Breckenridge

[Brettski]

Heading out to Breck Monday

Anyone been, have advice, eaterys, altitude, etc?

 

[deadheadskier]

It's been ten years since I've been, but it is a good mountain. It does have it's share of long run outs, especially on Peak 10. Backside of Peak 9 has some good steeps. I'm sure the addition of Peak 7 and the Peak 8 summit quad are excellent. I do recall it being quite crowded. Peak 10 is good place to avoid the crowds, frontside of Peak 9 is where the biggest zoo of people was, so hit that early. Breck is definitely one of the higher altitude areas out there, so don't push it your first day. I want to say lifts top out at 13K.

And if you can DEFINITELY go to A-Basin for a day. If you like advanced terrain, A-Basin is as good as it gets on the front range of Colorado.

 

[tequiladoug]

I was there last year, had a blast - plenty of good choices for beers and food within walking distance, I guess it depends on what you're in the mood for. Everyplace we went was pretty good (Nothing stood out as super great or crappy) but I'd say definitely make a stop at Ullr's bar.

I did feel the altitude and even got winded hauling my gear up the stairs to the condo, but it didnt effect skiing.

Oh, and theres a supermarket right off the Breck exit off I70, good place to stop and pick up some food/munchies/beer.

Oh, and if you take the shuttle bus to the mtn it was definitely easier to go 100% ready, the 1st drop off area for us was just a lift (no lodge, ticket window or bathroom) and the next stop had a ticket window but no lodge either

 

[nelsapbm]

Did not make it over to Breck but was in Summit County this past Thursday and there is tons of snow up there. They were expecting a foot + yesterday. Don't know what they got. I posted some pics on the NELSAP forum: http://www.snowjournal.com/page.php?cid=topic13109

Re: altitude. Don't know if you are heading right up to Breck or not after landing, but you may consider staying in Denver the first night - it helps some folks get acclimated better. Don't drink alcohol for the first day or so. Drink plenty of water.

Have fun!!

 

[mitchmac]

Was out there last week and the peak 8 quads seemed to get most of the action...maybe cause of all the wahoos heading up to the top. Peak 9 has best eats and short lift lines all week. Peak 10 pretty empty when I went over there.
Neil's and Fatty's Pizza are both good places to eat in town. Both have good food and reasonable prices. Be prepared to wait though.
And don't forget to hit Crepes a la Cart on Main for desert. Again, good stuff but be prepped to wait.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

If you are going to ski other Summit Co. resorts plus Breck I'd recommand skiing a couple of others on the weekend and staying away from Breck. That place gets mobbed. Abasin a must, Copper is also great. Not in Summit Co., but in range, Loveland and WinterPark/MaryJane have the goods.

 

[Rogman]

Skied there a year ago. It is a great place, except that you can't breathe. Others in our group tried some herbal remedy and thought it worked, can't remember the name, though (Placebo?!). As for the skiing: Peak 10 is great way off to skiers right, and the woods on skiers left are a blast as well. Chair 6 had great terrain to skiers right as well. The further round you went, the steeper it got, so you could just dial in whatever level you were comfortable with. You could also access the side of the big bowl from there (can't remember the name), without using the T-bar.

The Imperial Super Chair is a must, you feel like you are up on Everest. It isn't that hard, any intermediate can ski it on a good day. It is only difficult because of the altitude: it tops out at nearly 13000 feet. The lift up from the village is interesting; it was free when I was there. Wouldn't waste anytime on peak 7: beginner trails. In general, there appeared to be an easy way down from every lift, so people with different abilities could ski together.

The restaurants in the village are excellent. Everything from bistros to historic saloons. If you go in "The Dredge", give a shout out to my friend Ray, a waiter there.

 

[frozencorn]

If you're looking for a cheap dinner, can't go wrong with Rasta Pasta. Have fun.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

I had a great dinner at Giampietro, on the corner of Lincoln & Main when I was out in Summit county in January. I got turned on to it by a shop owner in Breck.

For the altitude, drink way more water than you think you need.

 

[Hoodoo]

Breck

Long time lurker here.

Been visiting Breck since 89...sure, it's had it's fair share of changes(some for the better, others worse), and can be crowded at times, but it still holds a special place in my heart.

For eats, I dig Kenosha pass for BBQ and The Breck Brewery for Nachos(big plate easily feeds two) and a stout. Sure, the beer is mostly brewed in Denver now, but to me, still tastes great. For drinks, you gotta visit the Gold Pan saloon, pool tables, loud tunes, hot, young chicks and the original mirrored wooden bar back....oldest continuously operated saloon west of the Mississippi.

Really, in town, there are so many options it's crazy. Add Frisco and you are sure to find something for everybody.

For breakfast, the Arapahoe cafe in Dillon can't be beat.

For skiing and riding, the imperial express is a must....I remember the days of hiking to the top from the T-bar The steeps and chill of peak 10 keeps the crowds away. Peak 9 is an intermediates dream, lower lifts around beaver run will get a bit crowded. Peak 7 glades and ore bucket are great and the 6 chair area is great. Never had bad snow there, ever....visited anywhere from Dec - March. Also, the peak 8 superconnect makes it so easy to get from peak to peak(this was a previous pet peeve of mine)

While you are in Summit county, you must ski Loveland. High and dry snow. Small crowds, smaller prices, tons of above treeline skiing and killer views. I think it beats Abasin, hands down.

Side trips to the town of Montezuma, a day at Vail(blue sky and petes are tops) and a drive over Loveland pass on route 6 are also not to be missed.

If you have extra time in the Denver area, check out red rocks ampitheatre and pretend that you are bono pointing the micrphone stand into the crowd and singing sunday bloody sunday.

 

[snoseek]

I would consider skiing around a bit (especially on a weekend). passholders at copper/wp can get up to four very steeply discounted tix per day. Loveland passholders can buy one per day at 41. Ask a physician about taking diamox for altitude, people say it really helps.

 

[Brettski]

Thanks fr the advice....

water...water, and more water

We are slopeside at Breck and driving straight from Denver up

I heard A basin was suppose to be great...we were thinking copper

Since we are skiing midweek, I don't think there should be too many crowds

What's the weather looking like for next week?

 

[Brettski]

Here's the place

http://skiwatch433-breckenridge.com/

 

[happyjack]

haven't skied breck yet, but have been out there a few times in the summer...we rent a house just over hoosier pass in placer valley (park county) and it's at 11000 feet. for the altitude, as others have mentioned lots of water and avoid alcohol for the first 2 days. i also take a couple of tylenol before i go to bed each night for the first 2 nights. we've used the same approach with our 7&5-year old kids and neither of them have complained about altitude sickness...and we are sea-level dwellers.

 

[SirShredsaLot]

And if you can DEFINITELY go to A-Basin for a day. If you like advanced terrain, A-Basin is as good as it gets on the front range of Colorado.

A-Basin is A-Awesome!:lol:

 

[bdjeep]

Yeah...definitely try A-Basin. Copper was great as well.

 

[pepperdawg]

If you're looking for a cheap dinner, can't go wrong with Rasta Pasta. Have fun.

Another vote for RP!!!!

 

[pilam99]

Just came back last week. Some of this is redundant but...

Colorado Chair on Peak 8 can be packed
Chair 6 has great stuff
E chair has some sick wooded bumps on the back of peak 9, more than I can handle
Imperial Express gets you near the peak, you can hike up the ~350 "steps" and then traverse over to the chutes and hit the upper bowls. I barely made it up!
A guy I rode the lift liked taking Whale's Tale off the Imperial which traverses the bowls above 8 & 7,but the problem is it takes you all the way back to the base. I preferred chair 6 and the Imperial
Peak 10 has steeper blues and they left it ungroomed so it was pretty nice!

Like others have said, get to A-Basin! The Summit Stage is free, leaves Breck at 7:15, gets to AB at 8:15, and leaves A-B at 2:15, 3:15 etc etc.

Someone advised that Keystone or Copper has $5/run cat skiing. Is it Copper? Wish I had done that.

Food:

I thought Mi Casa was good, decent Apres specials. Empire Burger was good. Swiss Haven was mediocre, theres a grocery store in Breck but it's crazy expensive, Breck Brewery for beer, there's an outdoor crepe stand and an indoor one downstairs nearby which was good.

 

[Brettski]

great stuff..keep it coming

 

[happyjack]

yeah...rasta pasta is good.

also, if you're driving up to a-basin, you'll go through keystone. stop in the goat soup & whiskey for awesome soup and otherwise decent sandwiches/bar/snacky kind of food on your way back down. it's on the right side of hwy 6 when you're heading up to a-basin...not too far past the tenderfoot lodge if i remember right.