Operating a 5-star resort off the grid requires the lodge to be entirely self-sufficient. In the lodge, people run dishwashers, laundry machines, big screen TVs, and hundreds of lights. Outside the lodge, Mikey keeps the ‘trons flowing with two generators, a panel of solar power cells, and a 10,000 Amp-Hr bank of lead-acid batteries. The power plant is a short walk away and runs off of a large propane storage tank at the edge of the woods. In addition, a 160 foot well supplies water to the residence while an enormous pump down by the lake provides water for fire fighting. 160 thousand hectares burned 3 years ago less than 10 miles away so fire fighting provisions are a necessity. All-in-all, it is a seemless operation; barely audible on a quiet night.
While I was there, Mikey had an analog Oscilliscope from Russia hooked up to the smaller generator and was just finishing a repair. If you are into that sort of thing like I am, it was very cool.
Later that evening, with a cold rain falling that kept the bugs away, we slipped into the hot tub which Mikey perfectly maintains with a minimum of chemicals and had stoked to 100 degrees. When the hot tub is HOT, you want the air around you cold so you can cycle between the heat and the cold. It was perfect.
Location:Chilko Lake Lodge