Steamboat Pilot & Today

What a great Labor Day weekend it was at historic Hahn's Peak. It's always a special time when local year-rounders are home for the holiday, kids are not in school and summer weekenders come for last-of-summer fun time.

Of course, the big event for the property owners is the end-of-season barbecue dinner, which was Sunday evening.

It takes the cooperation of several members to plan and get this event all together. The 4-H meat is donated by Cook Chevrolet; Larry and Pat Cook get things all together. Scott and Kelly, Brad and Britney also have their hands in it. Britney had a college friend with her.

Clarence and Judy Fivecoats, former homeowners, furnished the drinks, and Dan Ragan gave the ice for the drinks. Each of the members brought the side dishes, all for a delicious meal.

But the important chief cook in this fun affair was Dick Wetterberg. Dick made a trip to Oklahoma early this summer to bring back the giant big meal smoker, which is stationed in his front yard. So, he loaded that smoker with Oklahoma hickory wood at 6 o'clock Sunday morning and started the barbecue process of 17 beef roasts. He rotated the roasts every hour, and added more wood, because lots of smoke adds to the flavor. Then, on the side he made four different sauces, and had it all ready for the 4 o'clock stampede to the food table.

It was all yum-yum for those 75 people.

Not to be overlooked is the fact that Clarence Fivecoats was Dick's associate cooker, helping stock the hickory and push the meat around.

Some of us wondered about having a fire in this outdoor cooker, but Dick assured us that the county officials had been notified, and it was all approved.

Mentioning Clarence Fivecoats, I need to tell you that Judy was also here helping with the dinner. The Fivecoats sold their cabin here last year, but they came back once in a while, bringing their trailer, and parking at the Wetterbergs close to "old home." Oh yes, daughter Annie and friend Lisa were also here.

Among the bunch at this event were Ken and Mary Lou Richards, who spent the weekend at their cabin. Their son and Val, Kayenne and Taryn were also here. The Richardses brought lots of tomatoes and cucumbers from their garden.

Howard and Fern Thomas, from up on Cottonwood, were among the crowd, wandering around, visiting.

Bill and Patti Ragan, next-door neighbors to the Thomases, were sitting close by with daughter-in-law Kristy and their two kids. Her husband, Dan, the ice man, couldn't come.

Was glad to talk to Marge Eardley, whose cabin is on Cottonwood, from Denver and doesn't get there often yet. Wait until she retires.

We have so many newcomers, and we were glad to have the Powers family at the picnic. There was Rob, Laila, Scotti, Erik, Max and friend Amy.

Then, there's Darren and Carroll Zamzom, and they are building a new house up on the hill. They hope to have it finished by December.

Jim and Myrna Brecheisen, owners of the old Davis house on Main Street, were there with all their guests, in their motorhomes. But their granddaughter was there, too, and she and husband Shannon had to stay and sleep in the old cabin. "Good bed," he said.

Oh yes, Jim had a triple bypass since he was here the 4th but is doing good and enjoyed relaxing and fishing with the rest of the gang.

David Joe and Judy Zehner, Kris and Lucky Mosher, Lacey and nephew Billy, Olivia and Dakota Zehner were up over Labor Day, but they didn't make it to the dinner. They were working on their new garage, which will house the snow blower, an antique tractor, snow mobile and maybe Judy's car. They had a great time.

More about this great weekend next week.