Sunday, September 27, 2026

YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch, Part One




Whenever we head west on Interstate 70 and we reach a hill near Genesee, I see this view of the Rocky Mountains ahead, and I feel excitement, as I know we are off on another Colorado adventure! 

I received an email in September with an offer from the YMCA of the Rockies in Snow Mountain Ranch in Grand County offering a half-price sale for a lodge room which was available for a short period of time. My husband and I had heard that fall color was early this year at high elevation, and we decided to take advantage of the offer.

In the past, we've stayed at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, located very close to the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, and we know that their accommodations are clean, quiet, and full of family-style amenities. 
You can see the blog posts I wrote about the Estes Park YMCA of the Rockies location here and here.



As we continued driving west on I-70, we passed the large and long construction project, costing $905 million, being carried out by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to eventually reroute the interstate at the Floyd Hill area. This project spans an eight-mile section of the I-70 Mountain Corridor, extending from west of Evergreen to eastern Idaho Springs. It aims to enhance traffic flow and safety in one of the busiest areas of the state, acting as a crucial economic gateway for Colorado and beyond. The project began in 2023 and is expected to continue through 2029.



We saw the first glimpse of Autumn color when we turned off I-70 onto CO Route 40!


 Fall has always been my favorite season, and seeing the beautiful Colorado aspen trees turn their golden colors is always a thrill for me!


Soon, we were driving over Berthoud Pass

Berthoud Pass was discovered in 1861 and named for the chief surveyor of the Colorado Central Railroad, Edward Berthoud. After surveying the spot, it was determined that the pass would work only for wagons and not for a railroad, and now cars navigate the road up and over the mountain.

Berthoud Pass is a well-maintained four-lane alternating highway — equipped with guardrails and other safety measures, but it can still be a "white knuckle" drive, as there are many steep grades and switchbacks on both sides.




The summit of Berthoud Pass sits at 11,307 feet (3,446 meters) and is part of the Continental Divide.



Finally, after an hour-and-a-half drive from our home, we arrived at the YMCA of the Rockies at Snow Mountain Ranch.  As you can see from the signs, there are many wonderful areas and buildings to explore and things to do. The ranch sits at an almost 8,700-foot (2,650 meters) elevation, so that is a consideration as far as weather and oxygen levels.





Upon check-in, we each received a green rubber wristband door key, which was convenient to wear while at the facility.



We stayed in the Indian Peaks Lodge.

It had two queen-size beds and a pull-out couch, and there was secure wifi available, but no TV, so we read books during our stay instead. 



Accommodations at YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch range from cabins, lodges, yurts, and camping sites, depending on the season.

During the winter season, it offers opportunities for cross-country skiing, Nordic races, a tubing hill, snowshoeing, and also downhill skiing at nearby Winter Park Resort.

 In almost all seasons, it offers an indoor climbing wall, an indoor heated swimming pool, roller skating, basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, and foosball, a craft center, meeting rooms, mini golf /disc golf, a pickleball court, hiking trails, a library, a zip line, and horseback riding. 
 Some activities may depend upon the season, staffing, and some require an extra fee.




A view of the back of our Indian Peaks Lodge.


We had a ground-floor room and often sat outside because the fall weather was still warm during our visit in September. We had magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains from our chairs! 
The morning and evening alpenglow was stunning; we were also thrilled to watch the clouds rise up from the mountains in the morning.


However, we did not sit all day! :)
Come back again to my next blog post to see some of the activities we did during our stay.

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Sunday, September 20, 2026

Remembrance of Captain Jason Dahl, Pilot of United Flight 93


Thank you to all who read and commented on my blog post about the sad 25th Anniversary of 9/11. 

We have so many memories of that horrific day, and the 25-year milestone was a poignant time of remembrance for us, and I'm sure for you. 

Also touching for us was learning 13 years ago that Jason Dahl, the pilot and captain of the doomed United Flight 93 plane brought down by brave passengers on 9/11 into a field in Pennsylvania before it could destroy another part of Washington, DC, was a resident who lived in our Colorado suburban Front Range neighborhood. 

Many of our friends knew Jason and told us what a wonderful person he was, as a neighbor, husband, father, and Boy Scout Leader.



After his tragic death on 9/11, our community erected a small memorial to Captain Dahl on our main street, just outside his neighborhood. It is a marble stone with a bronze eagle in flight. Over the years, neighbors have decorated it every 9/11 in remembrance, as you can see in the collage of photos I took.

A non-profit, the Jason Dahl Scholarship Foundation, was also established in his memory. It supports future generations of pilots, young people yearning to fly, through the award of Aviation Scholarships annually.





This year, on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, there was a special remembrance ceremony held for Captain Dahl and all those who perished on 9/11, held at his memorial, generously sponsored by local businesses.

In attendance as speakers were neighbors who knew Captain Dahl as well as other members of our community, Police and Fire Color Guards, our local West Metro Fire Department, a Fire Department Ceremonial Bagpiper, some United Airlines pilots,  and two ladies who sang a variety of patriotic songs.


You can see the "Missing Man" flyover that occurred at the beginning of the Memorial program in this Youtube short video.



The bagpiper played a few songs, one of which was "Amazing Grace," which always brings a tear to my eyes.

You can also watch it as a short video on this YouTube link


A special memorial American Flag was folded by a Police Color Guard, and a Red, White, and Blue flower wreath was placed at Captain Dahl's Memorial.




The Color Guard also marched off with the United States of America Flag and Colorado State Flag at the end of the ceremony.



The ceremony ended with all of us singing "America the Beautiful."

It was a very honorable remembrance ceremony for Captain Dahl and all those who perished on 9/11.

May we always remember them...


... and may we also remember these words spoken after 9/11 by the late Mrs. Sandy Dahl:

"If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate." -- Sandy Dahl



PS: We were away last week, "Leaf Peeping" the aspen trees in the Rocky Mountains turning their gorgeous golden fall color--join me again on my blog soon to see more!

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