Do you imagine off-grid freedom? So many enthusiasts envision a quaint tiny house RV in a beautiful landscape with solar panels, rain catchment, and all the nifty unplugged, sustainable living set-ups that always work like a charm. These are the makings of an independent, idyllic existence.

But is off-grid tiny house life all it’s cracked up to be?

For Ariel McGlothin, the answer is yes. She is a fiercely independent off-grid Tiny House RV owner. Where she lives in the Wyoming mountains, during the winter temperatures, get as low as -30, with snowfall as much as 6′ deep. That alone is not for the meek.

Ariel relishes the peaceful surroundings and her off-grid homesteading experience. For her, it’s a very fulfilling lifestyle. Though it’s not what most would consider easy.

For instance, Ariel must hike up a steep hill to maintain her solar panels. In the cold months, she must take frequent trips to sweep the snow off the panels. The consequence of not properly take care of them, it could mean running out of power.

Ariel’s life is filled with numerous other ongoing physical chores, like manually filling up her water storage tank and chopping firewood. She sees it as empowering to be directly in-control of her survival—the embodiment of self-reliance.

For her, it’s a gratifying, independent existence. There’s much satisfaction that comes from seeing the fruits of her labors. Literally. For instance, Ariel grows or hunts most of her food.

Over the past few years, she has learned to hunt and process wild game, namely elk. This is done with great care and thoughtfulness, just like everything Ariel does. One elk can produce 150 lbs. of grass-fed, 100% organic meat, and last for an entire year, or more. All for a $70 hunting license and many, many hours of sweat equity. 

The extra care she puts into processing really makes a significant difference in the quality and taste of elk meat. I can personally attest to her flavorful and delicious, not at all gamey, elk steaks. Yum!

In her downtime, Ariel enjoys wildlife photography, writing and vlogging about her off-grid life to help empower others looking to make their off-grid dream, a reality. Follow her on YouTube to see insights into her day-to-day life. 

“The best part of living off-grid is the freedom. The freedom to be independent of other people. The freedom to do things the way I like them. The freedom financially that the lower expenses give me, and sometimes it’s the freedom to do a lot more work than everybody else.”

— Ariel of Fy Nyth