10/04/2026
This is the view from my front porch in Staunton, Virginia, USA. We live surrounded by National Forest on three sides with a Wildlife Management Area on the fourth, partway up the highest mountain in Augusta County, Virginia, USA, called Elliott K**b. It's the second highest peak in Virginia. Our driveway is nearly a half mile long, with much of that on an 11% grade with a small bridge over a gully. We don't go out much in snowy weather, lol! When we bought this place, it was completely wooded with only a small hunting cabin on the property. We lived in that small cabin for seven years, with two children, and saved the money to build a 2200 square foot log home. During that time, my husband built a two story barn, all the fencing, a 100x200 riding ring and had land logged to create pasture. Once we had money for the materials for the home, we had everything delivered and we built the log home ourselves, except for electric and plumbing, which had to be done by certified people to pass inspection (though we helped with that, too!). We have many hiking and riding trails right off of our property, including some of the biggest waterfalls in Augusta County. Dispite our isolation (which we love and was the biggest selling point for us), we have a cell tower on our property, so we have excellent cell phone and high speed internet! (Our property was the only place in this mountain range where a tower could be put to get the signal into the next valley) While it does stick up in the view, the benefits and payment fee makes up for it. We love living up here on "our" mountain... All the beauty and nature of camping with all the benefits of home! We have been here for 21 years, now.