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The Southwest Nordic Center welcomes you to our yurt system. Great effort has gone into making our yurts warm and comfortable for your stay. Below are a number of items that will require your attention. Please follow the recommendations for handling of wastes so as to keep the environment safe for groups that will follow (it’s worth the extra effort). Please be careful with fire at the yurts and enjoy your stay. Yurt Maintenance- Arriving- please use the shovel and/or broom to clear any snow off the deck and stairs. Take care not to dig into the deck when chipping ice. You will want to clear a path to the outhouse, and then clear any snow from its roof. A decent path to the outhouse will make using it easier. You will also want to clear as much snow as possible from the roof of the yurt, especially over the door so as to assure its free movement. Please be careful not to tear the roof in the process. Water- supply is by snowmelt, so No Dogs at the yurt. Snow may be collected anywhere in the vicinity of the yurt. Care should be taken to select only clean, pure snow. The snow may be melted in the large pot on the wood stove. Take care not to burn the snow when melting or there will be an off taste to the water. It is recommended to boil water to purify it. Warmth- an airtight wood stove has been installed for your comfort. Remove excess ashes from the stove before starting a fire. A metal container is kept behind the stove for this purpose. Empty the ashes into the outhouse hole. Paper is provided and kindling may be chopped on a stump on the deck. When stoking the fire, first rake the coals to the front of the stove before adding more wood. Do not leave the stove door open during burning and whenever you leave the yurt be sure that the stove is turned down completely. The damper is opened by pulling the gold knob out from the wood stove. Split wood to be burned is stacked inside next to the wood stove and on a wood deck to the south of the yurt deck. It helps to dry the wood out inside the yurt prior to needing it. If moisture persists then utilize smaller pieces in the stove. Cooking- the gas cook stove uses propane. To use the gas cook stove you must first turn on the valve on the propane tank on the deck. Please do not overturn this valve! Next turn on the valve located where the hose attaches to the stove's regulator inside the yurt. Please close the inside valve whenever the cook stove is not in use for extended periods i.e. overnight and during the day. Turn off both valves when you finish your visit. If you encounter an unsolvable problem with the cook stove there is a back-up two burner stove in the Yurt Maintenance box underneath the bunk opposite the kitchen. This stove uses the same propane cans as the lanterns. Put a hot pad under hot pots and pans when setting them on wood surfaces. Lighting- there are two propane lanterns provided. They use disposable canisters. Extras of these can be found under the bunk adjacent to the kitchen. Always light the match before turning on the gas when lighting the lanterns. The lantern handles get hot when the lanterns are hanging and burning, so use a hot pad when moving them. Be careful not to knock over the lanterns! A spare lantern is available in the Yurt Maintenance box under the bunk opposite the kitchen counter. A spare globe and mantles may be found in a plastic container to the left of the kitchen counter.
Yurt Maintenance, page 2
Dishes- there are two 5-gallon stainless steel pots for melting snow to wash dishes. Cleaning is with a 3-bucket system utilizing the 3 bus tubs that are provided. Tub #1 gets soap, but very little as the cold dish soap will foam much more than expected! Tub #2 is for the first rinse. Tub #3 is for the final rinse and sanitizing as it gets a touch of bleach (1 tbl/gallon H2O). Discard of the dishwater into the outhouse hole. Urination- please do not pee off of the deck, or in random areas around the yurt! Either use the outhouse or on the far side of the outhouse beyond the path. Garbage- garbage bags and a trash can are provided, but each group is expected to carry out their own garbage. Be sure to check the trash can before you go! Leaving a clean bag in the can is fine if it is empty. Food- plastic containers for storing food during your stay are provided, adjacent to the kitchen counter, so as to discourage rodents. Items that need to be kept cold can be stored in a separate container and stored on the floor away from the woodstove or outside (beware of freezing). These plastic containers may have spare food and yurt supplies already, but there should be plenty of room for your food. Feel free to leave left over food for later groups, however do not leave perishables as these simply rot. Yurt Safety- at each yurt follow the instructions printed on each appliance for safe operation. Operation manuals for the wood stove, gas cook stove, and lanterns may be found in a plastic container to the left of the kitchen counter. Please do not set candles directly on wood surfaces. Instead put them in a container to catch dripping wax and prevent toppling. There is a fire extinguisher attached to the end of the bunk adjacent to the kitchen counter. A first aid kit and maps may be found to the left of the kitchen counter in one of the plastic containers. Leaving- check out time is 1 PM. You may stay later if the next group has not arrived yet, but the yurt should be ready for their arrival. Please leave the yurt as you found it: fresh piles of dry wood and kindling inside with the floor swept and dishes clean. Safety- The yurts are in the mountain backcountry. Travel in such a remote area can be hazardous. If you are using the yurts on an unguided basis you are responsible for your own safety. Every group should be prepared for any emergency that may arise. Ski repair and first aid kits should be carried (lists available upon request). Skill with map and compass is required. Those wishing to ski steeper terrain should be aware of avalanche dangers. If you are in doubt about a slope's stability then don't ski it! In the event of an emergency call SNC at (575) 758-4761, and for a rescue call the Conejos County Sheriff at (719) 376-5921.
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