A funky, off-grid cabin sits atop a stunning landscape near Donor Summit just on the North side of the 80 freeway, accessed only by a dirt road. The cabin had an existing deck in terrible condition. We got that out of the way, and built a bigger, better, stronger version.

This area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains can get a lot of snow in the winter, so our framing was overbuilt on purpose. We used 4x10 inch joists on top of massive 6x12 inch beams. The result created the strength we wanted, but also a super fun and sturdy look.

Because of the snow, we chose recycled composite deck boards that will never deteriorate. We spaced them out a bit more than usual to allow for the snow to melt faster, and used galvanized hog wire for the railing. Eventually an exterior set of stairs was added, giving immediate access to the surroundings.