Peak 6 map at Breckenridge
Breckenridge, CO (Day 2) — All the layers of clothes…buckling the ski boots, the helmet and goggles…don’t forget sunscreen.
How did I ever get three little kids ready to go out and ski? This weekend, I’ve just got myself to worry about and I feel like I’m ready for a nap by the time I get out there. That we’re 9600 feet above sea level doesn’t help.
It’s always that way the first day of skiing—which it is for me this season. And I couldn’t have picked a better place—or a better day to try out my ski legs than at Breckenridge, a Vail Resort that’s two hours west of Denver in the quintessential historic town of just 3,182 people—the whole town is just seven miles long with plenty of good eats and even its own distillery. (I admit we tried the Breckenridge Bourbon last night)
There are restaurants like Twist, Relish and the Warming Hut that have elevated ski town meals above burgers and pizza. Think warm quinoa salad, elk medallions and warm camembert wild mushroom fricassee at the warming hut. Maybe you want to try blueberry wild boar sausage?
There are lots of quaint shops and galleries all along Main Street.
But first, the mountain—it’s huge, even larger with the newly opened Peak Six that has added 543 new acres of terrain, the biggest ski resort terrain expansion in over a decade. There’s extreme terrain for experts and bowls for intermediates above treeline.
But lets not forget peaks 7,8,9 and 10.—2,893 acres to explore, including 8 magic carpets for beginners and one run—Four O’Clock—that is 3.5 miles long.
“There’s a lot for everyone in the family to do,” said J.H. Sava, here with his wife and two kids and a veteran ski instructor here. In fact, he met his wife Sue here. “It’s a great place for kids to explore—not too intimidating,” he said.
“I like how friendly everyone is,” said Ava Sava, 11.
“I like how Breckinridge is big and the runs are long,” said Emmy Krill, who is also 11. Her mom Amy noted that for the first time Emmy’s nine year old brother was off skiing on his own. “I’m worried but I know he’s safe here,” she said. “There are so many different things you can do with the kids on the mountain.”
There are Kids’ jumps and small trails through the trees and kids terrain features with names like Rip’s Ravine and Dragon Trail.
“I like all of the terrain parks,” said Pavel Hamill, who lives in Boulder.
I like that it’s a blue sky day, though plenty windy at the top.
Krill added that because the mountain is big, there is much to challenge the kids—and their parents. “The kids love that…they want to conquer it all.”