An intersting winter activity around the Ranch is identifying the many animal tracks that appear in the snow.   Animals are often so elusive, that without the tracks, one would never know the animals had visited the area.   Here, tracks of the wild turkeys that roam the foothills and mountains around the Maytag Mountain Ranch are clearly visible in the snow.   The turkeys usually travel in a group.  A group of turkeys is called a rafter.   Although, colloguially, many people know a group of turkeys as a gobble….based on the loud noises that the turkeys frequently make.   The Merriam Turkey is the most common wild turkey found in Colorado.  These turkeys prefer the Colorado ponderosa pine, scrub oak, and pinion pine forests.  The turkeys are often found at elevations between 6,000 feet and 9,000 feet.  The distinguishing feature of the Merriam Turkey is its white rump.  Its feathers sport a collection of black with blue, bronze and purple reflections.    Visit the Maytag Mountain Ranch and look for the animal tracks in the snow.   We invite you to own a homestead where the wild life abounds.

Have you ever been to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park?  If you have, you know about the highest suspension bridge in the world, the world’s longest single-span Aerial Tram, the world’s steepest Incline Railway, and the world’s highest Skycoaster®.  This is all located in one park that spans the Arkansas River.  This is where looking down from the bridge that is 1054 feet above the Arkansas River provides

Suspension Bridge above the Arkansas River

spectacular scenery and breath-taking dizziness if you are prone to acrophobia.   Now, for even more excitement, the Royal Gorge Park is planning on installing 4 zip lines across the Gorge at a height of 1000 feet over the river.  This is an unbelievable feat of engineering and will thrill the young at heart.  I’m sure it will be an impressive sight for those who take the train ride along the river that is far below.   From the train you will be able to look up and see people zipping across the Gorge at a top speed of 50 mph.  Not sure I want to try this!  The Royal Gorge is a half-hour drive from the Ranch and a great place for the family to spend the day.

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OUR RANCH CHRISTMAS TREE

As we move past the winter holidays and into the New Year, we do hope that you had a great year in 2009.   We certainly had a great year at Maytag Mountain Ranch and we are very much looking forward to 2010.   We started the year with a Management Planning session in which we established our Ranch Goals for 2009.   This was as much an exercise in team-building as it was in defining our Goals for the year.  Our Ranch Goals were very oriented towards creating “brand” awareness in the local community.  That is, we were interested in making our Ranch activities better known in the community and using that as a means to leverage our direct-market beef sales.   We did this by being a sponsor for the very popular, local High Mountain Hay Fever Blue Grass Festival and sponsoring a one-day Sustainable Ways conference at the Ranch.  In the spirit of team-building, owners, Mary and George conducted a team-building class with the Ranch staff.  This involved everyone completing a personality test and then having a friendly discussion of the different personalities that comprise the Ranch Staff.  Thanks to Mary and George for their involvement with the Ranch activities.   While we are expressing our appreciation for owner involvement, we want to thank Kim and Molly for their generous donation of an ATV and numerous shop tools to the Ranch.  The Ranch Staff very much appreciates the donations and involvement of the Ranch Owners. 

Also during the cold months of January and February we spent time deciding the new seeds and plants to purchase for our permaculture garden and working on our Organic System Plan.   We have received our Ranch Organic Certification for the past 3 years in a row.  There is a significant amount of work involved in keeping the Organic Plan up-to-date, meeting with the Organic Inspector annually, maintaining the necessary Ranch records and answering all the questions that allow us to maintain this USDA certification.  We are very proud of our Ranch Staff and the accomplishments in this area.  

 Winter quickly gave way to spring and we were busy building permanent fencing along Cowboy Way.  In all of our Spring excitement we had a family visit the Ranch who became our most recent owners.  Kim and Molly along with their 2 children are the newest members of our Ranch Owner Family. 

Much of the Spring and Summer were devoted to direct marketing our Grass-Finished beef.  We have steadily built our customer base as more and more individuals are interested in how their beef is raised and processed.   We have also

tried new and innovatinve techniques for selling our beef including selling our ground beef in the local supermarket, selling Sampler Packages of beef, and selling our beef to a local restaurant for their use in preparing gourmet meals.   The popular Summer movie, FOOD, INC, supports the idea of purchasing locally grown, grass-finished beef rather than feedlot, grain-fed animals.   We strongly recommend buying or renting the movie and watching it as a family

affair.   We are proud to say that we were able to increase our direct-market sales by 100% this year.  This sets a high goal for further increasing our direct-market sales in the coming year.  

Spring and Summer brought many improvements to the Ranch.   We have a new and improved (and very organized) Tack Room for all our horse paraphenalia.  Our new Facilities Manager stained the Cookhouse and Managers’ homes giving our facilities a clean, new look.  Our Facilities Manager also developed a very organized maintenance schedule for all of our Ranch vehicles and equipment.  This helps keep all of our equipment in top, working order.  

Fly-fishing is a big part of the Summertime Ranch activities and to that end we restocked our ponds with rainbow trout, cutthroats, and brookies for the avid (or novice) fisherman (or woman).  Additionally we cleaned out and rebuilt the lateral ponds and restocked the lateral ponds for fishing.  

And we spent a good part of the Summer and Fall of 2009 beautifying the landscaping.  Additional trees have been planted, existing trees were pruned, the rock retaining walls in the garden were rebuilt and we are working on repairing the permaculture garden grape arbor. 

And last, but not least, we purchased two fine looking (and great riding) Ranch horses named Zip and Jack.  We have expanded our trail riding program to include riding along the Rainbow Trail in the Sangre De Cristo mountains.  We look forward to providing lessons and trail riding experiences to anyone interested in a great riding adventure. 

In summary, we have had a great year in 2009.  We look forward to seeing all of you at the Ranch in 2010.  

For those owners who missed the Annual ROA meeting held in December 2009, we do hope you plan on attending in 2010.   The meeting will be held on the first Friday in December 2010.  Hope to see you there.

If you were at the Ranch and up early at the beginning of the week, you would have seen the beautiful sunrises

over the Sangre De Cristo Mountains.  At this time of year, the air is so clear and crisp in the early mornings that the mountains feel very close.  At the Ranch we have finished our Holiday decorations in preparation for Christmas and the New Year.  The major function at the Ranch in December is the annual ROA meeting.  The Ranch staff looks forward to having owners attend this annual meeting to review the accomplishments for the year and discuss the upcoming plans for the coming year.  Much effort goes into preparing the presentations and finalizing the budget for the coming year.  If you missed the annual meeting this year, please mark your calendar and plan on attending in 2010.  The 2010 meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 3^rd. 

As the week draws to a close, a gentl e snowfall envelops the Ranch.  This is a great time to break out the snowshoes or water-proof boots and snowshoe or hike around the ranch.  The deer, elk, and antelope are all in view and it is easy to identify and track animals in the new-fallen snow. 

The weather at this time of year swings easily between bright, sunny days and overcast, snowy days.   The ground is starting to freeze, now, and our Winter activities are being planned.  During the winter, it is a good time to work on projects that get overlooked during the busy summer and fall seasons.  These projects may include working on the Organic System Plan that is needed to maintain our organic certification; planning our beef marketing and advertising strategy for the coming year; doing extra cleaning in the cookhouse of oft forgotten items like chandeliers, satellite dishes and upper story windows; moving and cleaning behind refrigerators;  and organizing the shop equipment.   We look forward to hearing from you during the Winter months.  It is a great time to visit the Ranch and look for the snow-covered deer.  It is at this time of year that we want to wish you a Very Happy Holiday Season and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

The holiday season is fast approaching and the staff here at MMR are busy preparing the ranch for the upcoming events.  This week ranch owners will host their friends and neighbors at a very special Thankgiving dinner together in the Cookhouse Lodge.  Over 30 people are expected at what is sure to be a  beautiful meal full of delicious food, good wine, and excellent conversation.  In celebration, holiday decorations are being added in tasteful locations across the ranch.  Garland and lights have been laid out, draping over eaves and doorways to give everything a warm and welcoming feel while wreaths adorn the entryways and barn.  The our main entrance gate has also been decorated to fit in with the theme, bringing a bit of holiday spirit to everyone that passes it. 

Jen and Montana working on the main gate

The weather continues to give us warm days full of sun, perfect weather for putting the finishing touches on our new snow fence at Price Cabin before the winter sets in.  Terry and Steve have put in a lot of hard work to create a fence that adds to the rustic feeling of the cabin; they have created a true piece of working western art.   

Steve setting snow fence posts with the bobcat

For those of us lucky enough to have been in Westcliffe this past week there was a unique benefit concert and dance held at A Painted View, a cutting horse training facility just down the road from MMR.  Waddie Mitchell, nationally known cowboy poet extrodinaire, was the headliner who graced the stage of the heated indoor arena to give area residents a taste of storytelling in the cowboy fashion. 

This description is taken from Waddie’s full biography which can be found here.  “From his earliest days on the remote Nevada ranches where his father worked,  Waddie was immersed in the cowboy way of entertaining, the art of spinnin’ tales in rhyme and meter that came to be called cowboy poetry, a Western tradition that is as rich as the lifestyle that gave birth to it.  Within his stories, told in a voice that is timeless and familiar, are the common bonds we all share, moments both grand and commonplace, the humorous and the tragic, the life and death struggles and triumphs that we each recognize.  And yet, Waddie presents his material with personal insights and the lessons learned during his life spent as a buckaroo.”  

Listening to the poetry of such an insightful person adds to the feeling one gets while living in such a spectacular place such as MMR.  When riding the ranch you can feel how the characters of his poems and tales truly felt, whether it be tailing a rogue cow through brush or bonding with that once-in-a-lifetime horse.  His stories will make you laugh and cry, but it is the full understanding of the lifestyle that he imparts that makes seeing him such an experience.  To find out more about Waddie and his recordings visit WesternJubiliee.com. 

Waddie Mitchell Photo From marketplace.publicradio.org

Garden of the Gods Park, Colorado Springs

Tucked away between the snowy Pike’s Peak and the borders of Colorado Springs lies what could be called the world’s most unique city park.  A getaway for city dwellers that makes a quick picnic lunch feel like a mini-vacation, this park has trails galore for hiking, mountain biking, and riding.   When the snows get a bit thick in the upper elevations and the mountain trails begin to look more appealing to snowshoeing rather than mountain biking this is the perfect spot to check out with your horse.  I took a day trip there with Latigo, an MMR ranch horse, and my own horse Maggie, to see if the park itself could match the hype.

Jen and Maggie in front of the Siamese Twins

This park feels more like a trip thru Moab than a place you will find in the Rockies.  Impeccably groomed trails roam over slickrock and up log steps, revealing views of the aptly named rock formations such as the kissing camels, siamese twins, and balanced rock.  In mid-November it was bright andsunny but not too hot, a perfect day for riding.  The horses did fantastic in the new atmosphere; we don’t get too many paved parking lots or road cyclists on the gorgeous ranch trails around here but they took it all in stride.  They clattered up steep inclines and over the slickrock without a misplaced stop, and even provided entertainment for a few kids and dogs.   I never thought I would head to the city to go riding, but it turns out that in Colorado you often get more than you expect.   

Riding through spectacular formations

Details on the park, its history, programs and events can be found on their website at gardenofthegods.com.  The park is a registered National Natural Landmark and they have a new HD movie playing in the Visitor’s Center that is worth the trip there even if you don’t have a horse to take with you.   While there are always a plethora of activities on the ranch to keep you busy, it is good to know that such unique, other-worldly sights await you just down the road.

Latigo taking in the view

Westcliffe will be hosting its first annual Ghost Walk on Friday October 30th from 6-8pm.  The event starts at the Jones Theater and will visit seven historic buildings with “ghostly” pasts.  Participants are encouraged to come in Old West attire (optional) and area businesses will remain open until 6pm for holiday shopping.  The tour will include visits to a former jail, hotel, mortuary, and other haunted sights. If you can’t make it to the event but would like to learn more about Westcliffe’s history visit their Chamber of Commerce for photos and brief stories about the buildings, characters, and events of Westcliffe’s wild west days.

The historic Feed Store built in 1885 - photo courtesy of westcliffefeedstore.com

On Halloween day the merchants of Westcliffe and Silver cliff will be holding their annual trick or treat event from 4-7pm.  The surrounding communities of Buena Vista, Canon City, and Florence will also host downtown trick or treat events and festivals.  For those seeking live entertainment, the play “Arsenic and Old Lace” will be running  all weekend at the Steam Plant Theater in Salida.  For more information or details on any of these events contact Jen at jcole@maytagmountainranch.com

October started out as a chilly month across the country, but the temperatures have warmed back up here in the Rocky Mountains to give outdoor enthusiasts a second chance at summer.  The leaves have been gorgeous, with the Aspen and Cottonwood glowing golden and the oak brush a brilliant orange.  The views both from the ranch and up in the mountains are unbelievable, as is the amount of wildlife present this year.  Horseback rides across the ranch have been giving owners and their guests up close sightings of huge bucks, does with their young, and herds of antelope.  The elk can be heard bugling at dusk,  their calls competing with the singing of the coyotes.  The nights have been cool and clear, with bright starry skies, and the sunrises and sunsets have somehow managed to become even more beautiful than they are in the summer.   The fishing has been outstanding as well, both on the ranch and in the nearby Arkansas, and the recent clean up work done on our creeks has created even more lateral pools for our fly fishing enthusiasts to explore.  There is never a bad time to be out here on the ranch, but fall at leaf-turning time is truly is one of the best.

Aspen along Monarch Pass

Oak brush and trees at the Hemmes' homestead

View along Lake Creek Lane

Snow covered fourteeners along Independence Pass