Spring Dude Ranch Trail Maintenance Week -
5/13 to 5/19 2012 Yeehaw!
Join us for Spring Trail Maintenance Week!
See the little horse and human half way up Care Bear Hill?
This May we will be doing a number of projects, and you can be involved!
- Trail Maintenance
- Installing the two new low ropes challenge and obstacle courses
- All kinds of other dirty projects
- Maybe build a loafing shed (small barn) for the horses to …. yes… loaf in.
- Maybe expand the main corral — digging fence posts, sinking posts, screwing in hundreds of rails!
- Maybe milling some of our beetle killed trees into lumber at our neighbor’s saw mill.
- Maybe spring vaccinations and worming our horses.
- Training new staff.
- Working and training new horses.
Does this jack hammer make my butt look big?
A surprising number of guests have told us that they just yearn for an opportunity to get outside in the spring and do some real work. A work-cation!
- Get dirty, really dirty
- Get tired, really tired,
- Get sore… well , maybe only moderately sore!
- Come home to
- A home cooked western supper
- A hot shower
- A soak in the jacuzzi and an evening of good company, &
- Sleep like a baby!
You are welcome to join our ranch hands as we prepare the ranch and the trails for the 2012 summer season, make the plans for our challenge courses into realities, and maybe change some dreams into real fences and a small horse barn.
This adventure vacation will include:
More work to do!
- A significant number of hours in the saddle each day, either training new horses, or traveling to trail maintenance areas such as “Care Bear Hill” (aka “Suicide Slide” or “O Merde!”).
- Basic instruction in erosion control and trail maintenance: removing dead trees that post a safety hazard to riders on the trail, replacing soil to areas where its been washed out, building water bars,. etc.
- Instruction in the basics of caring for your horse: grooming, picking & tacking.
- Intermediate/advanced trail riding coaching.
- Possibly:
- The joys of a 66 pound jack hammer
- The joys of feeding big HEAVY logs into a really COOL BIG saw mill.
- The joys of building a small barn or of creating a new challenge obstacle course.
Adventurous moose visiting!
- Opportunity to sit in the Dude Ranchers Association Wrangler Safety Program -our wrangling staff orientation classes.
What can you expect:
- Hard physical labor.
- A lot of hours in the saddle with new horses – a very sore butt?
- Probably lots of spring flowers, but maybe a bit of snow.
- Maybe a moose or two.
- Maybe some awesome fishing before the summer crowds arrive.
- Maybe a square dance one evening.
- You will get dog tired, you will not swim in the pond ~~ brrrr!
- We will NOT be cleaning sheaths!
Of course, we will NOT be able to accomplish all of these challenges in one week, so think about what would be most fun for you – we will ask you when you book your reservations, and set our priorities to match what you would like to do.
$800/adult-double occupancy (6 night stay) or prorated for shorter stay.
Summer Saturday Night Dude Ranch Stays
We have heard from a number of folks that “staying over Saturday night” reduces their airfares considerably, but that staying in a hotel is not all that much fun. This summer we will be offering a Saturday night Bed & Breakfast option for those families who would like to spend the night here in our Colorado mountains.
- The rate will be $139 per suite.
- Note that this is our Sabbath. The staff will not be on the ranch. You are welcome to all of the facilities, but there will be no staff-lead activities.
- Saturday supper will not be served, however you are welcome to join us at one of the neighborhood restaurants.
- A simple breakfast will be served on Sunday morning.
Saturday night stays are available by previous arrangement with Dan or Ellen (so that we may schedule staff).
Guest Ranch Western Riding in the pond
Four Day – Three Night Stays
This summer we will again offer a shortened week for those whose schedules make it impossible for them to get away for a full six nights.
This is a “riding intensive” experience that starts either on Sunday afternoon (until Wednesday morning) or Wednesday afternoon (until Saturday morning).
Rates are listed at Summer Dude Ranch Rates. And feel free to call the ranch for details.
Non-rider Dude Ranch Discount
We offer a 15% discount to dude ranch cowboys and cowgirls who enjoy the ranch but do not ride. Please ask for our non-rider discount when you book your family vacation reservations.
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