Local Colorado News Archives

Winter Storm Warning March 12th-15th

March 11, 2021 by Summit Express

We are expecting a significant winter storm in Colorado this weekend.

At Summit Express, our number one goal is the safe, on-time transportation of our guests to and from the Denver Airport.

Plan for difficult to impossible travel this weekend. Road closures, avalanche mitigation, flight delays, and cancellations are some of the things that we cannot control when we receive the amount of snow that is expected in the next 72hrs.

The ski resorts and mountain communities handle the snow just fine. However our route runs from DIA through the Denver Metro area and the foothills, which is where the difficult travel conditions will exist. We expect to be navigating through 2 to 3 feet of snow starting late Friday night through Sunday. We will have significant issues and delays this weekend especially on Saturday March 13th.

We are asking our guests to plan ahead, contact airlines, and expect difficult travel through the weekend. If roads are open and passable, we will run our vehicles to and from the airport, but please be aware that the conditions can and will change quickly.

Best Regards,
Bob Roppel
President/CEO Summit Express

Breckenridge for the Non-Skier

March 9, 2021 by Summit Express

Breckenridge is a ski town best known for 2,908 acres of ride-able terrain spanning over 5 peaks. Groomers, glades, bumps and bowls- Breckenridge Ski Resort has it all. But there is way more to Breckenridge than just skiing. If you are planning a mountain get-away this winter and you don’t ski, there many options from high adrenaline to super effortless activities.

Meet a Giant Troll

TROLL Meet Isak Heartstone, a 25-foot tall troll sculpture made from recycled materials built in 2017 by Danish recycle art activist Thomas Dambo. Isak Heartstone, is open year round and free to visit. He is an easy 5 minute walk from the Trollstigen Trailhead located in the south-east corner of the Breckenridge Ice Arena, 189 Boreas Pass Rd. Parking is free but limited. For more information visit https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/plan-ahead-and-prepare/Plan your Trip.

Don’t Watch a Mystery. Solve one!

Relax your body and challenge your mind at ESCAPE ROOM BRECKENRIDGE. Your group will be locked away in a private themed room to test your problem solving skills in a race against the clock. Together your group will solve riddles, crack codes and find clues in order to escape doom. ESCAPE ROOM BRECKENRIDGE ranks the challenges from Easy for younger players to Hard for more strategic sleuths. Themes include Breckenridge Wizard School, Hollywood Secret Agent and Captain Steelhook’s Treasure Hunt. Reservations are required. Group max is 8 people. For additional information or to book your escape visit https://www.escaperoombreckenridge.com/

Tubing Makes Everyone Smile!

While there is not a tubing park in Breckenridge, you can tube for FREE at the Carter Park sledding hill. Ask your front desk or property management company if they have snow tubes or sled available for guest use, or sleds are available for purchase at the City Market and Food Kingdom grocery stores.

If you need more adventure, jump on the Summit Stage FREE Bus and head over to the Frisco Adventure Park. Their multi-lane, 1200-foot tubing hill features a magic carpet to pull riders uphill. Open until 6PM. Reservation Required. https://www.townoffrisco.com/play/winter-tubing-skiing/tubing/

You don’t have to ski to Après

Lifts close at 4 pm and then its time for après libations. Enjoy cocktails, tasty Mediterranean appetizers and laughs as you watch the sun go down on BoLD‘s heated patio. BoLD, is conveniently located at Main Street Station, 505 Main Street. BoLD offers indoor and outdoor dome seating and has an amazing happy hour from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily. For more information or to make reservations visit their website https://www.boldbreck.com

Whatever you decide to do while visiting Breckenridge, have fun, stay safe and please wear a mask.

“Fun” Facts to Better Your Travel Plans

February 26, 2021 by Kevin W

Traveling to Summit County in the near future? Here are some “fun facts” that will help you re adjust your trip to the mountains.

DID YOU KNOW??

Summit County is a 2 hour drive from the Denver International Airport in a personal car with perfect weather and no traffic. Capture That means that in a shuttle with multiple drop offs the drive will be a bit longer than what you see in google maps. You also are going from roughly 5,280 feet to about 9,000 feet in elevation. Needless to say the trip to Summit County is not your typical highway drive. Please keep this in mind when booking a shuttle, the High Rockies aren’t just a stones throw away from the airport like some would imagine.

Uber and Lyft do operate in the mountains but compared to most areas they are a rarity. DO NOT bank solely on these services. Some will even cancel on you before the trip if they see that they are about do a 2.5 hour drive to or from DIA (Especially if its snowing) . . .and that’s only counting their driving time one way.

With current restrictions we are booking up shuttles quicker than we have ever seen so we have a lot less wiggle room to make last minute shuttle changes. Make sure to check flight updates, especially with 3 or more passengers. Moving 3 people together when shuttles are already filled up may not be an easy feat. . .especially with today’s restrictions. Please do not assume a last minute time change will be an automatic yes.

Summit Express DOES NOT run to the VAIL /BEAVER CREEK area on a shared shuttle. We only make those trips on a PRIVATE shuttle basis.

Banking on a friend to take you to the airport on a pow day for a 9 am departure flight means they will have to miss a pow day and leave around 5:45 at the latest. That’s an early start. Make sure your ride realizes this because it’s a long winding road down to DIA. ( : If you like to gamble. . save it for Black Hawk. . .not your airport ride : )

Enjoying a pow day and not a 5 am drive down to the airport

There are only a handful of companies who make a scheduled trip to the mountains. The mountain carriers are not like a New York City taxi service where rides come often and always. Make sure to plan ahead or else you will be paying for an over priced emergency ride up to the mountains.

Flights arriving after 10 or leaving before 9:30 am are extremely hard to book shuttles for. These flights might be cheaper but adding a hotel into your travel plans might end up being more expensive in the long run. Make sure to keep in mind that for a 9:30 am flight our driver is starting pick ups at 5 am. A 7 am flight might not seem early but realistically that driver would be starting his trip around 3 am. Please keep the actual distance to the airport in mind.

Bringing a board bag? Make sure to bring an old bag just in case we are utilizing the outdoor ski racks for your trip.

Just because you’re a great driver does not necessarily mean you are a great snow driver. Please drive only if you are comfortable in the situation at hand. If you are worried about driving . . .please. . leave it to us!!!!

A pretty typical day on i70 during a snow storm in Summit County

We don’t like saying “no” to our guests, so please help us and plan ahead.

Get Hitched in Breckenridge

February 23, 2021 by Summit Express

Here comes the Bride.

2020 was a make it or break it year for many relationships. Congratulations to all the couples who made it through Covid and are heading to the alter in 2021. To all the couple who had to postpone their 2020 wedding; we are ready for you. Mother Nature provides the most spectacular décor you could possibly image. Wedding season in Summit County is year round. So what are you waiting for?

The Lodge at Breckenridge, a boutique hotel overlooking the Town of Breckenridge, is an ideal location for your dream mountain wedding. The Lodge at Breckenridge can accommodate all your guests in their 45 rooms and suites. They have 2 luxury private homes perfect for groomsmen or bridal parties, an onsite bar and restaurant, private decks, and a day spa all located minutes from world class skiing. The Lodge at Breckenridge allows pets, just in case your best man is man’s best friend.

Wedding Trends

2021’s matrimonial trend is the micro-wedding. Micro-weddings are a cross between an elopement and a big, traditional wedding. Its an inmate event with close friends and family. Its a much easier and safer option during Covid-19. Smaller weddings can be simple and relatively inexpensive, fairy-tale extravagant or anywhere in-between. Why Knot Weekday Weddings are a great way to save money with a weekday ceremony. Your friends and family can take advance of shorter weekday lift lines on the days prior to the big event. For more information about weddings at The Lodge at Breckenridge

Stress is an Option.

If your heart is set on a large event, Breckenridge offers multiple large venues to accommodate your every wish. Larger weddings, particularly during a pandemic, are more challenging to plan. Hiring a wedding planner to manage your event will reduce stress and red tape. Its best to hire a local wedding planner. Denver planners may not be familiar with the quirks of Summit County. Wedding Planners are familiar with local health ordinances and restrictions. Shawna Henderson, at Breck Mnt Weddings, lives year round in Breckenridge and has assisted dozens and dozens of happy couples creating their dream day. You can find additional information about wedding planners here: https://breck-mtn-wedding.business.site

Can my cousin marry us?

One of the most unique aspects of any Colorado wedding is the officiant. Your cousin, brother, uncle, or best friend does NOT need to become ordained online to preside over your ceremony. Legally, couples may solemnize their marriage in Colorado. This means that you do not need an officiant or witnesses. You do need a license that may be obtained weekdays at a County Clerks office in Colorado. Fill out the short application. Both parties will need to provide a legal form of identification. The fee is $30. You will receive your license valid for 35 days in about 15 minutes. For additional information on obtaining a marriage license in Summit County visit https://www.summitcounty.org/276/Marriage-Licenses

Summit County is a great place to begin your new life. No matter where you decide to tie the knot, we wish you only the best.

Congratulations from Summit Express!

The Groundhog was Right

February 19, 2021 by Summit Express

Mother Nature is Awake

Summit Express Vans Winter with skiers.jpg It seems like Mother Nature was napping early ski season. Keystone, Copper Mountain and Breckenridge have been up and running for months. December and January snow fall totals were lower than this powder-hound had hoped, but the combination of exceptional grooming and man made snow provided vacationers with great conditions for every skill levels. February brought back to back arctic storms across the Rocky Mountains and much of the southwest. If Mother nature was resting; she is awake now. Conditions are excellent! Check for yourself with live on mountain cameras.

https://www.coppercolorado.com/the-mountain/webcams/mountain

https://www.keystoneresort.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/mountain-cams.aspx

https://www.breckenridge.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/mountain-cams.aspx

Dress for Success

The warmest days of February could possibly be behind us. There is no reason to suffer on the slopes if you dress properly.

FACE MASKS are required in public places including lift lines. Disposable cloth, thin nylon and cotton masks freeze up and slip off. The best mask I have found for skiing was designed for athletes and costs $30. INVEST!!! You will not regret it. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/c/accessories-facemasks-hoods-gaiters/

Base Layers, also known as Long Underwear, are a must. Even on cold days, your body sweats. Your base layer should be moisture wicking. Sweat is absorbed and pushed away from your skin keeping you warm. Yes to wool. No to Cotton.

Layers. Layer. Layers. Light weight fleece or wool top over your base layer. Add a vest if you tend to be cold.

Ski Jacket. The best jackets to keep you warm are insulated and water resistant. Jackets have a variety of features like hoods, zippers vents and tons of pockets. Jackets come in all sorts of patterns and textures. Feel free to make a fashion statement with your outerwear.

Bibs or Snow Pants. Like jackets, should be insulated, water resistant and made of a moisture wicking fabric. Save your jeans for après.

Ski Socks are specially made to support your foot and keep your toes warm while skiing and riding. Avoid cotton socks. They do not absorb sweat. Wet feet are cold feet. Avoid wearing 2 pairs of socks. This restricts blood flow and makes your feet colder.

Gloves or Mittens. Mittens tend to be warmer than gloves. You don’t need ski- or snowboard-specific, but do choose water resistant and insulated gloves or mittens to keep your digits toasty.

WEAR A HELMET! Not only do helmets protect your head from injury, they keep your noggin warm.

Protect your Eyes from wind, sun, snow glare, and ultra-violet rays with polarized googles. Googles can be pricey but are worth it. Photokeratitis or snow blindness, is a sunburn to the cornea. Its not permeant but it is painful. If you don’t have googles, choose a sunglass with sport quality glass, plastic and polycarbonate lenses.

Stay warm, have fun!

Oh Little Town of Dillon

February 16, 2021 by Summit Express

Summit County is known for world class skiing and is home to 3 major resorts: Keystone, Copper Mountain and Breckenridge. But there is so much more to do than just ski in Summit County. The town of Dillon, Colorado has plenty of apres activities.

Ice Castles are back in Dillon for their fourth year!

Ice Castles is fun for the whole family. Explore LED-lit sculptures, frozen tunnels, ice slides and frozen thrones hand built using hundreds of thousands of icicles constructed by professional ice artists. As a safety precaution, Ice Castles is only allowed to admit a certain number of people per every half hour. Don’t let Covid ruin your holiday, book early. For more information visit Icecastles.com/colorado

Warren Station and Comedy Works Denver have partnered to bring comedy back to Keystone.

Are you ready to laugh at loud? Saturday, February 20th Warren Station at Keystone presents Denver’s own Georgia Comstock and headliner Steve Gillespie for 2 shows. Reservations and face masks are required. Must be over 18 years old. Hilarious adult entertainment starts with Doors Opening at 5:30PM-Showtime: 6:00PM and Doors Opening at 8:00PM- Showtime: 8:30PM. Don’t miss out. Make reservations now https://warrenstation.com/event/warren-station-winter-comedy-series-feb-20/

High Altitude Bowling

True or False: Bowling is easier at higher elevation. We can neither confirm or deny this, but we can guarantee you will have a blast at the newly renovated Elevation Bowl in Dillon. Elevation claims to be the highest Bowling alley in the world at 9,156′. With 16 brand new lanes, a new menu of food and drinks, Elevation is the spot to be for fun times. 5 person limit per lane. Call 970-368-6435 to book a lane.

Ice Fishing on the Dillon Reservoir

If you are ready for new winter adventure that’s not too strenuous, give ice fishing a try. Alpine Fishing Adventure offers three level of experiences to accommodate people of all ages, fishing skill and mobility. You can even catch your own dinner up! Alpine allows you to keep up to 8 salmon or rainbow trout. They’ll even clean and send you home with your catch ready to cook. Call 303-885-6292 to reserve your warming hut & fishing excursion.

No matter what adventure you choose, Be Safe. Stay Warm. Drink Water. And enjoy Summit County!!