What an unforgettable summer we’ve had in Ski Hi! Each day was packed with challenges, laughter, and the forging of friendships that will last far beyond the mountains. From scaling rugged peaks and learning survival skills to epic one-wheeling sessions and fly fishing by alpine streams, our Ski Hi campers embraced every moment with enthusiasm, grit, and heart. The spirit of brotherhood and adventure that filled the Ski Hi Lodge will echo long after the final campfire fades.
Our hiking counselors, Nathan Vogt, Ben Cason, and Cole Spires led expeditions deep into Rocky Mountain National Park, where early mornings and steep trails brought out perseverance and teamwork. The following campers earned their Hiking Basics and Patch (Mountaineers Patch): Jacob Hirsch, Patrick Wessel, Rye Custodio, and Wyatt Steitz.
Backpacking counselors Rien Freeman and Asher Troutman guided overnight adventures ranging from one to three nights in RMNP and the Indian Peaks Wilderness. These trips taught resilience, leadership, and the magic of sleeping under a starlit sky. The following campers earned their Backpacking Basics and Patch: Dawson Cobb, Huck Willhoite, Jack Wegner, and Patrick Wessel.
Our outcamping counselor, Aidin Wilson, led memorable trips where campers cooked over open fires, told stories under the stars, and built strong bonds away from camp. The following campers earned their Outcamping Basics and Patch: Felix Wu and Hudson Altwies.
Horseback riding was a highlight of the term, with wranglers Red Marshall-Stevens, Alex Moncada, and Jared Corbitt leading treks across meadows, streams, and forest trails. Riders learned new skills in the arena and out on trail rides, earning their Riding Basics and Patch: Coleman Rice, Jude Klosterman, Matthew Gallardo, Nico Rose, and Orson Pizem.
Sports were front and center with Mason Brow, Kohen Scott, and Zack DeWalle leading everything from intense gaga ball tournaments to showdowns. Special themed days like survival skills, fly fishing, one-wheeling challenges, a service project in RMNP (thistle picking), and other games made every day an adventure. Ski Hi boys also showed grit and focus on the archery range this summer. The following campers earned arrows:
White Arrow
Adrian Bours, Alex Hart, Alex Yaklichkin, Alexander Raute, Andrew Johnson, Ben Luzader, Ben Ruckman, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin Morath, Bless’ed Jones, Boone Heep, Charles Wetzel, Crue Greenwald, Cruz Kimball, Dechlan Barrow, Eli Sattler, Ethan Reiff, Evan Hulsey, Felix Wu, Foster Del Mastro, Gabriel Rocha, Gavin Altschuler, Grayson Bunzel, Greyson Cheung, Harrison Gerhardt, Harrison Stone, Henry Lorenzo, Henry Marriott, Huck Willhoite, Jack Carlson, Jacksen Mauffray, Jonah Casto, Justin Hobbs, Laif Doucette, Leo Pitzer, Leo Saks, Levi Holtzman, Lleyton Brownlee, Luca Cimino, Luke Brown, Marco Ferguson, Marvel Ingram, Maxwell De Moudt, McAllister Cordon, Micah Cohen, Michael Cook, Nico Rose, Orson Pizem, Owen Ingalls, Parker Wilson, Porter Draper, Ricardo Lopez Guiñazu, Rocco Calandruccio, Roland Goldberg, Rye Chaney, Rye Custodio, Samuel Cleveland, Thomas Morrow, Tripp Ralls, Van Glode, and Westley Ferguson.
Black Arrow
Dawson Cobb, Alex Hart, Alex Yaklichkin, Andrew Johnson, Ben Luzader, Ben Ruckman, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin Morath, Boone Heep, Charles Wetzel, Crue Greenwald, Cruz Kimball, Dechlan Barrow, Eli Sattler, Ethan Reiff, Evan Hulsey, Felix Wu, Foster Del Mastro, Gabriel Rocha, Gavin Altschuler, Grady Bashara, Grayson Bunzel, Greyson Cheung, Harrison Gerhardt, Harrison Stone, Henry Lorenzo, Henry Marriott, Jack Carlson, Jacksen Mauffray, Jason Blalock, Jonah Casto, Justin Hobbs, Laif Doucette, Leo Pitzer, Levi Holtzman, Lleyton Brownlee, Luca Cimino, Luke Brown, Luke Jaudes, Marco Ferguson, Marvel Ingram, Maxwell De Moudt, McAllister Cordon, Michael Cook, Orson Pizem, Owen Ingalls, Parker Wilson, Porter Draper, Ricardo Lopez Guiñazu, Roland Goldberg, Rye Chaney, Samuel Cleveland, Thomas Morrow, Van Glode, Westley Ferguson.
Blue Arrow
Alex Yaklichkin, Andrew Johnson, Ben Ruckman, Boone Heep, Crue Greenwald, Cruz Kimball, Dawson Cobb, Dixon Pickens, Ethan Reiff, Foster Del Mastro, Gabriel Rocha, Grayson Bunzel, Greyson Cheung, Harrison Stone, Hudson Altwies, Jack Carlson, Jacksen Mauffray, Jason Blalock, Jonah Casto, Kale Mahorski, Laif Doucette, Leo Saks, Lleyton Brownlee, Marco Ferguson, Marvel Ingram, McAllister Cordon, Owen Ingalls, Parker Wilson, Porter Draper, Roland Goldberg, Rye Chaney, Warren Stading, Westley Ferguson, Wyatt Steitz.
Red Arrow
Crue Greenwald, Cruz Kimball, Dwight Rockwood, Ethan Reiff, Gabriel Rocha, Grayson Bunzel, Greyson Cheung, Harrison Brown, Harrison Stone, Henry Downing, Jack Carlson, Jack Wold, Jason Blalock, Jonah Casto, Kale Mahorski, Laif Doucette, Leo Saks, Lleyton Brownlee, Marvel Ingram, Owen Ingalls, Parker Wilson, Porter Draper, Roland Goldberg, Warren Stading.
Gold Arrow
Crue Greenwald, Cruz Kimball, Dwight Rockwood, Grayson Bunzel, Harrison Brown, Jonah Casto, Parker Wilson.
Our riflery program, led by Conner Helminski, challenged campers to practice patience and precision. The following campers earned:
Prone Specialist
Alex Hart, Alex Yaklichkin, Alexander Raute, Andrew Johnson, Ben Ruckman, Charles Wetzel, Crue Greenwald, Cruz Kimball, Dawson Cobb, Dixon Pickens, Dwight Rockwood, Evan Hulsey, Foster Del Mastro, Gabriel Rocha, Grady Bashara, Grayson Bunzel, Greyson Cheung, Harrison Brown, Harrison Gerhardt, Harrison Stone, Henry Lorenzo, Huck Willhoite, Jack Carlson, Jonah Casto, Justin Hobbs, Kale Mahorski, Kanu Nayak, Laif Doucette, Lleyton Brownlee, Marco Ferguson, Marvel Ingram, McAllister Cordon, Michael Cook, Owen Ingalls, Ricardo Lopez Guiñazu, Rocco Calandruccio, Roland Goldberg, Van Glode, Warren Stading.
Level I, II, and III
The following campers earned their Level 1 pin: Andrew Johnson, Dwight Rockwood, Greyson Cheung, Harrison Stone, Henry Downing, Kale Mahorski, Lleyton Brownlee, Marco Ferguson, Marvel Ingram, McAllister Cordon, Michael Cook, Nico Rose, and Ricardo Lopez Guinazu.
The following campers earned their Level 2 pin: Henry Downing, Ricardo Lopez Guiñazu, and Thomas Morrow.
The following campers earned his Level 3 pin: Henry Downing.
Kneeling Specialist
Harrison Brown, Jack Wold, Lleyton Brownlee, and Warren Stading.
Sitting Specialist
Alex Yaklichkin, Ben Ruckman, Harrison Brown, and Laif Doucette.
Standing Specialist
Harrison Brown and Lleyton Brownlee.
Creativity flowed through the crafts shop under Drew Smith’s guidance, where projects big and small brought out campers’ imagination and teamwork.
The Pinecone Patch went to well-rounded campers who embraced challenges in multiple program areas: Benjamin Morath, Boone Heep, and Luca Cimino. Many also earned their On the Trail Patch for spending significant time exploring Colorado’s wilderness, including: Ben Luzader, Benjamin Miller, Boone Heep, Dawson Cobb, Dixon Pickens, Ethan Reiff, Evan Hulsey, Felix Wu, Foster Del Mastro, Gavin Altschuler, Henry Morgan, Henry Pickens, Huck Willhoite, Hudson Altwies, Jack Wegner, Jacob Hirsch, Joshua Yeager, Justin Hobbs, Leo Saks, Luca Cimino, Luke Johnston, Patrick Wessel, Rhodes Shoghi, Rowan Pizem, Rye Custodio, Thomas Weydert, Tobias Schosser, William Dempsey, and Wyatt Steitz.
Evenings in Ski Hi were full of connection and fun. Emmanuel Wadkins brought everyone together for campfires under the stars, with favorites like drumming night, yoga, and capture the flag campfires becoming unforgettable highlights. This summer, Ski Hi brought its creativity to All-Camp Campfire with two iconic skits: a hilarious Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (T1) reenactment and an intense Squid Games (T2) showdown that had the whole camp cheering.
Our Code of Living set the tone for how we lived and treated each other. Term 1 values were Inclusivity, Perseverance, Integrity, Organization, and Forgiveness. Term 2 focused on Integrity, Inclusivity, Accountability, Empathy, and Tenacity. At the end of each term, counselors and peers recognized those who embodied these ideals, awarding the Silver Spurs to Adrian Bours, Cruz Kimball, Jason Blalock, Leo Saks, Luke Brown, Rowan Pizem, and William Dempsey.
As another incredible summer draws to a close, we look back with pride on the growth, courage, and friendships formed here. The mountains have shaped us, the challenges have strengthened us, and Ski Hi will always be a place we can call home. Until next summer, we’ll carry the spirit of Ski Hi with us wherever we go.
Thank you for a fantastic summer!
Jefferson Ratliff, Director
Sam Holder & Tom Sheehy, Assistant Directors
