By Mischa Hedges, camper 1996-2001, counselor 2004-2006, resource staff 2007-2013

Several years ago, a small group of alumni counselors started coming up to the ranch for New Year’s – to celebrate the holiday, connect with camp friends, and enjoy the beauty of the ranch during wintertime. Here’s a shot of one of the first groups to come up:

Over time, the 717 New Year’s group has grown to include family and close friends. This year, 16 of us arrived at camp a few days before New Years eve. We divided up into teams that were responsible for each meal, and spent our days cooking, hiking, laughing, remembering summers at camp and exploring the ranch.

Max, and Emma were the first to show up (with Ariel, Genevieve and Alison close behind), working with the ranch crew and caretakers to get Gates Gables ready for the group – turning on the water and propane, and lighting a fire in the living room. Once we all showed up, it was time to explore the ranch!

We decided to spend our first day hiking over to the Bar 7 and Emilys. On our way out, we found main camp’s pond iced over!

We passed the cows at the Homestead along the way, where there was still snow on the ground from one of the first snows of the season. This one was especially friendly.

We walked past the swim hole, where the river was partially iced over, up the road and past Corral Creek.

When we went over the hill to Emily’s, we found the horses there waiting for us!

When it’s not summer, the ranch looks different, but it still has that magical feeling of camp – especially when you’re walking down the road with old friends. Many of us went to camp together starting when we were 11 or 12 years old!

After a few hours of hiking around, we started back for the ranch so we’d make it back before sunset, in time to make some dinner.

In the evenings, we ate hearty, family-style meals at the green picnic tables (just like at camp, except inside).

After dinner, we’d gather around the fireplace to play games and share stories about summers at camp until it was time for bed.

Each year, we also try to give back to the ranch in some way, to help out the ranch crew, and in thanks for the opportunity to spend time at the ranch during the off season.

This year, we spent an afternoon raking leaves from the dance floor, the avenue and from under the apple trees. Then, we trampled them down into a ranch truck, and hauled them away to a compost pile by Inspiration Point. We also took up a collection for Bar 717’s Campership Program, to enable more kids with the opportunity to come to camp.

Even though it was winter, we had some pretty amazing weather for leaf-raking! Everybody pitched in.

On New Year’s Eve, those of us with a talent (or un-talent) for crafting spent the afternoon on a VERY important project…

Berries, leaves, flowers and twine were combined to making a crown for each member of the group, to usher in the New Year with style.

Jessica, in particular, made some beautiful crowns for folks to wear.

 

Here’s (most of) the crew, showing off their crowns. See any familiar faces?

For New Year’s Eve, we shared the creation of a spaghetti dinner feast for our group and the local community, and when it got close to midnight, we headed up to the dance floor for a campfire, dancing and fireworks.

Here’s a bunch of the crew, going nuts on the dance floor!

We danced the Amos Moses, brought in the New Year with sparklers and more dance moves, and then cozied into Gates Gables for a last night of rest in the crisp mountain air before heading home to work, school and our “normal” lives away from the ranch. After we got up and had breakfast, we were sad to leave camp, but glad we made the trip. Many of us will be back in the summertime.

Would you like to come up to camp during the winter, spring or fall? Check the Dates and Rates section of the website for off-season events at Bar 717, or Contact Laura and Kent with special requests. And hopefully, we’ll see you next summer!