10/21/2025
We had a spectacular SFL Planning Weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch! SFL 2026 event chair David Fisichella, vice chair Melinda Hollands, and planning team members Krista Erickson, Peggy Malloy, Lucas Rice, Tim McCorcle, Karen Ishibashi, Julie Coppens, Judy Dixon, Deni Elliott, Bonny O'Day, Bob Hartt, Lillian Goodman and Nino Pacini, plus others phoning in from afar, met with YMCA of the Rockies staff -- including Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center director Jeff Paulson, pictured here outside the beautiful new Camper Hub building, which will be our skiing home base and lunchroom for the week. We enjoyed some excellent meals in the Commons (new food service team since our last visit: chef's kiss) and explored some new trails (imagine them covered in snow and impeccably groomed for classic skiing), while revisiting favorite sites like Columbine Point and the Indian Peaks fireplace. We also checked out the Kiva (a Pueblo word meaning "gathering place"), SMR's indoor rec center with roller rink, archery range, climbing wall, basketball court and more -- where we'll all get to play on Tuesday night of Ski for Light week. Still lots of details to sort, decisions to make, and work to do, but we are getting there! Big thanks to all the volunteer leaders who spent the weekend making sure SFL 2026, Feb. 1-8, will be one of our best. And just to be super-sure, Melinda wrote a letter to place in God's Mailbox: "Dear God, Thank you for your beautiful world, and please send lots of snow this winter."
p.s. We could still use a few more guides! And we still have stipends available to help offset the cost for volunteers to attend. Link in the comments for details and registration form.
