Clearing My Head At Breckenridge

My winter vacation came at just the right time. I really needed to get away, and a few days on the slopes at Breckenridge had the added benefit of clearing my head.

The sky was clear too!

Clearing My Head At Breckenridge

This was my first time skiing at Breck (as the cool kids marketing brochures call it these days), but it checked a few boxes for us—relatively easy to get to, activities for non-skiers, and enough terrain to entice my adventurous son. He found a great condo that lived up to its ski-in/ski-out hype and really was steps from a chair lift. There also was a free bus stop a few more steps away, although we usually walked the 1/2 mile down the hill into “town” for dinner, and then trudged back up instead of checking the bus schedule for a ride home.

We flew to Denver on Monday, and met my daughter for lunch before driving up to the mountains. Once in town, we got groceries before heading to the condo, and then went back out to get our skis/boots/snowboards. We hit up a brewery while planning our first day on the slopes, and then got an early dinner before succumbing to travel exhaustion and jet lag.

First chairlift ride of the week.

We got an early start on Tuesday, although we weren’t quite the first ones on the chairlift. Breckenridge has 5 peaks—labeled peaks 6-10. We spend most of the morning on peaks 8 and 9, and then after a lunch break went over to the groomed black trails on peak 10. I didn’t feel sick from the altitude, but it was making me feel fatigued and gave me a bit of a headache. I almost called it quits after lunch, but some Tylenol and a short catnap left me ready to head back out. It was such a gorgeous day—sunny and warm—in the low 40s!

Wednesday I joined my husband for alpine (cross-country) skiing. We started with a lesson and then followed a trail around Beaver Meadow.

It was my first time on cross-country skis and the lesson was essential. I took it really slowly, and gradually got the hang of it. It was another gorgeous day, with a few gusts of wind that made me glad I wasn’t on a chairlift.

Thursday I was back on the slopes with my son. We started on peak 6–the highest peak I skied—he did the summit on peak 9 without me. I also explored some blue runs on peak 7.

Look at that sky!

Friday was our last day on the mountain. My son took me on some steep (but groomed) black runs on peak 8, then we went back to my favorite blacks on peak 10, and then we enjoyed some nice blues on peak 9. The weather was still pretty nice, but clouds were rolling in. The sun played peek-a-boo and kept me on the slopes for “one more run” until the end of the day.

A winter storm with a travel advisory led us to make a last-minute change of plans for the trip home. Instead of getting up at dark o’clock Saturday morning to drive to the airport on dicey roads, we beat the storm out of town and stayed at the airport Westin—putting my Marriott points to good use.

This Peloton screen needs some Windex!

I even had time to use the hotel gym before our flight, although I didn’t use the Peloton. (Throughout the week I kept up my streak doing core, bodyweight, and stretch classes on the app.) It was so nice not to have to worry about traffic or the rental car return process!

After a week away from it all with heavy doses of fresh air and sunshine, quality time with my family, and minimal contact with work, I feel relaxed, refreshed, and almost ready to get back to reality after clearing my head at Breckenridge.

A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up throughout the year, and to each of you for stopping by.

Have you ever stayed at an airport hotel?