Peak Performances and Pancake Mornings!
July 22, 2025
Checking back in from the back-country! Our day six began early with a beautiful sunrise above Ridgeway State Park. Spencer and Georgia made hashbrowns and eggs for everyone while the leaders prepared the backpacks. We taught all the kids basic backpacking lessons, such as the seven principles of leave no trace, how to poop in the woods, bear protocol, and finally, the duffle shuffle (our favorite). We started our departure through the town of Ridgeway, where Will and AJ stopped at a fly shop to pick up a few new flies. We continued our drive south towards Kilpacker Trail, we arrived around lunchtime. As we unloaded our van, Maya prepared gourmet wraps for all the kids. Our leaders of the day, Katherine and AJ, led us bravely into the back country where we hiked around 3 miles to our campsite. Our packs were heavy, but our spirits were light. We arrived to a beautiful campsite just below a huge meadow filled with wildflowers, including the Colorado State flower, the Colorado Columbine, Elephantheads, Alpine sunflowers, and Indian paintbrushes. We all enjoyed a relaxing night grilling hotdogs and telling stories.
On day seven we enjoyed a slow morning where everyone got to sleep in. The leaders awoke to make chocolate chip pancakes, and the kids were all overjoyed. Wesley and Charlie were our biggest helpers in the backcountry, cleaning dishes, getting water and helping the leaders when asked. After everyone had a full stomach, we embarked on a journey toward a waterfall. Harper excelled and uplifted the group and encouraged others to keep a positive mindset throughout the steep incline. The kids really enjoyed solving riddles and playing games while hiking, Lux was the greatest riddler of the group, solving them all. Once we made it to the waterfall, we introduced the kids to a backpacking classic, summer sausage and cheese tortilla wraps. After the hike down, the games were just getting started. The students then played a game of partner trivia. The winners were Conrad and Margot, barely beating out Spencer and Jack, leaving Will and Maya in the dust. Dinner was pepperoni pizza followed by some crazy stargazing in which we could see the Milky Way!
On day eight we woke up early and ate oatmeal with chocolate chips, a favorite breakfast. After all of our bellies were stuffed, we set out on another expedition. This expedition concluded at Navajo Lake. Although we tell all the kids that it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey, we climbed around 1500 feet in elevation and made it to Navajo Lake. The lake was great fun, Maya played cards with all of the kids while Will and AJ went on a fishing expedition. Spencer really liked playing Egyptian rat slap, Aj caught his first fish on a fly rod, a 14 inch rainbow trout. We returned to camp in the late afternoon. Before dinner, the kids had a great time making dances, creating skits and having a dance party. Rose really took charge during the dance and Jack loved filming everything on the GoPro.
Day nine we awoke early in the morning ready for the day! We had some quick oatmeal before beginning our hike out led by Tytus and Conrad. Upon exiting the backcountry we headed to Telluride for some lunch and shopping! The skies were beautiful and blue and we knew after our walk we had to stop by Steamies for some milkshakes per the advice of Charlie and Wesley. After our day on the town we drove to Elk Creek campground with the music blasting the whole way. When we got to our campsite we took an impromptu dive into the Blue Mesa Reservoir before having some taco bags and preparing for our next activity… rock climbing!
Day ten began nicely with some eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns to start the day… who says camping food is bad??? Then we packed up and headed to the One Mile rock wall to begin day one of two days of rock climbing. Our guide John, expertly helped to guide the students up the wall and create an AWESOME atmosphere. Jack and Harper did every route we could and Georgia and Spencer even came down holding hands (picture taken). After climbing, the group headed to the Gunnison Rec center to swim at the pool which included two waterslides and a rope swing!! We also had a competitive water basketball game between the students and leaders in which Tytus, ce Will, and Maya eked out a win 5-4 despite defensive specialist, Charlie’s skills. Following our swim, we then drove into Crested Butte to get some ice cream at the Tin Cup before watching the sunset over the Butte, excited for our final few days.
Thank yous!
Wesley- thank you for letting me come to Moondance I have had a lot of fun, some things we did were backpacking whitewater rafting and zip lining
Charlie- thank you for letting me go to moondance.We hiked a mile and a half uphill with backpacks on then we walked up 4 miles up a mountain to a pond then we walk down 4 miles and hiked a mile and a half downhill to get back to the van.
Lux- Dear Mom and Dad,
I am very grateful for your decision on sending me to Moondance. I am very much enjoying my time whilst partaking in these spectacular experiences.
Yours truly, Lux Wayland
Katherine-Thank y’all for sending me to Moondance it’s always such a good time!! We have done such fun things this trip! LOVE YALL
Rose- Thank you so much for sending me to Moondance!! I am having such a great time and we have been doing so many fun activities! Love you both so much!!
Harper – hi mom hi dad thank you so so much for sending me to Moondance!! It is amazing and I am making so many fun memories! I have been doing so many fun activities!! I love you!!!
Spencer- thank y’all so much for letting me go to Moondance! I love y’all so much!! We are rock climbing right now and it’s so fun!!!
Georgia-thank you so much for letting me go to Moondance!! Love you so much we are rock climbing right now!!!
Margot- Hey mom and dad thank you sooooooo much for sending me to Moondance. I love everyone here and all the amazing activities we have done. We are going rock climbing right now!!
Jack- thank you guys so much for sending me! I just finished backpacking which was very cool! We are rock climbing right now which is super fun! I am definitely going to do this next year!
Love you guys!
AJ- Hey mom dad and Trey thanks so much for sending me on Moondance. I am having so much fun and this is one of the most amazing things I have ever done. We just finished backpacking and we are going rock climbing. Can’t wait to see you guys love you so much.
Conrad-Hey mom and dad and the rest of the family, thanks so much for sending me to Moondance. Moondance has been amazing and I am definitely going back next year. I am eating pasta tonight and I hope it’s good. Also my FAVORITE leader is getting us a cake. See you all soon and I love you so much.
Chill Times on the Colorado Trail
July 17, 2025
We are back in our small corner of the world with our final session in the beautiful Colorado mountains and we couldn’t be more excited! With a slightly different itinerary, we are pumped for these next two weeks and have had a blast so far. After our last arrival at the airport, us and our new group of friends hit the ground running and found our own campsite outside of Salida. Once camp was set up, we headed into town for pizza and watched surfers on the river, which intrigued AJ the most, since he surfs at home. After, some of the group rock climbed until we headed back to our campsite. Spencer and Charlie were chosen as our first LODs and we ended the day with a Moonup that got everyone excited for the rest of the trip.
Day two kicked off early with our first activity, whitewater rafting! Our guides Major Payne and Ava led us smoothly down the rough and wild river. In boat crew one, Rose and Margot led the charge from the front of the boat while Spencer got a chance to lead from the back! Over on boat crew two, the Gile cousins, Wesley and Charlie led their push through the rapids with ease as we made it to our first campsite speedily. The night concluded with some amazing stir fry cheffed up by our gear boat captain Jayson with his border collie Jasmine supporting from below. Our second Moonup was thoughtful and the leaders were extremely impressed by the acumen of the first LODs and were excited to see the second pair, Lux and Rose!
We continued whitewater rafting for our third day! After a wonderful breakfast made by Jayson, we took on the rest of the class three rapids with excitement. The girls and boys battled against each other with which boat was best, with Margot and Maya leading the girls boat and Conrad and Charlie in the front of the boys. The girls took the more strenuous river route while Rose, Georgia and Katherine rapped their favorite songs. Lux was in the back steering the boys boat and had help from their guide, Captain Payn. After our final rapids, we drove to Helca Junction and quickly set up camp. For sunset we headed to Wrights Lake and sang Disney songs on the way! Will taught the boys how to fly fish, while Maya painted with the girls by the water. Back at camp, Charlie and Wesley helped make burgers and we concluded our evening with a reflective Moonup. The group went to bed eager for the next day and the next LODs, Conrad and Georgia were prepped for the activities ahead.
On Day four our morning began by meeting the Captain… at Captain Zipline. Our crew flew through the course and Tytus, Georgia, Spencer, and Jack completed the Black Diamond in record time. Following our ropes adventure, we headed to Salida East campground for some sandwiches and watermelon, which AJ devoured (seriously like 6 slices of watermelon). We then returned to Captain Zipline for our zip lining portion. Lux soared through the lines while the whole crew followed suit like professionals before we headed into Salida for some ice cream! After ice cream we did some light shopping in town before heading to our next campsite… The Great Sand Dunes Oasis!
Day five began dark and early as we started our accent up the legendary sand dunes of Colorado! Our late start, 4am, didn’t prevent the group from beating the sun, as we reached the peaks just as the sky started turning pink. Wesley, Conrad and Charlie sledded down the dunes as much as the sand allowed while the others enjoyed the view and Harper, Margot, Rose and Maya practiced gymnastics on the sand. It was peaceful until we had a wrestling competition against Will and the kids were triumphant. After our time on the dunes, Will made his legendary pancakes and we headed to Elk Creek for our backpacking section that starts promptly tomorrow morning!
Shoutouts!
Lux- Hi guys I’m about to go backpacking!
Conrad- Hi Moondance is amazing and I am having a great time and I am keeping a notebook.
Georgia- hi i am having so much fun love you! Our group is great and we are about
To go backing for 4 days! Love you guys so much
Katherine- hii I am having such an amazing time!! The group is great! It’s so cool because I remember going to these little towns with you!! Love y’all so much!!
AJ – hi mom , dad and Trey hope you are having a great time wherever you are. I have been taking a lot of good pictures and made a lot of friends tell everyone I said hi . LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH
Jack- I have been having the time of my life at this camp and learning so much my group is great! I’m about to go backpacking and I miss you guys and love you so much!
Charlie- hi Mom and Dad I have had a great time so far , I have made a bunch of new friends. We are about to go backpacking bye love you.
Wesley- I miss you guys and I am having so much fun, about to go backpacking
Harper – hi mom hi dad I have been having a great time I miss you guys so much also I miss Mazie I am about to go backpacking bye love you
Spencer- I miss y’all but I’m also having a great time! I also love my group so much and about to go backpacking! Love y’all!
Margot- hey mom and dad!I am having the best time ever i have made so much friends and love everyone the counselors are AMAZING I miss y’all and I an about to go backpacking. love you!!
Rose – Hi Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun at Moondance, I love my group so much and we are doing so many fun activities. I miss you!!
The Adventure Begins!
July 12, 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
