Kremmling, CO to Snow Mountain Ranch, CO

Today was one of our shortest mile days, but was very welcome after yesterday’s grueling day. It was a gentle climb to the town of Granby. Julie had the day off from SAG duties today and I met her for breakfast in Granby. Fred Meyering from British Columbia joined us. This is the first time I have had the time to stop for a full breakfast along the way.

From Granby, it was only about 6 miles from there to YMCA Camp of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch. It was a 2-3 mile climb for the last miles. We are camped on the hillside of an area that has been cleared out of Logpole Pine. Julie and I were here in 1977 for a Calvinist Counselors National Convention and stayed here. The surrounding forests in the mountainsides are now mostly brown and dead Logpole Pine, as the Mountain Pine Beetle has left behind a devastating path of dead pines. It certainly has impacted the beauty of this area. The dead logpole pine can be harvested within 6-7 years for lumber after it dies for lumber. The camp had cleared a large buffer around it for harvesting the dead ones and to provide forest fire protection. The fire danger is extreme here, and I cannot imagine how fast this area of forest would burn because of all the dead trees.

The short day today was welcome by all. Julie and I went for a swim at the camp indoor pool and just hung out to recoup. I am also catching up on my blog posts and other internet traffic. The internet satellite is not picking up a good signal today, so I will go to the lodge and see if they have a wireless service.

We are looking at crossing Berthoud Pass tomorrow. That will be the highest altitude of our trip at 11,000+ feet. I’ll get a photo for you all. From there it is downhill to Denver for the weekend. We will be losing about 25 cyclists in Denver and gaining about the same as some are doing certain sections and not the whole trip. We are have a communion service tonight and will say goodbye to the departing cyclists.

Love to all, P & J.