The Property

Off the Grid

A guest of the K Bar L once described the Ranch as “a taste of civilization next to wilderness.”

Given its remote location? “beyond all roads”?as the owners often say, the creature comforts afforded by clean and potable water, electricity to run basic lighting, refrigeration, and appliance operation are impressive.

Since 1927 the Ranch has relied on hydro power. Old systems have given way to new state-of-the-art infrastructure that employs water turbine technology to create electricity which is stored in batteries for on-demand use.

The battery storage is supplemented by solar power from photovoltaic panels. In addition the Ranch makes use of propane stored in tanks to run hot water heaters and power generators when necessary to back up the hydro and solar systems.

Water for the Ranch comes from two wells on the property. Drinking and domestic use water is run through a six-filter system and then through two stainless steel tubes outfitted with ultra violet light treatment for additional water purification. This pure water is stored in stainless steel tanks and is available on-demand with the assistance of Onan power generators. As a last precautionary measure, all water taps have giardia filters in place.

Although the owners like to minimize the use of it, there is also a state-of-the-art remote telephone system that employs the latest Motorola equipment and a hilltop antenna for access to a communication network.

All told, the water, power, and communication mechanisms have evolved over time with changing technologies. In the aggregate they enable the K Bar L a quite functional, indeed admirable, level of comfort, safety, and civilization amenities.