Back to Breck for a Day Treck

Last week, we used Gold Run Nordic Center, outside of town, as our starting point.  This week it was Breckenridge Nordic Center, off Highway 9, opposite the town itself.

Two bronze cross country skiers greet Nordic Center patrons.

Eleven riders on the Mally Rec. Center bus today, including one for downhill, and one who just came to enjoy the atmosphere of this “Pocket-sized hamlet.”  The big event in town, running through February 5 is the International Snow Sculpture Championships.  Sponsored by Budweiser and Cadillac, this outdoor art gallery is in its 22^nd year.  This years’ theme, SNOW, in a whole new way.  Check it out at www.gobreck.com

So Much Fun, So Little Time

A total of 13 outdoor savy soles plus Mike, our driver made the drive to Gold Run Nordic Center at Breckenridge.  Of the group, only one downhiller was dropped off at Copper Mtn. Resort.

The day began as reported.  Sunny, flurries, little to no wind, high of 26 degrees.  The elements of a great day had been booked for us.  Based on the responses from those who spent the day at Gold Run, it can't get much better. 

Snowshoers heading for Gold Run Trail.

On trail close to mid-morning, groups of two, and three made their way to one of a number of trails including Buffalo Flats, Bronco Dave, and Dyer Straights, for Xcountry.  Those on snowshoes tried the likes of The Colonel, Jumbo, or Up and Over.

Can Spring be far off?

One look at the trail map and I was pumped to try the likes of Gold Run, Jessie's, and the Hoo-Doo-Voo-Doo.  With names like that, who wouldn't want to find out what back country challenges were waiting.

Light snow was falling since we drove down Main Street in Frisco, an hour ago.  Flurries would continue throughout the day making it one of the more memorable outings of the year. 

Ingrid, Betty, and Norma on the knarly Jessie's Trail.  A roller-coaster of sorts.

We started on Up and Over, a 2.5 kilometer trail considered by seasoned shoers as easy.  Trail was well worn, as it meandered through meadows with a few short ups and downs thrown in.  Next, was Jessie's, a 2 kilometer roller-coaster type path in the trees.  Ups were a bit longer, plus a few spots of wwooooaaahh nellie.  That is snowshoe talk for my right shoe just slid out on that traverse.

Up and down, slippin and slidin on Jessie's Trail

Next junction was the beginning of the 5 kilometer Hoo-Doo-Voo-Doo.  This loop, also in the dense trees will throw everything one can imagine at you.  Exposed roots and rock, downed trees, leaning trees, short and steep ups and downs, and a few OMG moments.  This trail has an added subtle challenge. Much of the first part of the loop is a long but gradual up.

We were at our highest elevation of the day.  It was close to noon, time for lunch.  Ingrid and Betty were ahead and found a spot to get the taste buds activated.  I found a large spruce with dense branches.  A good spot to set up a mini kitchen.  In minutes water boiled then chicken noodle soup to coat and warm the belly.

Simply dig a step in the snow and set up the stove.  Hot soup warms the belly and the fingers.

Through the trees I hear, "How soon till you are ready?"  "I'm having soup, will be finished in five." I respond.  Minutes later, we are again on the Voo-Doo Loop.

Two Xcountry skiers and a pooch having the time of his life.

Snowshoes in powder 8" to 12" deep, on an up or traverse can be tricky.  Today, a few places were in fact, tricky.  Poles are a shoer's best friend.  Today, fully-extended poles in deep powder could not touch the bottom.  That was the case again and again on the Voo-Doo Loop.

Ingrid, on the Hoo-Doo-Voo-Doo, moves into thick forest.

Plus a "Special moment" when a fellow-shoer either looses his/her balance or gets a shoe caught in a submerged branch.  It all happened today.  The good thing is, they all combine to enhance the great memory of the experience.  Nobody was hurt.

Ingrid and Betty, two who normally take on the more difficult challenges.  Yes, those smiles are genuine.

 Back at the Nordic Center, everyone was working on returning some feeling back in their fingers and toes.  We asked for thoughts of the days' experience.  No surprise, there was no shortage of kudos.  It didn't seem to matter if one had spent the day on Xcountry skiis or snowshoes.

Ingrid has made it over the downed tree while Betty prepares for her first step.

 We heard, awesome, invigorating, beautiful, crisp, and pristine, to describe the experience.  Others said, comfy cold, challenging, wonderful back country, and great off trail experience.

To bad we must go back.

 Maybe the one comment most will remember to describe the day is "Champagne powder." 

Shoes and poles at rest.

 Proof that everyone had an exceptional day outdoors is barely a word could be heard between any two people on the ride back to Mally Rec. Center in Englewood.  Me, well, I was cutting z's big time in the back row.

Total estimated distance = 11.5 kilometers or 7.1 miles

Copper Mtn. Today!

The snow report is good with 4" of new powder reported in the past 48 hrs.  That is on top of the 41" on the mountain.  Sunny skies and the temperature at the mid-twenties, the Xcountry, and showshoe buffs will have a wonderful day scouting the nooks and crannies of Copper.
Will be back on this blog tonight with a full report and photos from the day.  My blog journal entry is normally posted by 9:30.  Remember, it's all about the Journey!
 

No Shortage of Fun at Vail

A near perfect day for a handful of eager outdoors men and women to get some play time.  After dropping one person at the downhill slopes, the rest spent the day enjoying old man winters' display of beauty in the Vail valley.  Some took to xcountry skis, others strapped snowshoes on.

Something not often seen...a family enjoying xcountry skiing, while the infant rides in its own sleigh

Those on snowshoes need to watch for the xcountry traffic.

There are xcountry and snowshoe trails to be enjoyed.  My guess is each one in the group had thoughts of exploring, maybe getting off trail to bush whack while breaking trail, or simply following marked (not very well) trails.  Shortly after leaving the Nordic Center, Ed and I decided to break new trail. 

Not often in front of the camera, Gary is enjoying the sensation of stepping into thigh deep powder.

Ed stops briefly to take in the Gore Range in the distance.

Today the exciting challenge was to snowshoe through deep powder while climbing close to a waterfall, frozen solid.  After crossing the groomed xcountry trail, we were faced with an up.  It was the perfect opportunity to hone skills for climbing and descending.

OK, you try pulling your snowshoes out of all that powder without falling.

As we gained elevation, snow depth went from a norm of 12" to well over 28."  Let me explain it this way, when one plants a pole to the front or side and that pole is easily swallowed by dozens of layers of virgin powder, that is a great feeling.  It happened to us a number of times today.

A xcountry skier provides a touch of color on an otherwise bland landscape.

My watch tells me it's almost noon.  Need to find a spot to set up the kitchen.  A snow-covered bench just off trail and a large pine tree close by would serve our needs.  The bench served as a table and the area beneath the pine was almost free of snow and flat too.  A perfect spot for the stove.

A sport without noise...sweet!

Minutes later, we had water boiling for chicken noodle soup.  Add a fresh apple and a Kit Kat bar...yikes it's good!  Needless to say, a hot meal on trail in winter replenishes ones energy level a bit more than plain old PBJ sandwiches.

Ed is onto something, a mouse, a rabbit, a...?

We remain close to groomed trails but spend most of the day breaking new.  The fact that nobody has walked the path you are making brings visions of what Lewis and Clark may have thought time after time during their journey.   We are grateful for the opportunity to have views of the Gore Mountain Range while experiencing the beauty of the Vail valley.

Hey, look over here, looks like a young bear print.

 At days end, we had covered the 10 kilometers (10.5 mi.) worth of snowshoe trails.  The temperature climbed a bit as the afternoon hours passed.  It resulted in an unexpected amount of snow that attached to the cleats, bindings, and boot laces as we walked.  As I approached the Nordic Center parking lot, I realized my gait was not as wide nor as deliberate as it was earlier today. 

I've said it many times, "I love going, it's the coming back that I dislike."

Snowshoes are supposed to keep you on top of deep snow, right!

The important thing is, memories are mostly during the journey, not in the parking lot.  Next Tuesday, Copper Mountain.      

        

Devil's Thumb Ranch - A Gem

A good turnout (11) for a great day at the ranch.  Many superlatives including; best of the best, and excellent accommodations, can be used to describe this great get-away outside Winter Park, CO. 

Today, we experienced many of the services provided at the ranch.  There is a cozy eatery, an outstanding restaurant I personally want to return to, and a well stocked ski shop and rental service.  A quick browse found they have everything you may need for a day of Xcountry, downhill, or snowshoe.

Ed is anxious to get across the open meadow and into the trees.

We added a few more clothes for the day outside.  The sun was bright, and the snow sparkled like millions of diamonds had been cast across our snowshoe path.  Others enjoyed following groomed Xcountry trails.  Mike, our driver, may have been the smart one, settling into a comfy chair in a quiet corner of the eatery.

After a climb while breaking tail, Ed stops to take in the view.

Ed and I took the Redtail Trail across a meadow, then went off trail, until we used a part of the Double Pole trail to gain elevation.  That put us at a spot where we could sit and rest while a hot meal of  Chili Mac with Beef was rehydrating.

Nothing better than a backdrop of snow covered peaks.

We remained off trail most of the afternoon, as we traversed a hillside, and crossed a number of open fields. 

The most fun all day was traversing a ridge.  Snow depth here increased to 12+".

The scenery all afternoon was outstanding.  Back on the Redtail Trail for a short while before we approached the juncture with the Moose Stomp Trail.

Ones shadow is many times bigger than life and never far behind.  Scarey!!

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, while viewing most of the 5,000 acres of the Devil's Thumb Ranch.  We had an excellent view looking East of  Devil's Thumb Pass (11,747), leading to Indian Peaks Wilderness.

One of many odd looking configurations of snow and ice.

Looking South is Berthoud Pass (11,315) which the group would maneuver twice today.  Beyond the pass stretches the 12,996 acre Vasquez Peak Wilderness.  The area is thickly blanketed with Engleman Spruce and Lodgepole Pine.

The sun was our biggest ally today.  It provided a number of abnormal images.

We were having so much fun all day, the 5.8 miles we covered was a pure joy.

The great part of the day is going out...then there is the coming back part. 

   




 

North Tenmile Creek Trail - Eagles Nest Wilderness

Expectations were high for the handful of Xcountry and snowshoe enthusiasts.  Upon arrival at the Frisco Nordic Center, we learned snowshoeing would not happen there due to a lack - of all things - snow.

Gore Range (from I70) looking South beyond Dillon Reservoir.

It was recommended we go across town to North Tenmile Trailhead.  While some remained at the Nordic Center, the rest went to Tenmile.  Packs cinched, snowshoe heel straps secured, we were finally on trail.  Here, the  "Shoe Crew" begins the day on the forest service road leading to Tenmile Creek Trail.

On trail, a short steep up soon levels off before following North Ten Mile Creek for the next 3.5 mi. to the junction with Gore Range Trail.  We decide to stop just short of the juction for lunch.  A number of downed trees and stumps provide a spot to relax in absolute solitude.

A view of Uneva Peak (12,522') in the distance, from North Tenmile Creek Trail.

Normally, I have dozens of images by now.  Today, the opportunities were not as numerous.  Plus, by lunch time cold temperatures had drained the battery.  No, I did not bring a backup. My Bad!

A reminder that snowfall around Frisco has been minimal.

 

 

But ooohhh the solitude.

Back at the Frisco Nordic Center, there is time to socalize on the sun drenched porch.  The streak of meeting someone from Pennsylvania everywhere I go, continues...a family from PA. is here for the week on vacation.  Originally from San Diego, they now live in Windber, PA., just South of Johnstown. 

On his way to the bus, Bob calls out "Time to load up."  Everyone must have had a good day.  Not a "peep" out of a sole on the ride back to Denver.  Then again, I might have drifted off into a wilderness wonderland sooner than I thought.

It's all about the Journey!

Total miles = 6.2 RT
Trailhead Elevatrion = 9,150'
Top Elevation = 10,070'
Total Elevation Gain = 920'