Week 5: An Eventful Week at the Ranch

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity and excitement! 

Thursday: Preparing for Guests

We kicked off the week by preparing for our first guests, arriving over the weekend.

A trip to Salida was in order to fill gas tanks for our runabout vehicles. On the way, we discovered The Rock Doc, an incredible gem and mineral shop.  I learned that there are over 157 different types of gems and minerals native to Chaffee County! 

After lunch at Soul Craft Brewery—where Mike tried a delicious Green Chili beer—we picked up flowers for the ranch and garden plants for us. Back at the ranch, we spruced up the bunkhouse bathrooms, planted flowers, and enjoyed the hummingbirds that have found our newly hung feeders.

Friday: Cleaning and Readying the Lodge

Mike dedicated his day to thoroughly cleaning the commercial kitchen, a task that involved scrubbing every surface and washing all the dishes after a winter renovation. Meanwhile, I tidied up the main lodge sitting areas, checked the guest rooms, and managed a load of laundry.

After a surprise downpour we were blessed with the brightest double rainbow I’ve ever seen! These pictures were taken right from our RV.

Saturday: Guests Arrive

The guests arrived in the afternoon and managed to plant our garden before reporting for work up at the lodge. By 6:30 PM, we were ready for dinner service, setting, serving, and cleaning up after our first meal with the guests.

Sunday: Floods and Horseback Riding

Sunday morning greeted us with unexpected flooding around the ranch, with the creek rising higher than it had in over a decade. Even the pond overflowed, floating the dock away. 

Despite the high water, it was horse day for half of the guests, while the men went fishing with a guide here on the creek. I spent the day leading kids around on horseback and even went on a trail ride with one of the adults.

The day ended with another dinner service, which Mike and I managed on our own for the first time. The chef’s creations were fantastic and we got to sample some leftovers!

Monday: Activities and Preparation

Monday saw Mike helping with breakfast clean-up while I continued leading horseback rides. Milo, our dog, is absolutely loving these new activities, and the kids adore him.

I spent the afternoon working on the computer while Mike set up the 5-stand shooting range for clay shooting practice and stocked the horses’ hay huts using the tractor. Dinner service wrapped up our day.

Tuesday: Fire and Evacuation Preparations

Mike developed a severe toothache Monday night, affecting his mood and energy on Tuesday. Amidst this, we noticed smoke billowing over the mountain around 4 PM—a forest fire was just 8 miles away near Twin Lakes!

By 7 PM, we had evacuated the horses as a precaution. Despite the ongoing fire, we served dinner and noted that the fire seemed to die down by the end of the night.

Wednesday: Pre-Evacuation Alert

We woke up to thick smoke the smell of a campfire on Wednesday. An empty pasture—no horses to greet us—was a somber sight. 

During breakfast cleanup, we received a pre-evacuation alert on our phones. We packed our belongings, prepared to evacuate if necessary, and experienced ash falling around us, making the situation feel all too real.

We managed to serve dinner without further news about the fire.

Thursday: Monitoring the Fire

Thursday began with sunshine and lingering smoke. The fire, now at 578 acres, had not grown significantly, and while the planes stopped delivering retardant, helicopters continued their efforts. As I write this, despite the pre-evacuation alert and officials reporting 0% containment, we felt more at ease as the day progressed. Hopefully that continues in the coming days and we get word of higher containment soon!

Reflection

This week has been intense, balancing the joys of welcoming guests and the stress of nearby natural threats. Yet, through it all, we’ve managed to keep the ranch running smoothly and ensure the guests have a memorable stay. We remain hopeful and prepared for whatever comes next, looking forward to more peaceful and routine days ahead.