Flood/Rain Update

For those of you wondering - we are still here, happy and dry (and with food!) on top of our mountain.  The most current problem for our guests is how to get off the mountain.  All roads leading down have been washed out - literally!!!  There are pavement breaks in Hwy 7 between us and Lyons, in Hwy 7 between us and Estes Park, in Hwy 72 to Nederland, in Hwy 34 from Estes Park to Loveland and in Hwy 36 from Estes Park to Lyons.  You can go from Estes Park over Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake (but we cannot get to Estes Park).  We are fine, but for people with flights out of Denver it is more than nerve-wracking.  We have a German contingency with an 8:00 a.m. flight tomorrow morning from DIA.

We currently have gorgeous skies and lots of blue showing; first non-rain sky in many days, so now the CDOT can maybe get a handle on how to tackle all the roads.  We brought a month's worth of hay up two days ago, so the horses get to eat.  Our crew stayed dry in their run-in shed and we loaned our second shed to a couple of the livery horses that had recently come in from AZ and weren't handling the weather well.

We, personally, are very fortunate in the fact we had purchased groceries the day before the storm hit; the local cafes don't have food or have run out and there is no way to get more here.  The Fawn Brook Inn is serving evening meals for those who want to pay the price.  We are offering an evening meal to our guests who want to eat with us.

Bill took this video this morning when he went out to do a road check.  This 'looks' like good road, until you realize the culvert is several feet below the pavement and there is a LOT of air between the top of the culvert and the roadway.  I wouldn't want to drive across that; which car is going to make it fall through?

Thanks to all of those who have checked up on us and offered prayers and help.

Stranded in Paradise

I'm posting because Mom and Bill don't have internet right now, but they're safe.  The town is completely cut off right now, but because of the nature of their business, they've got provision for themselves, their guests, and their horses.

They have no TV, cable, or internet right now.  But they do have firewood, food, and a generator, so the guests are in for a really "rustic" experience.

Highway 7, which is the most common way to get to the lodge has a wash-out below them.  Lyons, at the base of their mountain is completely isolated and has lost homes, businesses, and a fire truck.  There are reports of a fire crew being stranded above where a dam washed out.  They can't get any help in or out for Lyons.

Highway 34, through Estes Park has an area that is collapsed.  Highway 36, the alternative route into Estes Park from the Front Range is also closed.  They've started evacuations in Estes Park, but the only way out is over Trail Ridge Road.

It's ugly out there, but the Bionic Cowgirl and Beel are fine.  They've been digging out the ditch behind the lodge that we had almost forgotten was there.  The horses are refusing to leave the Scary Shed - they're not stupid, at least it's warm and dry in the Scary Shed.

The news is reporting 8.90" of rain in Allenspark in the last 24 hours and it's supposed to continue until tomorrow - at least 1.5" of rain still to come.  However, the good news is that I think we're out of our drought, especially if the meteorologist is right and we can expect 10" of snow for every 1" of rain.

Whew.  Stay safe and dry, folks.