TRR 2011 Annual Report

2011 Annual Report

Season’s greetings and a Happy New year to all of our Tumbling River family and friends!  I hope receiving this report will act as a reminder of a time you spent here at the ranch with your families or perhaps as staff members.  It’s fun for me to think back on the past year and reflect.

In the life of a dude ranch owner, my year breaks into 3 distinctive chapters.  The first chapter is the build up to the season.  Following the 2010 holidays, Megan and I realize we need to start putting our plans into action for the next summer.  This includes booking the ranch, hiring the staff, finishing construction and remodeling projects and opening up for the summer.  The second chapter brings the quickest part of the year, “THE SEASON.”  This is the most fun and it goes by too fast.  I have to remind myself to jot down notes, or I will never remember the highlights.  Thirdly, there is the fall and holiday season; time with our family for vacations and celebrations.

Part one of the three is the toughest to recall, it is the greatest distance from the night I am writing this report.  From January 1^st until May 1^st we pack a lot in.   Like most American families, we spend our winter and spring seasons doing homework, playing sports and looking forward to horse rides in the Rocky Mountains.  We spend this part of the year in Littleton, Colorado.  Our kids can walk to school, have sleep over’s and play soccer on grass fields.

Laney turned 9 in July and had a breakout summer.  She made many friends and spent as much time on horses as she could, though her favorite summer activity is hiking.  She has hiked all the hikes we offer with exception of Mt. Bierstadt (14er).  She says she has her eye on that for next summer.  Laney had several friends visit from the city and they think her life of adventure is pretty cool.    She just takes it all in stride and plays the perfect roll of super student, determined soccer player and tolerant big sister.

Finn (7) took the first grade by storm and I am not sure Jefferson County publics schools will ever be the same.   Much to our surprise he is a darn good, focused student.  School comes easily and he’s excited to go every morning.  He has also begun to excel at soccer and basketball.  He prefers defense but after scoring his first goal, we may not be able to contain his offensive enthusiasm.   If you are looking for him in the summer, start at the ranch pool.  We cannot get him out of the pool and he uses the counselors like human jungle gyms.   He assures us that swimming in the pool is the same as showering.

Miles (2.5) enjoyed every bit of the attention he received this summer.  People seem to be drawn to his happy demeanor… he is the easiest going person in the family.   He eats well, brushes his teeth, washes hair without tears and is 50% potty trained.  We have warned him at least a dozen times that this is the last pack of diapers we are buying and yet he continues to defy us.  Despite this troubling news, we hope to put diapers behind us in 2012.  All kidding aside, Miles and his brother and sister are wonderful kids and I intend on telling them as soon as they get out of military school.

As far as Megan and I, we had a great summer. We met lots of new guests and reconnected with many old friends.  Our summer was loaded with guest hikes and trail rides, fancy dinners and pool cookouts.  We helped several families celebrate 50^th wedding anniversaries and we hosted three weddings at the ranch in the spring and fall.  Reno (friend and former ranch maintenance foreman) and his wife Carol were among the group of newlyweds.  This was quite an honor and his guest list included many former staff members.

Speaking of former friends and family…we are always asked about Meg’s parents, Jim & Mary Dale.  They are happy & health in Santa Fe, NM.  Mary Dale had quite a fun experience happen to her this summer.  She won a raffle in Santa Fe for a house in France.   She invited the family to join her on an all-expense paid trip to France for a week.   Everyone who could make it enjoyed a week in Lyon dining on great food and wine in one of the world’s culinary hot spots. Unfortunately, Jim & I could not attend, although, we enjoyed the trip through Skype and pictures.  We also enjoyed a few days at Christmas with them in the city; if it weren’t for grandkids I don’t think we would ever get them out of    Santa Fe.

As for me, I turned 40 in May and my thoughtful wife set up a great trip for my best friends from high school and wives to spend a long weekend in St. Simons Island, Georgia (one of my favorite spots as a child).  She organized a beautiful house at the beach and we spent the weekend golfing, fishing and reconnecting.  Everyone agreed I was a very young and energetic 40.

Another highlight was my annual fall horse pack trip.  We spent 3 nights in southwest Colorado in the Wemminuche Wilderness camping and riding horses.  This year I was joined by our Chef Clint Loftin, head wrangler Josh Legg and former head chicken wrangler Jason Clark.  We had perfect weather and loads of fall color.  It was one of the best trips I’ve been on yet.

Other highlights include Thanksgiving in Mexico, our first Christmas in our new home and celebrating the New Year at the Woodspur lodge in Winter Park, Colorado.  We skied and had a great evening with loads of former TRR staff.  We joined Jimmy and Jeanine Lahrman and their four kids, JD Scott and wife Jen, Reno Mc Henry, Tony Dimus, Jeff and Marion Wells, Andy Chastain and family and special musical guest “Washboard Annie”.  It was too much fun.

This winter the ranch is populated by a bunch of young bachelors who are working to keep the horse’s fat and the buildings from freezing.  Josh Legg, Michael Janner and Kevin Seuberling  (not young or a bachelor) are the core of our crew for next summer.  Expect to see several other familiar faces including Conrad Hayden at Hootenanny, Randal McKinnon at the camp fire, Peter Krantz rock-climbing, Redtail telling stories at the pool as well as our chef Clint “Cookie” Loftin, Laurel Hay, Brady Lindberg, Grizz, Corey Todd, Kara Weiss and many others.

As I reflect on 2011, I hope the future has more of the same in store for us at Tumbling River.  The summer is the perfect mix of warm days and cool evenings.  Wednesday will always be for rafting, Friday nights for dancing and Saturday for Rodeo.  The kids go to bed tired and the Rocky Mountain nights restore their energy and laughter, and their smiles remind us of why we work so hard.

Here’s wishing you all a happy, healthy 2012.

Scott and Megan Dugan and family

Let it snow!

Today I walked out of my house, heading to work, and was so surprised I nearly leapt out of my snow boots. Standing right in front of me was a full grown female moose, wandering through and nibbling on the trees in the yard! Moments like this remind me so much of living on the Ranch, where all you have to do is step outside to get some up close encounters with some of the local wildlife (and I don’t just mean the wranglers).

All summer, we saw bighorn sheep roaming on Flag Mountain, mountain goats grazing in the high meadows, a local fox who made friends with the kitchen staff, and we had a single cougar sighting, high above treeline on our overnight pack trip. Yet, when I saw the moose in my yard, it was like the world paused for a moment, completely still and quiet in the snow. I had never seen a moose so close before, and I stared at it. It was huge, taller than I had imagined, with thick, warm fur covering its bony hips, leading down to spindly legs. (Sorry, no pictures of this moose- I was a little too surprised to pull out the camera.)

As I am experiencing winter in the Rockies for the first time, I am realizing that it is just as incredible as summer, but in different ways. In the summer, I love spending time outside, hiking, kayaking, and camping. In the winter, these favorite pastimes are slowly being replaced by snowshoeing, moonlit cross country skiing, and ice skating on the ponds nearby. The mountains that I love seeing soaked in sunshine in the summer I am now enjoying seeing outlined with snow on every ridge. The first big snowfall was a exciting for me as my first springtime hike will be! The more time I spend in the mountains, the more I enjoy them. And with that, I’ll end with a quote from one of my favorite mountain writers and explorers, John Muir:

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…

Special Guest Blogger!

Hey TRR Community!

Recently we received an update from a family that visited the Ranch back in 2010.  In addition to bringing us up to speed on how things are going in their lives, they also included a link to a blog that their daughter, Mollie, wrote about her experience on the Ranch. Her description brings up some great themes: her time with her family, her emotions and personal growth throughout the week, and how she found her vacation tying into her life as she moved from high school to college. In one of my favorite parts of her blog, she writes:

Mollie and her family at the Ranch in 2010

This trip occurred during the summer right before I was going into college. In my life, I was about to endure the most significant change that I would ever undergo in the eighteen years that I had already lived. While on vacation, being in the saddle taught me this. As I rode, I felt free and ready to roam. Nothing could hold me back. Nothing could stop me or change my course. This feeling made me think of my life and how it was time to move on from my childhood and begin a new life of my own in a completely different place.

What an insightful way to think about the freedom that riding and exploring in the mountains gives us all. I hope you’ll take the time to enjoy the rest of Mollie’s blog (available here). It has more great writing about the Ranch, as well as some rockin’ music!

Did you make an online photo album, a Youtube video, artwork, or writing about visiting the Ranch? We’d love to be able to share more of our guests’ firsthand records of their experience with the TRR online community. Feel free to email Megan at info@tumblingriver.com with any special memories of the Ranch!

Family Time at the Ranch

First off, let me say that I hope you all had a happy and turkey-filled holiday last week. Hopefully there are still some leftover turkey & cranberry sauce sandwiches and slices of pie for us to enjoy! This time of year near Thanksgiving always makes me think of family, of seeing loves ones and of gathering to share each others’ company.

Brother and sister bonding while playing with the mini burros.

The significance of family is always very celebrated at TRR- both in the families that come to stay at the Ranch and in the family tradition that Megan and Scott and their children carry on in running the Ranch. (As an aside for those who are reading this prior to a visit to the Ranch, Megan & Scott are second-generation owners of TRR, having purchased it from Megan’s parents. All in all, it has been treasured in their family for over 40 years!) The fact that TRR has been family-owned and operated for such a great period of time means that the value of family is imbued in all that the Ranch has to offer. From making sure that guests feel that their cabin is truly their home for the week to having a flexible schedule of activities that allow for family bonding time, in and out of the saddle, TRR focuses on allowing families to reconnect with each other, strengthen their relationships, and form new ones- making friends and becoming part of the larger TRR family.

Some of my favorite moments I was so lucky to assist with and share in on the Ranch revolve around the beauty of families simply sharing time together, in whatever way is best for them. For instance, one afternoon, I came around a corner by a cabin and saw a mother and her youngest son curled p on a porch swing, cuddled under a quilt, reading one of their favorite books aloud. Seeing that quiet, loving moment showed me how the relaxed, family-focused environment at TRR can create an opportunity for simple moments of happiness.

Family time at the Rodeo with all the cousins, sisters and brothers, grandkids and grandparents.

On a larger scale, family reunions are another great time to see the bonds and friendships of a family renewed. Either our Pueblo House or a group of cabins on the Upper Ranch provide great accommodations for larger groups- including extended families and friends. One of my best memories from the summer was a very special dinner that I was fortunate enough to enjoy with a large extended family. They had come together from all corners of the nation and the globe to spend their summer vacation together. Friday night rolled around, and it was to be their first Shabbat dinner they had all shared in many years- and the very first Shabbat with all of them together since some of the young cousins had been born. After saying the blessing over the challah bread and wine, they passed the challah around the table. Watching each family member take a piece, even the very youngest, I was struck by the strong connection felt between them. They toasted to being together as a family, and I found myself coming to the realization that this vacation was not just a time for them to relax and get some R&R- rather, they were here as a family to reconnect and to appreciate each other.

This family connection is at the core throughout the entire TRR experience. As we share Thanksgiving, and as more holidays approach, I’ll be reflecting on the family bonding and the sharing of love that TRR inspires, and I’ll be bringing it into my own life, as I hope you will, too. Here’s to a great holiday season filled with love and family!

Playing and Exploring: A Kid’s Trip to TRR

Laney, Finn, & Miles go trick-or-treating in Littleton this Halloween!

Laney, Finn, and Miles had a great Halloween as a Three Musketeers bar, a storm trooper, and a race car driver, respectively! The kids have just settled into a new home in Littleton, where they have plenty of space to grow and enjoy the company of their neighbors and friends. Here’s to a fun winter in town for everyone!

Seeing these great photos of the kids reminds me of the joy that everyone at Tumbling River gets to appreciate- the joy of seeing children exploring and playing in a remarkable environment. From my spot in the office, my favorite distractions were always the kids stopping by to say hi, ask questions, explore the office, and sneak off with a piece of candy. The kids bring so much laughter and excitement to each day at the Ranch.

Enjoying a ride in the rodeo on Saturday after a week of learning to steer, ride the trails, and lope in the arena.

For many, it is a dream come true to be riding, and they are thrilled to be there. They learn their horses’ names, and they steal carrots from the lunch buffet to feed to them before their afternoon ride. Some weeks, the kids are  simply inspiring to everyone on the Ranch in their enthusiasm and diehard attitude towards riding. And we see remarkable results from this enthusiasm, with some of the kids this summer accomplishing longer and most challenging rides than they ever had before. Our teen groups especially are the driving force behind some of the hardest endurance rides the Ranch offers, like the overnight pack out trip to Geneva City and our High Camp.

For others, the transformation from being a non-rider to learning how to ride, steer and direct their horse, and tackle greater and greatest challenges is an amazing process as well. At the end of the week, they have a chance to show off their newly learned skills at the Rodeo. For all levels of riders and for all ages of children, Tumbling River offers a unique, immersive program in riding and camp activities.

Conversely, the kids are the life of Tumbling River. They bring and energy and spirit to the Ranch that leaves us all truly bereft when the season ends and they have to go back to school. If only we could just keep a few around- doesn’t any kid want an excuse to skip out of school? For any whose parents would be ok with that, I’m sure our wranglers can find some corrals that need mucking out!

The kids are the heart of TRR, bringing us all a new perspective on the enjoying the simple things in life- like a good s'more!

In all seriousness, though, the Ranch is a special place for kids, one where returning children always say that they cannot imagine a year without Tumbling River. It is a magical spot for them to explore, make friends, and enjoy the outdoors, well outside of their usual surroundings. And everyone at the Ranch, whether an office secretary, a wrangler, a cook, or a kids counselor, appreciates and values the joyousness and raucous enthusiasm that the kids groups bring to every moment of life on the Ranch.

Summer Hiking Adventures

Abyss Lake lies tucked under Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Evans above the Ranch in the Pike National Forest.

As fall draws to a close and we settle into the routine of school days and work days, it is easy to forget the adventures of summer, tucked away into daydreams that I slip into so easily while at work!

 

I always feel like the days spent hiking, or in the saddle, seem to stretch out into long, vibrant memories, where in every moment my senses were extra attentive, so that I now can remember the feeling of the wind on my face or the smell of the dried grass blowing by my feet. There is a youthful sense of the possibility that each summer day holds for some sort of grand adventure, taking to the trail and letting the experience wash around you until when the day finally ends, you feel as though it could not possibly have been better.

My favorite days like this, days where every second has become a cherished memory of sunshine and wind blowing my hair across my face, are the days I spent hiking around the Pike National Forest, which surrounds the Ranch. Tumbling River offers amazing horseback riding; however, there is also great fishing, exciting white water rafting, and some of the best hiking I have ever done. Trails take off in every direction from the Ranch itself, as well as from trailheads both up and down the valley of Geneva Creek, including up at Guanella Pass, two thousand feet above us. They range from mild paths weaving around Coors Falls, to the daylong trek to Lake, to the steep scramble up to the summit of Mt. Bierstadt, topping out at 14,060 ft.

One of the shorter hikes near the Ranch is up our very own Flag Mountain, which overlooks the Ranch, making the buildings look like pieces of a model train kit. The climb starts just opposite the rodeo arena and heads up to a low saddle under Flag Mountain and a shoulder of the ridge line that defines the creek valley. From there, it turns into a rough trail leading directly up the mountain to the the crest, where there is a rock cairn holding up the TRR flag, signed by all those who have made it to the top.

Joe & Louise enjoy the view over South Park to the mountains from the Colorado Trail.

For longer hikes near the Ranch, one of my personal favorites was on the Colorado Trail, just a short drive away at Kenosha Pass. I took a day to go explore the trail, heading out from the trailhead and climbing to an overlook of South Park, sprawling out below me in a golden plain. From the overlook onwards, I saw hardly anyone- I felt like I was truly immersed in the open grasslands, enjoying the feeling the the sun seeping into my skin, the stretch in my legs as I climbed over gentle hillocks and followed the curving trail along the Divide. The emptiness sometimes makes me feel like an explorer seeing the land for the first time- and making note of every detail so that you can describe it to someone who has never seen such a broad stretch of the land before, open all the way to the horizon, crowned with snow-capped peaks. When you are looking at the sea of land opening in front of you, it is easy to imagine how an early American would have felt when told of this new open land compared to the rocky narrow mountains of New England- disbelief would have been my response! The geography of the area of is so exaggerated as to seem unreal. The sense of exaggeration, of things being larger than life, spreads into every part of my day out hiking. Sure enough, the memory now is held close in my mind, undiluted by the time that has passed since I was there. A perfect summer adventure.

Craving a good cookout dinner

Fall in the mountains is stunning- and chilly, inspite of the sunshine!

Well, TRR blogosphere, it has been a quick fall here in the mountains. After moving up to Jackson, Wyoming for the winter, I’ve been enjoying the change of pace, taking a lot of time to make the most of the sunny weather before the snow starts, with hiking, trail-running, and mountain biking. Not to fear- the change in location won’t stop me from blogging about our favorite Tumbling River Ranch moments from this past summer!

 

In fact, TRR keeps popping up in my mind, as I’m sure it does throughout the year in your memories as well. As I was out hiking last week, I came across a strange sign alongside the trail: “Bikers: Please give way to wagons in the road.” I thought I had stepped back in time- why would there be wagons being used for transportation up this creekside trail? When I asked a friend, she told me about a Jackson tradition of putting on wagon rides up to a big cookout dinner along the creek. Of course, this reminded me of TRR and the fantastic cookouts we have in such great scenic settings.

 

Mmmm, ribs!

I think my favorite cookout has to be the rib and chicken cookout on Monday night, simply for the amazing cooking! The ribs are ever-so-slightly smoked, then grilled on the barbeque until they reach perfection. Topped off with a smoky, tangy BBQ sauce, these ribs mean business. And that doesn’t even consider the other amazing food at that meal! Now, at my first cookout dinner, I tried to taste a little of everything- and even that left me stuffed to the gills, but wishing I had room to go back for seconds, since it was all so good. Finishing the night off with a piece of carrot cake and a cup of coffee around the campfire is a great end to a great meal. My other favorite part of the cookout dinner is the evening fun that comes after it: games of Bocce Ball in the new pit, horseshoes, and soccer, as well as a hayride up to Coors Falls followed by songs and s’mores around the campfire- what better way could there be to spend time with each other, enjoy your family’s company, and get to relax in the outdoors?

 

A beautiful campfire burning, great music, and s'mores top off the night.

Well, as you can probably tell from my description, I am pining for the Tumbling River food- and I now am empathizing with all our guests; how can you survive for a whole year without a good rack of ribs served up from the grill in the Play Meadow? I guess I’ll have to try to make it through the winter without them, but at least I know I have some great company with you all!

 

~Caroline

A Fall Update

Enjoying family time, great scenery, and delicious home-cooking at Tumbling River Ranch!

Hi TR friends and family,

Well, the leaves have turned and dropped and it is officially cold! I am always sad to say goodbye to the warm, hiking weather, but we are excited about skiing this winter and a little more family time.

We had such a great summer; the staff were a great crew and all of our guests seem to love what TR is. It is not too early to think about next summer and getting your reservation in. If you book and get your deposit in before December 1st, not only will you receive 2011 rates but you will also get an addition 5% discount.

Caroline will be keeping the website and postings going, so you will have plenty of great images to get you excited about your 2012 stay. Please call me at the ranch (1.800.654.8770) if you have any questions.

Best,

Megan, Scott and kids

Taking Flight

We recently had a great email from one of this past summer’s guests, a precocious tween named George. When he was here, George told us that his most important goal in life was to become a pilot. As he rode and hung out around the horses, he got to know one of our wranglers, Matt, who is a pilot with the US Army. The two bonded over talking about planes and flight, and at the end of the week, Matt presented George with his own US Army wings- a very special gift to a young pilot-to-be. In the email from George’s family, they write:

“George turned 11 today – he wanted me to send you all a picture (he is proudly wearing Matt’s wings) – he is getting an introductory flight and lesson and is thrilled.”

Congratulations on getting in the pilot’s seat, George!

 

It is always great to hear from guests throughout the year, after they’ve stayed at TRR in the summer. Although our guests only stay a week, it always feels like we’ve created such a great friendship when the week is out, and we love to keep in touch afterward. If you have any updates in your lives, please feel free to email us at info@tumblingriver.com- we’d love to hear from you!

Something cute out of the TRR mailbag: