SMR 5, Peak 2, Rodeo, Dinner w Kent and Betty

Saturday, July 7

Slade, Candace and Evan are going back home today, leaving Anna, me and Mimi. 

Anna and I take off early in the day to climb Snow Mountain. The mountain has four peaks, with the first two peaks providing the biggest challenges. It's a 2,000-foot climb from the trailhead to the top of 2^nd Peak – our destination. And a challenge every step – all uphill.

The beetle infestation resulted in lots of trees on the ground.  Some of the trail was in good shape, but other parts were littered with recently felled trees.

My favorite Granddaughter

Come on Papa - you can do it.

The cabin area of SMR

Fallen trees present a major obstacle for about a third to the hike. The beetle, which killed most of the pine trees about 10 years ago has killed millions of trees. There are thousands of trees along the trail that have fallen. It appears that there was a major effort to clear the trail of the trees a few years back, but since then, many dead trees have fallen, and many of them are on the trail. We have to either go over, under or around all these, which sometimes presents a major challenge.

But, we made it to the top of Peak 2 at an altitude of 9,800 feet. Having started around 8,000 feet, we are exhausted. But and experience neither Anna or I will forget.

After our climb and a little rest, we decide on a spectator sport, rather than a participant sport, so we go to the Fraser Rodeo. This is our first rodeo. The afternoon activities are for beginners from 8 – 18. It was really impressive to see an 8-year-old on a several hundred pound horses and controlling it through the course. It was a new, wonderful experience.

We meet Kent and Betty at 6 PM and go to Bistro 28 for a fantastic evening of sharing old memories (some of these memories are like they happened yesterday). And we can't exaggerate because both Kent and I were both there and quick to correct “incorrect” memories. It's wonderful to have a friend with whom I have experienced so many great moments.

SMR 4 Hiking, Challenge Course and Alpine Slide

Thursday, July 5

Anna and Candace are very involved in their YMCA at home. Kent is spending some time with his family at the campground here. Both Candace and Anna wanted to spend some time with Kent to learn how they might be able to help their Y programs back home. So this morning they walked down to Kent's RV and spent an hour or so talking and learning.

The weather is expected to deteriorate this afternoon, so we quickly get ready after Candace and Anna return to go to Winter Park to enjoy some of the excitement of the variety of downhill venues available in the summer. But just as Slade is getting ready to pay for tickets for the four of their family to ride the Alpine Slide (the longest in Colorado and also called summer bobsledding), all activities are shut down due to lightning in the area.

We had driven both cars to Winter Park, so we split up and Candace and Slade take off for an afternoon of adventures and the rest of us come back to the cabin to “chill” for a few hours.

When Slade and Candace return, Anna, Candace and I take off for a before dinner hike of a couple of miles. We enjoy a hike to the waterfalls here on the property. On the way back, we visit an abandoned gold mine. The mine goes back about 50 feet into the mountain (where it gets extremely dark). There wasn't any gold remaining, if there ever was any. But we enjoyed the experience.

Tonight we had the first meal that we prepared here in the cabin. After dinner, we played a rousing game of cards before we tucked in for the night. 

Friday, July 6

Adventure Quest is the highlight of the day. Adventure quest is a ropes course that exceeds any we've ever seen. There are 16 different challenges and Slade and Anna completed all the challenges. Based on what we saw while there, I guess that less than 50% of the people who start the course complete all 16 elements. I was proud of all the family for trying this challenge and for the completions. Candace and Evan completed 14 of the elements. I think the only reason they didn't complete them all is that Evan is to tall and Candace is to short. The second from the last element is incredibly challenging and they made it to those.

Now, what do I do with this?

I'm not real sure of this

I got this!!

I'm not real sure about this!

Maybe I can do this!

I'm hangin' on!

We're having fun?

Now What?

Let Dad show how it's done!

There's more than one way to do this!

Are you sure?

The family that defies death is a happy family!

Mom can show you how to do it!

Mom did this?

Let me show you how to do this.

This is the end, isn't it?

This is not a good use for paddles!!!

I looooove this pole!

Big step now!

There is more than one way to do this!

Why did I agree to do this??

It's easy when you're older!

Why would anyone ever try to do this?

How do we get down from here?

WE DID IT!!!!

After lunch, the kids complete what they started yesterday – the Alpine Slide. After the challenges of the ropes course, the slide was not nearly as challenging.

On returning to the ranch, Candace, Anna and I hike up to the waterfall on the YMCA property – and we go into an abandoned gold mine. It got really dark really fast, but we went as far as we could. When we encountered water, we turned around.