Sundowner Magazine
"A Fist Full of Smith Fork"
By George Morgan-Grenville


Most of us know only too well that arranging the annual family holiday can be fraught with potential issues... never more so than when you work for Abercrombie & Kent! It was naturally assumed by my wife, who was six months pregnant with our fourth child, together with the children, that any destination chosen would be appropriate, suit all ages, and that the whole family would enjoy the rare amount of time that we were able to spend together. Failure was not an option!

So in August 2004, together with our three children (all boys ranging in age from 4-13), we headed west to Smith Fork Ranch in Colorado. A 90-minute ride from Montrose, the journey gradually becomes devoid of other traffic, with the road finally turning into a dirt track shortly after the village of Crawford, enhancing the feeling of having arrived in the "West."

Set at an altitude of 7,000 feet, and originally built in 1890, the ranch itself has undergone a carefully planned and superbly executed metamorphosis under owners Linda and Marlies Hodgson. The accommodation comprises four wonderfully comfortable and rustic log cabins, together with a five-bedroom guest house (which can be taken on an exclusive basis) and a more private, three-bedroom River Cabin. We stayed in the newly added River Cabin, a marvelously cozy affair situated overlooking the Smith Fork River and a short walk from the main lodge. With a roaring log fire for the cooler evenings, and a large Jacuzzi on the deck for the warmer days, we knew immediately that the hardest aspect of our stay was going to be the time to go.

On arrival at Smith Fork, two things were immediately apparent: the outstanding beauty of the ranch's position tucked away in a secluded valley and nestled amid mountains, aspen forests and the cool, clear waters of the Smith Fork River; and the overt, intrinsic friendliness of the staff. This latter feature was compounded by the equal friendliness of the other guests, who included a pop star, a number of investment bankers, a director of the Port Authority of New York, a senior executive from Microsoft, and the owner of a well-known brand of jewelry.

Being August, almost everyone was accompanied by their children, who ranged in age from 4-19. The atmosphere quickly developed into one of a successful house party and, unprompted by the adults, all the children arranged between themselves to sit at a separate table, thus relieving their parents (who also established one large table) of the burden of supervising good manners!

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Smith Fork was the abundance of activities. Every guest is allocated their own horse (in our 4-year-ikd's case, usually a very wizened and gentle Appaloosa), and if riding is not to your taste, there are five trout ponds stocked with rainbow and brown trout, as well as the significantly more challenging Smith Fork River. The latter was not much more than a wide stream in places (mainly due to the lack of rain), and the fishing is technically difficult with small, but nevertheless lightning fast, brown trout.

Some guests were beginners, whilst others were experienced, although the high staff to guest ratio meant that professional advice was not even remotely lacking. Everyone is offered (where requested) gentle and encouraging instruction in the are of good horsemanship and techniques of fly-fishing. Although our youngest son, Harry, was perhaps a little too young (8 upwards is probably a more appropriate age), even he managed to catch a large rainbow... I don't know who was more surprised, Harry or the trout!

Archery also proved to be a popular pastime, and the ranch even has its own woodland course. For the riding enthusiast, equine activities abound, and the overnight camp is a must - set at 11,000 feet, the ride is approximately 4-5 hours long and the camp basic. The scenery, however, is sublimely beautiful and majestic, with an abundance of wildlife, including deer, elk, and even a brown bear or two.

I would be remiss not to mention the fine gourmet meals at Smith Fork. Dining is considered an integral part of the experience, and dinner especially was a culinary delight, with an extensive choice of wines from Linda and Marlies' well-stocked cellar.

In conclusion, we rated Smith Fork very highly, and it is undeniably an excellent choice for families who are looking for soft adventure in a wonderfully comfortable environment. I say this despite the fact that we hardly saw our children all week, so occupied were they by the myriad of activities on offer. For the elder ones, the benefits and excitement of being relatively independent were obvious; for the parents, we could rest in the knowledge that they were always under the watchful eye of Smith Fork's quite extraordinarily excellent staff.


By George Morgan-Grenville,
President, Abercrombie & Kent, Inc.
Morgan-Grenville has worked for the A&K Group of companies since 1987. He took over as President in 2002, having previously been Managing Director of Abercrombie & Kent in London. ©2005 Abercrombie & Kent, Inc.

Spring 2005