Posted by Sam Kigar on Mon, May 24, 2010
One stormy spring evening a few weeks ago, our display yurt played host to economic development officers from across Colorado. Sandy Head, of the Montrose Economic Development Corporation, worked to bring her colleagues from around the state to Montrose for an evening of mingling, food, and wine.
We were still glowing from being selected as one of the "50 Colorado Companies to Watch"; so, needless to say, we were pleased to have members of the selection committee with us in the yurt.
Economic Officers Drink Wine and Check out the CYC Brochure
As people ducked out of the harsh wind they smiled at the immediate calm of the yurt. I watched folks move around the space. They examined the lattice and rafters, and then moved toward the center where they began introducting themselves. The space was abuzz with conversation. People were asking each other questions about the yurt, "What do yurts cost?" "Where do they come from?"
The room was primed by the time I took the floor to give a bit of history about the company and our products. The boisterous group could barely hold back questions. "Why Yurts?" "Because we believe that their circular structure and inherent closeness to nature lends itself to powerful and positive human interaction." The party around us was proof enough and people nodded appreciatively; as they did when they found out how much a yurts costs.
I demonstrate the compression/tension system
After I finished speaking, local chef Anthony Damiano announced dinner and explained his upcoming restaurant and culinary school project. As the storm raged, the group tucked into a heartily sumptuous meal. They ate and drank well into the night.
With over thirty of our state's movers and shakers nestled into the yurt, the structure was serving one of its original, intended functions: a gathering place where community members come together, share ideas and have a good time. Plus, as guest after guest exclaimed that they or someone they know absolutely needs a yurt, I realized that the best testimonial for yurts is a yurt.
Find out where you can book a yurt for your next community function...
Posted by Jennie Redwine on Thu, Feb 11, 2010
Last week a few of the Colorado Yurt crew were invited to spend a couple of nights in the Fowler/Hilliard Yurt. The yurt is part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, a system of 29 backcountry huts in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, connected by 350 miles of suggested routes. We set the yurt up this past fall on an exposed ridge at 11,300 feet elevation. It is one of our newly designed Winter Stout Alpine Yurts. Unfortunately, once we got above tree line, weather conditions quickly eroded. Faced with a whiteout and hip deep snow, we were forced to retrace our steps back to the trailhead in the light of a full moon. These are the exact conditions the Alpine Yurt is was built to withstand.
The Fowler/Hilliard Yurt on a milder day.
photo by 10th Mountain Division
Although it rarely happens in normal conditions, when exposed to rugged alpine conditions like this, a typical yurt can face partial to full collapse. Since we live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains we wanted to engineer a yurt that would allow fellow mountain lovers to live where they want to live and play where they want to play.
The fully stocked Fowler/Hilliard Yurt kitchenPhoto by 10th Mountain Division
The thorough engineering of the Winter Stout Alpine Yurt also adds a couple of other benefits.
- International Building Codes - the Alpine Yurt meets the structural requirements of IBC in jurisdictions across the country so you can document the structural engineering for building officials like you would for any building.
- Seismic activity - the Alpine Yurt can withstand considerable earthquake movement.
So, although we weren't quite up for the challenging mountain conditions on our last trip up to tree line, the Fowler/Hilliard Yurt was. The 10th Mountain Division has graciously invited us back for another go at it and we're determined to spend a few nights in that yurt yet.