don't know how to start a fire in the fireplace... we tried last night and didn't have luck. I think the wood is Eucalyptus, and harder to burn. Hope it's not wet still.. bought it from a guy that said it was ready to burn. :)
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Zarn,
make sure when you purchase wood that you get a mixed cord. If you only have a hard wood like eucaluptus
it will be near impossible to get your fire going. Pine is a great soft wood that burns quickly. So, we get a mix of hard and soft so you have starter wood to get it going and hard wood to keep it burning longer. Pine cones are excellent firestarters too. If you get a newspaper,make sure and keep it- always good to have around when you're trying to get a fire going. ;D
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I pull this one up just to see. Zarn do you still live in Wrightwood do you still read the forum Lets hear how it has been since you moved up here are you a pro now lets hear