Mountain Biking With Backcountry Babes

Friday I did a mountain biking clinic in Breckenridge with Backcountry Babes.  They are holding a women's clinic July 7-8 and I got a mini-lesson as I shot an upcoming Explore Colorado segment.  I learned so much in just a couple of hours.

We started on grass, then went on a mini course, then off on a trail.  It was such a fun afternoon of learning and riding.

Travel & Work Sunday

Woke up in Breckenridge to an incredible sunrise.  

It was quiet so I dived into some work and logging video.  Work, time with friends, 3 hour plus travel time from Breck back to Denver, and participating in the Denver Dumb Friends League telethon filled my day. 

Skiing Breckenridge

Saturday I skied Breckenridge with my friend Hope and her 16 year old daughter Chrizney.  It was Chrizney's first time to ski.  She'd taken a lesson Friday.  But it took us awhile to get down our first run.  I certainly saw some big falls.  In the cold and wind, I became Coach Jen as we slowly got down her first run.

There's something to be said to watching someone try something for the first time.  The first day of skiing for Chrizney turned into a much better experience once we did some of the ski school runs.  Her last run of the day she made it all the way without a fall or even a wobble!

Snowmobiling

After running around in the snow and cold for live shots for several hours at Snow Sculpting Championships in Breckenridge, I headed out with some friends for adventure in the afternoon.  We went snowmobiling with Good Times Adventures.  Okay, I know it's not super strenuous but I'm counting snowmobiling for two hours as my workout.  We climbed to close to 12,000 feet as we road up to Georgia Pass on the Continental Divide.

It was the first time I'd gone snowmobiling and it was a blast!  Can't wait to go weaving through the trees again.

Cross Country Skiing In Breck

On Friday my friends Melissa and Austyn and I headed out to do a little cross country skiing at Breckenridge Nordic Center.  Melissa had gone a couple of times.  I'd been once with my cousins when I was in college but I think I was in regular skis when we skied in to a mining camp.  Austyn is a snowboarder and had never cross country skied.  So we headed out on a beautiful afternoon to try an activity that's new to us.

We had a ball.  I laughed the entire time and of course fell once.  I decided I needed to take a lesson.  But for a fun workout outing with friends it was a great adventure!  Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are definitely on my workout regime in the New Year.

Hiking McCullough Gulch

Saturday was a great hike with friends.  It was shorter than I've been doing lately but we didn't have a ton of time since we were catching the cyclists come in to Breckenridge in the USA Pro Challenge.  McCullough Gulch is a 3 mile round trip with an elevation gain of about 800 feet.

It's a great hike near Breckenridge with waterfalls and a beautiful alpine lake!

Climbing To New Heights

Today's workout was all about climbing to new heights.  I'm actually afraid of heights but will challenge myself to face that fear and today it was rock climbing in Breckenridge.  I'd rock climbed about two weeks ago in Estes Park.  Other than that, I'd repelled as a child so my rock climbing skills are limited.  It's a workout physically, mentally, and emotionally for me.  There are four of us climbing including two boys, 8 and almost 10.  Of course I was picked to go first.  I started out great...and then about 25 feet up I have my moments.  But I listened to my guide Eric from CBST Adventures and after several catch my breath moments I made it to the top, which was about 40-45 feet high.  It's interesting that the lower part is easier for me that the climbing mentally.  Some folks don't like the feeling of sitting back and walking down the side of the rock.  The whole process of climbing and lowers takes me about thirteen minutes.  Once down on the grounds I still have some shakes but glad to be back on solid ground.  In order to do this climb there's also a hike in and out.  It's about a 15-20 minute hike through rocky terrain and some forest in the White River National Forest.  The view overlooking Windy Pointe and Prospector campgrounds and Lake Dillon with the mountains in the distance is definitely worth the hike and climb!

Outdoor Fun in Breckenridge

Well here I am not even a week in to this blog and already behind on entries for two days.  That's because I'm on working vacation in Breckenridge.  So the workouts Thursday and Friday have been all about kid fun!  Thursday was somewhat of a rest day with the drive to Breckenridge then an afternoon running around the Breckenridge Fun Park with an 8 year old and almost 10 year old. From running through the maze to riding the Alpine SuperSlide it was a fun few hours.  Then Friday it was a day of fly fishing with Mountain Angler, going 1100 feet underground then riding the 55 foot ore chute slide at Country Boy Mine, then bike riding on mountain bikes through town and along the Breckenridge Bike Path.  We even raced the rain back to the Patagonia Store on Main Street.