Build Day - Jackson, WY

Many of us were wondering where the build site would be because we're staying in the center of Jackson, which is mostly shops and expensive lodges. It was closer to the mountains, and in a more residential looking part of town.

Chad, Lisa and I started off the morning by table sawing 28"x2.5" pieces of plywood that people were going to use to tie up the concrete formwork already on the ground. These were going to prevent the formwork from expanding when the concrete cured. By the time we were done, we up to our lungs in sawdust.

Afterwards, I tied rebar pieces to the long pieces already laid out, again to prevent those from moving.

Tracy was a great leader. He really knew how to keep the volunteer workforce emploid and occupied. He also told us a fair amount about the Jackson chapter of Habitat. They're working on getting their houses very energy efficient, but lacked the funds to LEED rate them. Apparently, the SIP's (structural insulated panels) have an R-value of 27 though, and with the rest of the wall assembly, they get rates of up to 30. Pretty impressive. (Of course, the real factor is how well it's connected and thermal bridges, etc. etc. I'll stop.) They also use bamboo flooring. Finally, there's also some kind of building code that requires them to side buildings using natural wood, so there's a degree of unity in the community of houses.

I also met another architecture student named Veronica who graduated from University of Montana. Actually, my first contact with her was when she hit me over the head with some siding she was carrying. Apparently, she's worked in Peru and Seoul, South Korea. The firm in South Korea intrigues me. I wouldn't rule out working in South Korea for the time being. She's also sponsored to work here for the moment, and she's going to be working on Habitat houses in Kyrgystan! Amazing.

It was after lunch that it got really interesting though. We spent a long time really carefully levelling the concrete formwork, and then we poured concrete! It would come out of a tube from the truck, which people would spread out using shovels. Afterwards, people would take 2x4's to smooth out the tops. Then they laid out string over the tops to lay out bent rebar perpendicular to the foundation. These would support additional foundation concrete blocks that they would add after a visit from the inspector. It was really intense, but also really rewarding. It constantly amazes me how many different types of concrete foundations there can be. Not a single one of the ones I've worked on have been the same.

Teton Pass is supposed to be really really steep. I took off my aerobars today and anything not absolutely essential out of my backpack. They don't actually add all that much weight, but it's more of a mental thing for me.

I'm really excited about the mail drop tomorrow, because my Verge Illini cycling shorts are just about out of commision, and I'm hopefully receiving more because Performance was having a sale? Yay.