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| Snow Mountain Ranch sign |
Spread out over 5,100 acres YMCA of the Rockies – Snow Mountain Ranch is a fun outdoor playground in the Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
It has year round activities and I did a few this past summer so I wanted to try some winter ones this time.
I don't ski - downhill or cross country - due to a knee injury, but SMR is close to Ski Granby Ranch and Winter Park for downhill, and SMR has groomed trails for cross country.
I drove over on Thursday, February 6, stopping at St. Malo's Church where it was windy and cold, but always beautiful.
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| My truck with the Christ statue |
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| Mount Meeker |
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| Twin Sisters Mountain |
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| St. Malo's Church (Chapel on the Rocks) |
Then I drove to Idaho Springs. I stopped for lunch at Beau Jo's Pizza. Gluten Free breadsticks and pizza - YUM YUM.
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| Gluten free Breadsticks! |
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| Gluten Free Pizza! |
I walked around Idaho Springs for a little bit and found my way into this cute shop. I bought some great books. I loved the hand towel as well that felt so appropriate for what's going on in the US right now.
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| The Wild Grape: Unique Gifts and Selfish Necessities |
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| Come With Love in your heart or else! |
And then to Snow Mountain Ranch! I stayed in Indian Peaks Lodge. I love sitting on the balcony and looking at the mountains.
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| Buttercup in the parking lot at dusk |
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| Snow Mountain Ranch SNOW! |
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| Snow Mountain Ranch views |
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| Snow Mountain Ranch ALL Gluten Free Dinner - YUM |
Friday, February 7 - I had a lovely breakfast - Snow Mountain Ranch always has well labeled, gluten free options! I am so grateful.
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| Friday morning breakfast |
Then I went to the dog sledding - a 4-mile run. Unlike other kennels I have gone to, this one - you got to be a second musher, not sit in the basket - It was ABSOLUTELY amazing - I don't have many pictures, because I had to hold on for dear life! It was great!
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| Alaskan Huskies |
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Me with the Alaskan Huskies
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Redemption Dog Sled tours beanie
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After the wonderful dog sled ride - I had another great lunch.
After lunch I went on a 1-hour horseback ride in the snow - it was lovely. My horse was a cute little buckskin named Dumbo because she had big ears. 😀
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| Beautiful scenery! |
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| Beautiful scenery! |
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| Horses! |
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| Horses! |
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| Dumbo! |
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| Beautiful scenery! |
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| Beautiful scenery! |
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| Dumbo! |
The fun continued with a sleigh ride. There were supposed to be five people on the ride, but I was the only one that showed up so I got a solo ride and to sit up front!
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| Horses hitched to sleigh! |
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| Horses hitched to sleigh! |
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| Left is Tyson and Right is Holyfield! |
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| Tyson and Holyfield trotting along - they had sleigh bells so they jingled! |
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| Beautiful scenery! |
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| Beautiful scenery! |
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| Beautiful scenery! |
I was so exhausted that I skipped dinner at the dining hall and just ate left over Beau Jo's in my room. What a wonderful day!!
Woke up Saturday morning to SIX inches of snow. I had a great breakfast, did the 2-mile dog sled ride (didn't get any pictures because it was snowing too hard), then headed home. From Granby to five miles outside of Empire, Colorado it was slick and snowing and bad. Five miles outside of Empire, I had to pull over to take the truck out of 4-Wheel Drive because the roads were perfectly clear all the way home!
Amazing weekend. I love going over to SMR and hope to do a summer trip with a summer ride and do some of their summer activities!
Want to go - call for reservations at 888-613-9622 or go online at www.ymcarockies.org
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