Christmas eve sledding

Hello everyone, this is actually my first post even though this blog thing has been going for quite sometime now, but what better time to start blogging than the holiday season. Since many of us aren't able to be with our family during the holidays, we make sure to go and have fun with eachother. This year was the year of "full moon, christmas eve night sledding" at Carter Park in Breckenridge. I could go into long details, but istead I will just show you a few photos and let you think about how the evening turned out.

Everyone enjoys sledding

Group pic including some people we meet ont he hill

I even got to enjoy a little sled surfing.

Andy, Katie and I taking a short break

Katie and her parents

Group ride with my old highschool friends

Travis, myself and Chris

Group picture with Breck runs in the back ground

Heading downtown we stopped to enjoy the sites

Lastly, what night out would be complete without a photo on the donkeys

As you can see we had a great Christmas eve, and still made it on the hill all day Christmas. Hope all of you out there had a merry Christmas and are getting ready for the new year. For those of you who would like to enjoy carter part sledding, it is located two blocks east of main street on either Adams or Jefferson st. Once on either of those streets, just follow the signs for carter park. Have fun and watch out for the gauntlet (those who go will know what i mean).

Merry Christmas from The North Face Breckenridge

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas, we sure did :) All of us here in Breckenridge woke up to a very nice Christmas present......SNOW! The mountain wasn't busy at all so that means fresh powder for everyone who wanted to venture out.

I must say, I did miss my family today, they are all in Maine enjoying a traditional Duffey Family Christmas, minus me. Take a look at how great they look in all of their new The North Face Jackets!!!


Stop by The North Face Breckenridge or shop online at BreckGear.com.

Happy Holidays!

The North Face Breckenrige Christmas party - 2007 style

Thanks Tony for the great post! I think that very same morning you were enjoying the always awesome Ore Bucket, I was working not skiing. Today I met up with my friend Caroline randomly on Peak 8 and ventured over toward Peak 7. We didn't enjoy the same powder that Tony found the other day, but the runs were smooth and fast. See, Caroline has this little spinal cord issue and she is taking it easy these days. I had no problem hanging out with this fabulous gal on the groomers and loved catching up for the first time since last winter.

As you know, all of us kids at THE NORTH FACE BRECKENRIDGE had a Christmas party last week here in town, and we painted it up as usual! I am an idiot and my camera was on the "slow exposure" setting, making some of my pics a little blurry......you'll get the idea. Watch how the night progresses!
So we get a shuttle from town up to the mountain lodge where we meet up with our adult friends......

Greg and Jaque enjoying delicious appetizers while we all mingle.......


Austin and Ashley just being cute........


We play white elephant, my gift was Jack. Well, I stole it from Shaun at the end cause its my favorite!........


Don't worry, Katie and Tony made it through the night. They were just sad cause they didn't get my fruit basket in the white elephant game. Sorry guys, maybe next year!.........


Steve and Susan, making it all possible and also looking pretty cute...........


Katie, Kelly and Christina.....I don't know what to say........


OK, were on the shuttle again, heading to town with full bellies. Tony looks warm and you wont miss him because he has reflective logos on his Prism Optimus........


I don't think Shaun likes this kind! I thought everyone liked Jagger?!



I better stop here. Until next time folks, thanks for checking in!

Peak 7 now open!

I'm sitting here after another beautiful day of skiing at Breckenridge and decided I would like to share a story with you all. This is not going to be the story about the three-year old who refused, for over an hour, to put ski pants and boots back on after a potty break at Ski School yesterday. Rather, this is the story of Peak 7 and the Independence Super Chair opening at Breck on Friday. It seems that no other person on the mountain that morning knew this chairlift would be running, and I was the only one lapping this area for a solid 45 minutes. Just skiers left off the Independence lift there is a gladed black run known as the Ore Bucket. This was the first morning all season the Ore Bucket was open. Since we had received more than a few feet of snow this year, and the groomers cannot and will not reach this run, I was skiing in powder. Lot's of powder. Think of those ski movies where the guys pop out from behind trees and make awesome powder turns while getting splashed in the face with tons of snow. That was me for at least 6 runs. It took nearly this long for any other skiers to join me in this wonderland of snowy perfection. Around this time I headed home to clean up for my afternoon shift at The North Face Breckenridge. Despite the chilly temperatures in the single digits all morning, I was comfy with my Aurora Zip Neck and Momentum mid-layers under my shell, and my fingers were almost sweating inside my down-filled, waterproof Nuptse Mitts. I would include a few pictures for your viewing pleasure from that nearly epic morning, but I was having so much fun floating through the fluffy stuff that I plum forgot to pull out the camera. Perhaps you will have to venture up here to Breckenridge to see for yourself how great our skiing is this year! And stop into The North Face store on Main Street or visit BreckGear.com to get outfitted in the latest and greatest gear for your all your outdoor excursions.

Breckenridge At Night

This past weekend we got tons more snow and it really set us up nice for the upcoming holiday.


Look at how beautiful Breckenridge is at night, right outside our store!

Today I took a day off from skiing to get some cleaning done at my house. Sometimes we just have to be adults here and be responsible. Tomorrow though, I have the whole day off. You know I will be on the hill!!!

All of us here at THE NORTH FACE BRECKENRIDGE are looking forward to our holiday party tomorrow night. Food, drinks and fun.....I can't wait!

Check out BreckGear.com for the best product seleciton from THE NORTH FACE BRECKENRIDGE!

Schnow

Hello all!!!

Everyone out enjoying the snow? Hope so! We are supposed to get more this evening... so we will see... as Kelly says. " I wont believe it till I see it". Hope you are all well.

Katie

Your Weather Report from The North Face Breckenridge

You have to look at the WEATHER REPORT for Breckenridge! Whats going outside is truly amazing and I don't work untill 3:00 tomorrow. Life is good I think. I am looking for someone to ski with tomorrow since Chris has to work.....Kelly, Katie....anyone?!!

For the BEST selection of THE NORTH FACE outerwear and snowsports gear, check out BreckGear.com!

A winter wonderland waiting to be conquered

Hey kids! Im sorry Ive been out of touch for a week or so, but the fresh powder has been calling my name! Yesterday I went with 'my boys' Andy, Kelly, Shaun, Austin and Ethan to the Oakley Rolling-O Lab at Loveland to ride and check out their touring lab. It was amazing. Like I have said before, I am from Oregon and we dont see powder like this back home! I have always been on some form of race ski, and it was time to shed the old and rock some of the new, so I demo'd a pair of Rossignol Scratch BC's and fell in love with them. I have never owned anything that was wider than maybe 60 underfoot, so riding something that is 90 underfoot was a totally different animal! I think that Santa will be getting a request coming soon. Its always a blast to ski with the guys that I work with. They are such an amazing crew, with a fantastic sense of humor and are willing to go anywhere and try anything. They really take my skiing and my sense of adventure to the next level. I feel so fortunate that I am able to work with such a great group of people. The snow is still coming down, and with each snowflake the possibilities for this town and for a new adventure is endless. At night with the snow falling, everything becomes silent, and you can really think about what you want and where you want to go. Im glad that I am here, and even more happy that I have people out here who love it as much as I do. Until next time, keep your fingers crossed, and if you ever make it out and want to ski with a great group of people, come into The North Face Breckenridge, and hit us up... we are always down to meet new people and to ski like there is no tomorrow.

Katie

The North Face Athlete Footage

Take a glance at this cool footage

Product Review-The North Face Men's Sedition II Stretch Jacket

Take a look at this awesome Jacket!

Mens Sedition II Stretch Jacket

This jacket is what I would call Bomber! Gore-Tex soft shells are amazing. The Sedition II Stretch Jacket is an Industry Leader in waterproof softshell technology. The stretch performance in the Sedition lets you move so well and the thin fleece backing makes it possible to shed a layer you might need with other uninsullated shells. Kelly just rode in this jacket today for the first time and he said it was by far the best piece he has ever used. Comfortable and warm......this is the one we all want!

Check out this jacket and other great items at The North Face Breckenridge and BreckGear.com

SNOW IN BRECKENRIDGE!!!

Hey Everyone. Its snowing here in Breckenridge, and its really coming down this time! Check out the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE report for Breck! You will be excited...looks like we will be getting lots of snow in the upcoming days.

Also take a look at the Live Web Cam for Breckenridge. This is proof of whats happening in Breck right now! Hurry up and get here before I get all the fresh tracks!

The Rolling O-lab was great this morning. I went to Loveland Ski Area with Kelly, Katie, Shaun, Austin, and Ethan to ski some sick powder and get a glance at their Snow Team. I get cold so let me tell you how I stayed warm on the mountain today. Its all about the right gear!

THE NORTH FACE Men's Redpoint Jacket

I love this jacket so much because I really do get cold out there and this one keeps me warm! When this jacket is underneath my Summit Series shell, I can't feel any bulk at all!

Oakley Rolling O-Lab

Breckenridge Winter

check out breck gear for the best selection of The North Face Jackets on the planet

Andy here. Just wanted to clarify.

The OAKLEY ROLLING O-LAB is coming to town. Take a look at the schedule below to find out more about all the GREAT stuff thats happening in BRECKENRIDGE this weekend!

Saturday Dec 8th – Breckenridge
Come and chill out with the Rolling O-Lab crew street-side in the Blue River Plaza. to the beats of DJ Bobby C and get intimate with Oakley's technology.
Clinics/Tours every hour on the hour (VIP passes to afterparty for tour participants)
Autographs and appearances from our Snow Team.

Party: Club Cecilia's in Breckenridge 8 pm Doors Guttermouth followed by DJ Phase Rock for late night chillin. Red Bull drink specials VIP passes for all of those who participated in the Rev Tour events.

breck gear
for the best selection of THE NORTH FACE ski jackets and pants on the planet.
The product you can't find at home.

THE NORTH FACE Breckenridge

winter wonderland

Good morning everyone! Another gorgeous day in Breckenridge, Colorado. It is sunny and warm, maybe a little too warm! Last week we had the pleasure of viewing The North Face Winter 08-09 product down in Golden, Colorado. This stuff is great, our product gets better and better every season! Hope everyone has a great day in our winter wonderland. Think Snow.....

Another Great Day

I almost slept in this morning but with the help of Tony, I got up and headed to the hill. Breckenridge Ski Resort didn't get as much snow as we were hoping, but the skiing and conditions were still great. Today I got on my new Rossi Sickbirds......I love new skis, especially when they are mounted with the Marker Duke binding! We should keep getting light snow today, as predicted. Now headed to work at The North Face Breckenridge. Couldn't be better, unless...........

Playing in the Mountains

Days off are usually quite exciting living here in Breckenridge, Colorado. I can honestly say we live in one of the most amazing places on the planet and it gets even better when there is time to get outside in this beautiful playground we call home. Once in a great while you may find me napping on the couch next to the fire, but the best days involve playing outside all day with great friends and cool dogs. Take a look at our pics from yesterday afternoon! Keep in mind we were skiing in a true 9" of powder the very same morning at Breckenridge Ski Resort. We got the most snowfall in Summit County folks....No Brag, Just Fact!


Location and Destination: Spruce Creek Trail. The trialhead is at the end of Spruce Creek Rd. which is just south of Breckenridge off Route 9. Once you get here follow the trail to Mayflower Lake or continue on to Mohawk Lakes.


View Larger Map

Participants: Tony, Andy (me), Jasper and Bucca

The dogs and I hiked while tony enjoyed the first day of the season on his cross-country skis

Shred the gnarly pow pow!

It's official, winter has begun here in Breckenridge. After going to sleep last night skeptically expecting a few measly inches, we awoke to find that Breckenridge Ski Resort reported 9 inches of light, dry, perfect rocky mountain powder!! Those 9 inches are more than any other resort here in Summit County, and trust us, all 9 inches were accounted for up on the mountain this morning. Andy and myself were lucky enough to get 5 runs through the boot deep fluff with plenty of fresh turns before the other locals tracked out the 4 open trails. Now, after a few delicious breakfast burritos, we are headed to The North Face Breckenridge store to gloat about our glorious morning before setting out for a little hike/cross-country ski with the Bucca dog. The snow is finally here!! Get excited!!Here's a nice pic of Andy blasting down Bonanza this morning sporting his The North Face Stitchless Fountainhead Guide Jacket and Park Cargo pants, all available at breckgear.com and The North Face Breckenridge store. We can't guarantee that you will be able to shred the pow like Andy here, but at least you will look good!

Just a little snow this morning........

Just a little snow this morning here in Breckenridge, CO. It was a nice surprise since it wasn't in the forecast. Keep your eye on the weather folks, it should be coming this way!

This is the view from The North Face Breckenridge!!! Not bad, huh?!

Lately it feels a little more like winter here in Breckenridge, Colorado! The temperatures have been staying cold and the piles of snow at the ski resort just get bigger everyday. Today the snowmakers got to work in the freeway terrain park on Peak 8, rated number one in North America. Check it out here http://breckenridge.snow.com/winterhome.asp ! With new snow coming this week, it just gets better every day. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/80424?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared

I know I am not speaking for just myself, but all of us at The North Face Breckenrige are very thankful for all our wonderful friends and family we have near and far. Thanksgiving and other holidays are just a little different when you work in a resort destination. Most of us work major holidays and few of us get to see our family. Thankfully I got together with all of my closest friends here and town and had a southern style FEAST for thanksgiving, which helped take the edge off when the entire family is 2291.82 miles away.

Thanks for checking in folks.........

Hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, I know I did!! Skiing and riding here at Breckenridge Ski Resort just keeps getting better. The new snow the other day was well needed and the snowmaking conditions have been optimal!
Here at The North Face Breckenridge, we know what you need to stay warm on the hill in these cold temperatures. Check out the Mens and Womens Plasma Thermal Jacket. Its light and warm and just what you need!

check it all out at www.breckgear.com !!!

Take a Look Outside, Folks

This is MY third winter in Breckenridge, and let me tell you, I have seen it all. Don't let me bore you with numbers and statistics (don't worry, I don't remember the numbers and statistics), but its true! When I say I have seen it all, I don't mean the world. Please don't get confused and just follow along.

The first winter I was here, it pretty much just snowed all the time. From the moment I arrived in Summit county to the end of the first glorious ski and snowboard season, it was always snowing. I think we may have set some kind of record......check the books. I worked at The North Face Breckenridge and www.breckgear.com. It was pretty awesome.

Last winter: (Year # 2). Pretty great year. A friend told me that in terms of snowfall, we were just above average...for the season. Not bad if you ask me. Opening day was amazing and it continued this way through the Christmas season. Unfortunately January and February were dry, but it picked up for the end of the season. We were all happy.

Its early in the season so don't get the wrong idea, but......This winter the trend is as follows: no snow, lots of mountain biking, high pressure, no snow. Hold on!....take a look OUTSIDE folks. I thinks there may be something going on :-) I have pictures of SNOW.....and Sambucca. Why don't you take a look? Its the real thing.....


Yeah kids, its the real thing. I hope to wake up in the morning with a foot of snow on the ground.......I'll take more. We really need it. I have new skis (with no bindings) so we really, really need it.


any English teachers looking for a job?!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Alright... First of all, Happy Thanksgiving week...

Secondly, to all of you negative nancies who are still saying "Eh, I could keep summer around for another week or so..."

....Shhhhhh.....

It's time to do your civic winter duty and start praying for snow. Snow makes everything fresh, and new and clean. It even has its own smell, and right now, my olfactory glands are waiting for that first sniff of what is supposed to be a winter of freedom, fun, and freshies. So yes, when winter has stayed a day too long, and we are all craving a tan to match our faces and to even out those racoon eyes, I will be right there with you... heck... Ill even do a dance to the sun god. But for now, there is only one decider of the snow fates and his name is Ullr... and we love him.

Skiing! Snow!

A note to all our avid blog readers out there, please consider this an early Monday morning post and not another Sunday evening tribute to the beautiful Bucca dog. She is great, no doubt. Considering it is Monday morning (bear with me), I want to welcome everyone to another spectacular sunny day and very promising week in Breckenridge, Colorado. Before I continue, let me formally introduce myself. My name is Tony. . .. . .and I have been part of The North Face Breckenridge family for about a year now (except for my stint down at the Frisco Bay Marina this summer.) I hail from the great state of Nebraska, whose never-changing scenery and slumping football team leave much to be desired, but is home to many great people like myself. This winter I will not only be returning to the team at The North Face Breckenridge, but I will also be a ski instructor with Breckenridge's excellent Ski and Ride School. And now a shameless plug: I am available for private lessons throughout this entire year, so sign up! You'll love it!

Enough about me, let’s get down to the meat of this post. Skiing! Breckenridge has been open for more than a week already, and although the terrain is limited and snow man-made, the skiing is great! Bonanza just opened yesterday making two trails available for some early season turns on Peak 9. The six-person Quicksilver Lift is slated to open either today (Monday, remember) or Tuesday. And for all you jibbers, there are now two small jib parks awaiting your best rail slides. Believe it or not, I do not venture into the terrain parks much, but our very own Kelly has been having some jib-tastic runs lately. As if all this wasn’t enough to get you excited, SNOW IS COMING!!! Now we don’t want to jinx this, but it is supposed to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday, and I’m hoping it is something big. All of us here at The North Face Breckenridge will be keeping our fingers crossed and doing a little snow dance. Perhaps we can all throw ice cubes out in the yard as an offering to Ullr, the snow god, in hopes for a good year. Get excited, it's ski season!

Bucca Girl

I would like to introduce you to another one of our very special shop dogs. Sambucca is my old girl, she is about 13 years old. Bucca was born in Massachusetts, spent most of her life in Maine with me then moved to Colorado with me about two years ago. I think Bucca likes it here as much as I do!! Unfortunately she can't join me for the 14er hikes anymore, just too old to make it to the top. We still go for great walks every day and she comes to work with me about once a week. Tough life for the dogs in Summit County.
Stop by The North Face Breckenridge (www.breckgear.com) to say hello to Sambucca and check out the latest and greatest in winter Snowsports gear and Outerwear!

Shop Dog

If you are strolling Main street in Breckenridge it's just about guaranteed that you will be saying hello and possibly petting numerous dogs along your way. At The North Face Breckenridge (www.breckgear.com), there is a friendly dog here almost most every day. Jasper is just over one year old and comes to work almost every day his dad Greg does. Jasper brings in the people, Greg gets paid. Jasper responds to many names such as J-Bird, Bird Dog and Little Brown Dog, so feel free to pick one and call him what you like when you arrive. Don't worry, J-Bird is super baby and child friendly. No need to be nervous with the little ones around! Jasper's favorite activities include mt. biking with friends, cross-country skiing, herding sheep, and licking your face!

Above is Margo and Jasper in our office. Margo is a long-time member of The North Face Breckenridge Crew. Margo leaves us in the summer to Guide whitewater out of Buena Vista.

The North Face Breckenridge in Mexico-May 2007

This past May we went to Mexico for an end of the season vacation celebrating a fantastic year at The North Face Breckenridge and http://www.breckgear.com/. All of our managers and significant others were invited along to basque in the sun in coastal Sayulita, just outside of Puerto Vallarta. Sayulita is a small fishing village that relies on tourism as a major source of income, but is not spoiled by the "Americanized" resorts that line the beaches of the popular resort destinations in Mexico. Smaller villas and family owned hotels take the place of the enormous air conditioned hotels. Don't worry though, the cost of staying in one of these great homes is very reasonable.

In Sayulita, expect to eat mass quantities of fresh food prepared by skilled, local chefs. Most of the restaurants offer fresh fish caught the very same day as well as all your favorite traditional Mexican dishes. Activites in Sayulita include shopping, surfing, exploring the jungle, fishing and of coarse relaxing on the beach with a good book. Check out www.SayulitaLife.com for more information on this wonderful destination.

Steve, Pete, Jenny and Susan-Making it all possible!

Two new inches of snow on the ground when I woke up this morning here at Breckenridge. Lets not talk about that right now. Here is a great shot from biking in Buena Vista with The North Face Breckenridge crew.

Anne St. Clair rocks it on her sweet new Ellsworth!!!! this was one of the more impressive shots of the day. One guy went over his handlebars, someone else had a migraine, we won't mention names.

Buena Vista

So no new snow to speak of here at Breckenridge, but there is always fun stuff to do in Colorado. About an hours drive from Breckenridge is the town of Buena Vista. It is dry here a good portion of the year and there is plenty of single track to explore. Today I rode with Tony and Greg from The North Face Breckenridge and Anne who is a guide out in Moab. It was about 60 and sunny with some decent winds. Not bad for November! Its easy to get here.....we just went West on 285 and took a right on road 315 about 10 or 15 miles outside of Buena Vista. Follow this dirt road for a few miles and look for trailhead parking on your left. Very easy to find.

Opening Day!

Hello all!

I figured that it was time for another post... Friday was the opening day for Breckenridge Ski Resort and Kelly, Andy, Tony and I decided to take a fieldtrip and go play in the snow. Andy and Tony met Kelly and I at our housing complex and we decided to use the Summit Shuttle... a great free way to get around town. I come from a place where you drive an hour and a half to get to the ski resort, so the idea of putting my boots and stuff on at home was totally foreign. I managed. We got on the bus, and within 10 minutes we were at the lift. The bus dropped us off right there! The lines weren't long, and they were movin' so we were in our skis (Kelly on his board) and on the lift. Right now, due to the fact that its early in the season, Breckenridge is rockin' the man made snow... it was my first time skiing Breckenridge, and while there was only one run open, I had a blast. Its a great feeling, being relatively new in town and running into a ton of people that you know while skiing. Im feeling more and more that I truly am making a niche for myself here. The boys and I took 5 or 6 runs, and decided to call it a day... (You know, its exhausing having to wait for them at the bottom the whole day). The bus ride back was an adventure as we took the wrong one, and instead of walking the 3 blocks back to my place, we decided to wait 30 minutes for the next bus. Hey, come on. We were tired. I have to say, that my first Breck ski experience was wonderful, and the forcast tonight is for snow... so we will see when I can get up there again, and hopefully rock some natural powder. Until Next time...katie

Skiing in Breckenridge

So we didn't have any record snowfalls beofre opening day last Friday, but the skiing and riding was great! On Friday, November 9, Breckenridge Ski Resort opened for the season. The first lift to open was the Beaver Run Chair servicing Columbia on Peak 9. We do have some weather coming in for this week so keep your fingers crossed! Keep checking back here for weather updates and The North Face gear pics. The experts in our store know what to use for gear and when to use it. Let us help you find the best gear for this winter!

Kokopelli Trails

Right now its winter up in the mountains, the Basin is open for skiing and out the window I can see the snow coming down. If your like me and aren't quite ready for this winter thing, there are many options. Colorado is a huge state and has a lot to offer. At lower elevations theres no snow yet and many of these areas in the state have numerous Mt. Biking and recreational trails. The Grand Junction area is about a three hour drive from the Summit County area and makes for a great day trip as long as you don't mind a little time in the car.

The Kokopelli Trails are super easy to assess and are a great place to start in the area.

Drive west out of Grand Junction on I-70 to Loma Exit #15. Turn left (SW) and over I-70, then make a right (NW) turn at the sign that points to the Kokopelli Trail. Then turn left (SW) before the truck weigh station and over the cattle guard to the parking area with the bathrooms and trail information. The map posted at the parking lot will give you all the information you will need to spend a day in the Kokopelli Trail system.

Yesterday we did Rustler's Loop and Horsethief Bench. Rustler's Loop is a great beginners trail to start out on. The view of the Colorado River Canyon are impressive! Horsetheif Bench can be accessed off Mary's Loop. Unless you are a pro or extreme downhill rider, you will be hiking your with your bike down the first portion of the trail. This will take about 5 to 10 minutes and leads you to a great loop in the canyon. This 4.0 mile easy-moderate loop treks through slickrock, some dry washes, and even a small canyon on the way below beautiful sandstone walls.

Here are some pictures from the area!