New Craft Shop at the YMCA! 2009

The Y's New Craft Shop celebrated its Grand Opening on July 20, 2009. It was very appropriate, considering our tradional huge participation, that some of us were able to attend the festivities.

Emily was excited to get her face painted and hoped her Little One would follow . . .

but, alas, Little One would rather play on the Craft Shop's brand new playground.

All got to go to the Craft Shop later to create very stylish Tie Dyed clothes. The older ones even dyed clothes for their baby sisters and their baby sisters yet-to-be-born.

So, now, all six grandchildren sport the Y's Tie Dye fashion!

Do you think our youngest Tie Dyer chose his colors from the carpet? Maybe he thought he'd blend in!

Alluvial Fan: A Favorite of One Highlander Family

Ever notice that Lauren and Matt slip away? Chances are they've gone to the Alluvial Fan to enjoy its beauty and take family pictures. Matt might even have his fly rod in hand because he's had really good luck fishing there.

The 42-acre Alluvial Fan was created on July 15, 1982, at 5:30 am when Lawn Lake broke through the terminal moraine that had held since the end of the last ice age. The release of 29 million gallons of water swept trees, car-sized boulders, lighter rocks, gravel, and sand 4 miles down the valley floor. Although much of the flood's force was absorbed in the meadows of the valley, the water continued on to flood Estes Park to a depth of 6 feet.

Venture Into New Territory: Gem Lake

The area known as Lumpy Ridge has remained unexplored by the Highlander clan until July 2009 when Emily and Alex ventured out into the unknown for a hike to Gem Lake. Lumpy Ridge is a unique area of RMNP made up of massive granite rock, home to several raptor species, and renowned for its world class climbing.


The trail to Gem Lake leads up through sharply cut granite which showcases unusual rock formations.

One of the popular balanced rock formations is Paul Bunyan's Boot.

Gem Lake is a small body of water nestled in a shallow bowl near the top of Lumpy Ridge. It's surrounded half way by granite walls and has a nice sandy beach on one side - perfect for a picnic! Rain, and very little snow, is its source of water.