Colorado

Lisa: Hannah and I were able to travel into Denver on Wednesday to deliver a student home one day early, so we found a Whole Foods to have a quick lunch before heading back. Also got to Facetime my mom and dad, and Hannah got to call Alyssa.

We made it back to camp where Anthony pretty much was working on the bikes most of the day, and I got to help in the kitchen. What I have noticed is that hardly no one is sitting around, they are either up asking others if they need help, or having some quality time with students, or doing the many duties that are required every day to keep this summer project camp running smoothly. We got to go to worship, and at 9:30 p.m., we got to watch open mic, which consisted of the campers/staff just showing their many talents, which was fun. The campers left this morning, and next week there will be a week of elementary students coming in. There is one week of middle school, high school, and then elementary school students.

The Long Scraggy Ranch camp is located at Buffalo Creek, CO. Here is how you know you are in the right place:

This is the heart of Buffalo Creek, which is a combo one pump service station, general store and post office. It was built in 1898. And if you need to know any information about what is going on, all you have to do is look on the board posted outside.

Yup.

Anthony:  On Thursday, I rode from Long Scraggy Ranch, and met Lisa and Hannah at Chatfield Reservoir and we rode our bikes about 20 miles to downtown Denver.  We rode by Mile High Stadium, went to REI, and then ate supper at My Brothers Bar and Grill before pedaling the 20 miles back to the van. 

Hannah said this is the original REI.

Really interesting bicycle art at REI.

Current Peyton Manning home.

Hannah tried out the van bed on the way back to camp.

On Friday, Hannah was busy with her duties so I helped John, the camp manager, build a log balance beam for an obstacle course.  Lisa assisted Mitzi in preparing meals. 

Saturday, 6/28/14, HANNAH'S 24th B'DAY, all she asked for was a family hike up Gray's Peak and Torrey's Peak, which are both above 14,000 feet elevation.  We woke up at 3:30 a.m. to start our hike early. We started hiking about 7:30 a.m., and Hannah and I summitted Gray's at about 11:00 a.m.  Lisa made it to about 13,200 feet elevation and decided to stop.  She started back to the car and made friends along the way to talk to.  It was about 34 degrees when we started hiking and the wind was very strong, with some gusts making it difficult to stand, much less walk.  There was also snow and ice across the trail in a few places.  When we made it to the top of Gray's, we decided not to go over to Torrey's, which would have been about a mile longer, because we were exhausted and the wind at the top was almost unbearable. 

The sign Hannah is holding says, the date, June 28, 2014, Gray's Peak, 14,270 ft.

That night, we met almost everyone from the camp at Los Garcia's in Conifer, CO, for a meal to celebrate Hannah's birthday. We were all exhausted from the hike and had no problem falling asleep.

Lisa: On our way back to camp from the birthday celebration, we saw a bear crossing the road. We were told that there is a regular visiting bear at the camp, so we have been expecting to see one at some point. One night Anthony was coming out of the bathroom at the pool house without his flashlight and heard a significant noise beside him. I think he had to go back into the bathroom again.

For some reason, I have always wanted to visit Boulder, and that's where we are now. We are at The Laughing Goat Coffeehouse on Pearl Street, with everyone else that needs to use wifi. 

Today we are heading toward the Tetons and Yellowstone.