Hiatt Family Vacation 2018

Our vacation started on Wednesday, August 8th, when we attended a Rockies game compliments of Steven's work. The Colorado Rockies played the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates won. The food was good.

After the game we headed out of town for the real adventure. We went to YMCA of the Rockies at Snow Mountain Ranch. Awesome place, lots of fun. You should go there sometime.

The YMCA has lodging for every type of outdoor enthusiast. They have a lodge (think motel) for those who need room service. They have cabins. They have yurts. They even have campsites for those who don't mind dirt under our feet. We set up our tent in the HOPI campground. That first evening we explored a bit, played miniature golf and did some stargazing.

Thursday, August 9th, we woke up. Steven cooked breakfast in the dutch oven...
 ....then we set out to find things to do. 

Our first stop was at the program center where we were able to sign up for register for several different activities. Outside the program center were a lot of fun activities, like connect four, 
 Jenga
 Bean bags
 and a moose wearing goggles.

Our first scheduled adventure for the day was tube sledding. We each got a large tube sled, and stood in line at the top of the slope.
 When it was our turn, a worker would make sure we were seated, and then push our tube off the ledge, either straight or spinning, down the steep slope. It was a blast! There was an escalator to help us bring our tubes back to the top for another spin.

After our hour of sledding, we wandered over to the KIVA building, where we had fun playing a version of human chess, ping pong and pool.

Then we drifted over to the craft building. Hannah, Peter and I tie-died T-shirts...
 ...while Josh worked on a leather pouch.
They also had ceramics, mosaics, wood burning, jewelry making and other activities there.

 Later that afternoon, Hannah and John got to go zip lining while Peter dragged me back to the miniature golf course for another quick round.


That evening we had foil dinners and Steven made an apple cobbler for dessert. 

 Early the following morning, Steven and John left camp so John could get to where he was would be running the RAGNAR race over the next two days. He had to be there at some crazy hour like 5am, and it was an hour and a half drive from where we were. Steven left John with his teammates and then returned to our camp to try to get a bit more sleep.

Breakfast the following morning was a bit awkward. We ran out of propane for our stove, and they didn't have propane at the camp store so we had to use the grills at the picnic sites at the campground, and it took a while. Steven, Josh and Peter went to their walking stick class without breakfast, but were able to eat later after they picked up Hannah and me to go to an archery class.
 
 

The archery class was held behind the library, so after archery we wandered to the library to see what they had there. They had a lot of books and games and puzzles, including a 3D globe puzzle they were asking for help completing. (Steven and I managed to finish it, in spite of several missing pieces!)

Later that day we got to do some rock climbing with a portable tower thing.
Peter trekking up
Josh, Steven and Hannah resting for a bit
Peter pushes the red button at the top. It didn't do anything, but there was some sense of accomplishment in being able to push it. 
Hannah on her way down again
Steven going up
Peter and Josh

 After rock climbing, I took the kids swimming while Steven explored a bit, and after he returned for us, we all took a beautiful hike to a waterfall. On the way back we encountered some friendly horses.

First thing Saturday morning we took down camp and headed for home, with things to do and places we needed to be. John returned home Saturday evening a bit tired, but having enjoyed his race.

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