Our 25th Anniversary -- the Rachel part

After we left Doc Holliday and Glenwood Springs we hopped onto -- well drove onto -- I-70 heading east toward Denver. Cruising along the very brown and very turgid Colorado River on the lower level of the highway -- the westbound lanes are cantilevered overhead in the tight canyon -- we occasionally caught sight of kayakers/rafters seeking their own corner of adventure.

Driving up the dramatic Vail Pass and over the continental divided, after about two hours we reached our next turnoff: Route 40 heading north from Empire toward the fastnesses of Berthoud Pass. We were on our way to visit our niece Rachel -- her of Maine fame and Calvin College fortune -- who had been spending much of her summer working at the YMCA camp about 10 miles north of Winter Park.

As soon as we left Empire we begin our climb, until we were wending through one switchback after another, and eventually reached the summit of Berthoud Pass, at over 11,000 feet. Naturally what must go up, must go down, and so we did, winding downward in an ever-increasing series of widening spirals.

Cruising through the ski resort of Winter Park and before long saw the sign for Snow Mountain Ranch, the YMCA camp. Although we began our search for Rachel in the wrong building, fortunately it happened to be one in which her roommate was working and she kindly led us to Rachel's primary hangout for work as assistant coordinator of activities, the registration building. Check out the short video of our lunchtime chat. Or watch it right here:

After sitting and chatting on the porch of the only dining game in town, the three of us strolled down the main street -- really ranch road of course -- while Rachel pointed out the primary buildings of the camp/ranch.

We had a grand time -- Rachel is always fun to be around -- and after saying our goodbyes, hoping we might see each other sometime this year, Susie and I returned to the car, pointed it back south toward Berthoud Pass and started off, once more for Denver. And one more piece of the travel plan before returning to the Eastern portion of the US.