Shanae HardySki the Breckenridge Peaks
Located in the panoramic Tenmile Range of the Colorado Rockies just south of the Continental Divide, part of the Breckenridge Peaks make up the Breckenridge Ski Resort, a recreation destination owned by Vail Resorts, Inc. Top-of-the-world views, groomed ski runs for all skill levels, restaurants, accommodations and spa options all come together to deliver an epic winter vacation experience.
– Tyler Hamilton
If you like the outdoors, Colorado is a big adventure playground for adults: it’s great for skiing, cycling, climbing, and hiking.
About the Peaks
The Breckenridge Resort hosts five peaks designated with numerals 6 through 10. Overall, the resort boasts 34 lifts and 187 runs to choose from, including the 4 O’clock trail that spans 3.5 miles of glittering snow, making it the longest run in the resort. With nearly 3,000 acres of skiable area of which 40 percent is high alpine terrain, Breckenridge offers you a completely new experience with each run you take. You will also find a 22-foot super pipe and four terrain parks within the ski/snowboarding resort.
Getting to Breckenridge
Just a two-hour drive from the Denver International Airport, Breckenridge is easily accessible from anywhere in the world. Once you deplane, just strap on your Dakine Mission 25L Backpack hop aboard the free shuttle that takes you from the airport to the Peaks.
This ski sports fashion backpack from Dakine features rugged adjustable straps so you can port your snowboard on your back when heading to the slopes. Soft padded interior pockets of the Dakine Backpack provide security for your laptop or tablet while the ergonomic straps distribute the weight of your cargo evenly along your shoulders and hips, so you can ride the airport shuttle to Breckenridge or the gondola from town to summit in comfort and style.
The Women’s Dakine Mission 25L Backpack is built to fit a feminine profile and to satisfy a savvy sense of style with a pretty Hibiscus Palmprint and turquoise-accented vertical straps that grip your snowboard, leaving your hands free for that essential cup of cocoa or coffee. With a dedicated phone, tablet, and laptop pocket, plus exterior zippered pouches for your lip balm, ski wax and sunscreen, the Dakine Mission backpack has your snow vacation covered.
Dakine
Women’s Mission 25L
Of the “must-haves” before embarking on a downhill adventure, a darn good backpack should be on that list. This bag is made by folks who love the snow and surf. It’s a testament to the team that designed this bag to create something that acknowledges that men and women are built differently. This is a bag that performs equally well on or off the beaten path.
Staying in Breckenridge
You have a number of options for accommodations during your stay in Breckenridge, and the majority of them make access to the Peaks so easy you will probably never need to warm up your own car. You can stay in the picturesque Gold Rush town of Breckenridge in a bed and breakfast, a rustic-chic room at the lodge, or a vacation rental home. Walking, a free shuttle or a trolley ride will get you to the quaint storefront boutiques and the delicious Breckenridge restaurants. You also have lodging options closer to the slopes where you can simply ski or snowboard from your front door to the lifts.
Just pack some snacks in your Deadbolt Black Gregory Drift Backpack, fill up the 3-liter water reservoir and you will be set for an intense day on the slopes. The Gregory Drift Backpack won’t slow you down or cramp your style because its specially engineered Shift RS suspension system matches your moves turn for turn. You can keep going into the evening at the neighboring Keystone ski area. Lash on a safety light to the back of your pack so others can see you better at night.
Gregory Packs
Gregory Drift 10
Gregory Drift 10 is a backpack with many faces. With its sleek structure, it makes a valuable daypack for city jaunts and bike rides. Its composition, though, turns it into an indispensable buddy for
The Peaks: Peak 6
First opened up for the 2013-14 season, Breckenridge’s Peak 6 features the 6-person high speed Zendo/Kensho Super Chair that brings you to the brink of the resort’s 543-acre expansion area where the sweeping view of distant mountains seems to go on forever. At an elevation in excess of 12,000 feet, you can ski your choice of three pristine bowls that seem specially designed to catch the latest load of powder.
If you have the will and the skills, you can choose to hike higher to sample some elite backcountry action or opt to stay on groomed terrain that challenges you whether you are an intermediate skier or an expert.
The Peaks: Peak 7
Ride the Independence Super Chair to the top of Peak 7 where you’ll be above the tree line with a bird’s eye perspective. If you are up for a challenge, check out Peak 7’s bowl and Whale’s Tale. Both slopes have a double black diamond rating, so unless you have the chops to handle the degree of difficulty, you should choose an alternative run. The single black diamond Ore Bucket provides an exhilarating trip through forested slopes, giving you a taste of backcountry-style skiing. There are several blue trails that are great for intermediate skiers too.
The Peaks: Peak 8
You can ride the BreckConnect eight-person gondola from town to the base of Peak 8, where Crystal Peak Lodge and Grand Lodge provide slope-side accommodations, food and drink. The Peak 8 run is not only the original ski slope of the Breckenridge Resort, but one that offers some of the most varied terrain.
Board the Colorado Super Chair to the top, where you will find beginner tracks, including a wooded trail that kids can do as well as runs with challenging moguls. If boarding is your sport, check out the pro-style Freeway Terrain Park. You can also transfer to other lifts from the top of Peak 8.
The Peaks: Peak 9
Beginners love the wide, relaxed slopes of Peak 9 where there is plenty of space to practice turns and stops. With lots of other rookies around, you can feel right at home should you take a tumble.
Daredevils also love Peak 9, which not only nurtures newbies but raises a challenge for the experts with some steep slopes that are among the most challenging Breckenridge has to offer. For intermediate-level skiers, runs like Briar Rose offer a place to get your muscles warmed up and practice some technique. For boarders, the Highway 9 Terrain Park provides entry-level jumps and rails. Peak 9 also hosts the EpicMix Race Course where Olympians like Lindsey Vonn and mortals alike can have a great time challenging themselves or their friends. Ride the Quicksilver Super Chair to the top.
The Peaks: Peak 10
The highest peak of the Tenmile Range, Peak 10 logs in at 13,633 feet at the summit, but the Falcon Super Chair lift does not climb quite as high as the lift serving Peak 8. You will find the most difficult runs on 10, with fast double black diamond chutes on the south face. Crystal and Centennial trails and other pristine but challenging routes keep experienced skiers happy.
Après Ski
After an exhilarating day on the mountain, you will be ready to explore more of what Breckenridge Resort has to offer. Get into the après ski spirit and sport a stylish Sol and Selene All Star Backpack. It is a perfect companion for dining and socializing. You’ll love the cozy quilted exterior and vegan leather trim. Better yet, its lightweight design never weighs you down. Stow your makeup in the exterior zip pocket and your tablet in the cushioned interior space.
The Sol and Selene All Star Backpack will take you to your spa appointment or a shopping trip in style too. You may not be able to zip it up around that Colorado cowboy hat you bought, but you can definitely carry a couple of the souvenir T-shirts, cute ski-themed trinkets, gourmet cheeses and fresh candy you purchase on your spree.
Sol And Selene
All Star Backpack
In a chic diamond, quilted texture, this backpack is perfect for the daily commute or the occasional overnight trip. The
Where to Eat
If you’re on the prowl for coffee, breakfast or casual snacks, Breckenridge offers a number of tasty options. Daylight Donuts, Cuppa Joe, Cabin Coffee, The Crown, and Coffee and Waves are some of the local stops for steaming hot java and sweet or savory breakfast bites.
For lunch or a mid-afternoon grazing break, you can grab a sandwich at Clint’s Bakery, a home-made bowl of soup at SoupzOn or pizza with the works at The Hangar on Airport Road. If you’re a Thai fan, get your groove on at the Bangkok Happy Bowl.
For dinner, try one of the newest Breckenridge restaurants, Pioneer Crossing. At the base of Peak 7 near Independence chair lift, Pioneer Crossing seasons the spectacular, soaring mountain views with fresh, locally sourced fare such as Colorado-grown lamb and wild mushrooms de jour.
You can find elegant cuisine in a casual atmosphere at the 9600 Kitchen, which is at the base of Peak 9 inside the DoubleTree by Hilton Breckenridge hotel. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner – 9600 Kitchen’s specialty dishes are based on its pasture to plate philosophy, showcasing appetizers, entrees
Other great eateries in the environs of Breckenridge include:
- Sevens – Pub fare and modern mountain cuisine in Grand Lodge on Peak 7.
- TBar – Casual grill on Peak 8.
- Ski Hill Grill – The base of Peak 8.
- The Living Room – Casual dining inside One Ski Hill Place.
- Tenmile Place – The base of Peak 10, lodge-style cuisine.
- The Maggie – Appetizers and bar at the base of Peak 9.
- The Overlook – Dining at 11,274 feet on Peak 9.
- Park Avenue Pub – Microbrews and pub fare on Peak 9.
More Winter Fun
You will find plenty of other amenities to enjoy during your down time in Breckenridge. You can take a wild ride on the mountainside Gold Runner roller coaster, tour of the historic mining town, do some shopping or peruse the local art galleries. The ski area, lodgings, food and recreation are all designed expressly to ensure you have the most fabulous ski vacation ever.
DROP IN AT BACKPACKS.COM
Share your adventures with us! Learn more about popular backpack brands at Backpacks.com, and on Facebook and Instagram and share the locale and some of the memories you captured and you could be featured in one of our upcoming blogs!
