Golden Forge

09/13/2026

Our first greens, shared after morning training and recovery. A golden eagle sat quietly in the pine above us, watching for his own harvest.

We prepped the land. Built the greenhouse, beds and self-wicking system. Mixed the soil. Planted. Tended. Harvested.

Health is in how we live. What we eat. How we move. What we contribute. What we allow to consume our attention.

Our community, caring for the land and each other.

There’s something sacred in that. Worth protecting.

08/27/2026

Stewardship is work.

At Golden Forge, contribution begins with the land. We ask ourselves: What do we owe the places that sustain us? How do we leave them stronger?

Access here is limited. Distance and terrain make emergency response slow and more complex. Weather, wildfire, or fallen timber can isolate the ranch quickly. Preparedness starts long before an emergency.

We clear fuels, remove deadfall, build defensible space, and keep access open.

The Council Tool Co. equipped us with American-made forestry and fire tools that will be put to work across all 163 acres.

Family-owned since 1886, Council Tool still forges professional tools in North Carolina using American steel and hickory. For nearly a century, its tools have served wildland firefighters. Today, they also equip first responders, law enforcement, and military personnel—many of the people Golden Forge exists to strengthen.

American craft. Hard work. Integrity. Service. The alignment runs deep.

Grateful to Council Tool for helping us care for this place.

08/05/2026

One of the things we love most about Golden Forge is bringing world-class instructors to the ranch.

Mitch and the team at Rugged Mountain Outfitters bring decades of experience in horsemanship, mountain movement, leadership, and mission-focused training.

We’re proud to partner with people who live what they teach.

Rugged Mountain Outfitters provides specialized equine-based tactical training tailored to special operations and mission-specific requirements.

Our Advanced Tactical Horsemanship and Mountain Operations Training combines extensive SOF experience with advanced mountain horsemanship to build capability in environments where conventional movement and sustainment may be limited.

Training modules can include foundational horsemanship, pack animal operations, mounted tactical formations, silent movement techniques, night operations, low-visibility movement, river crossings, technical terrain negotiation, tactical dismount procedures, tactical resupply, cache establishment, high-altitude operations, winter operations, indigenous animal integration, route selection, logistics calculations, and emergency procedures.

RMO provides purpose-bred military stock, complete tactical packing equipment, specialized mounting gear, field care supplies, safety equipment, veterinary support, and access to thousands of acres of diverse mountain training grounds.

All training packages can be customized to meet specific unit requirements and mission parameters.

Contact Rugged Mountain Outfitters to discuss unit-specific or mission-specific training options.

07/28/2026

This past year was a test. We kept programming small and disciplined on purpose. Built slow. Kept numbers limited. Quality over quantity. Contribution over consumption. Prove the model before we scale it.

This summer, we got our answer.

We welcomed veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their families from across Colorado and beyond.

Over the past few months, Golden Forge hosted:

- Two Valor Archery Challenges. One arrow at a time. Focus, confidence, community, built through shared challenge.
- Two Backcountry Horsemanship courses. Mission. Skill. Faith. Tribe. Grit.
- One Wilderness Medicine course. Skills to stay calm, lead well, and care for others when it matters most.
- One Pack & Purpose. Three days. Horses, land, and honest work. Faith and grit — the real kind.

Golden Forge sits on our ranch. It's becoming part of Guffey. Every act of kindness, every partnership, every person who shows up helps build a place where those who have spent their lives serving others reconnect with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and leave stronger than they arrived.

None of this happens without this community. People showed up. Volunteered. Donated materials. Opened their homes and businesses. Shared meals. Lent a hand. Believed in what we're building here.

Thank you, Guffey. We're just getting started.

Rugged Mountain Outfitters
Valor Archery Challenge

07/24/2026

The decision to heal is only the turning point.
Then comes the doubt.
The grind.
The days you have to choose it again.

Golden Forge exists for that stretch.
This is one moment from our story.
The full documentary is now on YouTube (link in comments).

Grateful for Cameron Cushman for capturing this and we look forward to our continued partnership and friendship.

07/23/2026

The rhythm at Golden Forge.
Before the world gets a vote.