Jen Losche skis a high alpine bowl at Breckenridge Ski Resort. Pam LeBlanc photo
I spent a whirlwind day last week at Breckenridge Ski Resort, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary season.
The resort, known for its high alpine terrain, first opened on Dec. 16, 1961. (That makes it older than me!) It was the first major Colorado resort to welcome snowboarders, back in 1984, and the first to install a high-speed quad chairlift.
Read more: In Breckenridge, artists transform snow into sculptures
No big parties are planned this year, but Breck did add a new chairlift for the 2021-22 season. The Freedom SuperChair on Peak 7 helps move guests coming from Peak 6 to Peaks 7 and 8. Previously, you had to ski down to the base area and hitch a ride up another lift to make the connection. The new chair makes for a quicker trip and helps alleviate congestion at the base.
One Ski Hill Place is located at the base of Peak 8 at Breckenridge Ski Resort. Pam LeBlanc photo
Breckenridge features 2,908 skiable acres spread over five peaks. (More than 600 acres are covered by snowmaking machines.) The addition of the Freedom lift means that Breckenridge now has 35 chairlifts.
Breck is famous for its high alpine terrain. About 40 percent of the resort’s skiable acreage is above treeline. That means plenty of wide-open bowls to explore.
I stayed at One Ski Hill Place, which offers easy access to four different lifts.
And because of its high elevation – the base stands at 9,600 feet – it stays open longer than most other resorts. Weather and conditions permitting, it will stay open through Memorial Day this year.
Jen Losche skis out of a bowl at Breckenridge Ski Resort. Pam LeBlanc photo
