Breckenridge: First Impressions
I sometimes feel a bit fake.
I call myself a seasoned Colorado skier. Sure, I've been skiing across the state since 1982, but until this past season, I had never skied one of the more significant resorts in the state: Breckenridge.
Why do I call Breckenridge significant?
A couple of reasons. One, it offers skiing longer than most resorts in the West (more on that downstairs). Two, it's a humungous resort with every kind of skiing imaginable. Three, it has an incredibly quaint town associated with it. And four, you meet the nicest people ....
My visit, my first ever, was a few weeks ago.
The view from the top of the Imperial Express chair is breathtaking. Photo: © Cameron M. Burns / Powder
Breck is amazing. It's huge (just under 3,000 acres), it's got great a great circulation pattern (I have a degree in urban design), and the views are amazing. The lifts were for the most part all fast, and the grooming was excellent.
The highest chairlift in North America is here: the Imperial Express, which tops out at 12,840 feet. When. you get there, you're high.
One of the things that blew me away with regards to Breckenridge was the dedication to the slide—yeah, skiing—from people all over the country.
Mid-mountain cruising. Photo: © Cameron M. Burns / Powder
I rode the lift with four people from Kansas. They had driven to Summit County with something like 8 people in their station wagon. I didn't even know they still made station wagons, but there you go. Skiers and skiing always surprise, always delight.
I rode another chair with a group from Nebraska. Same story but smaller car. They'd driven to Colorado. No DIA insanity for them!
Finally, I met a crew from Virginia, and they, too, had driven to Colorado to ski. Roadies!
The other thing that you need to see when you get to Breck is the Snowflake chairlift. It's the strangest chairlift in Colorado. The upward bound chairs follow a pretty straightforward cable that negotiates a bend then continues to the top.
The downward bound chairs, however, go through a huge sort of overpass thing in which they make a big, very high diversion before returning to the downward path. It really is an extraordinary chairlift.
The Snowflake Interchange (my term). Photo: © Cameron M. Burns / Powder
Anyway, lots to see and ski at Breck.
So let's talk about stretching the season. At present, Breck is still open and there is no set closing date. But not all lifts, obviously, are running.
On Peak 8, the Colorado SuperChair, the Imperial SuperChair, and the Horseshoe Bowl T-Bar are still open.
On Peak 7, the Independence SuperChair is open.
On Peak 6, the Zendo Chair and the Kensho SuperChair are still open.
Be aware, there is no beginner terrain open now. And the more things melt, the more expert you're going to want to be.
The BreckConnect Gondola will operate daily through April 28 (this Sunday) for access to Peaks 7 and 8. After April 28, the BreckConnect Gondola will be closed for the season until the resort opens for summer operations in mid-June.
The BreckConnect gondola. It connects stuff to the left with stuff over on the right. Photo: © Cameron M. Burns / Powder
Starting Monday, April 29 (after the closure of the BreckConnect Gondola) the North and South Gondola Lots will offer free parking, and buses will be used to transport skiers and riders up to Peak 7. (I've parked in both lots and they're quite lovely.)
The gondola closure is a part of the resort's collaboration with the Town of Breckenridge to help support the health of the Cucumber Gulch Preserve and wildlife that migrates through the gulch and under the gondola in the spring.
Anyway, Breck's a fun day out and the wheels are still spinning.
So, let's get out and go skiing.
