After a fairly average day the day prior we seemed to all have perked up at the prospect of visiting the Stanley and maybe seeing snow. The drive was enjoyable, with lots of beautiful forest, mountains and snow.
Our activity stop was a place called Argo Gold Mill, where we were planning to do a mine tour but we got there 10 minutes late. We decided we couldn't wait until the next tour started, but thankfully they still offered the gold panning activity on its own. We got gold panning for the adults and gems for the kids.
The it's had fun finding the gems, though it was a very quick activity (too fast for photos!) Charlie especially loved it, and collected dirt as well as gems. The gold panning took a little longer and was actually very interesting.
The guide showed us a couple methods, one of which involved swirling the material around in the pan. The water helps lift the lightest sediment to the top and the heavier silica and gold to the bottom. The silica was interesting as the black sand indicates favourable gold conditions and is where the phrase "pay dirt" comes from.
While one weekly was panning the other was inside with the kids in the warm. The shop was empty of customers except for us and the team members who were on were wonderful. It was a very enjoyable stop and surprisingly relaxing. I think we enjoyed spending time in a more laid-back, friendly setting, rather than being in crowds so much.
A wonderful thing happened while we were getting ready to finish up - it started to snow. We were all pretty thrilled. The kids came out and tried catching snow flakes, while Kieran and I just drank it in.
We finished collecting our gold and buying souvenirs and drove on to Estes Park through the snow. It was an awesome experience. I was driving and not able to take photos, but the snow was big, fat flakes that looked good for snow balls and snow men. Before long the proximity sensors at the front of the car were malfunctioning due to snow, but strangely the flakes never hit the windscreen. As they got close to the bonnet the heated air created an updraft and the flakes flew up and over the car.
With one final pit stop at a charming little shop I can't remember where, we arrived among the flurries of snow at the famous Stanley Hotel.
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