YMCA Essay Winner

YMCA by Montey F. 

Skirt, skirt!  Peeking over the final hill to the YMCA, it is like the burst of sunlight when the sun peeks up out of the Rocky Mountains, or the surprise of blinding headlights of a car coming over a hill at night, all in one.  Seeing the great green roof of the cafeteria, knowing what it holds in its walls. Great big telephone poles plunge into the baby blue clear sky, holding the excitement of the high ropes and zip line.

The high ropes are like towering giants in the form of telephone poles,  waiting for their dinner to fall right into their hands. The panther pole is a plain telephone pole that has little pegs sticking out of its sides like wrinkles on the tall giant’s body, your feet feeling ten times larger than them.  The leap of faith is like a monstrous skyscraper plunging into the cloudless sky, the structural integrity untested. Complete unsteadiness is all you feel, as if the pole is teetering and tottering all over.

The food at the YMCA is like the sweet smell of honeysuckle, the scent of the air after it rains, and a masterpiece of a song that you love, turned into food, all on one plate.  The buffet line short, the endless carts of food to choose from, and the scent of fresh Blue Bunny ice cream in the air, waiting to be eaten. The people you meet, the food you eat, and the comfortable booth seats you sit in is the highlight of Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA of the Rockies.  All of this is truly heaven on a plate.

When you see a forest of poles, the mountain of gear and equipment, and the howl of sheer excitement, you are near the Alpine Zip Line!  Reaching speeds up to 40 miles per hour, the zip line seems to create mounds of adrenaline and excitement for anyone who is brave enough to ride.  The blast of air and the complete airiness make you feel like you have just been reborn, speeds eliminating the need to put your feet on the ground.  Shrill, frosty air making my vision weak, my nose clogged, and my fingers numb, does not matter. Just enjoy the ride.

All in all, the food, the zipline, high ropes, and much more keep you unplugged from all of the rest of the world’s conflict, so what are you waiting for?  Book your trip, and be ready for the best seven days, or however long your trip is going to be. It is truly the highlight of my life in 2018 so far, so don’t wait for it to come to you.  Venture out of your comfort zone, and have a wonderful time at the YMCA of the Rockies!