The stated goal of the project was to survive a Montana winter. The families were supposed to prepare for that. They did not actually have to stay there once winter began. The consultants for the project examined the final state of each homestead. The Brooks were the most likely to survive. The Malibu Clunes were not focussed on what they should be doing to prepare, except for having a garden and filling a root cellar. They would have frozen before they ran out of food, since they did not stockpile firewood. Gordon Clune's family owns a missile manufacturing business (Klune). He had an alcohol still made by the company and shipped to him and he spent more time on that than haying or woodcutting. Here is another web site about the planning for the project, plans which started before 1900 House. Planning of Frontier House Click Here