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Guides & Advice > Traveler Advice > Been There Ranching in the Rockies |
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by Stephanie K., Customer Service Lead My first experience of Colorado in September was with the temperamental weather changes. I had just shed my San Francisco layers of clothing for the beautiful Colorado sun and its 80-degree heat, only to be blind-sided by hail two hours later. My first lesson about Colorado weather: pack for warm midmorning's, cool early evenings and hail storms that happen quite unexpectedly. Luckily, my first experience with the ranch was not of the same unpredictable nature as the weather. Two cowboys, Mark and Joel, dressed in jeans and cowboy hats, stood at the baggage claim area in expectation of our arrival. They assisted us with our baggage and loaded us in the van. Mark, 19 year-old textiles and marketing major from Simsbury, Connecticut filled our ears with interesting facts and stories about the ranch and the area in general. Upon our arrival at the ranch, he whisked our bags away to our individual cabins. Erin Marie, kids' counselor from Ann Arbor, Michigan, greeted us at the van and gave us a brief description of our accommodations at the 520-acre ranch. 
My room was wonderfully cozy and looked like a cabin with all of the rustic, and largely homemade, furniture. The feel of the atmosphere was warm and friendly, reminiscent of staying with extended family. The room was quaint and offered all of the modern day amenities such as an iron, ironing board and hair dryer tucked away in the drawers and closet to be used by the careful cowgirl/boy wishing to make their best impression. The room included a bathroom with a shower. Fresh fruit, cookies and a horseshoe with my surname painted on the bottom adorned the pine dresser. Just-in-case necessities such as English Oatmeal Soap, Chamomile moisturizer and shampoo had also been thoughtfully provided. No room is fully complete without a star sticker at the end of your roll of toilet paper! So much for roughing it! Dinner was served at 6:30pm, two and half-hours after arriving, unpacking and taking a dip in the heated pool. Since my room was at the main lodge, dinner was right down the hall past the living room and the open kitchen in the family-style dining room. Three families could be seated at the homemade, rectangular tables, which were marked with place seating cards to assist with the potentially uncomfortable getting-to-know you stage of the vacation. This welcome meal, which was indicative of the meals to come, was an all-inclusive Thanksgiving Feast! To whet the palette, they began with a fresh (and everything is fresh and made from scratch here) Colorado Pine Nut Salad and warm Pumpkin Bread. The sumptuous repast continued with the main course of turkey, accompanied by side dishes of bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and fresh green beans, which literally filled the table. The meal was topped off by a delectable Pumpkin Pie served with a dollop of whipped cream. 
Dean, husband of Karen May, family owners of North Fork Ranch, diverted our attention mid-meal regaling us with information regarding upcoming events. The week would be packed with options targeted specifically to individual preferences. We would have our own small scale 'Choose-Your-Own-Adventure.' The guests retired early on this introductory eve of ranch living. It had been a long day. This would be the first of seven well spent days. Leaving the city is not as easy as losing the city from your consciousness; five-thirty came early the next morning. I awoke with a start and sat straight up in my queen-sized bed blinking a few times to try to shake off the haze of sleep that veiled my eyes. I was late for work. My eyes darted about the dimly lit room and when they fell upon the cow leg lamp. I realized BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Travelocity were a half a country away. It was Sunday, I was on vacation and the only thing I might be missing was an extra hour of sleep if I didn't lay my head square back into my rumpled pillow. 
Two hours later, wearing my riding gear, including used cowgirl boots which I had borrowed from the Ranch, I clicked my way into the dining hall for my choice of a Continental Breakfast which included fruit, pastries, cereals or omelets, hot from the kitchen. This city girl was about to be introduced to Lonestar (my horse for the week) and ride for a couple of hours to get to know him. Then, I was off to continue my outdoor education by learning to fly fish with Orvis expert, Kevin Gregory. 
The wranglers were not like the (stereotypical) gruff, wrinkled old wrangler exemplified by the one from City Slickers. Besides being trained to ride and take care of the horses, they are also CPR certified and trained for first aid for medical emergencies. They even carry cell phones, just in case. Along with these qualifications, they are also endowed with other characteristics essential to making the ranch visitor feel at home, such as colorful personalities, enduring spirits and character. They all have stories to tell. Many are college students, some working towards advanced degrees. It is not uncommon that your wrangler may have been specially flown in from England or have had the experience of backpacking through Africa. You are sure to find each individual competent in their area of expertise and eager to share. At North Fork, every individual is taught at their own level, whether advanced or novice. You are encouraged to ride in a group that shares your abilities and skills. No one is excluded due to ability level. 
When the brochure outlines the many benefits of a stay at North Fork, the important elements of serenity and calmness are omitted. Understandably so. How do you begin to describe the feeling that arises from the rekindling of your own vibrant spirit and the camaraderie established through a trek on a heavily wooded mountain peak? At this ranch everyone, even moms and dads are pampered on the rides and throughout the other activities of the week. One activity in which I took particular delight was square dancing. This dancing lesson is pure delight for cowboys and girls of all ages. I was able to do the Hokey Pokey with three year old Andi from Aurora Colorado and swing dance with 22 year old Robert, highly skilled wrangler and (surprise!) dancing genius from my home town neighborhood in Central California. We learned line dancing, and square dancing, and what we didn't know we made up for with a lot of laughing in that recreation room on the other side of the ranch, near the horse corrals. 
When asked what I enjoyed most about my trip I had to pause, as I as able to gain more than a mere endorphin rush from any one activity. Speaking with other guests, I found I was not alone when I disclosed that my favorite part was the people, both guests and staff. But there was much more. It was staying up until one o'clock in the morning sharing ghost stories, family stories, humorous anecdotes, and embarrassing moments with other singles and moms and dads after the children were fast asleep. It was laughing until my cheeks hurt and fighting with my drooping eyelids to listen to the rolling thunder and watch the light show over the Rocky Mountains. It was knowing that everyone was mutually appreciated. It was that sense of calm and focus with which I departed. You want to know the very very best part? I am going to return next year for another week of fun, relaxation and adventure! This time I am bringing family to share the excitement! P.S. Beware the Rocky Mountain Oysters. (They are not really seafood.) Here is a sample of the weeks activities at North Fork:
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday: Beer Bread
Mix ingredients. Let rise in bowl until doubles in size. Let rise for 30 minutes. Pour into greased loaf pans. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 45 minutes. Magic Cookie Bars Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In two 13" x 9" pans, melt butter. Sprinkle crumbs over butter; pour condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Top evenly with remaining ingredients and press down gently. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until lightly browned. Makes two 13"x 9" pans. |
The day starts with a tremor at