The Breckenridge Welcome Center is
sharing favorite local bike trails and rides. This road biking loop
around Lake Dillon is popular for good reason — it’s one of the best
road rides in the county, and it’s almost all on bike paths.
Description: This ride heads north from Breckenridge
and passes through the towns of Frisco and Dillon to make a complete
loop around Dillon Reservoir (commonly called Lake Dillon). The route
climbs Swan Mountain Road, which has been used several times in the USA
Pro Cycling Challenge.
Ride it: Park in one of Breckenridge’s gondola lots
and hop on the paved bike path, located between the lots and Main
Street. Ride downhill to Frisco and take one of the (right) turns into
town – Miner’s Creek Road is one of the easiest turn-offs to follow and
will lead downhill to a stoplight where riders cross Highway 9 and
continue north along the bike path to the Frisco Marina. Stop for a
photo or continue through marshlands, along the shore and over the dam.
Beyond the Town of Dillon, riders cross a bridge and should take the
right to continue into Summit Cove and along the path, which climbs
through the woods (careful at the highway crossing!) and eventually
leads to Sapphire Point. Take some time to explore, snack and grab
photos – the rest area offers expansive views of the Tenmile Range and
the 3,233-acre reservoir. Descend on the road, cross Highway 9 at the
light, and once back on the bike path, veer left to complete the gentle
climb into Breckenridge. For more Lake Loop specifics visit: http://www.summitbiking.org/area_rides/around_lake_dillon.html
Distance: This classic ride involves some 31 miles (mostly on paved bike paths) and 1600 feet of climbing.
Average Time Needed: Road cyclists accustomed to the
altitude and climbing can comfortably ride this loop in about two
hours, but give yourself much longer (a half day or more) if you’d like
to take your time, stop for snack breaks, and hit all the popular photo
opportunities.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Hiking First Aid
Major injuries from hiking are rare. Walking doesn't tend to break
bones or kill people. But, there are a whole bunch of smaller injuries
and ailments that can make your day miserable. Being ready for the
majority of them will make your trips more enjoyable and may help
someone else that was not prepared.
First Aid Guidelines
If a member of your hiking party is injured, you need to follow three
guidelines. The highest priority is first, followed in order by the
other two:
Stay Alive - yourself, others, and the victim. Especially yourself. If you are unable to help, then no one gets out alive.
Stabilize Injury - stop the injury from doing further damage to the victim. Stop bleeding, remove them from the cause.
Start Recovery - make the victim better. Fix the injury or ailment as much as possible.
You always have to keep yourself safe. Then, you need to ensure the
survival of everyone else. This means getting the group to warmer
shelter if one person is becoming hypothermic rather than having
everyone stop to help that one person. This means running out of the
way of a rockslide rather than jumping into it to save someone falling.
If someone is injured or sick, you need to check that every action you
are taking follows one of the three guidelines. If it does not, then it
is probably not a necessary action.
Prevention
It is so much easier to provide first aid by preventing the need for it
in the first place. Easily the biggest hazard for hikers is the
environment - changes in weather or ill-prepared hikers get into the
most trouble. Make sure everyone in your group has the necessary
abilities to successfully complete the planned hike. Make sure they
have proper clothing, plenty of water, and extra food. Everyone should
have a small personal first aid kit and there should be one more
complete kit for the group.
There are pages discussing specific preparation for hiking at altitude, hiking in heat, and hiking in cold that you should read.
Before you go hiking in a new area, find out about poisonous plants,
snakes, insects, dangerous animals, and other possible hazards.
First Aid Kit
You can easily buy a ready-made first aid kit and there are some very good ones available through the links over on the right. You
may be able to save space by making your own, or by replacing some
parts of a purchased kit. It is important that you know the purpose of
and how to use every item in your kit - otherwise it's just extra
weight. You won't have much time to read a manual while administering to an injury.
Taking wilderness first aid trainingshould be a personal goal before heading into the wilds. "Medicine for
the Backcountry" by B. Tilton has a good reputation for providing
helpful first aid information. If you are going into the backcountry,
its a good idea to have a small first aid pocket guide along. There are
quite a few available, most with help on diagnosing and treating ills
and injuries. Wilderness Medical Institute in Colorado offers classes
around the country but there are other organizations too.
Inspect your kit before every outing and make sure the gear is clean and
supplies are in good condition. Replace expired medications and add
items that would have been helpful on your last trip. Be sure the kit
is easily accessible and everyone in the group knows who has it.
However you decide to go, the following is a list of items commonly agreed on as being essential for a first aid kit:
Waterproof container - a strong zip-loc bag or plastic-lined kit bag. If it isn't waterproof, it will be a mess.
In addition to its reputation as a
world class ski town, Breckenridge has a lot to offer off the slopes as
well. Explore the surrounding mountains on snowshoes or dog sled, or try
a different high octane thrill like snow tubing. Gorgeous art
galleries, world class shopping and dining, and five star spa
experiences are also hallmarks of this charming mountain town. We’ve put
together a list of our favorite off-the-slopes activities for you to
enjoy in Breckenridge this winter season.
1. Snowshoe
Snowshoeing is the perfect way to get into the high country in winter.If
you don’t want to send your body hurtling down the slopes at a high
speed, snowshoeing is another way to enjoy freshly fallen snow at a much
lower level of intensity. With trails like South Illinois Creek Trail
and the Southside Trail, there are several easy to find routes in this
town.
There's almost nothing better than the peaceful quiet of a snowshoe hike.
2. Ice Skate
The
Stephen C. West Ice Arena on Boreas Pass Road is a great place to hit
the rink. Plus, the rink is covered, so you won’t be exposed to harsh
winter elements.
3. Hit the Shops
Breckenridge
is home to some world class shopping, whether you’re looking to buy
winter gear or infused olive oil. Just head straight to Main Street and
you’ll find everything you’re looking for.
4. Play Some Video Games
Normally,
we wouldn’t encourage you to get stuck behind a screen when you’re in a
place with a landscape as beautiful as Breckenridge. This time, we’ll
make an exception. Downstairs at Eric’s is home to a great arcade, filled with games from several eras. The food is also pretty great there too.
5. Go Snow Tubing
Alright,
we get it, technically this is still an activity that takes place on a
slope. But, it’s not skiing or snowboarding and you don’t need the pricy
lift ticket to partake, so we’ll let it slide. Breckenridge is close to
several different tubing hills, including our favorite, Frisco Adventure Park.
6. Try Out Dog Sledding
You've gotta try dogsledding—there is literally no cuter way to get around in winter!You don’t have to be in Nome, Alaska to get pulled around by some cute pups. Good Times Adventures offers dog sledding tours that travel 6 miles through Swan River Valley. They offer snowmobiling as well.
7. Check out an Art Gallery
Breckenridge
is home to several art galleries, each rotating their collections often
to keep their pieces fresh. Two of our favorites are Art on a Whim Gallery and the Breckenridge Art Gallery, an establishment that has been bringing high quality pieces to the public for over 30 years.
8. Paint Some Pottery
Ready, Paint, Fire!
is a relatively new addition to Breck’s many attractions. Here, you’ll
be able to paint your own piece of pottery, which will then get fired
right in the shop. Whether you decide on a snow-themed paint job or not,
it will make a great memento from your trip to Summit County.
9. Relax with a Spa Day
The full-service Spa at Breckenridge
offers a variety of individual treatments and packages to rejuvenate,
revive, and de-stress. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of
traveling and the crowds on the slopes with a day that’s all about you.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Organize Your Snow Gear
If you’re an avid skier or snowboarder, you’ve probably experienced
the seasonal struggles of dragging all of your gear out of its summer
hiding place only to have it scattered amongst your car, your entryway,
and your bedroom throughout the winter. AWOL socks, glove liners, and
beanies are the result of not having a designated space to put away your
outerwear. Having a space to easily grab what you need on your way up
to the mountains and store it when you return will save you time and
sanity this season. Be proactive this season, and create a space to keep
everything together. There are a ton of ways you can do this, but this
is what works for me and it costs less than $25 to make.
What you’ll need -
Hangers Strong hangers
will hold up your heavy jackets and pants. These hangers are also wider
which helps fill in the shoulder space on jackets so that they hang
more naturally. I found these for $3.99/8 pack from Ikea. They also have
pants hangers for $0.99 each.
Clothes Rack
Clothing racks come in a variety of sizes and heights. I found this one for $12.99 at Ikea.
They had some cheaper ones and some more expensive ones, but I liked
this one because of the adjustable height and wheels that made it
convenient for storing in the summer. If white doesn’t match you décor,
you can always spray paint it to fit.
Hanging Shelves
Lastly, you’ll need some sort of hanging shelf to store your
accessories and base layers. You can either sort by items (socks,
layers, mittens, beanies) or by weather conditions. For instance, if you
know it’s going to be a warm day you can keep all of your light layers
together so that you can just grab the whole pile and go. I already had
some hanging shelves I wasn’t using, but you can find an assortment of
options like this one for $4.99 at Ikea.
Consider an organizer that has compartments large enough to hold a
helmet, but small enough to separate smaller items like goggles and
glove liners.
My favorite thing about this set up is that all of the pieces are
easily collapsed and can be put into storage when it’s not being used.
You can rotate items into it for your summer activities as well. Save on
this idea by using a coat closet if you have one, or by using hangers
that you already have. This is just one idea of how to organize your
gear for the winter. What does your winter gear storage look like?
Thursday, November 24, 2016
3 Things To Know About Ski Socks
As you gather up your gear for the season, it is easy to forget about ski socks.
People think “It doesn’t matter; I’ll just use my everyday Hanes,
right?” This is a sentence heard all too often by Boot Fitters. Here
is the lowdown on why you should tighten up your sock game.
1. One pair of ski socks is warmer than two
Two
layers in your ski or board boot whether it is an extra sock, leggings,
or under layer can cause hot spots due to friction and bunching up. By
the end of the day that slight discomfort from a crease in your layers
can turn into a bruise. The fit of any athletic boot is designed for
one sock, adding an additional layer can compress your foot and cut off
circulation and blood flow ultimately making your feet numb and cold.
2. The thinner the better
It is a common miss conception that a thicker sock will keep you
warmer; this is not always the case. In a ski or snowboard boot you
want a tight, athletic fit (tighter than your street shoes). A thick
sock will take up all the volume in your boot, a thin sock will allow
the air between your foot and the liner to warm up. This will
ultimately keep your feet warm.
3. Cotton is the enemy
Cotton is not the ideal material for cold, wet weather. Cotton
clothing can absorb water and sweat up to 27 times their weight. Once
your socks are wet, they’ll take forever to dry out and will cool your
body. Merino wool is the ideal material for winter that keeps your body
cool in hot temperatures and warm in cold temperatures. Merino wool
will wick away water and keep you dry.
Kids Snowboarding First
Let’s set the record straight – Kids do not have to learn to ski before they can snowboard anymore.
There seems to be this unwritten law that kids have to learn how to
ski first. All too often I catch parents saying that their son or
daughter is taking ski lessons “so they can learn the basics” and then
they will let them decide if they want to switch over to snowboarding
when they’re ready.
As someone who didn’t start snowboarding until I was a young
teenager, I wish my 3-year-old self would have known how to express to
my parents that I was born to be a snowboarder. Learning how to ski
first did not make learning how to snowboard any easier. I still fell – a
lot. I still got frustrated, and I still had to start from the
beginning.
Although, when I started skiing, they didn’t make snowboards small
enough for kids my size. So, if I wanted to join my older siblings on
the slopes, I had to get on two planks.
Thanks to Burton Riglet snowboards like the Burton Chopper and the Burton Smalls,
kids can now learn to snowboard without having to ski first. The Riglet
snowboards start as small as 80cm and go up to 130cm, and the Smalls
snowboards go from 125cm to 145cm. That pretty much means that as soon
as they can walk and balance on their own, they can snowboard, but the
Riglet age suggestion is 3 to 6 years old.
If you want your little to love snowboarding as much as you do but
you want to try it first, Burton hosts a series of Riglet events during
January, which is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, with the goal of
getting more kids into snowboarding. They offer free Riglet demos and
snowboarding lessons, and even have mini terrain park features for the
tots to learn on.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Hiking Benefits
Sure you know that hiking is good exercise and its a great way to get in
touch with nature, but there's just a ton of other benefits to hiking.
When you go on a hiking tour, you help make the world a better place!
Weight Loss
- Hiking is a super way to lose excess
pounds. Obesity is now an epidemic in the United States according to
the surgeon general - that's bad! 64% of adults are overweight and more
than 30% are considered obese. Our sedentary lives, stuck in offices,
in front of computers, surfing this miserable internet is killing us
off. Move your body, burn off some calories, and lose weight.
Prevent Heart Disease
- Over 2500 Americans die every day
from cardiovascular diseases. While you've read this far, someone died
and by the time you read this entire page 5 more will be dead. A
regular walking routine greatly reduces your chances of heart problems.
Study after study after study show that regular, light exercise
increases your odds immensely.
Decrease Cholesterol
- Hiking and walking increase the
HDL good cholesterol which helps get rid of the bad cholesterol. This
in turn reduces your chances of heart problems.
Lower Blood Pressure
- Going on a short hike of 30 minutes every other day is all it takes. Lower blood pressure means better overall health.
Reduce Stress and Depression
- Your body's natural drugs
like endorphins and adrenaline are released when hiking and these
chemicals have a natural positive effect on your stress levels.
Stronger Longer
- As you age, you do not need to
experience a decline in physical activity. By staying active, your
muscles stay strong. As you get older, your body will weaken, but
regular hiking helps minimize that.
Prevent Osteoporosis
- Hiking helps increase bone density
and strength, helping prevent the calcium loss and chance of broken
bones from this disease.
Better Air
- Hiking to church, the store, school, or a
local restaurant reduces the pollution from your car which makes the air
better for everyone.
Prevent Diabetes
- Hiking can reduce the amount of
insulin a Type I diabetic. A Type II diabetic can reverse the course of
the diabetes with exercise, diet, and weight loss.
Improve Arthritis
- A regular exercise program can
benefit most people that have been diagnosed with and treated for
arthritis. Walking may be the best exercise as it strengthens muscles
and improves support.
Relief from Back Pain
- Sitting at a computer or desk too
long can cause back pain. People that walk commonly report significant
decreases in back pain. Hiking puts much less stress on your body than
running or aerobics and helps build core body strength.
All Body Exercise
- Hiking is an aerobic exercise that
improves overall physical fitness, using leg muscles, core body muscles,
and lungs. You set the pace and length that is a comfortable challenge
for your body.
Experience Nature
- Hikers explore natural settings that
can only be reached on foot, leaving the hectic urban life and pollution
behind for awhile.
Self Confidence
- As more advanced hikes are completed, a
hiker understands that he is capable of even larger feats. Making your
way through foul weather or rugged terrain builds your confidence in
what you can do.
Basis of Much More
- By mastering hiking skills, you
expand your horizons to mountaineering, backpacking, rock climbing and
other outdoor wilderness activities.
Year Round
- You can continue to hike any time of the
year. It is a great activity that can be done in all seasons so a
single hiking tour can have many different looks as the seasons change.
Escape and Refreshment
- the psychological effects of
spending time in natural surroundings is positive and strong. Time
spent on the trail will renew you for better performance in your job and
life back in the real world.
