It took me 60 hours and 10K; I work a full time day job so my lessons were either very early in the morning or at dusk because I started in the winter. I learned at what most (though not people here) would consider a small strip; 2700' with big pine trees and power lines on each end with hills. I firmly believe that I could have knocked 10+ hours off if I started in the summer. Every day I had to deal with ice, wind, and low ceilings this does not help build confidence quickly. The weather never gave me a break even had to take my check ride with like 4K ceilings and gusty winds.

-Chris

Hey alaskanrocket welcome,
i was one of those "14 day wonders", but that was due more to circumstance than a desire to do it quick and cheep. i was living in Unalakleet, AK at the time without access to plane or instructor for flight training. So, i did what your doing, i did some asking around and came up with a game plan that at just shy of 500 hrs of "Alaska flying" has worked well so far.
1. i bought the ground school stuff and STUDIED prior to going in for flight training.
2. i found a 82 y/o CFI that had been flying the Alaska bush since his early 20's and now spends his days waiting for someone to go flying with.
3. bought a plane immediatly after my checkride and flew the paint off the thing.
i took my written as soon as i got into town and spent, what seemed like, every waking moment in the left seat of a 172 either flying or memorizing every knob, switch, ect.
i went for my checkride at 45 hours, but i could fly that plane.

Good luck!

Chris