There are eighteen National Forests in California alone and dozens of
others in the western states offering a diversity of climate and natural
conditions. Of course, not all of the forests are available for cabin
sites, but there is a large group from which to select. Most of the
tracts available in National Forests are in groups of from six to one
hundred lots or more, each lot averaging about ⅓ acre, depending upon
topography and cover.
To obtain a cabin permit from the Forest Service, write or call on the
Supervisor or nearest Ranger of the particular forest in which you think
you’d like to live. Ask him what areas, if any, are open in his National
Forest. If he has a forest officer available, he will arrange for him to
visit the property with you. A personal visit is desirable but not
absolutely necessary before applying for a permit.
Application for permit may be made in writing to the Forest Supervisor,
or Forest Ranger, specifying the location of the property, the use to be
made of it (summer cabin, hotel or resort) and the estimated cost of the
improvements you intend to make.
Permits are granted strictly on a “first come—first served” basis. The
cost—and this will amaze you—averages about $15 per year for cabin
sites, depending on the size and location of the property. Each permit
is renewable annually. You may sell your cabin at any time, but the
transaction must be approved by the Forest Service.
[Illustration: Map showing location of National Forests in the West]
Don’t depend on your own knowledge of the outdoors when you pick a cabin
site. The local forest officer knows more about his particular locality
than anyone else, and he’ll be glad to help you.
When seeking information about a particular forest, be sure you write to
the officer in _charge of that forest_, because he is the only one with
a complete file of data on it. If you don’t know who your nearest forest
supervisor is, write to the nearest regional forester. Here’s a list of
offices:
_Region No. 1_ (Northern Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Western
Washington)—Federal Bldg., Missoula, Montana
_Region No. 2_ (Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Eastern
Wyoming)—Post Office Bldg., Denver, Colorado
_Region No. 3_ (Arizona, New Mexico)—Federal Bldg., Albuquerque, N. M.
_Region No. 4_ (Colorado, Southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Western
Wyoming)—Forest Service Bldg., Ogden, Utah
_Region No. 5_ (California and Western Nevada)—Phelan Bldg., San
Francisco, Calif.
_Region No. 6_ (Oregon and Washington)—Post Office Bldg., Portland,
Oregon
_Region No. 7_ (Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont,
Virginia, West Virginia)—Victor Bldg., Washington, D. C.
_Region No. 8_ (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee,
Texas, Puerto Rico)—Glenn Bldg., Atlanta, Ga.
_Region No. 9_ (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin)—Federal Bldg., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
_Region No. 10_ (Alaska)—Federal Territorial Bldg., Juneau, Alaska
When you apply for a permit, you must agree to install permanent
improvements costing at least $500, including labor. Only one residence
may be constructed on a lot, and in order to prevent the erection of
unsightly “shacks”—some people’s ideas on cabins would surprise you—each
permitee must submit his plans for approval _before_ a permit will be
issued.
All buildings and all roofs must be painted, oiled or stained. If paint
is used, the color must harmonize with the forest background, and be
approved by the Forest Supervisor. That does not mean that everything
has to be brown and green, but the forest is no place for a pink stucco
cottage.
Permanent construction must be completed by the end of the second season
after the permit is issued.
Cabins built under “special use” permits must be occupied at least
fifteen days each year by the permittee or his family, unless special
arrangement is made with the Forest Service.
The principal requirements of the Forest Service regarding cabins are
that they be built in a workmanlike manner with substantial roofs,
floors, doors, windows, brick or masonry chimneys, toilets and garbage
containers of a type approved by the Forest Supervisor. The general
ensemble must be in harmony with the forest background. You don’t have
to build your house just like your neighbor’s, but all cabins do have to
be of an approved and attractive rustic style.
In large colonies you may be required to install a chemical toilet or
septic tank, a piped water system, or other improvements to safeguard
the general health of the community. Ask about these things.
If you build in a colony of summer homes, you must agree to abide by any
rules and regulations agreed upon by a majority of the permit holders if
they have or organize a cooperative public service group.
Choice of the actual site for a mountain cabin depends on drainage,
view, shelter from storms, sunlight, ease of access, and so on. Probably
the best location is one on a gentle slope, which assures that rain and
snow will drain off, with the front of the cabin facing the center of
interest and the principal windows placed to catch the prevailing
breezes.
A slope is somewhat more difficult to build on than flat land, but in
wet weather you won’t find puddles in front of the door and the floor
won’t get damp. Remember, you don’t have tile sewers to carry off the
water. Too steep a hillside makes building even more expensive, calling
either for excavation or extra foundations. While a hillside site is
attractive, it’s pretty tiresome lugging supplies up hill.
If you build on a slope or hillside, find out about the normal rainfall.
You may need a watershed at the upper side of your lot to keep the
run-off from trickling down into your cabin. A shallow ditch or a low
wall is enough protection—but a necessary one. (See Fig. 1.)
Here are a few other details to think about: How near is the lot to a
good road? It doesn’t have to be close to a main highway, but is it
possible to reach your lot with a fair amount of convenience? Can you
get supplies or help in case of emergency without too great effort?
Next, how’s the water supply?
Water is one of the most important considerations. The forest officer
can tell you what the stage of the water table is at your location, and
you can decide what kind of well you will need. Above all, don’t plan to
use the local trout stream or lake for drinking water. It may be a
lovely lake, and the stream may ripple over pretty stones like tinkling
bells, but pretty water isn’t necessarily pure water.
There are in the National Forests a number of associations of Special
Use Permittees. These associations are formed partly for the advantages
of collective bargaining and partly for the installation of certain
facilities on a tract basis. Many of these associations have installed
water systems, financed by assessments against the lot owners.
The winter climate is an important factor if you build in the snow
country. In the mountains you may get snow ten feet or more in depth—and
ten feet of snow weighs a lot. That requires extra sturdy construction
of the cabin roof.
Actually, in a National Forest you’ll find that a good deal of the
selection has been done by the Service for you. About all you have to do
is to find the particular one that is most pleasing to the whole family
and offers the greatest possibilities consistent with the money you have
to spend. You can be absolutely sure that you will get the lot you pick
out. Nor need you worry that after you get your pet cabin built someone
else will build “Ye Olde Hot Dogge Shoppe” across the road.
In selecting a site for a beach house don’t be led into buying too close
to the water. Remember that ocean storms often send the waves far up on
land, so be sure to get expert advice on the safety of your location.
[Illustration: Fig. 1]
RETAINING WALL
CABIN
MASONRY OR CONCRETE WALL, OR DUG DITCH TO DETOUR THE SURFACE WATER