written by Toni Strickland
In the spring of 2015, Tim invited Taylor to attend a father-son retreat in Colorado and Taylor said yes without hesitation.
June came, and I dropped them at the airport, bags packed, hearts open for whatever lay ahead. Off they went, a father and son embarking on what would be an unforgettable adventure.
At the time, I had no idea that this week would become a defining stake in the ground for our family’s future. But looking back now, I see how God was at work, weaving something far bigger than just a trip into the fabric of Tim and Taylor’s lives.
Upon landing in Colorado, Tim and Taylor met up with good friends, Tim and Rob Baker. The two fathers—Tim and Tim—had planned and shared a vision of intentional time with their sons. The trip kicked off with a Braves vs. Rockies game at Coors Field, sitting up in the “mile high” seats, and taking in the lights, the energy, and the thrill of a major league game. Did the Braves win? Yes, they did—making it a celebration for the Atlanta crew.
The four stayed in Denver that night. In the morning, they traveled north to Estes Park, ready to begin the next adventure, which was to check-in for Christ in the Rockies Passage to Manhood camp. This is where, by the end of the week, the fathers would officially invite their sons to join them in the community of Christian manhood. This wasn’t just a trip; it was an invitation into something deeper.
Upon arriving in Estes Park, they met the volunteers and other fathers and sons who had come to participate. Each father and son partnered together in a building project that would play out later in the week.
The following morning, they rose, took 34 West from Estes Park to the Fall River entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and readied for their first high adventure. Meeting an outfitter at Cut Rock, they took off on bikes down Trail Ridge Road.
If you’ve ever made that drive from west to east, you know that you literally are hanging off the edge of the earth with Sundance Mountain towering on one side and Forest Canyon plunging into the depths on the other. The view of the massive peaks stretches off in the horizon, the sky seems wider, and the majesty of creation is undeniable. You are aware of how small you are, how wild and untamed this part of the world is, and how big and glorious our God is. It’s exhilarating!
It’s about a 10-mile bike ride from Cut Rock to their destination. Along the ride, they stopped at several overlooks to take in the views. Right around Rainbow Curve and before the next overlook, Taylor’s chain snapped. Mike Haddorff, Director of Christ in the Rockies, has a great story of struggling a bit to get the chain back on. He could feel Taylor standing behind him, eager to problem-solve with an urge to jump in… and like any good mentor, Mike stepped aside. Taylor, with his signature confidence and able hands, had them back on the road in minutes. Next stop was Hidden Valley where “Bob’s burgers” awaited them.
Bob Vomaske’s burgers were legendary. Bob made them from bison, and men describe them as “one of the best burgers they’ve ever had.” Bob is no longer with us, but the memories that those who knew him hold—burgers being just one—are warm and fond. It was a “wild at heart” kind of day.
The next morning brought rock climbing at the Thumb in Estes Park.
Taylor scurried up the rock face with a mix of natural skill and determination.
The challenge was both physical and symbolic—a tangible metaphor for the ascent into manhood and lessons on teamwork and trust.
As the week went on, fathers shared their personal stories with their sons and publicly blessed them.
On their last full day at camp, the men learned the purpose of the building project they had completed on the day of arrival, as they headed to an abandoned gun range located on Highway 7 near Allen’s Park. The potato cannons they built were to be used in what Christ in the Rockies calls “Weapons of Mash Destruction,” led by the inventor himself, Darrell Schoenig.
This is a lighthearted competition shooting potato cannons. It was loud. It was exciting and lots of fun. It was exactly the kind of thing that makes memories to last a lifetime.
That night the Passage to Manhood Ceremony was held in the chapel at the YMCA.
The ceremony is marked by each father inviting his son into manhood and in doing so, offering a charge—a forward-looking vision cast for his life. Tim had brought something special to mark the occasion—a pocket watch from each of Taylor’s great-great-grandfathers on Tim’s side of the family. These watches were symbols of time, of legacy, of the generations before him who had walked this road. As Tim placed them in Taylor’s hands, they were more than just gifts. It was a connection to the past.
The next morning, camp would officially end, but Tim had made a plan for more—time to reflect, time to be together, time to let in all that had happened that week. They had experienced great learning, adventure, community, and life at Estes Park YMCA, and the next day they would venture off to their personal adventure.
When Christ in the Rockies ended, Tim and Taylor headed over to Kirk’s Flyshop on Main Street in Estes Park to pick up fly fishing gear and meet their fishing guide for the next two days.
They checked into a hotel in Estes Park and got an early night’s sleep after a long week at camp and the excitement of a 6 a.m. wakeup call.
The next morning, they met their fly fishing guide at the shop and headed to the Big Thompson River on the NE side of the RMNP. The fish were biting, and throughout the day, Tim landed what they refer to as the Colorado Slam, which includes brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and brook trout. Taylor caught all but the rainbow. He had one on his line but it got away.
After a great day on the river and catching a lot of fish, they drove back to Estes Park, stopping by Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ for dinner and a cold beverage, sharing fish stories from the day. Once back at the hotel, their heads hit the pillows and both were asleep early, to be rested for another day of fishing.
It had been a great day. Their guide was a young man from West Virginia. He had driven out to Colorado to work as a guide for the summer to pay for his junior year in college in the fall. He slept in his car and was just a really great guy—willing to do what he needed to put himself through college, and using something he loved to fund it. It was a great example for Taylor!
Up at 6 a.m. again the next morning, they drove over the Continental Divide to the west side of the RMNP. They hiked the Green Mountain Trailhead to Big Meadows, a breathtaking stretch of land tucked inside the park where they cast their lines, catching 30-40 brookies in the Tonahutu Creek. Hiking the trailhead back out, they crossed the street and fished the headwaters of the Colorado River, catching another 20-30 trout.
Random sightings of elk and ram wandering freely made the experience one of a kind–the kind that only happens when you’re out in the wild, surrounded by creation, focused on something simple and good.
By the end of the two days, they had caught over 100 fish between the two of them. And of course, as Taylor caught more than Tim, he made sure to remind him of it every chance he got. Tim countered by boasting about his Colorado Slam, and the two of them went back and forth, laughing the way only a father and son can.
They wrapped up that night with another great meal after a long, satisfying day in the sun. As you can imagine, they slept well. The next morning, they flew home to Atlanta.
Looking back, this was more than just a trip. The camp, the shared experiences, the intentionality—it all was an investment in something eternal. Shortly after Taylor passed away, we brought the Christ in the Rockies program from Colorado to the Southeast calling it Christ in the Smokies. Now as fathers register to bring their sons to our camp, we tell them to embrace this idea of taking time to spend extra days together. Give space for reflection, for conversations that matter, for shared laughter that lingers long after the trip ends.
Tim will tell you that this time with Taylor was a priceless gift—memories and time well spent with his son. And for our family, it was a defining moment that would shape us forever, because now we hold every moment spent with our son as precious. The moments we hold onto—the ones that remind us that life is not to be wasted, faith is our foundation, and love is the greatest adventure of all.
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