The BreckGear.com Blog

Feels Like Spring

2011-02-15T16:59:00.003-07:00

The temperature is in the mid 30's today and it feels like heaven. You know it's been ridiculously cold when you walk outside and think it's warm, only to have the temperature gauge read 8 degrees. The low to mid 30's feel like a summer day. The snow is supposed to move back in by Thursday and winter will be back.

On Friday I begged my friend to go out for a skin/ cross country ski with me. Since she's in the process of acquiring gear, I let her use my AT (alpine touring) set up and I used my cross country skis. We headed up Baldy and had a gorgeous night ski. The best part was watching her try to skin with adjustable poles that kept shrinking until her hands were practically at her knees. Eventually she figured out how to tighten them up and the ensuing ascent was enjoyable. I wish we had a camera that night, the town looked gorgeous lit up against the snow.

The view of the ski area from the summit of Baldy. We were a little lower than this, but a couple of weeks ago, I headed out with Brett before work and skinned up to the summit and had a great ski down.

Although we've had a ton of snow, the typical Breckenridge wind has been blowing and packing down that gorgeous powder. I headed up Little French Gulch with a friend on Sunday and the snow was wind crust for the first half of the turn and the second half would be super soft, sink down to your knees snow. It was a tough ski down, but the skin up and the views were more than worth it. I had been up there two months ago and the wind drifts were five times the size they were the first time. Ridiculous.

I also made it up to Peak 6 for the first time a week or two ago.

I don't know how I have been missing that. The skin up was a little sketchy- wind buff was maybe an understatement at times, but the ski down was more than worth it. The snow was soft and deep and completely untracked.

Next week The North Face corporate and The Skylark Group, our rep group, are sending two of us from TNF Breck to a two day avalanche workshop. I lucked out and grabbed a spot. It is an industry-only avy workshop with speakers Martin Volken, an IFMGA, AMGA Guide and author of "The Backcountry Skiing Book," Andrew McLean, a ski mountaineer and author of "The Chuting Gallery," Ace Kvale, an adventure photographer, Kasha Rigby, a ski mountaineer and TNF athlete, and Brad Sawtell an avalanche forecaster. The opportunity to attend a workshop with experienced outdoorsman as well as recieve my avy one cert is pretty incredible.

I hope your winter has been soul-fulfilling thus far.

La Nina Loves Breckenridge

2011-01-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

January 18 saw 26" of fresh snow for a record 1day snowfall total in 18 years. And then it kept snowing. The last week saw 58" of snow- that's 2" shy of 5 feet in one week! Incredible. There's no over-reporting going on here. The streets are full of snow with no where to put it- parking is a challenge!

The weather report is calling for more snow for the next three days. La Nina really does love Breck.

Check out the radar too, storm after storm is heading onto the continental US.

If you're in town, come visit us, we have a pretty nice 20% off section in the back of the store.

Catch Up, Anyone?

2011-01-03T11:52:00.006-07:00

It's been a quiet start to the new year around Breckenridge. Maybe the negative degree temperatures even before wind chill have contributed to that. It has been miserably cold the past couple of days, but it seems to finally be warming up.

We had an incredible start to the ski season- we were graced with powder day after powder day until the week before Christmas. It has tapered off a bit recently and the storms have been favoring the southern part of the state as they normally do early season, but we're hoping for a change in the jet stream that will bring us some big storms from San Francsico. Last night six inches hit us and hopefully more is coming in the next couple of days.

A picture from the resort this morning

In other news, we've hired two new employees who now feel like a part of the family.

When Peter walked in to pick up an application we chatted for a little while and he turned out to be a mini Greg. He has spent his youth and college days playing soccer and his summer whitewater rafting. If there are two things Greg loves in life, it's soccer and rafting. Peter was an instant in.

Peter and Susan checking out his white elephant gift

Historically we are a one girl in each store type of business, and you know, I kind of like it. But this year Greg met Lindsey and she was in. Next door at the Main Street Outlet we hired two girls also- it's pretty great to have more female energy around the company.

Lindsey has the moustache on along with the girls from the Outlet- Sara and Averi

Our company grew this summer as we partnered with Columbia Sportswear and opened the Columbia Breckenridge store, located at 108 S Main, across the street from Downstairs at Eric's. We lost one of our own to the Columbia store. Brett moved down to co-manage the shop with Timmy from the Outlet. It was a great move for him and a great loss for us. We miss him everyday. Luckily he still stops in for a quick chat most days. Since we opened Columbia our holiday party grew to the point that we almost didn't fit in front of the fireplace for our annual picture.

The party was just as good as last year's- the food was incredible, the gifts were hilarious and it's always wonderful to spend the time hanging out together outside of work. This year after the party we took over The Motherloaded Tavern for a couple of hours and then we had the urge to dance, so we made our way to Liquid Lounge, where we got some pretty sweet pics.

Love this one of Jeff

This has been a pretty great season so far- lots of snow (soon we will be thanking Ullr for his generosity), great new hires, and a wonderful holiday season.

Breckenridge Ski Resort Open for The Season!

2010-11-17T15:59:00.004-07:00

At 5:30 this morning, Breckenridge Ski Resort had reported 20" of new snow in the past 24 hours, making this one of the best openings in a number of years. The t-bar also opened today which is the earliest we have had lift access to this terrain in history! I was returning home from a product showing in California and sadly wasn't in line for the opening or the fresh pow but I'm sure it was a who's who in line this morning. Whats a who's who at the t-bar line you ask? It's when all the locals, shop owners and skilled skiers rush out to get the first and best tracks in Horseshoe Bowl and the surrounding runs.

Here's a picture of me, Sydney, Sara, Brett and Timmy on opening day just after our free french toast at One Ski Hill Place.

I promise to have lots of great pictures of us skiing some better terrain, and to keep you updated when something BIG happens at Breckenridge!

Ski Wear Decoded

2010-10-06T13:35:00.002-06:00

Andy and I filmed short commercials for the local Resort Sports Network station explaining what to wear on the hill for a normal ski day and for a cold ski day. Most days here would be considered cold for most people, but then we get the bitter, -63 degrees with windchill days that are almost impossible to dress for. We layered up well and explained the rationale behind each layer.

Andy with what to wear on a normal day:

Me with what to wear on a cold day:

Send comments our way with questions, related and unrelated to the videos, and we'll let you know how we've solved that ski day or even just winter day conundrum.

Also, don't forget about the Speaker Series featuring Kit DesLauriers coming up this Saturday, October 9. Come join us at 5:30pm at The North Face Breckenridge for a VIP reception where you will be able to chat with Kit one-on-one, as well as other outdoor enthusiasts. Tickets are available for free on a first come first serve basis, while guaranteed seating begins at $8.00. Tickets for the VIP reception, which include preferred seating, a meet and greet with Kit, beer, wine, and light food, are $20.00. All proceeds from the VIP reception will benefit The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC),which is a "national leader in outdoor education serving all people, while ensuring the outdoors is accessible to those with special needs and disabilities." All tickets are availiable for purchase here.

2nd Annual Speaker Series

2010-09-23T16:24:00.000-06:00

The North Face Speaker Series_2010_trailer from camp4 collective on Vimeo.

We're getting excited about our second annual The North Face Speaker Series on October 9th. This year we're hosting ski mountaineer Kit Des Lauriers, the first person to ski the seven summits of the world, which she completed in October of 2006. In 2010, she embarked on a journey to bring awarness to the effects oil drilling would have on the 19.6 million acre Arctic Refuge and she'll be sharing her adventure with us. We can't wait to meet her and hear her story.

Check out her video

Kit will be speaking at the Riverwalk Center at 7pm, Saturday, October 9th. Come join us at 5:30pm at The North Face Breckenridge for a VIP reception where you will be able to chat with Kit one-on-one, as well as other outdoor enthusiasts. Tickets are available for free on a first come first serve basis, while guaranteed seating begins at $8.00. Tickets for the VIP reception, which include preferred seating, a meet and greet with Kit, beer, wine, and light food, are $20.00. All proceeds from the VIP reception will benefit The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC),which is a "national leader in outdoor education serving all people, while ensuring the outdoors is accessible to those with special needs and disabilities." All tickets are availiable for purchase here.

We hope to see you there!

Mountain Bike Stoke

2010-08-21T22:18:00.002-06:00

Check out this video of TNF snowboarder Ralph Backstrom mountain biking in New Zealand

New Zealand Mountain Biking Video from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

Here's another one of TNF skier Sage Cattabriga-Alosa

summer bike road trip 2010 hi res from sage on Vimeo.

We've been mountain biking our summer away also. It's been raining like crazy, but we find a window in the morning or afternoon and head out for a quick spin. On the positive side, the rain has been making for some amazing wildflowers and mushrooms.

Andy and I have been racing in the local mountain bike race series, the Summit Mountain Challenge, and it has been incredibly fun. It's been great to get out and meet more like-minded locals. Everyone in the series feels like family and is encouraging and supportive, even as a newby. I really enjoy participating in the races and look forward to more next year.

We're beginning to get our winter gear in, which means spring items are on sale. Come on in and check out our hot new gear and get outfitted for the snowy season. It's coming soon, there's already frost on the ground at night. Yikes!

(videos via The North Face Facebook fan page)

Mud Season

2010-06-24T14:26:00.000-06:00

The month of May was quiet around the streets of Breckenridge, so our staff took the opportunity to get away to Moab for a week.

It was warm, sunny and only slightly windy.

We biked. A lot.

The first trail was Amasa Back, where we met a friend.

He was a downhiller from California on his first cross country ride.

Then we hit the Slickrock trail. Some of us hit it more literally than others.

Andy going down the Slickrock trail

Brett on the Slickrock trail with the La Sals in the background

Brett and Greg lookin' tough

We camped next to the river with some beautiful trees.

Which, unfortunately, held mass amounts of caterpillars:

We picked them out of tents, luggage, and Greg even had one crawl up his shorts.

We also kept camp with some ferocious dogs

Jasper and Lulu playing

A sunset hike in Arches National Park to Delicate Arch was a must.

Brett, me, and Andy in a hole with the sunset laden La Sals

And, of course, there was just general goofiness, because what is a day around The North Face Breckenridge without goofiness?

Love. Just plain love.

After Greg, Jacque, and Brett left, Andy and I did some more biking.

Takin a break at the top of the Sovereign trail

After a week, it was time to head home. We all had another week off.

Andy and I headed to Maine.

We got to spend most of our time here:

Andy's parent's camp

On this lake

I ate lobster for the first time

Eric, Andy's brother, me, Andy, and the lobsters in between us

Andy said, "You're going to put one in and I'm going to take a picture of it!"

It was a wonderful vacation. Thanks, Steve, Susan, and Pete for giving us some vacation time!

Snow, Parties, and Jackets

2010-05-01T14:55:00.002-06:00

Main Street traffic has greatly decreased and the weather, well, the weather does what it always does. Sun, snow, rain, sun, rain...

We've been enjoying our couple of days of 50 degree heat- bringing out our shorts and sandals for the two hours a day it is warm enough and trying to ignore the snowy days, knowing they will eventually pass.

We had our annual end of the year party at Carter Park.

It was goregous and the food was wonderful, as were Steve's famous margaritas. They warned me ahead of time not to drink too many.

Japser and Margo photo op.

True to the North Face Breckenridge tradition, Greg, Brett, Margo, and I were matching in our Meru Paclites.

Really, Greg is just irresistable, even Brett thinks so.

Greg and I tested the jackets out about a month ago on a hut trip up on Vail Pass.

Before we left, a group of us decided to brave the 50+ mph winds and skin to the ridgeline.

Although it was windy, it was a gorgeous sunny day to be out.

Andy's comment was the best: beautiful conditions...no wind and the snow was so soft.

Vail Pass is behind me and off to the right are the mountains of Vail Ski Area

We enjoyed the view for about thirty seconds, then took off our skins, I wallowed in the snow for a couple of minutes, sunk to my hips in snow that I couldn't get out of to put my skis back on, and then skiied down a decent pitch to get a couple of turns in.

We ended up having to traverse some tight trees to get back to the hut. Although we snagged about fifty branches between the six of us and a couple of us almost lost our balance into some tree wells, the jacket looks like I've kept it in the packaging.

It is now in the "take" pile for our Moab trip.

Silverton and Sunny Days

2010-04-09T14:33:00.002-06:00

Tucked into the San Juan Mountain Range in South Western Colorado is a little town called Silverton. About 6 miles outside of town is Silverton Mountain, a expert only guided ski area. The annual snowfall exceeds 400" and there are far less skiers and riders on any given day. One chairlift, perfectly located, takes you everywhere you want to go. Unless you want to jump on the helicopter! The team from Smith Optics took me and 9 other lucky retailers from Colorado to Silverton on March 18. And yeah.....we got a heli drop. Here we are on the helicopter. Unfortunately no footage of the amazing line we skied.

Thank you Heather, and the rest of the Smith Optics Team. Your products and dealer satisfaction are top notch.

store news: we have wrapped up our winter season at BreckGear.com. There are only a few offerings on the site but if you are looking for something, just give us a call at The North Face Breckenridge! 1-877-TNF-BRECK We are fully stocked and getting new spring arrivals every day!

Bluebird Week

2010-03-20T18:40:00.000-06:00

I hope you have a goregous bluebird week.

The last week was incredible here, sunny and in the 50's.

Today has been incredibly cold, but next week's forecast looks warmer.

Here's to warm sunny weather so we can get outside and bask in it.

Photo via: the amazing photographer Katie Thurmes, check out her wedding photos

A Whole Lot of Awesomeness

2010-03-10T20:40:00.003-07:00

I have been down and out for the past month- one sickness after another. Luckily, I am now on the mend and itching to adventure again. It doesn't need to be a big adventure, I just want to be out in the snow and sunshine and on a trail or mountainside. Finally, I'm craving it again.

Yesterday, Andy and I had a day off together and I begged him to skin up Baldy with me.

Andy skinning up Baldy a couple of years ago- the views of the ski area are incredible.

It took us about two hours with Jasper and Lulu, the dogs, in tow.

Jasper

Lulu and Margo

We felt especially slow when a woman skated past us on the steepest part like it was no big deal- leaving us far behind. I was exhausted by the end and Andy wanted to go to the gym. Typical.

Today I hiked/ran the Peaks Trail, right outside our apartment door.

It's my new obession. It is uber-close, you could go for 20 miles roundtrip if you wanted, and it is amazingly beautiful up there. In our county full of dying trees, the trees here are (shhh) big, close together, and most importantly, green. I found a little loop that has steeps, fall lines, and flats that is perfect to do in a fast hour. I just can't get enough of it.

I am also obessed with the best purchase I have made all season. My Shugga Thatch suit. It is incredible. I know one pieces are out, but everyone should wear one of these. You're warm, you look like a super steeze, and it's incredibly comfortable. No more cold winds blowing up your back.

Andy is embarrassed of me.

Hanging out on the cornice overlooking the Imperial Lift- the highest lift in North America. When you hike up here to the top you're at about 13,000 ft. Usually the hike feels like you're climbing Mt. Everest because it's blowing at 50 mph. It's great.

Even with all of this awesomeness, I find myself wishing for this

and this

Soon, soon mountain biking season will be here. Now hopefully El Nino doesn't decide to dump feet of snow in June. Please no.

Snow Continues to Fall in Breckenridge

2010-02-23T09:15:00.003-07:00

We may have been a little quiet about it throughout the beginning of this winter, but for a while we were in serious need of snow. Lots of snow. Much of the State of Colorado was in the same situation. This is a problem for many reasons, but three stand out the most for those of us living in the mountains. The three reasons are powder skiing, powder skiing and powder skiing. No, seriously, were not that obsessed (or maybe we are). The lack of snow can have a tremendously negative impact for the entire state. Low snowfall amounts can effect our economy, our drinking water supply, and yes, the skiing and riding.

Why are you so worried? THE SNOW IS HERE! If you're a local you already know, and if you're planning a trip to Breckenridge, CO there is nothing to worry about. In the last 7 days Breckenridge has reported 27" of new snow and there was lots last week too. Put your rock skis away kids and get ready for powder.

Check out the weather report for this week. The National Weather Service is calling for MORE SNOW!

Lets talk about the economy for a moment here. Many retailers chose to cut back drastically in the amount of product they were offering the consumer this winter season with the fear that it wouldn't sell. It you're a retailer OR a consumer you are either running out of winter gear to sell or you are having a hard time finding the right pair of snowboard pants or the perfect technical ski jacket. At The North Face Breckenridge and BreckGear.com we like to take a different approach. We have a great selection of ski and snowboard jackets, pants, waterproof and warm winter boots, fleece and quilted layering pieces, and tons more. Stop by at BreckGear.com and take a look. If you don't find it there, we have way more here at The North Face Breckenridge and we would love to hear from you. Give us a call toll free at 1-877-TNF-BRECK.

Snow Sculptures

2010-02-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the Budweiser International Snow Sculpting Conest. They announced the placings yesterday. I haven't seen it yet, but have heard it's as incredible as always.

This is a video from last year, but it's awe-inspiring to see how they do it.

Boones Farm, Snuggies, and the Colorado Flag

2010-01-15T17:27:00.002-07:00

The North Face and Main Street Outlet crews gathered together to celebrate the holidays before the crowds descended.

The night was a good night.

The Boones Farm was arguably the hit gift of the night.

There were many Boones drinking pictures, unfortunately, this is the only one I have.

The Snuggies, however, were a close second.

What couple wouldn't want matching Snuggies to wear cuddled up on the couch together?

We all agreed the fleece was top of the line. The North Face should really pick up on this line.

The White Elephant gift exhange also included an Emu boot stuffed with Marker Spring Gloves and a bottle of liquor.

As well as two homemade Colorado hats.

We aren't simply materialistic drinkers, however.

It was a quite enjoyable to spend the evening together outside of our stores, though I must say, we all missed the store dogs, Japser and Lulu.

Luckily Andy received a picture of them.

Greg and Jacque are the beaming parents of the pups.

Some gifts were stolen.

Exhibit A: Anna opening a homemade Colorado hat, which I, two numbers later, stole from her.

Exhibit A1: Me looking quite proud with my steal.

Some gifts,

were simply consumed.

Friends joined us who, unfortunately, no longer live here.

Austin (the Rocky Mountain rep for The North Face corporate) and his girlfriend, a much enjoyed friend, Ashley.

You can see her daily on RSN

Wives joined in the fun:

Pete and his wife Jenny, with Bill and Anna

Husbands came too.

Dean and Tam-a-lam-a-ding-dong, the office manager

When the evening closed, we pretended we liked each other and gathered close.

Then us young folk took over Ullr's.

Though we had to sit in the snow in front of our award winning Snowflake Challenge Snoopy House first.

At Ullr's, tallboys and general ridiculousness ensued.

Need I say anymore?

Sick Pow

2009-12-14T17:21:00.001-07:00

The forecasters have been forcasting (strange, huh?) 3-12 inches of snow for Summit for, oh, the past three weeks and what have we gotten? Zero, zilch, nada. I mean really, it's to the point that whenever any type of snow is forecasted, we simply assume we will get, um, well, nothing. We've even been watching the radar and a couple of storms have been heading straight for the central part of the state when at the last moment, they turn south and it becomes an upslope storm.

Yesterday, however, we found the perfect forcaster in our co-worker Timmy, when he mentioned that when San Fran gets rain, we get dumped on. We quickly checked the radar and nothing less than San Francisco rain was happening. Overnight we indeed caught 5" of new snow. I know in the grand scope of things 5" is measly. Especially when Wolf Creek has received over 7 feet in the past two weeks. But, as they say, beggars cannot be choosers and indeed we are beggars. Our livelihoods depend on tourists and no snow brings no tourists. So instead, we chose to pay homage to Ullr today by bringing out the planks and hitting the snow.

We amassed a group of 9, most of whom work at The North Face or Main Street Outlet, and skiied around on some pretty nice fluff. There was much hooting and hollering to be had, letting Ullr know we were quite satisfied with his offerings and that we would accept more. E chair never opened, but around noontime the lifties dropped the lift line to T-bar (try not to ride it like this) and some nice pow turns down Contest Bowl happened. Now we no longer possess the "congested white strips of death".

We experienced a little Brecken-wind, but thankfully no Brecken-fridge and all nine of us arrived home or at work a little more tired and a lot more happy. Thanks Ullr.

Thanksgiving Rush

2009-11-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

A quick announcement for those of you who are staying away from the resorts: Peak 9 is officially open with eight beginner and intermediate runs, and three lifts to service them. The Peak 8 Superconnect is open without any runs under it, but at least you will be able to run back and forth between your blues and blue blacks.

Skiing, Biking, Learning

2009-11-16T15:40:00.002-07:00

Those are the three things I've been doing since posting. Well, maybe there are a couple more in there- working, sleeping, eating, you know, the usual. Those, however, are the most important. And, I thoroughly enjoy those three together.

Skiing: A couple of friends came up from Fort Collins two weekends ago and we headed out to the Basin (as us locals call it...I mean, it sounds far more "in" than A-Basin and exponentially better than Arapahoe Basin. So if you're visiting and are heading up Loveland Pass to ski, make sure it's the "Basin" you're referencing. [Just a tip])

Roxanne, Me, and Keeley in the short lift line. Can't you tell?

Luckily it was Keystone's opening weekend, so the lift lines at the Basin (see how I slipped that in, doesn't it sound like I'm in the know?) were pretty fast. We headed up the Exhibition Lift and headed straight for the Norway lift. The snow was decent, the day was unbelievable and we were having fun. In the lift lines we were practicing our best pick up lines and luckily a guy heard us and decided to use it on me on the way up the lift. Another guy turned around in line and told us we were "a hoot," which of course, we already knew as we had accompaniment from the chair in front of us while we were singing Don't Stop Believing the run before.

I mean, we just look fun.

I had to head out early to get to work, but for the first day of skiing, I was satisfied. Especially when dinner was ready for me, complete with table setting and tea lights when I got home that evening.

Biking: The next week was warm and sunny so a friend and I headed out to a trail in Dillon and rode our mountain bikes again.

Sara stuffing dog food in her bike bag. We like to attract bears.

The mountains were brilliant against the blue of the sky and the trees actually looked green.

Looking at Baldy and Quandary from across the county

(I guess most of the trees still look brown)

We both agreed it felt good to be out on our bikes before the snow really comes. The most exciting part of the ride though, was when we found a bear track. I used to bike alone quite often on the trails behind Summit Cove, and being afraid (ok, terrified- it might be a phobia) of bears, I would constantly be finding "bear tracks" in the mud. On closer investigation they were always footprints. But, truly, this time we went back and it looked like this: bear print. There was only one, but the ground was pretty hard.

Smiling before finding the bear print

Sara and Maddie, the real reason we had dog food

Skiing (again, it's what we do): Last Thursday was Breck's opening day, as Andy posted, and we definitely walked our eight minute walk up to the base and enjoyed some pancakes. Neither of us could ski that day, we had to be at work, but Timmy and Margo from The Main Street Outlet took one run and said it was great for opening day. I headed out on Saturday and though it was crowded, we took three runs and enjoyed getting out for the day.

Learning: Saturday night was the Colorado Avalanche Information Center's Benefit Bash (yes, those are two separate links). The only thing anyone could talk about during the day on Saturday was the benefit, so I figured I should go check it out. It was a fundraiser, complete with sick give aways like free skis from Fat-ypus, a sick ski company here in Summit County, and gnarly backcountry skis from G3, as well as trekking poles, packs, coffee, and jackets. Pretty much anything you need when you want to say, "yeah yeah gnar gnar shred some pow pow" and send it off a cornice. Anyway, everyone who is anyone in Breck was there- I swear I saw everyone I know in this town, including my cousin, which I was stoked about. There were vendors set up such as- Mountain Outfitters, Mammut, and Berthoud Pass Backcountry, where you could check out their products and they could feed you all their techy info while you sipped on your three free drinks and ate free food with your 2000 closest friends, all while it dumped outside. I would say that is a damn good night.

P.S. Check out this awesome blog from a college friend living in Crested Butte. Please don't defect blogs now that you've read his, though:
Tales from the Midcountry It's also linked on our sidebar.

Breckenridge Ski Resort Opens Tomorrow!

2009-11-11T11:32:00.006-07:00

Breckenridge will be opening tomorrow, November 12th for the 08-09 ski and ride season! Lifts will start turning at 9:00 am and there is sure to be a line starting early with devoted locals and front-rangers all wanting to be on the first chair. Just like last year, Breck is opening Peak 8 first, so park in town and ride the Gondola up to the base.

On a good year you would find me at the lift at 7:00 am, not to ride up, but to skin up to the Vista Hause. A little morning exercise to get the blood flowing and the legs burning. Unfortunately I busted up my knee and I will need to wait a little longer before I hit the slopes this year. Anybody know a good orthopedic?! What I will be doing is taking the five minute walk from my house to the Peak 8 base to enjoy some free pancake breakfast courtesy of The Breckenridge Ski Resort. Pancakes will be served at The Bergenhof deck starting at 8:30.

Breck will open with more skiable terrain than any other Summit County Resort, with 108 acres on 4 runs including Springmeier, Spruce, Trygve’s and lower Crescendo. The tall-t's are sure to be out too, highs in the upper 40's will bring plenty of skiers and boarders to the upper Park Lane triple jump line.

See you there!.........kind of

First Skin of the Season

2009-11-07T12:18:00.013-07:00

Brett, Sara, and I headed out for the first skin/snowshoe of the season on Wednesday. It was a gorgeous mid-fifty bluebird day. Although the snow was a bit hard and rutted in some places, we couldn't have asked for any better for the beginning of November. We hiked up to Francie's Cabin, as Sara hadn't been there yet and the basin it's in is hard to beat. Getting ready to head out

Brett is stoked be in the woods, especially in his Sedition II Gore-Tex Softshell jacket and Park Cargo pants

Sara looks like a pro already, I however, look like I have a crazy foot.

Montana, Sara's dog, wondering when we're going to catch up

We had to be creative in getting a group shot. I'm rocking my El Cap Temple 1/4 zip, which is made of 100% recycled fabric. It's wonderfully breathable and kept me dry the entire hike.

Brett's Patrol Pack and the ridgeline between Mt. Helen and Father Dyer peak. Check out this brief history of Father Dyer. He was quite the mountain man.

After hanging out on the hut's porch enjoying the warm day, after last week's frigid temps, we packed back up and headed for our "ski" down. The snow was less packed than the route we took up, but that meant that there were some rocks that were simply dusted with snow, rather than covered and we did a little tip toeing (as much as you can tiptoe in skis) down the trail. By the end our quads needed some rest.

I was so glad to be getting out and doing something fun. This shoulder season has been spent moving (literally my posessions to Breck) and working. Not much adventuring has happened in the last month, so this was a much needed mountain fix for our souls.

Speaker Series Success

2009-11-01T10:09:00.009-07:00

It’s the end of October again, the snow is dumping on the high country, and The North Face has started hiring again. The store picked up three new hires, Kyle, Jeff, and me, Sydney.

(Snow in the summer is so exciting)

I’ve been jonesin’ over this job for a while now- Andy and I have been friends for two years now and most of the previous employees have become close friends. Not only is the store in a sweet location with awesome people (employees and employers all included), it has a blog. That, for me, was the ultimate. Not only is there outdoor gear (which I live to wear while out skiing or mountain biking), but I can write about it too? Awesome. I am a creative writing major from CSU (go Rams) and have wanted to get into writing about gear and the mountain life. I’m stoked to (mainly) take over the blog, though hopefully my coworkers will share their adventures also.

We just finished with the Speaker Series and it was a wonderful success. Over 400 people attended, blowing all of the other cities attendance records out of the water. It began snowing heavily during the meet-and-greet, where people were milling around, chatting with friends as well as Conrad and Jimmy. We walked outside to make it over to the Riverwalk Center for the presentation and were shocked at the amount of snow that had fallen. Winter is officially here and we can finally bring out our skis. My friend from Fort Collins was in and asked if I thought this snow would keep people away, but of course it’s Breck and just the opposite, it stokes people up! The presentation was amazing and awe-inspiring. To think of spending that amount of time and energy into climbing in such conditions is just incomprehensible. After the presentation we took a group picture for 350.org to send to Congress as that day (Oct 24) was the International Day of Climate Action. 350.org is a site dedicated to creating awareness about necessary climate change and is lobbying to reduce the standard for emissions from the current 387 parts per million down to 350 ppm. The North Face has become a partner in their campaign and is working to create support for 350.org.

(Andy, in his Crimptastic Hybrid jacket with the 350.org pumpkin that Austin carved for us.)

After the presentation, the North Face Breckenridge staff and a couple of friends headed over to Giampietro Pasta and Pizzeria for dinner and fun. Jimmy, Conrad, Brook from The North Face corporate, and Lynsey Dyer joined us. It was an evening filled with wonderful Italian food (it’s a must stop in Breck), drink, and laughter. After the night was over we went outside and had the first snowball fight of the season.

The holiday season is close, so make sure to check out breckgear.com and begin ordering your gifts. Ladies take a look at the Mossbud Hoody. It's luxurious and beautiful on. I get tons of compliments on it every time I wear it. In fact, I have it on today and it's the perfect Sunday, feel-good-about-yourself top. It's a must on your holiday list.

And as always, stop on in at the store, we love to see you and hear about your latest adventure.

Athlete Profile - Bross Hannon

2009-10-20T14:30:00.004-06:00

Sponsors: Smith Optics, The North Face Breckenridge, Lone Star Sports

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Bross grew up in Summit County - Colorado's playground. Influenced by his dad, a sick skier, back country enthusiast and local business owner, Bross had the support he needed to become a professional at something that comes natural to him. At home in the park, Bross can also hold his own with any all-mountain ripper in the chutes, steeps, and back country bowls.

make sure to check out this video......

Untitled from Bross Hannon on Vimeo.

Age: 15

Hometown: Silverthorne, Colorado

Home Mountains: Keystone and Breckenridge

Events: USSA Freestyle, Aspen Open

Results: 4th USSA Telluride, 2nd USSA Winterpark, 2nd A-basin big air

Coaches: Chris Carson, Everly Gohmen, Steven Smith

Interests Other Then Skiing: Skating, and just hanging out with friends

Keep posted to watch Bross progress throughout the season

WHAT COMES NEXT? Bross plans on skiing everyday and as much as he can for the rest of his life. "I hope to win larger events and compete in the Dew Tour and X Games."

Speaker Series with Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker-Coming to Breckenridge CO!

2009-10-13T10:48:00.005-06:00

Right here in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker will be presenting Mount Meru–"The Center of the Universe": Teamwork and Tenacity in the Himalaya. None of us here at The North Face Breckenridge are extreme athletes or mountaineers, but we are all greatly inspired and very excited to get the chance to meet these guys in person. On Saturday October 24th at 5:30pm we will be hosting a VIP party here at The North Face Breckenridge at 322 S. Main Street. You want to be inspired? Go to The North Face Speaker Series site and get yourself a ticket to the VIP party. Enjoy wine, beer and delicious food. Support the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center with your ticket purchase. Get $20 back if you spend $100 or more in our store. All of this before you enjoy preferred seating at the presentation at The Riverwalk center. Sounds like a good deal to me!

Check out this video preview and please join us on Saturday, October 24th, 5:30 pm at 322 S. Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado. Better known as The North Face Breckenridge!

Don't know how to get here? Its easy! HERES YOUR GOOGLE MAP

View Larger Map

September Snow in Breckenridge generates BUZZ!!

2009-09-24T11:37:00.004-06:00

Yes, I said it, we got snow here in Breckenridge in the month of September, and here's a picture to prove it! As you can see, the trails on peak 8 are blanketed with a nice dusting of the white stuff! This week its been starting to look a lot like winter, with lows in the 20's and highs in the 40's. Are we surprised? No way! At 10,000 feet when Fall rolls around, you have to be ready for anything! What do I think about all of this? I'm pretty excited to get out there and use some of the new winter The North Face gear I got for this season, I just wish there was no "mud season" in between summer and winter. This week its snow, but next week we should have weather in the 60's, perfect for a nice bike ride around Summit County. Once the mountains are open for skiing and riding, I'll really be ready. On November 12th, Breckenridge Ski Resort will be opening Peak 8!

Click HERE to renew your Summit Pass, Colorado Pass, or Epic Pass for the 2009-2010 ski and ride season

Other good news around the county, A-Basin and Loveland ski areas have begun making snow for the upcoming season! The temps have been cold enough to keep the guns blowing the man made snow and the two resorts are again in a race to see who can open the first "white strip of death".

Make sure to check out BreckGear.com to look at our new The North Face winter arrivals. Just this past week we received lots of new styles and colors to help you get ready and stay warm this winter.

More Details--Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series

2009-09-02T11:50:00.003-06:00

As you know, on Saturday October 24th, Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker will be coming to Breckenridge, CO as part of The North Face Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series. Here at the shop we are getting excited to meet and chat with these extraordinary individuals. By attending the VIP party hosted here at The North Face Breckenridge at 322 S. Main Street you can get a unique chance to meet with Jimmy and Conrad. The VIP event starts at 5:30 pm and gives you an opportunity to chat, chill and shop if you want. By purchasing the $20 VIP pass, you not only get the chance to meet with Jimmy and Conrad, but we'll give you $25 back on any $100 purchase here at the store. Thats 25% off on the latest and greatest NEW winter gear from The North Face.

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE TICKETS ONLINE

Ticket Options:

7 pm at Riverwalk Center-Free Seat/Limited availability

7 pm at The Riverwalk Center-$8.00/Guaranteed Seat

5:30 pm at The North Face Breckenridge

The North Face Speaker Series

2009-08-22T18:49:00.012-06:00

Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin, two inspiring The North Face athletes will be coming to Breckenridge this fall as part of The North Face Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series. We will be sponsoring a meet and greet VIP party at our store, The North Face Breckenridge at 322 S. Main Street, on October 24, 2009 at 5:30 pm. Here you will get a chance to talk with both athletes and we hope that locals and visitors take advantage of this unique opportunity. At 7:00 pm, walk over to The Riverwalk Center here in Breck for Mt. Meru-"The Center of the Universe": Teamwork & Tenacity in the Himalaya, presented by Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker. Take a peak into the minds and souls of these two incredible mountaineers as they are pushed to the limit to survive the hardest climbs of their careers.

We recommend reserving your tickets in advance, as this is sure to be a sold-out event. Just go to The North Face Speaker Series page to save yourself a spot for the evening. The VIP Reception and Preferred Seat package is the best value. This $20 ticket gives you the chance to meet with Jimmy and Conrad at our store here in Breck, 25% off on a $100 purchase at The North Face Breckenridge at 322 S. Main, and the best seats in the house for the main event.

Be sure to keep posted for athlete bios and more details about this event!

Cool Temps

2009-08-09T17:52:00.002-06:00

I wasn't ready for it. This week I opened the season's first box of winter gear. I immediately took stock of what was happening around me, and all the tell tale signs of summer in the mountains were still in effect. The Aspen trees are still green, the wildflowers are out in abundance and the back decks of every bar in Breck are still packed at sun down. I am not ready to hang up the bicycles for the summer. The thought of hiking in snow sent a chill down my spine. Why was The North Face trying to shove winter into our already-too-short summer? I was quite offended and begrudgingly began the task of unpacking and organizing all the new product.
I opened boxes containing radically redesigned down jackets, clothing containing new carbon from bamboo technology, merino wool products that looked warm and comfy while just hanging on the rack. They unleashed waterproof/windproof soft shell jackets that stretch like yoga masters and of course the army of old stand byes that I was strangely glad to see again.
Once it was all unpacked I did what any self-respecting shop employee would do. I tried everything on. I tested out new combinations of outerwear and insulating layers. I tested the fit and movement of all the new pieces and before I knew it I was grinning ear to ear. I went home, put in my favorite Warren Miller flick and wondered "Is it winter yet?!?"

Thanks and don't forget www.breckgear.com. We will have all that product for you soon!

Jasper the Dog.

Breck 150

2009-08-02T16:55:00.002-06:00

Need an excuse to get out of the heat and spend some time enjoying beautiful mountain vistas?

Say no more.

Breckenridge is celebrating its 150th birthday this coming weekend and you are invited. The weekend is packed with family friendly activities to entertain you on top of the world class hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing and just plain relaxing it already offers. There will be scavenger hunts, live music and of course Birthday Cake. For a full list of events check out http://www.breck150.com/.

Come be a part of this wonderful history!

-Jasper The Dog
http://www.breckgear.com

Summit Trail Running Series

2009-07-16T18:39:00.003-06:00

Attention all runners the Summit Trail Running Series has begun!

This summer The North Face Breckenridge here at 322 S. Main street is sponsoring a trail running series and we want everyone to come up and compete. Races are on Wednesday evenings at 5:30. The location varies by week but they are always at a local Breckenridge Trail head and there is always a short course (~5k) and a long course (~10k).

The races have all been fun, well attended events with a great after party at the Quandry Grill featuring food and beer specials as well as awards and prize drawings sponsored by yours truly and many other summit county businesses.

You can register for the event here at our physical location on Main St. Breck. or over at the Breckenridge Recreation center or just follow this link. Registration is $15 or $20on race day for competitors 18 and older and registration is free for anyone younger that would like to get out there and hit the trail with us.

Have fun and good luck!!

breckgear.com staff and of course, Jasper the Dog.

MOAB

2009-05-31T12:31:00.002-06:00

Monarch butterflies, the roaming herds of African Wilda Beasts and Summit county residents all have one major thing in common. Seasonal migration. Every spring, while the snow melts and the tourism takes a break the residents of summit county attempt to colonize Kane Creek campgrounds just outside of the town of Moab. This area is the perfect break from the drab may melt of Breckenridge, it has hot weather, a lot of sand and you can swing a dead cat without encountering another great outdoorsy adventure.
We went for the mountain biking. Many trails were explored, the highlights being the Sovereign trail and the Amasaback trail (until Rob had to go and break his leg). Also the sovereign bluffs trail has dinosaur footprint fossils on it, which is pretty cool.

Jump Day!

2009-04-11T15:47:00.006-06:00

Sadly, Breckenridge is near the end of the 2008/2009 season, but the snowpack here in summit county is still holding strong. It is this time of year that we start to look just outside the boundaries of our beloved Breckenridge to the summit county back country for good times.

Recently the crew headed out just south of the town of Breckenridge (beacons, probes and shovels in tow) to explore some outlying areas and look for the perfect spot to build a jump. What better way to learn new tricks than to land in waist deep powder right? The day couldn't have gone better and here are some shots of the results.

Here Chaco the dog checks out some ski's, the crew hiking in (Austin stays comfortable in the Borealis Jacket and Drew keeps the wind out with the Diad Jacket) and Rob taking a short break in front of the kicker.

Austin Guinea Pigs the jump with a method grab
(FreethinkerII Jacket)

Tom goes for the backflip (oh he landed it)

Why would Ian go forward when he could go backwards

As always, thanks for checking in gang and we look forward to your next excuse to come visit us. Keep in mind that if you see something here that you can't find on our website give us a shout at 888 TNF BRECK.

Peace, Love and Kibble.

Jasper the dog

Spring foolishness

2009-03-20T15:34:00.011-06:00

A lot of people only spring break where there' a lot of sand and a lot of drinks with tiny umbrellas on top.
Those people are what we like to call wrong.

Spring in the high country is the time to be out an about and the Breckgear.com crew has been leading the way in alpine tomfoolery.

For your consideration the top ten things to do with your spring break in Breck.

1. TAKE ME FOR A WALK. I jasper the dog love being walked about town and YOU are perfect for the job.

2. Go Snowmobiling. Its like jet skiing with out all that pesky sunscreen.

3. Go Sledding. We stopped the aging process right around Seven.

4. Go Dog Sledding. You know you have always wanted to do that. We have the perfect spot for that. (Good Times Adventures)

5. Go Cross Country Skiing. here margo enjoys a lovely view of the summit county back country while a breathable apex softshell keeps her comfy.

6. Go Back Country skiing. Here Austin cruises up peak six for the ride of his life in a Cipher Windstopper.

7. Steal your college mascot and take him skiing. Recently the Rocky Mountain Dukes Club hit the hill. (James Madison University). Austin models the freethinker II jacket.

8. Go on a hut trip. The outlaying areas of Colorado are riddles with perfectly well equipped back country cabins. Great for a one night in and out or stringing a couple spots together for a longer voyage.

9. Go for a Snowshoe. Breck is surrounded by trails for all experience levels. We love an excuse to get out there and enjoy the world around us...So will you. We even know where you should rent Snowshoes!

10. Hit the hill. Breckenridge has acres of world class skiiable terrain, including trees, high mountain bowls, moguls, freestyle parks and all the groomers you could want to have a great day on the hill.

If you see something you like but can't find it on the website give us a shout at 1.888.tnf.breck and we will get you hooked up.

We'll see you out there!!

Jasper the dog.

Fleecing the facts

2009-02-20T10:09:00.005-07:00

Lets face it, there is a lot of fleece out there, and its a confusing world with its own language. To help you figure this mess out, I, Jasper the dog, have recruited an expert on the subject, Dr. Rahm McSheepy (pictured below with his wife Ewellen), to shed some light on the subject.

J:Hello Dr. McSheepy, Thanks for joining us on today's Q and A session.
R: Ahh yes my boy happy to be here, and you may call me Dr. Rama.

J:Okay, Dr. Rama, what is fleece?
R: Zat is a good question, the fleece you are thinking of is a very lightweight sheet fabric made from synthetic polymers.

J:What does multiple wives have to do with anything?
R:Polymers, Jasper, not polygamy. A synthetic polymer is a man made material. The term is generally used in reference to plastic.

J: You mean like water bottles?
R:Well yes, and actually a lot of fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles.

J: So what makes fleece so good for outdoor gear?
R:A couple reasons. First, fleece traps a lot of warm air, which keeps you warm, without being bulky. Fleece is hydrophobic, meaning it doesn't soak up water. So as you sweat, it vents that moisture, and if you happen to get wet, it dries quickly. Fleece can also compact very well so it is very packable.

J: Sweet! I just got excited...I am a dog. Okay next question. How warm is it?
R:That depends on its gram weight.
J:Small words doc.
R: Those words are literally small words.
J: you know what I mean.
R:Fleece is sold by how much it weighs per square yard, generally in multiples of 100. For instance the TKA 100 Glacier is a fairly light weight fleece, good for layering or lounging. The Khumbu is a 200 gm fleece and is a little warmer but a little more of a jacket, and the Denali is a 300 gm fleece and is for very cold days or to be worn on its own, as a jacket around town.

J:Interesting. A fleece for all seasons! So whats with those names?
R: Well Khumbu and Denali are exotic mountain locales. Many Outdoor gear companies use the names of these untamed places to lend credit to their products. The TKA monacher is essentially a brand name of sorts.

J:I like Butterflies.
R: I see I've lost you, but I will keep going anyway. There are a number of fleece producer in the world. The North Face uses two primary types; TKA fleece, which is their proprietary brand of fleece and Polartech, an outsourced material.

J: There's no fleece Czar!?!
R: Ha. Far from it. But the North Face uses these two as they are the best. TKA is a high grade in house fabric so it is affordable, and the Polartech product is lighter and warmer than anything else on the market.

J: mmm I like warm and light.
R: well, you should look into the Aurora fleece or the Denali fleece if you want something a little warmer.

R:Jasper you are drooling.
J:oh right, sorry, Well that's about all the time my attention span has for me so I am going to say thank you and good bye and go chase that chipmunk out there.
R:Annnd he is gone.

Thanks for visiting Breckgear.com

Telluride

2009-02-03T09:47:00.011-07:00

Telluride...more like Telluriden...HA

Recently the Breckgear.com staffers had themselves a field trip. Normally we wouldn't be caught dead cheating on Breckenridge, but we couldn't resist the chance to go on a little sortee in search of new terrain.

We found ourselves six hours to the southwest in a cowboy town called Telluride. This town, like Breck, is one of the few places in CO that was a town first and then a ski resort. This gives the town a lot more character and historical context. Telluride got its name from people saying "to hell you ride," due to its untamed wild west history, but it has a friendlier demeanor now.

It has certainly got some beautiful views. This is Drew enjoying oneAlthough we had all sorts of terrain to chose from we found we liked the tree riding the best. Steep but open, these trees offered something Breckenridge doesn't and we made the most of it.

By the way if you are there and looking for lunch...we found a winner. Its called Fat Alley. Its about a block from the base of the Gondola.

I'm pretty sure this picture sums up our experience in Telluride.

Thanks

Jasper the dog

Sizing chart

2009-01-15T12:32:00.002-07:00

Welcome back gang!!

We have been getting a lot of questions lately about sizing. This is the link to a sizing chart that we use pretty often to help people get the fit they need.

Women's clothing conversion chart

Hope this helps and always we are available for further queries at
1-800 TNF BRECK.

Thanks,
Jasper

2008-12-15T12:05:00.006-07:00

This is why I'm Hott!!

Who knew the staff here at breckgear.com had so much talent. Not only can they accurately pack orders and ship them across the country while maintaining a sweet website with an even sweeter discount, but they can sculpt as well.

This year the staff entered the Breckenridge Snowflake challenge. This is an amateur snow sculpting competition hosted by the town of Breckenridge. This year's theme was winter dreams and we immediately realized that nothing would be a better dream come true than partying with a bunch of penguins. BAM! Team Loaded Penguins was born. We set about immediately setting the stage with an igloo and a hot tub, everyone knows penguins live in igloos and relax in hot tubs.

Next to be built were our party penguins, we carved a pair of trash can sized emperor penguins and a few more smaller penguins in the igloo and around the hot tub.

Guess what gang. we won SECOND PLACE in our first ever snow sculpting event!!

Jasper the dog

Chowdah

2008-12-03T13:24:00.009-07:00

POWDER ALERT!!!!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I couldn't agree more. This is Kelly.

Breckenridge has been smacked with the storm we have been waiting on, the resort is claiming 20 inches of fresh in the past week with more on the way. The local Breckgear.com crew could not be happier and we are making the most of all the snow.

As you can see we are charging the mountain but we certainly don't let the sun going down stop our fun. With all this snow literally laying around it was time to break out the shovels and make our backyards into the ultimate "apres ski" hangout. First to be built was a log "spine" or back to back quarter-pipes. This is accomplished by making a triangle of logs and covering them with snow.

Here Austin and Kelly land some pretty picturesque stalls.

In this shot, Kelly learns to fly as he uses the spine as a jump. Both riders are staying comfy through the build and jib session with The North Face soft shells.

Soft shells are jackets and pants made from a highly breathable stretch materials . They are ideal for the active outdoors man because they allow for a much larger comfort range. I jasper the dog have the ultimate outerwear piece but these guys seemed to have a pretty close second. They stayed comfortable while shoveling snow and hefting logs all afternoon and hiking up and down the yard well into the night. Temperatures dropped but the fun continues with the right gear.

If your are looking for the perfect piece for aerobic activities check out the Apex Bionic Jacket. This piece is windproof and water resistant, lightweight and bulk free.

If you don't find exactly what you are looking for or you would like to get one of the pieces in the pictures give us a call on our toll free number 1-800 TNF BRECK.

Soon to come...SNOW SCULPTING

Thanks for reading,

Jasper the dog

(Talk about hunt and peck)

How To:

2008-11-26T10:19:00.005-07:00

How to wax your skis or snowboard

Everyone makes mistakes

2008-11-20T11:28:00.004-07:00

Last year the snowsports industry went crazy over the new Marker Duke, a totally new and unique product from a company that's been making ski bindings since 1952. Whats unique about the Duke is that its a downhill binding with alpine touring capabilities versus an AT biding with downhill capabilities. The folks at Marker managed to give the Duke a din setting of 16 which was previously unheard of in the world of AT bindings. How did they make this possible? Lots of heavy plastic and more metal. Those of you who like to hike up the mountain before you ski down it may see this as a problem. You're absolutely right. The Duke is noticeably heavy when you're heading up and for a skier like me, not quite necessary when you're skiing down. See, I'm a little guy. At 155 lbs and very respectful of gravity, I would never use a din setting higher than 10! In the Duke's defense, there are some dudes out there that weigh a lot more than I do and are hucking it big of cliffs and jumps. Those guys could actually use a higher din setting making the Marker Duke the ideal product. Lesson learned. I hiked today with my new Fritschi Freerides and I love them.

Lets sum this up. If you're a little guy like me and you stay on the ground most of the time, I don't think you should get it! If you're a little heavier and you go big in the air not just on the ground, it's probably perfect for you.

Stop by BreckGear.com to take a look at all the great new The North Face products available for this coming winter!!

Breck Opens

2008-11-19T12:33:00.003-07:00

ITS HERE

The season has finally arrived and we here at breckgear.com couldn't be happier! Breckenridge opened a few days ago and the staff has been hitting the slopes hard.
One piece that has been constant for the crew is the sentinel thermal jacket. This piece has accomplished early season excellence by combining the supreme wind proofing and breathablitly of Gore "Windstopper" materials with a light weight, but durable, shell nylon. The piece also boast a highloft fleece interior for adding warmth. My friends keep giving me a hard time saying the jacket is so soft and comfy that it must be made from baby seals or unicorn horns or something.
It isn't; baby seals are a myth.
This jacket has been awesome for resort skiing and it is breathable enough for us to wear while we hike and skin in the mornings or evenings.

love
jasper the dog

shoulders

2008-11-02T16:01:00.004-07:00

Shoulder.

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines shoulder as the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk.
There are a few other definitions including parts of garments, pieces of meat and a few verb definitions to include carrying a load or knocking something over.

Whichever you choose, shoulder means only one thing to the Breckgear.com crew. Cleaning. In the summit county vernacular the shoulder is the time of year between ski season and all the other seasons. A-Basin and Loveland ski areas are open for business, but we (snowsnobs) tend to find ourselves hand washing baseboards or cleaning the interior of the trash can. You and I both know that cleaning the interior of the trash can is reserved soley for the truly bored or the completely "retentive." Main street Breckenridge will soon change from tumbleweeds to toontown and thanks to the doldrums of shoulder season we will be ready and waiting for the crowds.

Although I seem to be casting these "tweener" times as pretty weak, it is actually a great time to visit summit county. The Summit Daily is teeming with 2 for 1 deals at all the restaurants, hotel rooms are less expensive and you can literally dance around in the middle of Main Street. The weather is chilly, but lets be honest, it's a great excuse to release your inner pyromaniac. You know that guy, it's the voice in the back of your head that can't wait to get all the ornaments off the Christmas tree and see how big the flames will be once it's in the fire pit.
This time of year may not be for our usual adrenaline seeking crowd but there is ample room for a more mellow crew. Come on up and visit, the locals will be siked to see you (sweet diversion) and you know the shops will be spotless.

Jasper the Dog

Take a virtual tour!

2008-10-30T16:00:00.003-06:00

Many of you have been to our store in Breck and you know what kind of customer service we offer. If you have not been to The North Face Breckenridge before, now you can take a look around without even getting up from the chair you're sitting in! Simply click HERE to take a virtual tour of our store......its amazingly beautiful!

Gore-Tex Unraveled

2008-10-24T13:27:00.005-06:00

Gore-Tex Unraveled,

How warm is gore-tex? Do I need Gore-tex? Did Al Gore invent Gore-tex before or after the global warming?

These are a few examples of the misconceptions the staff here at Breckgear.com confront on a daily basis. We love it when people ask questions; as there is no sound as pleasing to our ears as our own voices, but understand that some people can be a little shy about phoning us up. That is why I, Jasper the dog, will set the record straight on this Gore-tex enigma.

To Dispel the aforementioned myths; Gore-tex itself is about as warm as a plastic grocery bag, you may or may not need Gore-tex, that depends on you and Al Gore invented neither of those things.

A brief bit of history:
Gore-tex is produced by the W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc. which was founded by Bill and Vieve Gore in 1958 when they started fiddling with their chemistry sets (or whatever it is that scientist do while wearing their haughty lab coats). Since then, the company has been producing some pretty amazing barrier layers with a lot of applications. You can find Gore-tex in electrical wiring sheaths, cutting edge surgical procedures and of course fine outdoor gear products.

The chemistry behind Gore-tex is fairly simple. It relies heavily on the fact that water vapor molecules are much smaller than liquid water molecules. Gore-tex is a membrane comprised of millions of tiny cones, the openings at the small end of these cones are bigger than a vapor molecule but smaller than a liquid molecule. Guys, as you get moving in the out of doors your body produces a bunch of sweat which is in turn vaporized by body heat. These molecules are pushed into the large end of the cones and out of the small end because your body is producing a lot more sweat. As in all things, when there is an overcrowding of these molecules in one place they will disperse to greener pastures, so to speak. Girls, a similar process occurs when you exercise except we all know that you don't sweat. Reread that last section and replace the word "sweat" with something like strawberry short cake or glitter or whatever you do. All of this is accomplished without letting any water or wind in.

Why does this matter? A garbage bag is waterproof, but you will probably freeze if you wear one because it doesn't let any perspiration out. Gore-tex does; and it is the best because it allows the most moisture out of any membrane. Thus, no water is hanging around your skin, sucking up all your heat and making you feel uncomfortable.

Gore-tex is a great waterproof breathable membrane but only you know if you need it. Every outdoor gear company has their own membrane or coating to accomplish the same goal, these are great options because they will keep you dry, they will breathe and they help keep the cost down. Its up to you to decide if you need more breathability

Opposable thumbs are for pansies,
Jasper the dog.

New Snow in the Mountains!

2008-10-22T13:27:00.003-06:00

Book your trip to Breckenridge NOW because winter is here! On monday, Breckenridge Ski Resort Snowmakers came out from hibernation and started making snow. On top of that, I woke up this morning to see a few inches on the ground outside my house and about 6 inches at the resort. It may be october, but its time to start thinking about the upcoming ski and ride season and what type of North Face gear you need to stay warm this winter! Check out the Live Cam to view our winter wonderland and check out The North Face Breckenridge for the latest and greatest in winter outerwear.

Beautiful Miss Bucca

2008-10-17T13:13:00.005-06:00

Much has gone on in the last week and I need to tell you about the bad news. Beautiful miss Bucca passed away last thursday, my best friend for the last 10 years. I adopted Sambucca when she was about 4 yerars old from a nice family in Belchertown Massachusets. Over the last 10 years she has been by my side keeping me company in a way only Bucca could do.

Bucca was starting to show her age and I do feel that it was her time to go. Instead of messing around with doctors and needles, Bucca found a nice little spot in the woods following a great hike to Lily Pad Lakes in Frisco, Colorado. I don't really blame her.

To make things a little better for me, Tony and I still took our trip to Fruita, Colorado and Moab Utah. Three days of mt. biking and one day on the road bike can do wonders for one's state-of-mind. Lets just say that the riding in Moab is much more technical than here in Summit County. Being rockstars, though, we tried everything we could and I only went over my handlebars once. Not bad.

The North Face Breck Crew

2008-10-08T16:36:00.003-06:00

Here's an old photo from this past may that I just got my hands on. Every year on the last day the resort is open, we have a little gathering at Carter Park to celebrate a job well done. Many of the great peeps from the Skylark Group joined us this year as well.

Check us out online at http://www.breckgear.com/ for the latest and greatest in winter snowsports apparel. We have a great selection and FREE SHIPPING!!

Product Review-The North Face Sentinel Thermal Jacket

2008-09-10T08:51:00.004-06:00

Working for a privately owned North Face store has some huge advantages, many of which include plenty of time to play in and around our mountain town as well as the feeling you get when you are truely enhancing the local economy. Another GREAT thing is all of the free stuff. Susan loves to dress us up in the latest and greatest The North Face has to offer.....every season. We, like everyone else in the industry, get tremendous pro deals from The North Face, but nothing is better than a gift!

New for this upcoming winter season is the Mens and Womens Sentinel Thermal Jacket and let me tell you, it is warm and comfortable. This Gore Windstopper piece uses a fabric that is exclusive to The North Face. That means that you can only get a jacket of this caliber from The North Face and we are very proud of it. This jacket is a true Summit Series classic that will be a great 4-season addition to your outerwear collection. The softshell exterior has a very soft handfeel yet keeps all of the wind and most of the water out. The interior is a high loft thermal fleece fabric that adds the perfect amount of insulation and comfort to this piece. It is well worth it to spend the extra money on a Gore Windstopper softshell because of the added breathability you get in comparison to other windproof softshells. In-house windproof fabrics rely on the density of the woven polyester to keep out the elements. This makes for a more "boardy" and stiffer feel and hinders breathability. Gore Windstopper uses a windproof membrane, a seperate piece of material, that keeps it all out while allowing moisture to pass through away from the body.

Take a look at the pics and check out these great jackets at our site, BreckGear.com

Oktoberfest 2008, Breckenridge Colorado September 12th - 14th

2008-09-03T08:47:00.007-06:00

Believe it or not, the days are getting cooler and summer is coming to end here in Breckenridge Colorado. You know what that means? Yes my friends, its time for Oktoberfest 2008!

September 12th through the 14th, Main Street in Breck will transform into a venue offering great food and drink from numerous vendors, live music with Those Austrian Guys, Schuhplattler dancers, kids’ rides and inflatables and much more. The street party kicks off on Saturday at 11 am with the first keg tapped at noon! Events on Saturday will continue through 6 pm. On Sunday the party starts at 11 am and will wind down around 5 pm. Will you be left standing?!

Oktoberfest 5k run/walk The race begins and ends at the beautiful newly expanded Riverwalk Center in Downtown Breckenridge. Get your weekend off to the right start with this 7th annual event leading you through the trails in Breck offering beautiful scenery and lasting impressions. Dont worry though, the race will be done in plenty of time to enjoy and experience the days activities!

Start time: 10 am

Call (970)453-1734 to pre-register.

Cost: Adults: $20 (pre-registered); $25 (race day)

Youth 17 & under: $10 (pre-registered); $15 (race day

VOLUNTEER! Its a great way to get involved and do something good for your community or favorite mountain town. The town of Breckenridge relies on these kind of activities to attract people to town and stimulate the local economy, but we can't do it all by ourselves.

Here's how you can help:

Beer Tent – Pouring beer or wine and collecting tickets from patrons. You must be 21.

Merchandise Tent – Selling drink tickets, steins and other event merchandise.

Set up/Tear down – Help set up/tear down the event site

For all the information you need to volunteer, call 970-453-5055

Check out the Town of Breck Website for the all the official information!

While you are here, stop by The North Face Breckenridge and check out all of our great deals on all the summer outerwear and sportwear. We have it all at 30 to 50% off!!

Beautiful Mohawk Lakes, Breckenridge, Colorado

2008-08-21T09:31:00.005-06:00

How to get there: Once you are on Spruce Creek Rd, continue on to the parking area at the end of the road. There are signs at the trail head describing your route. Its too easy. If you have a 4-wheel drive, you can continue on to the upper parking area to shorten your hike. There are limited parking spots here, but I have always been able to find one. Walk up to the end of the dirt road and you will see the trail heading back into the woods.

View Larger Map

There is something truly amazing about high alpine lakes. Upon arrival at Lower Mohawk Lake, I feel like I am close to the summit of the surrounding 13ers. This is a busy hike, but I still recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its perfect because almost anyone can handle the 3.6 mile hike (from the lower lot) and its super close to town. Only takes about 10 minutes to get there from The North Face Breckenridge store on Main Street!

Here is beautiful Baylor enjoying the cold water of Lower Mohawk

Baylor spent about 45 minutes in the ice-cold water on Tuesday! Not quite sure how he does it. Baylor also did some nice landscaping free of charge. He really likes rocks!

Stop by and see us in person and we can give you directions to so many other hikes in the Breckenridge area. Our personable staff members love chatting about the area and the outdoor activities we so enjoy.

Directions to The North Face Breckenridge:

View Larger Map

To the top of Loveland Pass.....Fun in Moab

2008-08-14T10:57:00.007-06:00

I have been pretty busy lately between work and a week long trip to the east coast. If you live in the right place and work for the right people, life can be pretty amazing. On Tuesday, Kelly and I decided to hurt ourselves and ride our road bikes from his house here in Breck to the top of Loveland Pass. It was a grueling 50 mile ride with plenty of elevation gain....I haven't done the math, but it was quite the climb. I do recommend it to anyone who loves to road bike, but since I hadn't been cycling in a couple weeks, maybe a couple 20 mile rides prior to this would have been a good idea!! Anywho, here's a picture of me at the top. Proof.

Our office manager, Tammy Chambers (who is amazing by the way) also got to have some fun lately. Tammy and her husband Dean and daughter Talon took their beautiful German Shepard to Moab for a nice little family camping trip. She said it was pretty hot and Gitmo couldn't get enough of the swimming.

As always, stop by The North Face Breckenridge in beautiful Summit County. We are located at 322 S. Main Street in Breckenridge. Also check out BreckGear.com and view all of our sale items as well as our NEW WINTER JACKETS!!!

New Winter Product At The North Face Breckenridge!!

2008-07-31T17:11:00.007-06:00

Thats right, the new winter product has arrived at The North Face Breckenridge and BreckGear.com! We are working like crazy to get this great stuff out of the boxes and on the floor so you can get the first look at this upcoming winter season's latest and greatest in outerwear and sportswear from The North Face.

Here is one of our favorites so far........The North Face Women's Thunder Jacket. Its the pinnacle, ultralight mid-layer for The North Face® athletes: a luxuriously insulated, highly compressible jacket for multi-purpose backcountry use.

If you like this one ladies, you should also check out the Women's Thunder Vest......
Guys, guess you'll just have to wait for your Thunder, we didn't get them yet. In the mean time, check out this sweet Denali Hoodie!

Locals who ride faster than me.....a lot faster

2008-07-17T09:47:00.004-06:00

Last night was my first time racing in the Summit Mountain Challenge, a racing series that caters to locals here in Summit County. Some of the riders are pros, and a handful are guys and gals that are in pretty good shape just looking to have a good time and push themselves mentally and physically. Being of the latter type, I was quite pumped up going into the 17 mile race on a course that I love. I didn't see what a demoralizing experience this would be for me! The guys in my group (Sport men 19-29) are very good riders that somewhat put me to shame last night. I was only about 12 minutes behind most of the riders in my class, but I just wanted to do better. I won't give up though, and plan on doing more races as the summer goes on. Hopefully my times will improve as I become more experienced riding with people who are that much better than myself!

Don't forget to check out all of the Sale Items at BreckGear.com! That's The North Face Breckenridge......Online!

THE NORTH FACE SALE!

2008-07-14T12:45:00.002-06:00

Its that time of year again, we are anxiously awaiting the arrivial of our NEW winter product! Good news for all of you because that means all of our spring and summer outerwear and sportswear is now on sale! Check out BreckGear.com for great deals on rainwear, softshells, running gear, lots of stylish sportswear and more! We are even still honoring our FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50 in addition to all the great deals at The North Face Breckenridge.
These super deals include the Mens and Womens Denali Jacket now offered at $119.95. This jacket normally retails at $165.......thats a great deal!

We also have the Mens and Womens Apex Bionic Jacket on sale at only $99.95. Thats a $30 discount!

Also, check out the great colors we carry in the Womens Oso Hoodie! This great jacket is on sale at $99.95. Thats a $30 discount!

Independence Day Celebration in Breckenridge, Colorado

2008-06-24T08:49:00.011-06:00

I think summer is finally here, and here to stay. This doesn't mean we wont get some flurries on the 4th of July, but the days are getting longer and sunnier, and the snow on the trails has almost melted. If you are a hiker or biker coming to town, you can pretty much go on any trail without running into too much snow. Trails at lower elevation and south facing are the best ones right now if you're looking for a nice dry excursion into the woods. Stop by The North Face Breckenridge for great advice on local biking and hiking trails, as well as info about just about any other outdoor activity! We also have tons of sportswear and outerwear at Breckgear.com that is ideal for climbing, hiking, cycling, fishing, rafting.......you get the point!

So there are numerous family oriented activities coming up here in Breckenridge, Colorado, that are sure to please the entire family. Visit the Breckenridge Welcome Center for the most up-to-date information on whats going on here in town, and read more below about some of my favorites!

Independence day is one of the best times during the summer to spend in Breckenridge. Along with all of the great restaurants and shopping opportunities along Main Street, there is a parade in the morning that kicks off with the USA CYCLING MARATHON MOUNTAIN BIKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, or better known here in town as the Firecracker 50!! This race is not only open to national champions, but beginners and juniors as well! For those of you that don't want to ride the 25-50 mile race but still want to be active, there is the Firecracker 10K trail run that starts at 8:30 am. For more info on the trail race visit GoBreck.com
Throughout the day there are free concerts, activities for kids and performances by the National Repertory Orchestra at the Riverwalk Center.

Mud Season

2008-05-02T11:02:00.006-06:00

Mud season has arrived in the mountains and for many Summit County folk this means vacations at the beach, trips to Moab, peace and quiet, and two-for-ones at the local restaurants. Another great thing to look forward to is all the sunshine and warm days bringing the snow to a melt and the rivers nice and high. The trails come clear and make way for the return of mountain biking season and tan lines. All of the raft guides bust out of Breckenridge and head to Buena Vista to get on the water as soon as possible.

Authentic local man from Sayulita selling mass produced goods from China at a reasonable price

This all sounds great, right?! If you have lived in Colorado for any length of time though, you know that the weather can be crazy and you learn to expect things to change a bit. Although, just realizing that a storm could come to town bringing 5 to 16" of snow to our mountains and streets doesn't keep us from complaining one bit. I am very anxious to get on my bike and start getting into shape but its tough when the streets are covered in snow and ice. In the meantime, I can appreciate all that our little piece of heaven has to offer. Not many people in North America can say they went skiing on their days off this week and few dogs in our country got to roll around in the snow this morning before mom or dad went to work. Biking season will come soon enough I suppose.

Sayulita Life great site with all the information you need get you started in this perfect Mexican town

Maverick Sports Promotions looking to do some racing this summer?!

BreckGear.com tons of new sportswear and outerwear for Spring '08!

2008-04-16T14:32:00.003-06:00

Another product review from The North Face Breckenridge!

The Covertible Vedder Jacket from The North Face is new for Spring '08 and is the perfect lightweight softshell for any aerobic activity. All of us here at the Breckenridge store are excited about this piece becuase of how versatile it is. It is nice to have a jacket that is perfect for cycling, hiking, running and climbing!

First of all, the sleeves zip off so you can quickly adapt to warming air or body temperatures when you are on-the-go. Stuff the sleeves into the dedicated pocket then easily zip them back on when Mother Nature decides its time.

The material used also makes this jacket perfect for the Spring, Summer or Fall. Apex Aerobic is a lightweight polyester softshell material that breathes extremely well while providing enough protection in the rain or wind to keep you comfortable.

Take a look below for the Men's and Women's Convertible Vedder Jacket:

Men's Convertible Vedder Jacket

Women's Convertible Vedder Jacket

New for Sring 2008

2008-03-22T19:59:00.005-06:00

We often get excited when new gear comes in for the upcoming seasons, and every year there are a few new products that we can't wait to use. The first one I will bring to your attention this season is perfect suited for and outdoor adventure in the spring, summer, or fall.

New for Spring '08, the ZOT Windstopper™ from The North Face is the perfect jacket for any endurance sport enthusiast. Breathability is crucial in outerwear designed for high aerobic activities, but you still need protection from the elements. The ZOT delivers both! The North Face took two of the best materials in the industry and put them together to build this amazing jacket, cousin of the award winning Cipher Windstopper™ jacket.

The front portion of the piece is constructed with a very soft, super lightweight Gore Windstopper™ softshell. This amazing fabric is the perfect weight for cool to warm temperatures when you need to protection from the elements without sacrificing breathability.

The underarm panels and mid-to-lower back portion of the ZOT are put together using the in-house, Apex Aerobic fabric. Also a softshell, this material has tons of stretch and is built to move moisture very efficiently while providing very good protection from the elements.

The North Face Men's ZOT Windstopper Jacket

The North Face Women's ZOT Windstopper Jacket

Show me some skin(s)

2008-02-20T22:09:00.005-07:00

The clouds this morning were orange and pink as I warmed up the car at 6:45. It only lasted a few moments as the sun slowly rose over Baldy Mountain and bathed the town and ski resort of Breckenridge in a warm, soft yellow light. The temperature was comfortably in the teens without a hint of wind as Andy and I began our skin up Peak 8 this morning.

This season Andy and myself indulged in the latest and greatest alpine touring gear. With new (and very expensive) alpine touring bindings securely mounted to our fat skis, we are able to switch between traditional alpine mode for ripping down the slopes and touring mode, which releases the heels allowing us to slowly climb up these very same slopes with the appropriate application of climbing skins. The climbing skins are a synthetic mimicry of real animal skins sporting very fine hairs all pointing in one direction allowing, when applied to the bottom of a ski, one to walk straight up a snow-covered slope without slipping back down.Thus far this season we have had very few days as beautiful as this morning. Our typical morning hike up the mountain has taken place with a biting wind, blowing snow, and a gray cloudy sky. I even hiked up in my The North Face Redpoint Optimus Jacket one morning with the hood up and was still cold. Today was not the case. Wearing only a base layer, a 100 gram Polartec Aurora Quarter Zip fleece, and an the extraordinarily breathable Apex Elixir Jacket, I was still working up a pretty good sweat by the time we reached our morning destination, the Vista Haus at the top of the Colorado Superchair. Andy didn't even complain once about his hands being cold.After removing our skins, we decided to bomb the groomed blue-black Spruce back to the truck. By the time I reached the bottom of the slope there was a smile plastered across my face from ear to ear. I was grinning like an eight year-old boy who'd just summited the enormous mound of dirt in the construction site behind his house. Starting the day off with a skin up the mountain has become for me what a strong cup of coffee is for others. It wakes me up. It makes me happy. It prepares me for the usually long day ahead. For anyone who wants to join, we will probably be heading up again Friday morning. Plan to be moving by 7:30. Stop by www.breckgear.com or visit us in person at The North Face Store on Main Street in Breckenridge to get outfitted in the best gear for your skin. It's on sale too!

More Pics from Alta and Snowbird

2008-02-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

As I promised, I have more pictures from our trip to Utah with The North Face Summit Dealers. Take a look, then don't forget to check out BreckGear.com for some great deals on the Fall '07 winter gear line.......It's all on SALE!!!

Wish I was

2008-02-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

this kid ROCKS! Check out the The North Face Breckenridge Athlete! His name is bross and he will be famous some day

New Snow in Breckenridge and Products on Sale at BreckGear.com!

2008-02-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Its snowing in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. Click to check out the WEATHER REPORT so you can take a look at whats going on here in Summit County.

ALSO, very important......everything is ON SALE at BreckGear.com!! You MUST check it out because its all 15 to 20% off retail price. Other sites have The North Face product on sale, but they don't have any stock. The good news is we have TONS of stuff left to choose from. Check it out before your size is GONE!

Again, thats BreckGear.com for the best selection and great prices on The North Face jackets, pants, and equipment.

The North Face Summit Dealers Event--January 2008

2008-01-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have posted, been pretty busy getting BreckGear.com ready for our Spring '08 shipment. We have some great product coming in for this upcoming season, check it out soon!

January 21st through the 23rd may have been the best three days of my life. The North Face Summit Dealers event was being held in Snowbird, Utah. Pete, Greg and I were invited to take part, and we just happened to fly into SLC with 1.5 feet of fresh on the ground up in the canyon. Here is a great video that was shot by one of the other The North Face dealers on the 22nd. There is no great footage of me, but im just outside the frame........

So much snow, yet still no pictures

2008-01-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

I would like to apologize on Andy's behalf. After reading his post from yesterday promising a slew of eye-popping photos documenting the great snow we have been receiving, I am sorry to report that both he and I neglected to take our cameras with us today. At least I didn't promise I would. If you need an idea as to how the skiing was for us today, I recommend you pick up the latest issue of Ski, Skiing, or Freeskiing magazine and flip to a page with a large photo spread of a few amazing skiers ripping down some untouched powder with snow billowing over their shoulders. After more than a few runs down the Cucumber Bowl at Breckenridge I had snow plastered all over the front of my pants and jacket up to my chin, and it wasn't all from my face plant off a little rock cliff I tried to drop. Not quite a snorkel day, but beautiful nonetheless. Hopefully one of us will remember our cameras in the next few days so we can prove how beautiful the skiing out here in Summit County really is. In the meantime, stop by BreckGear.com or The North Face store in downtown Breckenridge, and at least you can get the gear you need to rip up and down whatever snow-covered hills you may encounter.

Winter

2008-01-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry to inform you, no new pics to post today, just some great things to tell you about. We recieved a foot of new snow during this last storm and the skiing and riding at Breckenridge has been superb. Well, this is what Greg and Pete told me about yesterday on the hill, I haven't skied Breck for quite a few days. On my day off on Sunday, I ventured over Vail Pass to Beaver Creek to find some freshies. I spent the day exploring this quiet mountain, finding powder stashes all over the place and stopping off at a couple members only clubs for a gourmet lunch and a few afternoon coctails. "Not exactly roughing it". It has been since last year that I skied boot to knee deep powder and Beaver Creek didn't let me down on Sunday. That night I made it over the pass just before it closed till monday morning. After a couple days in Eagle it is VERY nice to come back to our REAL mountain town, Breckenridge.

I will be skiing tomorrow on my day off and I PROMISE to get some great pics, maybe in the windows, maybe up at the Peak 10 shack, you never know. Until then

Stop by THE NORTH FACE BRECKENRIDGE for the best selection and service and FREE SHIPPING*!

New Snow in Breckenridge!

2008-01-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

This is the perfect time of year in Breckenridge, the town has quieted down from the CRAZY holiday season and the snow is great! You haven't heard from me for a while due to the fact I have been working and not really doing anything fun. We do have some weather coming into the area, and I expect it to be pretty snowy for the next few days. Check out the Weather Report for Breckenridge, Colorado! Looks like we will be getting snow through the weekend, just in time for me to start skiing again on the not so crowded slopes.

Check back for more product reviews by the experts at THE NORTH FACE BRECKENRIDGE!

And as always, for the best gear on the planet, check out BreckGear.com!

Christmas eve sledding

2007-12-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-17T18:06:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-12-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Take a glance at this cool footage

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

2007-12-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2007-12-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-06T01:23:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

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

2007-12-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-11-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

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........

2007-11-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

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?!

2007-11-25T17:01:00.001-07:00

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.........

2007-11-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-20T15:50:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-11-18T22:56:00.001-07:00

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

2007-11-18T17:30:00.001-07:00

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

2007-11-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-11-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-11-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

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

2007-11-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-31T07:31:00.001-06:00

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!

First star on the right, and straight on till morning...

2007-10-21T10:56:00.000-06:00

Driving Back from The Basin
From my back porch
View comin' into Breck

Hello friends!

My name is Katie and I am a member of The North Face, Breckenridge family. I moved out to Breckenridge from Oregon about 4 months ago to try my hand at being adventurous. Im not sure if it was me or this town that made my transition so easy. This town is a little place with a huge heart. Everyone here for the most part, is a transplant... we all came from somewhere else. I never had a moment of feeling alone, and now my days are spent hanging out with my roomate (who also works for TNF), skiing with my new friends, or just lounging around town running into people I know. The winter is now upon us, and I couldnt be happier... there is something about the smell of snow in the air that seems to relax me. Took my first day up at A-Basin which will be the first of many to come! With each new snowfall I find myself falling in love with this place all over again. This place is our little peice of Neverland, where we tell our gullible friends back home that we have real jobs, and are lucky to hit the slopes once a week, a place where the snow is terrible, and the weather is stormy with grey skies, not blue. If and when you come to Breckenridge, make sure you take part in everything we have to offer. The great night life, the fabulous scenery, mountains that stretch as far as you can see, and a slice of heaven waiting for another snow fall.

2007-10-16T11:25:00.001-06:00

So these pictures aren't from last year, this is Breckenridge NOW! Mother nature decided to get us started with one foot of snow, and its going to stay. Nice to see the trees and TRAILS covered! Take a look......

Quandary moonlight hike

2007-10-15T17:38:00.001-06:00

So what do a bunch of The North Face employees do at night when there is a full moon in July? Well, why not hike to the top of a 14,000 foot mountain in Summit County!! It was one of those kind of days at work, we wanted to do something fun…..something outside and we didn’t want to wait until the next day for an adventure.

My name is Andy, I work at The North Face Breckenridge and with our webstore (www.breckgear.com). Most of my life I spent in the mountains and lakes of Maine where I was a snowmaker and whitewater guide for the last few years. Came to Breckenridge about two years ago and started working for The North Face Breck right away.

Moonlight hikes and 30 mile bike rides…this is the kind of stuff we do all the time. At the trailhead for Quandary was about 4 other groups, they had the same idea we did in a way. Most of them told us they were going to start in a few hours to take advantage of the full moon and clear sky for the hike and also catch a great sunrise the next morning. One beer and one Red Bull later we were on our way. This was Cari’s first 14er, but the rest of us had been up Quandary multiple times. The hike was amazing, we didn’t even need head lamps below tree line in the woods but we had them just incase. The climb is not technical, no ropes needed and just about anyone can do this!!

The pictures here are taken at the summit. The camera didn’t pick up everything WE could see, but I promise you the views were amazing. It’s a pretty amazing feeling being at 14,265 feet in the middle of the night. Quandary is close to Breck and very accessible, but we felt miles away from everything. Myself and Kelly still work at the store, Josh and Cari have moved to the big city…..Denver. Tony should be back for the winter, he spent the summer working (sailing!) at Lake Dillon. Check out www.14ers.com for great daytime photos and info about all the 14ers in Colorado.

We are always doing stuff like this and we have all the right links, so check back to see what’s going on here in Summit County. I also look forward to hearing from YOU! Send us pictures and stories of your adventures, wherever you are.

Get Ready!

2007-09-18T23:53:00.000-06:00

Fall has been awesome up here. Blue skies, golden aspen, and crisp air. Great for biking, hiking, you name it. It's one of the best-kept secrets in Breckenridge (well, aside from Oktoberfest--NOBODY misses that!)

But we just got a big rain this week, and when the clouds parted: SNOW covered the peaks! So in anticipation, here's a good video we found from the US Snowboard Grand Prix here in Breck--complete with Shaun White in the superpipe. OK, it's not open yet, but it's just for a taste of what's around the corner!

Thanks, Bill!

2007-09-15T10:34:00.000-06:00

Bill Crouse is about my size, 5’10”, in a lot better physical shape than I am (not that I’m in bad shape), and one heck of a likable guy. Without him, you wouldn’t be reading this. We also wouldn’t have both our brick and mortar—or, I should say, Victorian wood—The North Face store here in Breckenridge, Colorado and our breckgear.com online store.

If you notice in the picture, Bill’s standing on a mountain top, holding one of our The North Face Breckenridge staff shirts. If he looks a little bundled up, that’s because he’s not just standing on any mountaintop. That’s the top of Mount Everest, and he was kind enough to take one of our staff shirts to the top. If you ever get to visit us in Breck, we have more pictures of Bill’s expedition and we have the shirt. In fact, we’ll probably put more pictures of Bill’s trip here in the future.

Bill’s been to the top of Everest, I believe, around 6 times out of 8 tries and has helped guide most of these expeditions. If you ever watch the Discovery Channel Everest Expeditions, you’ll probably see Bill doing his thing as a one of the guides Be sure to check your local Discovery Channel listings; it’s pretty cool.

It was almost like climbing Everest to get our store open: A long process that started about 8 years ago, when Bill Crouse was the rep for The North Face.

For three years running, I would go in to The North Face display room at the Outdoor Retailer show in Utah to try to get The North Face to allow us to sell their product.
Bill was always friendly, always remembered me and always said no. He said they had too much coverage in our area.

Not exactly sure what the magic word was on the third try, but it was the charm and the rest for us is history. We’re some of those lucky people who get to live the life we love. Of course we made this happen—but not without a yes from Bill. Thanks Bill!

I guess because of our perseverance, and Bill’s faith in us, we’re here 5 years later with arguably the best looking The North Face store in the West at 9,600 feet, and a great online store to match.

So welcome to our new blog! Sure, we'll plug our store: We're proud of it and we believe in our product. But we also want to share with you what it's like to live and work on Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado, how our gear works, how to make it work for you, and just generally cool stuff about skiing, mountaineering, climbing, boarding, or whatever you choose to do. Even if it's not about our products. As long as you get out there, we want to hear about it!

You'll get to "meet" our staff, too, here. Steve, Susan, Pete, Gregg, Andy, Kelly, Bill, Peter, Katie, Timmay, Tammy and a host of others will all show their faces, answer questions, and maybe let you in on that secret powder stash or what's really hot on the mountain. Until next time…….. Steve