One thing I love about Breckenridge in the summer is the ability to be outdoors. Although, that is what I love about it in the winter too, in the summer you are unencumbered by layers and layers of clothes and mittens and hats and boots. And the fresh air doesn't hurt your nostrils and your lungs with its iciness. Though now you have to be careful with the sunshine because you will burn super fast at this altitude.
The morning before my birthday, I decided that the girls and I were going to go for a hike. Their very first real hike. We took the Gondola to the base of Peak 8 (same place that we started our Fun Park adventure)
The views from the Gondola are stunning.
We then grabbed a lift on the only chair running at the time (we were pretty early)
And we began to climb. Straight up hill. Our goal was the warming hut right above where the t-bar drops you off - 12,998 feet above sea level.
The views were gorgeous as we went...though the day was a bit hazy. It was still early like I mentioned, and the skies hadn't cleared for the day (you will notice it more in the panorama shots)
We would hike for a bit and then take a break. We were in no rush and we needed to be hydrated and catch our wind every so often. And we also wanted to check out the wildflowers and the butterflies...
And finally, there it was , our goal. And MadHatter practically ran to get there first!
Stinkerbell was happier taking in the view and marveling at how far we had come.
We climbed the steps to the house with a little help. The first step must have been about 3 feet off of the ground as it usually has snow pack that high making it level. The girls rested on a proper seat for a minute, and then obliged me with a photo.
They were so proud of themselves! As was I. Not one complaint. Not one request to go back. Just dogged determination to reach their goal.
And then we threw snowballs. Yep, there are still huge patches of snow up this high. This particular patch is just to the side of the house.
One last picture and we started our descent. It was very, very, very windy up there and getting quite chilly.
With a skip in our steps, we retraced our path.
This little lake was snow melt from just outside of the frame of the photo. We found a few puppies playing in the almost freezing waters - without a care in the world.
The girls found that coming down was a lot harder than going up. It was a lot of slip sliding fun though. Except for that time MadHatter bruised her bum.
No matter, I could still hardly keep up with them.
She was mesmerized every step of the way.
And then we were down and it was time to head in for lunch. And tell our tales of our adventure to Nana.
This picture has nothing to do with this post. I just love that it looks like Chacha is chilling with a cup of Jo. When actually, I was up super early due to jet lag and it was just her and me...the coffee was mine and keeping me sane.
When traveling from Europe to the US, there is an adjustment period that takes place because of the jet lag. When you fly to Breckenridge, you also have to adjust to the altitude. Put them both together and you have a few sleepless, oxygen deprived nights and tired, sluggish days. The best cure? Getting out and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. A few days after our arrival, we did just that.
A few years ago, Breckenridge turned the bases of Peak 8 and 9 into a summer Fun Park. Since we haven't been back in the summertime since 2012, when the kids were too young and small to participate, this was the first time we were able to enjoy it. There are 13 separate attractions and we were bound and determined to hit them all at least once. Many of them multiple times. And in the case of the tubes - I lost count. We were there from open to close that day, soaking up as much fun and sunshine as we could. And we had such a great time doing it!
I highly recommend it as a jet lag cure, because we all slept like babies that night. And each night thereafter.
The girls raced through the maze in record time - they found the M.A.Z. and E. in just under 5 minutes!
Throwing snowballs, sledding on their tushies and sneakers and playing in the now in shorts and a tank top? Yes, please.
All geared up and ready for the ropes course (and zip line)
Zip line success!
MadHatter is obsessed with rocks, gems, gold etc...and this made her day. Maybe month.
Good thing she trusts me. Last time we were on one of these I dumped MadHatter and I. Probably why MadHatter was traveling a bit slow this first time down. I couldn't catch her on subsequent runs.
