Winter Is Here!

Winter is finally starting to show Its colors! Or should I say Color?

• Jared Black
• Oct 10, 2019
• Travel/Winter

Winter is here! What's new? Did you say dog sledding? Wait, How should I travel?

Hello All!

Well, it's a cold one out there today huh? How about the fresh snow? Eh, Its probably about time if you ask me. I have been in Colorado for about 8 seasons now and so far this has been one of the longest fall seasons we've had! Trust me, I am by no means complaining either. Having a bit of real fall is good for the soul, it's a transition from the heat of summer to the cold of winter and sometimes in Colorado, that season seems to be often shorter than it should. Fall should be for the movement from shorts to jeans, iced coffee to hot coffee, time for the bright flowers to shed their petals and for the leaves to change to their fall color. Fall really is important, having a continuous season can draw on the day-to-day life and make it feel like nothing's changing. Seeing the leaves change to yellow and orange just brings a sense of the cozy weather that will soon be on its way. Plus, who doesn't love dressing up for Halloween? Anyway, this blog is going to dive a little into what's coming for this winter and how you should start planning!

First off, if you're in CO have you gotten your pass yet? The Epic is no longer the sol pass in the works these days as the Ikon pass is back and even better than last year. A-Basin has long been a solid addition to the Summit County ski area club as it generally has lesser numbers but it also boasts unique terrain that separates it from the pack. Another reason that A-Basin sticks out from the pack is that it brings a sense of the way things used to be when skiing. A lot of the mega-resorts in the area have massive lodges, tons of super chairs, and a bit of arrogance that comes with being one of the top-visited ski resorts in the entire world. The question on everyone's mind now is..will they still be one of the first to open since leaving the Epic Pass? The rumor is quite strong that Keystone mountain just down the road is shooting for the 1st position while I am sure Loveland will also be in the mix. So, which pass are you?

Another signature of winter is the fact that we have finally entered our shorter shoulder season where the town does die down a bit. Only for preparation though; the restaurants closed are under construction so they can provide a great customer experience at their place of business. I think it is, however, a good time to think about the activities that you may want to do. Alpine Adventures Dog Sledding has joined the party this winter and we couldn't be more excited about having them on-board. We were born in the mountains after all and Alpine Adventures lies in one of the highest incorporated towns in North America over in Leadville. Leadville, like Breckenridge, has a long-standing history of mining. Mining still goes on to this day at the Climax Mine and while Breckenridge was into gold mining, Leadville had its hand in silver. Alpine Adventures is a great way to get out and experience a super unique activity. This business operates as one of the key dog-sledding outfits in the entire state and is sure to give you a sense of nostalgia, but, it will also cure those furry friend needs! They offer a group tour that can hold up to 6 people and is half dog-driven and then they also offer a private ride that is a complete dog-driven experience! Be 9 years and up and you'll even be able to drive!

Another thing to think about is ski rental and how you're getting here. When going on a ski vacation you need to weigh out the pros and cons of a few different situations. How many people am I traveling with, do I have littles, do I have transportation, rental car, shuttle, my own skis, rental skis, what about outerwear? A business in Breckenridge named Ridden Breckenridge has solved all your travel woes, well at least most of them. Ridden offers a top 2 bottom package ski package that includes EVERYTHING you would need on your ski vacation (other than the ticket). Ridden started doing this because tons of people were coming in tired, tired with tired kids and just having a long journey to the mountains. Others were coming in frazzled and scared because the airlines had lost all their bags. Fun fact? An airline will pay for a rental but not a purchase. So what'd they do? They started the top 2 bottom ski package where you would get a helmet, gloves, goggles, pants, jacket, skis, boots, and poles! Vice versa for a snowboard setup as well. What's the best part? The best part is that this gear is KILLER it's not some lame attire, it's gear that the shop workers seemed to wear out on their ride shifts. You were all of a sudden able to travel without tons of luggage, stay super warm, and look good while you're out there! Can you say game-changer?

Fall may be coming to an end but it is Colorado after all