|
C Lazy U Guest RanchValerie Summers
Later,
back in my room, I prepared for dinner, but I wasn’t prepared for this dinner. I had not anticipated gourmet fare and lots of it. Each meal included two entrees, one fish and one meat, served along with
vegetables, appetizers and home made desserts. The food kept coming as our New
Zealand waitress continued to bring platters heaped with rack of lamb, broiled
salmon, stuffed prawns and beef tenderloin. I sat at a family style table for 10, giving me an opportunity to meet
some of the other guests. They
hailed from all over the country, and all had been guests at the ranch before. One Chicago family had been visiting for 20 years. When they first started coming, they had met another family, the Murrays
who had been guests at the ranch on and off since 1959. The Murrays became such great fans of the C Lazy U, that they bought it in 1988 from the Mullins who had also originally come as
guests. It’s a family operation
with Brian Murray at the helm. After dinner, most guests retired to the cozy bar for a nightcap and conversation. Spontaneous entertainment often erupted. One night a wrangler brought in his guitar and serenaded us. Another night, we were treated to a impromptu piano recital of classical music. On Saturday night, a lively, local Bluegrass band serenaded guests in the living room, many of whom joined in with a lot of toe tapping and hand clapping. Bright and early the next morning, I breakfasted on blackberry pancakes with warm maple syrup, although I couldn’t believe I was eating again. At nine o’clock, I met two wranglers who were going out to feed the more than 100 horses in the meadow. I jumped aboard the flat wagon piled with bales of hay and pulled by two enormous Belgian draft horses and we were on our way. As we moved through the pasture, one wrangler cut each bale of hay and dropped slices of it on the snow covered ground. It reminded me of Hansel and Gretel and the breadcrumbs, but this was not so we could find our way back to the ranch. By spreading out the hay, all the horses were assured their fair share. At one point, the horses all stopped to stare at four enormous moose in the distant hills before returning to their feed. Returning to the ranch, I explored the Patio House featuring a game room with ping pong and pool tables, a laundry room for guests, a fitness center, children’s playroom, and TV room, all fronted by an 85 degree heated outdoor swimming pool. Hot chocolate and hot apple cider were always on tap to warm me after hours in the snow. In a corner of the building, a Nordic ski and snowshoe center assured guests the use of a complete array of equipment. I couldn’t resist, so off I went along trails through the meadows for some aerobic exercise under the bright blue Colorado skies. I was sorry to miss the nighttime cross country ski outing on paths lit by tiki lamps and moonlight scheduled after my departure.
C
Lazy U offers an all inclusive package to its guests (with the exception of
massages and liquor but including complete child care) so I took advantage of a
private riding lesson in the 12,000 square foot enclosed riding arena. Although I have been riding since the age of 12, I learned a great deal
about the subtitles of good horsemanship from my gentle, but firm instructor. Later I ventured out on another trail ride, this time with several other
guests. We broke paths through a
foot of powder exploring the hills surrounding the ranch. In the distance we quietly watched a herd of grazing elk who paid no
attention to us. Not
one to miss an opportunity for some Alpine skiing, one morning I drove over to
nearby Winter Park for a day on the
slopes. I discovered one of Colorado’s largest ski resorts… nearly 3,000 skiable acres
including 134 designated trails ranging from green to double black. In addition to boarding and skiing, I could ride a horse drawn sled, take a scenic snowcat tour or board a snowmobile. Winter Park’s Tour Center offered adventurers the opportunity to
explore the steep terrain of Vasquez Cirque, but I stuck to my comfortable blue
runs. The park provides something
for all abilities and interests and includes the National Sports Center for the
Disabled. Back at the ranch, not wanting to break with tradition, I participated in one last activity before my departure. I drove to the top of the ranch’s ½ mile icy driveway, hopped on a sled and zipped down the hill all the way back to the lodge, arriving before a cheering audience. My stay at the C Lazy U gave me gave me much more than I had anticipated…an opportunity to revel in the grandeur of a winter wonderland, to experience the serenity, to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow winter sports enthusiasts and to take the feeling of warmth and hospitality back home. For information:C Lazy U Guest Ranch--The only AAA five Diamond and Mobil Four Star year-round dude and guest ranch in the U. S. offering one of the most comprehensive horseback riding and instruction programs in the country. C
Lazy U Guest Ranch Direct
service to Denver, Colorado Winter
Park Recreational Association |
|
TM
A
Colorado guest ranch in January? The
idea peaked my interest, so I packed my gear and headed off to the C Lazy U Ranch, anticipating a novel winter
experience. A two hour drive from
Denver took me along the curving, mountainous
Highway 40 overlooking vistas of the awesome winter white Rocky Mountains,
through quaint rustic towns, past snow dusted Evergreens and red barns right out of a story book, and over
Berthoud Pass. I turned down a
small road just outside of the town of Granby leading to the ranch. My first impression, as I passed through the gates of the C Lazy U, was
how quiet it was and how serene with its snow covered hills and meadows. My stay would include many heretofore untried activities of the season in
what I had previously deemed a summer place.
Stopping
in front of the pole pine main lodge, I made my way up the stairs to the office,
passing the spacious, comfortable living room where a fire roaring in the large
stone fireplace offered a warm welcome. I discovered warmth and friendliness were trademarks of C
Lazy U, where each staff member knew the name of every guest. The greetings were genuine and I felt at home right away. I had no doubt this was going to be a wonderful experience. I was shown to my over sized room, Roundup C2, situated between the
chocolate brown barn and the main lodge, featuring a huge picture window, 20
foot high beamed ceiling, another roaring fireplace and tasteful Southwestern
decor. No telephone nor television
would intrude. The only sound I
heard was the crackling of the burning logs.
I
bundled up with lots of layers and made my way to the barn where I met up with
Leif, a soft spoken cowboy who took me through a brief orientation on how to
handle the horses. C Lazy U’s 170
horses are hand picked and well trained by Peter Campbell, one of the country’s foremost horse handlers, and his
able staff. No nags nor wild
beasties here. These horses are
used to kind and gentle treatment and respond well. I donned a daffodil yellow floor length duster (coat), pulled on a pair
of insulated boots and ambled over to meet my steed, Dale. I have ridden in the rain in Ireland and on the hot, barren plains of
Montana, but I had never ridden horses in the snow. We mounted up and sauntered past the heated indoor riding arena, some
stables and a corral where dozens of horses munching on hay stopped to check us
out. We made our way through the powder and into the woods of evergreens and bare aspens. Nary a sound intruded on the quiet.
Next
on my agenda was trap shooting…my first experience. After some instruction, I lifted the 12 gauge Beretta shotgun
and fired in the direction of a flying disk…25 times, connecting once. I look forward to improving my skill level in this sport.