Horn Creek Highlights- Part 2

The weather most of the week was cool and rainy.  On Wednesday we decided not to hike anywhere due to the weather and possibly due to the fact that we were stiff and sore from the previous day's hike.  Instead we went with a group to Mission Wolf, a wolf sanctuary located on the other side of the valley.  The purpose of Mission Wolf is to provide a home for wolves that people try to raise as pets and they find out that having a wolf in their backyard isn't such a great idea.  A few of them have also been born and raised in captivity to have roles in movies.  It was such a unique experience to see the wolves so close and especially when all 30 of them would start howling together-- it was quite eerie.  That morning on the drive over it was very foggy because the clouds were so low over the mountains and the mountain roads were twisty and curvy with some drops off-- the drive itself was an adventure.  On the tour we learned about the different wolves as well as how wolves are different than dogs.  Our guide was passionate about wolves and was willing to tell you everything he could.  My dad said it was not a good sign when it took about 20 minutes to see just the first 3 wolves.  A long tour also may have been more pleasant if it wasn't so rainy and wet too.  After about an hour we tried to get Arthur to stop asking questions so the rest of the group wouldn't mutiny.   Finally at the end of the tour we actually got to go in the area with the 5 wolves they use for the ambassador program to go around the country to provide educational programs.  It was a neat experience to have a wolf come right up to you and get to touch it.  Feeding time was next but we all decided we were wet enough already and it was starting to rain harder.  The rest of the afternoon back at the lodge we read, took naps, and sat around and chatted with other campers.  That evening several of the guys that work at the camp or live in the area got together to play basketball so Arthur and my brothers joined them.  Playing basketball at 9,000 ft for over an hour is exhausting (or at least it looked that way-- I wouldn't really know since I sat on the sidelines enjoying my hot chocolate.)
Thursday was another day of adventure.  Arthur and I joined my younger brother and his wife for a jeep ride with my brother's former boss, Dave.  My brother worked for a year as an intern at Horn Creek on the maintenance crew with Dave.  We were headed to the Great Sand Dunes for the day on the west side of the Sangre de Cristo range.  But we had to get over the mountains some how-- therefore the jeep ride over Medino Pass.  The first part of the trip was foggy-- in the low clouds over the mountains-- until we got over the pass and on the other side it cleared up and the scenery opened up more from forests to more meadows and streams.  Some of the stream crossings got a little interesting since all the rain had washed away the sandy road.  When we arrived at the Dunes we met up with the rest of the family who drove the long way going around the end of the mountains.  We had a picnic lunch and then "played" in the Dunes.  Arthur headed up the side of one dune trying to make it to the top and I decided to follow him since I didn't want to miss any fun.  There is nothing more fun than climbing up 400' ft in sand and your hands and knees when you slide backwards with every step.  On the top of that dune we traversed across the ridges exploring just a small section of the dune fields.  The Great Sand Dunes are there because the mountain range acts as a wind block so all the sand blowing in from the south gets dropped at the base of the mountains creating some awe-inspiring dunes.  Going down the dunes is much more fun.  We ran down zig-zagging like downhill skiers.  My brother also had rented a sand sled we took down a few of the dunes as well.  We were covered in sand and we still trying to clean the sand out of our ears even days later.

After the dunes Dave took us to Zapata Falls.  It was a short hike up to the creek and then by climbing along the rock edges we were able to work ourselves to the bottom of the falls.  The water was freezing and the roar of the water was deafening.  This stop was a real gem and we were glad Dave took us too.  On the way back to camp Arthur and I jumped back in with the family car and drove on some pretty back country roads as well (not quite like the jeep trail but still fun).  We did stop and watch three bull elk.  The size of the antlers they each had was very impressive.
Throughout the week each night there was a time of worship and a speaker also presents.  This year the messages were about standing firm with the full armor of God.  One of the reoccurring themes through each evening was how God uses all types of people and all different personalities.  Another theme was how God uses ordinary people throughout the Bible and today to reach others with His love.
The final evening we had a banquet meal and then a time of reflection and communion.  During regular communion at church it seems very individual- between the believer and God.  At Horn Creek communion is taken as a family with the head of the family distributing the bread and the juice and praying as a family.  For me I really enjoyed continuing a family tradition by going to Horn Creek but it was a blessing to be able to begin new traditions by sharing the experiences and adventures with Arthur and the new family that we have become as a couple.  Omnia Vincit Amor.