Wanderings and Wonderings: Breckenridge

I might be in love with Breckenridge Colorado. Snow, Amazing. Mountain, Amazing. Vertical, AMAZING! Last week Aaron, my cousin Russ and I headed to Breckenridge for a week of Snowboarding and NOT working. (Our self proclaimed Spring Break)

We left Vegas Tuesday morning and flew into Denver, where we met up with Amelia (a friend of a friend from AZ who wanted to come... when it comes to snowboarding the more the merrier! We caught a shuttle to Breckenridge (about 2 hours away). We checked in with the rental company and watched as a Marti Gras Parade passed right outside of their office windows. They gave us handfuls of beads. (with out the shirt lifting part.... it was too cold for that nonsense.) After we got settled in our condo we adventured out to find dinner. We ate at Blue River (which was exceptional) while being serenaded by a live slide guitarist who was really good. After we stopped by the grocery store for supplies, and then walked home.

Wednesday was our first day on the mountain. We took it slow, getting to know our way around and letting Amelia get her boarding legs under her. It was a bit chilly and windy, and we had a few troubles with the tow line on Peak 8, but infinitely better than sitting at a desk. Breckenridge has this CRAZY tracking system that tags you on the chair lift which allows you to see not only where you went during the day, but also keeps track of your Vertical Feet. Amazing? Ahhhhh Yeeeeah!

We went home, (the condo is a "Ski In" so there was a groomed run right to our street) and soaked for a while in our Life Saving Hot Tub, and then walked into town for dinner. We found this really good Steak House off of Main Street. Although the food was great, our servers and dessert were my favorite parts. Our waiter had crazy curly hair and was so chill. The water boy was the perfect example of a ski bum. He was a lifty during the day (they rotate so all of the workers get a couple runs in every day... my kind of job!) and worked at the stake house at night. He had the world Most AMAZING goggle tan. When we asked if we could have more corn bread he said, "Aaahhhhh Yeeeeah." His reply to our another question was "Aahhh Heeeellllll No." Little did he know, but he instantly became the poster boy of our trip.

Vertical Feet for Wednesday: 15,234

It might have been a little cold on Wednesday....

Thursday we woke up to Blue Bird skies and minimal wind. It was destined to be a GREAT day. Amelia was not feeling it, so she headed over peak 6 to hang out on the Blues and Aaron, Russ and I did some warm up Black runs, then made our way to Peak 8 (only accessible by foot) because we had been eyeing it all day Wednesday, and were determined to test out the powder at The Top. It was not easy, because there is not a lot of oxygen at 12,998 feet.

After soaking in the hot tub again, we ordered dinner (most of the restaurants in town deliver... oh the joys) watched snowboarding movies on tv, and called it an early night.

Vertical Feet for Thursday: 16,455

Peak 8 (The tallest in the group) We heard the snow was better up there, so we HIKED IT! Was it worth it? Ahhhhh Yeeeeeeeah.

View from The Top. You can see other crazy hikers on the left (look for the girl in the teal)

Aaron on his way down

That sign says Snow White. Yes, those are two very nice Black Diamonds.

Thursday, it was CRAZY windy, and despite wanting to hike the peak again though we had better not. (I had no desire to fly away like Mary Poppins) So we road the Blacks on Peaks 8,9 & 10. (Without Amelia she was still not feeling it) My only "good" fall of the trip was right before lunch on the back of Peak 8 (the lift that takes you to the base of the hike to The Top) a lady cut in front of me on the really steep face and stopped. I'm not good enough to dodge people on a slope like that so the only thing to do was fall and hope I missed her. I did, and starfished all the way to the bottom. I was told that it was one of the more spectacular falls of the trip, and I was fairly proud of it. (I didn't loose any gear on my way down thankfully, just knocked the wind out of my self and did something to my shoulder) We stopped to eat our lunch early (the boys were nice enough not to mention that this was to give me rest and let the Advil kick in). After a very productive afternoon we headed back to the condo to soak again and eat the weeks left overs.

Vertical Feet for Friday: 17,494