Greetings from Salida, Colorado!
June 15, 2025
Colin here, checking in from Day Six of our adventure. We’ve just wrapped up our third major activity, and the trip is rolling along beautifully. After a long drive from Denver to Gunnison, we spent two full days rock climbing on granite towers tucked into quiet valleys, shaded from the hot, high desert sun. After our first day on the rock, I took the group for a cool (freezing) swim in the Blue Mesa Reservoir while Margaret and Virginia whipped up a dinner of burrito bowls. While waiting on the main course, Caroline, Quinn and Maddie beautifully assisted in the making of guacamole for the group. Many of the kids were nervous about heights, but they pushed themselves and tackled several routes that soared high above the canyon floor. Miles, especially, so bravely conquered his fear of heights and then wanted to climb every route available! Ceci, Johnny, and Brody could not get enough climbing in, doing almost every route both days.
Mornings were packed with climbing, and our afternoons mellowed out with group games of Birdie on a Perch, Spikeball, and good old-fashioned hacky sack circles. After our second day in Gunnison, we hit the road toward the Arkansas River for an overnight rafting trip. We landed at a peaceful campsite just north of Buena Vista and raced to get our tents up right before a classic Colorado summer thunderstorm rolled in. Dark clouds crept over the 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks to our west, but the skies eventually cleared, giving us time for cooking and cleaning lessons, interjected by a well-earned dinner of chicken (and chicken-free) veggie Alfredo pasta. Later that evening, under the light drizzle of a second wave of rain, our Moonup, led by the day’s leaders, George and Lila, shifted into the van, where we shared stories about times we felt uncertain or out of place. We capped the night off with a game of telephone which made its way around the van in a hilariously distorted form.
The next morning, we launched into our two-day rafting trip with our awesome guides, Beck and Brennan-both certified Class IV whitewater pros. They wasted no time, taking us straight into some of the biggest rapids in Browns Canyon. Wearing full-body wetsuits and splash tops, we tackled “Silver Bullet,” a technical rapid that many groups bypass. With Miles, Brody and Baylor riding shotgun of the boat, we all paddled in sync floating the boat seamlessly through the rapids. Everyone crushed it, and we celebrated with lunch on the banks of the river. That afternoon, we cruised downstream to our riverside campsite, nestled in a canyon beside a quaint stream and a frigid swimming hole with granite towers on all sides. After camp was set, the energy turned up… with games, dancing, and quite a few rounds of our favorite tiebreaker game: the “Veggie-Off.” One person pairs a silly adjective with a veggie starting with the same letter, and then the two players act out things like “tentative turnips” and “mischievous mushrooms.” During this game, we got to see awesome sides of our new friends, like Ben busting a move to “Hot to go” and George with the creative combos. To decide the winner, the crowd goes wild voting on whose moves matched the pair better. Not a dull moment in sight. That evening, our guides treated us to an unreal dinner of General Tso’s chicken and veggies with spring rolls. With full bellies and happy hearts, we gathered wood, built a fire, and warmed up cookies for dessert before closing the night with a heartfelt Moonup led by Mia and Johnny where we talked about something we’ve done to extend our comfort zone.
The next morning, we hiked up a short but steep trail to scout out our next challenging rapid: Zoom Flume. Beck delivered one of the best river hydrology talks I’ve ever heard, and the kids got to discuss which line they’d take down the rapid and why. After successfully navigating Zoom Flume, we hit what might’ve been the best rapid of the trip-Staircase-a sequence of seven waves, each bigger than the last, ending in a massive splash that soaked everyone in the raft. That night’s campsite treated us to something special: the brightest, boldest rainbow I’ve ever seen, stretching out of the canyon and arching over layers of desert rock. That evening’s Moonup was the best yet with many of the kids opening up about their biggest role models with heartfelt and personal stories, many sharing about their moms and dads. We agree y’all must be pretty awesome to have raised this bunch. We are learning more about one another every day! And just like that, we’re heading into the second half of our journey. Up next: backpacking, fly fishing, and watching the sunrise over the surreal landscape of Great Sand Dunes National Park. The adventure continues!
Talk soon!!!
Colin + Margaret + Virginia
A note from the kiddos:
George – Hello everyone! Moondance has been awesome! Happy Father’s Day dad. I love and miss you guys so much
Mia – Happy Father’s Day! I’m having a great time in Colorado! I miss you all and can’t wait to see you in a week!
Maddie – Happy Birthday Eliza! I miss you guys. I’m having a great time in Colorado and I can’t wait to see you soon!
Quinn – Hi family! Miss and love you so much. Please feed my fish and snake! Happy Father’s Day dad.
Caroline – Hi family! I’m having a great time. Happy early Father’s Day dad. I love y’all so much can’t wait to see y’all in a week!
Ceci – Hi y’all! I miss y’all a lot. I am having a very fun time. Hope y’all are having fun in Montana and that everything is good at home. Happy Father’s Day, dad!
Lila – Hi family! I’m having a great time in Colorado and hope everything is going well at home. I love and miss you guys and happy Father’s Day!
Miles – Hey mom and dad. I’m having a great time! Happy Father’s Day. I love and miss y’all. How is dad’s back doing?
Johnny- Dear Mom and Dad- I hope you guys are having a great time at home and I can’t wait to see y’all on Saturday! Happy Fathers Day!
Ben- Hey Dad! Happy Father’s Day! I hope you’re having a great time at home without my amazing presence. Tell the boys I said hi and that I tell Josh I say Happy Fathers Day too!
Brody- Dear Mom, Dad and siblings- I’m having a great time in Colorado and loved white water rafting with my new friends. Happy Fathers Day! See y’all soon!
Baylor- Dear Dad, I have been having a great time, and wish you could be here. Happy bday! And Father’s Day. Hope you are doing well, tell the boys I said hi and that I love them, have a fun time in the highlands!
Safe Arrival in Denver!
June 8, 2025
Hello Colorado Trail Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Denver! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
