Running with the Mind of MeditationApril 17th, 2012 4:29pm
I haven't yet finished reading "Running with the Mind of Meditation" which was released April 10th, but so far it I love it. For anyone who knows there is something magical about exercise, this book puts words to that magic. It also gives instructions for how to cultivate and bring it into the rest of our lives. I highly recommend reading it and trying the practices at Vagabond Ranch or wherever you excercise. The author, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, will be running the Earth Day 5k this Sunday in Boulder to benefit the Center for Resource Conservation. That afternoon he will be at a book signing at the Rembrandt yard in Boulder. See you there! Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookA Waiting PracticeJanuary 3rd, 2012 9:48am
Here is a mindfulness practice for those of us waiting for it to snow: 1. The next time you wonder when and how much it is going to snow, before you log on to a weather site pause. 2. Be with the experience of not knowing as long as it lasts. 3. What was it like? How was it different than what you normally do? 4. Post a comment below if you care to share your insights. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookWaiting for snowDecember 31st, 2011 1:58pm
I have been contemplating this experience of waiting for it to snow most of this month. It is not a new experience for me. I can remember hoping that the snow would fall or that the temperature would drop two degrees so the snow that was falling would not be Sierra Cement when I was 10. Back then I thought if I lived where it is cold and snows you wouldn't have to hope so much for a good dump on your ski vacations. Even living in Telluride later in life I would hope for a good dump when it wasn't dumping or hope that it wouldn't stop when it was dumping. At 42 with three children, I still want it to snow and don't want to miss the big dump. I know I am not alone, and that this is the painful part of loving to ski powder. Going through a month like this December, I have noticed many interesting facets to this longing for snow. I have appreciated the few soft turns I have found with greater relish and surprise than in a big year. I have been reminded that no two winters are the same. We never know what the weather will bring and it seems with climate change there is a hightened awareness of this uncertainty. My meditation practice offers me a way to embrace this uncertainty. It has allowed me to glimpse in the midst of the momentum of longing for snow, moments of equanimity and contentment with things as it is. I have been told that Trungpa Rinpoche said, "You can have your cake, you can eat it, and you can be sad that it is gone." Powder is impermenant, and loving it can help us connect with what it means to be alive. It doesn't have to be powder that opens your heart, but whatever it is let it in, let the pain and the pleasure of it awaken your life, over and over again. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookLessons from BaliNovember 17th, 2011 5:15am
I recently spent 6 weeks in Bali. The locals there say they spend half their time working and half their time preparing for and participating in ceremonies. Whether it is a wedding, funeral, religious occassion, or simply one of the daily offerings one can see in front of every house and business, hours are spent preparing and performing these rituals. I could spend a lot of words describing the intricate hand made palm leave decorations, the traditional dress, and ornate funeral towers. What strikes me now is that in our culture we might tend to see this as a waste of time. We often think that if it doesn't earn us something, while it might be enjoyable, it is frivoluous. For the Balinese it is the opposite, they work in order to participate in what matters to them. What are the things in our lives that matter most? Do we actually give them the value and place they deserve? Or do we think of them as frivolous pleasures that we indulge, but aren't "real"? When I skied as much or more than I worked, I thought of myself as a "ski bum" which does not honor the choice to follow my heart and give time to what mattered most. Now I see skiing as a way to connect to our bodies. This connection has mental, physical, and social healing properties. When we think of skiing as an indulgent pleasure that we are doing for ourselves those properties are lost. The same is true for anything we do. These days we see more homeless asking for some help. Giving has healing properties, which we can access if our minds are not clouded with the dream of gain and loss. Do you let yourself do what your heart yearns for and do you understand how good that really is? Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 1 Comment(s) | Rating: 5 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookCascade Mountain SupplyNovember 9th, 2011 1:48pm
The general store is open! Soon we will be posting an inventory list which includes dry goods, beer and wine, and hot meal specials. Planning, shopping, and carrying meals for a hut trip may be a thing of the past. Enjoy!
Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookSnowmobiles are WelcomeNovember 3rd, 2011 12:41pm
Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookWinter ProgramsOctober 13th, 2011 11:26am - Posted By: Josh
Snow is here. We have two great programs scheduled this winter, A Vagabond Valentine's, and Avalanche Awareness with Mike Duffy. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookMemories of Vagabond Ranch CampOctober 13th, 2011 11:25am - Posted By: Thomas Leeming
The season used to start from Washington CT mid June with a caravan of 10-12 various vehicles and trailers and arrive at the ranch with staff and campers the last week of June. Washington CT was the home of Rumsey Hall school, which I attended and where Charlie Pavek was a teacher and head of the Athletic dept. Somewhere around the end of the second week of August saw the end of the season. I made the trip from CT once in 64' but after that I would fly to the ranch early and help open up for the season and then stay for a week after to close up for the winter. 65', 66' 67' A few things I distinctly remember were running the horses up the highway from a winter ranch in Granby and meeting the train in Granby to pick up all the staff and campers footlockers shipped from the east. Also going to Denver to pick up food and supplies to stock the ranch for most of the summer and coming up Berthoud Pass at 10mph because the big truck was so loaded. The ranch program always included travel and only the first few and last few days ever saw everyone at the ranch at once. Everyone took at least one major trip 10 days - 2 weeks ; the Northwest trip, Southwest trip, Yellowstone trip, California trip, Northwest, Canadian Rockies trip and the Alaska trip (5weeks). Typically every morning after breakfast everyone would gather around the fire-pit outside the dinning room. The staff would present their various activities; fishing, rock climbing, shooting, horseback riding, working the placer gold mine, hunting, hiking etc . as well as any variety of trips from overnight to 4 or 5 days. Pack trips, backpacking trips, fishing, climbing, ghost town trips etc. From there you would either pack you lunch or your gear for any extended adventures. There was always a work project at the ranch and everyone was required to participate at least one day a week. During the years I was there we remodeled and added on to the dining room, originally one half the size and one story. We built Porphyry cabin, cut and skidded the logs not far from Lost Lake. Remodeled the second floor of the ranch house, used to be one big room where the girls stayed, very similar to an army barrack. And of course the swimming pool (Polly's Puddle), not a popular project. Back then any building materials that could be scrounged, reused or recycled into another project was the rule. I don't remember seeing a truck from the lumber yard to many times, hence the seeming hodge podge of construction and materials. All of the logs in any building would have been cut and brought to the ranch from surrounding timber stands. Charlie was a master and always on the look out for material left over from construction sites, buildings that were about to be demolished, at one point we had rolls and rolls of steel wire that was used in place of re-bar in most of the foundations and concrete that was poured. The ranch in the heydays had around 100+ staff and campers and ran almost like a small military operation under the ever-presence of Charlie Pavek with Ronnie in the background and the real brains of the operation. Imagine the logistics of food, fuel, multiple trips at any one time all over the west, a staff on mostly 20 something collage kids and no communication with the outside world less for a trip to Granby. At any one time there could be anywhere from 30 to 100 people at the ranch and that would change on a daily basis. Last time I was at the ranch was 1982 to see Charlie shortly before he died. Not sure if he ever made it back after that summer. His house is what I believe is the Homestead Cabin on you map. When I visited and saw where he had build the house my first remark was that I couldn't believe you built this on top of the old dump site. Always used to be bears at the dump. Vagabond is a very special and spiritual place, there are more footprints out there than you will ever know. The ranch has always had a profound effect on all those who have taken the time to gaze at Cascade and drink in that pure thin air. My experiences there and with the guidance and mentoring of Charlie Pavek have transcended my entire life. Glad to see it has a new steward, to late this year but would really like to come out next summer, been away to long. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 4 Comment(s) | Rating: 5 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookVR HorsesSeptember 12th, 2011 11:42pm
Fossil Ridge Outfitters horses grazed this summer at Vagabond Ranch Huts. In the future we hope they can offer rides to and from the property. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookThe SleighSeptember 12th, 2011 11:30pm
Remember the Matt Tracks Truck? After last years epic winter and Grand Lake Trail Groomers towing it out twice, we are going snowmobile. The Matttruck carried 12 skiers and gear but at about 1 MPG. Our new snowmobile and sleigh will carry 6 skiers and gear but get 25 mpg. The snowmobile will take skiers to more locations, including Ruby Mountain, which the truck could not have done and it doesn't pose the same collision risk with snomobilers on the trail. Below is a sneak preview of the sleigh that Jeremy built this summer.
Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookUSDA Rural Development GrantSeptember 12th, 2011 11:22pm
Thanks to the USDA Rural development grant program we are more efficient than ever before. View the CO reductions stats on our sustainability page. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookAspens and FirewoodSeptember 9th, 2011 12:14am - Posted By: Josh
It has been a busy summer for work and fun at Vagabond Ranch. We planted over 50 new aspens in areas that have been cleared of beetle kill. That pine that Jeremy and Erika cut and stacked around the huts will keep you warm this winter. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookBear at Vagabond Ranch HutsJuly 14th, 2011 1:48am - Posted By: Josh
This large bear was the first to figure out our dumpsters are not bear proof. We think maybe the late summer made him hungry enough to leave the forest. The bear proof dumpsters will arrive on Friday and Ferdinand has moved on. Ask Jeremy about it if you want to hear the stories. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook4th of July firstsJune 28th, 2011 11:50pm - Posted By: Josh Weinstein
The last entry spoke about a foot of new snow on Cascade. The roads are dry, the flowers are blooming Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, FacebookPowder June 18th and still snowingJune 20th, 2011 2:44pm
Jeremy and two friends skied the Middle Way from the summit of Cascade in 8 inches of fresh last Saturday. Sunday and Monday saw probably another foot. Down at the huts flowers are blooming and the trails are getting into shape. Willow creek is too full for panning for gold but good for a float when the sun comes out. Hope to see you at VR Huts this summer.
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In case you don't already know VR Huts is in a location which lends itself to the happy coexistence of Snowmobilers and Back Country Skiers. The reason is that there is so much terrain for both back country activities and none of it overlaps. Snowmobilers can ride from the huts to Grand Lake, Gould, or Rabbit Ears Pass, with an abundance of open powder meadows and slopes along the way. Back country skiers can enjoy treed and open slopes on Gravel, Cascade, and Ruby Mountains that can't be accessed by snowmobile or aren't appealing. Nordic and cross country skiers and snow shoers can enjoy the solitude and quiet of our on property groomed trails, or explore the meadows towards the Never Summer Wilderness. Leave your expectations at home and you'll see, this is truly a place where back country winter sports will only help each other out. 
and the creeks are full. Die hards can still ride a dirt or mountain bike to the snow on Cascade or Parkview peaks and ski. Mountain biking, and hiking are in full swing and even some floating on Willow creek due to unusually high run off. This 4th of July weekend will see a number of first at VR Huts. The first family is staying at newly remodeled 