Rocky Mountains National Park and Snow Mountain Ranch

Sept 12, 2011

Today is going to be very difficult to really describe.  There are not enough superlative words in the English language to adequately convey the incredible beauty of the Rocky Mountain National Park and the drive on Trail Ridge Road from Estes Park to Grand Lake.

I was somewhat concerned how the RV would handle the high altitude (over 12,000 feet) and strenuous climbs.  The 300 HP easily propelled this 15 ton box  up the steepest of slopes.  And the engine brake took care of the descents in an equal fashion.

The GPS provides an indication of Trail Ridge Road

The poles on the side of the road are to help the plow crews find the road in the Spring.  They are sometimes over 25 feet tall.

We left Estes around 9:00 and took our time, stopping at any and all overlooks that seemed to be interesting - and they all seemed interesting.

The pictures below just do not do justice to the beauty and majesty of this incredible place.



I did change out of shorts.  It got cold.



A herd of elk in the valley

The "Other" Continental Divide

We were very surprised on arrival at Snow Mountain Ranch.  Kent had forewarned us that it would be different, but we weren't ready for what we saw.  The pine beetle has completely wiped out the lodge pole tree on the property, and most of the trees were lodge pole.

Snow Mountain Ranch (one of the two facilities of the YMCA of the Rockies) is a 5,000 acre property near Granby, Colorado.  It holds a special place in our hearts and memory.  First was our friend Kent, who had previously managed a small YMCA camp in Western NC moved out here 25 years +/_ ago to manage the camp on the property, Camp Chief Ouray.  He is now CEO of YMCA of the Rockies, which includes Snow Mountain Ranch and the Estes Park facilities.

Slade then came out here as a camper and then as a counselor.  We started coming out to see him in the summer, and that led to coming out to snow ski in the winter.  We brought Candace and Slade out here before they were married for snow skiing one winter.  Then a group of friends from Asheville and I started coming out in the summer for backpacking.  So it has become both familiar and special to us.

Tonight we are staying in the Snow Mountain Ranch campground and it is probably one of the most awesome views we have ever had from a camp site.

Snow Mountain Ranch RV campground

Moonrise over the Continental Divide

Tuesday, Sept 13

Today, we have relaxed and tried to take in all of the incredible beauty of the area.  We went for a short bike ride, then took the RV to Winter Park ski area.  This time of year, mountain biking down the ski slopes is the activity.

It was interesting to see how these bikers were dressed.  They all had on full protection helmets, chest and shoulder protection, arm protection, leg (both upper and lower) protection, and in some cases snow boot type protection on their feet.  They obviously fall!  Coming down these steep slopes at breakneck speeds would seem to be rather dangerous.

This afternoon, I took a hike to the cabins where Slade stayed when he was a counselor at Camp Chief Ouray.  It is vastly different today from Slade's time here with the complete deforestation caused by the beetle.

The view that Slade never saw from the cabins

Tomorrow we head out.  We think we may head toward the Dinosaur National Monument in Northwest Colorado bordering Utah.

Estes Park Colorado area

Wednesday, September 7

This morning we stopped by for a few minutes with Ron and Barbara to return their car and to thank them.  It was really great seeing them and we hope to get to spend more time with them on a return trip.

 

We arrived at Marys Lake Campground in Estes Park around 3:30.  After checking in, we went over to the YMCA to find Kent Meyer.  Instead he found us.  His office overlooks the campus and he saw us driving around and "We don't get many RV's up here, so I knew it must be you".  We spent a few minutes getting reacquainted and plan to get together some more while here.

Kent and I go back a long ways, through the Air Force Reserve, a lot of backpacking trips in the Rockies, and through Slade's participation in YMCA summer camps when Kent was running them, both in Western NC and at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Co (which is a part of the YMCA of the Rockies of which Kent is now the Chief Executive).





I then took a nice swim in the Y pool.  I wasn't to sure I was going to be able to make a mile after a couple of laps - I forgot we're at 8,000 feet - the air is a little thinner.  But I made it.

When leaving the pool, we saw a herd of elk just walking around the Y grounds.  Apparently they are regulars here.

Thursday, September 8

We had lunch with Kent at the Y and then he took us on a tour of the facilities.  This place is really set up well for families and family reunions.  They have complexes that can accommodate up to 40 family members in one building.  The campus has all the amenities for family fun.  I highly recommend it for any family seeking out a place to share family time or family reunions. 

Thursday evening we went to Kent's home, met their 3 beautiful grandchildren, had a great dinner and got reacquainted.

Friday, September 9

Today was a fun filled day at the 35th Annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highlands Festival.

Clara and I spent all day at the festival, enjoying a wide range of activities from music, military demonstrations, dance and bagpipe competitions, and learning more about the Scotch-Irish history.

 

Friday evening, we had Kent and Betty over for supper in the RV and then went to the Scotch-Irish  "Tattoo".   This was a great evening of military bands performing.  They had the Marine Band, the Air Force Drill team from Washington, DC, Scottish Band and others.  It was a stirring evening of remembrance of September 11, 2001.

We came back to the RV after the "Tattoo" for dessert and more remembering.

Kent and Betty Meyer

Betty learns to play the Bowed Psaltery



Saturday, September 10
After a leisurely morning catching up on washing clothes, Clara and I took off for a ride in the rental car to Nedderland, Colorado.  It is a rather eclectic town that had been a mining town in times past.

The drive was on one of Colorado's Scenic Byways, and it was indeed scenic.

 




Ice Cream in a railroad dining car, Nedderland, Co

Tonight we went over to Kent's to meet Jo Jo.  Jo Jo (now better known as Jo) is their daughter.  We first met Jo Jo when she was three months old when we baby sat for her on New Years eve about 25 years ago.  We remember (and reminded Jo) that evening well.  Jo Jo screamed all evening.

She is now the mother of three beautiful children and working in HR at the local hospital.

Bella



Mason



Mason, Bella and Riley

Betty and Jo

An absolutely great evening.  We hated we missed seeing Ethan, their son, but we got a minute with him when we picked up the pizzas where he works.

Sunday, Sept 11

This morning Kent picked me up and we went hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park at Wild Basin into Calypso Cascades.

In the afternoon Clara and I rode up into the National Park a while to get some information.  Tomorrow we will take the RV over Trail Ridge Road across Rocky Mountain National Park.  It will be interesting to see how well the RV handles the altitude - we will be going well over 12,000 - a 4,000 foot climb and descent.  It should be an interesting day.