summit county Archives - Summit Express

Ski Reservations or Lack Thereof

January 2, 2021 by Kevin W

Forgot to book Epic pass ski reservations or just didn’t make them in time? Have no fear . . There is so much more to do here.

The new reservations system for skiing has certainly made the whole aspect of the sport a little harder than just waking up. . .checking the weather . . .and going skiing. These days it’s a little more stressful to book a short ski trip when the option to ski every day can be an uncertainty. Although skiing and snowboarding is our most popular activity here in the mountains, our quaint little county still offers so much more.

Here’s a few winter activities that you wont normally see on the travel brochures:

Natural Pond Skating

Summit Cove Pond– A low profile neighborhood pond 5 mins from keystone. This pond is regularly maintenance by locals. There is plenty of room to skate for leisure and goals for hockey as well. This pond is smaller and freezes very well. No worries on safety issues here
Walmart Pond– Right behind Walmart you can find another small pond. Lots of hockey games going on here. Plus if you need equipment Walmart is literally a stones throw away.
Silverthorne Elementary School pond– Just off of highway 9 before the elementary school is a large pond that often will host organized hockey games like the PBR classic.
Lake Dillon- Not into skating? Test your luck ice fishing on the lake or just relax and watch the kite boarders on a sunny day

Winter Hiking

Most people picture snowshoeing through deep snow when it comes to hiking in the winter but that is not always the case here in Summit. Most of our popular hiking trails see a lot of foot traffic all year long, which allows for easy access using just a pair of winter boots.

winter hikes in summit county < 3

The troll –Isak Heartstone has become one of the most popular hiking destinations in Breck over the past few years. He now sits in a very accessible location behind the ice rink. This enormous troll is always worth a visit. Maybe two or three visits actually.
Officers Gultch– This hike is especially nice if you have dogs with you on your trip. This spot is right off i70 on the way to Copper. It may be a little out of the way for some but it is also way less traveled than most hikes in the county and still offers amazing views as well as a large frozen lake to hike around. This is one of my favorite spots to go with my dogs, especially when the county gets crowded.
Old Lake Dillon– You might drive by this hike everyday with out knowing that it even exists. Perched above the current Lake Dillon lies an old lake that is now used as a reservoir. The only way you can even see this hidden gem is from the mountains above. . .that is unless you hike up and see if for yourself up close and personal. It’s a fairly shot hike but it will open up a slew of new views of the lake below and surrounding peaks. This hike has a great boot pack all year around and is located right off the dam road.

Good old fashioned sledding

It is not very hard find a good sledding hill around these parts. Just take a look around and you’ll see what I mean. There are hills everywhere but if you aren’t feeling adventurous then go check out the new sledding hill by the airport lot in Breckenridge. It’s one of the newer additions to that up and coming area.

Still set on skiing no matter what?

Here’s what to do: If you don’t have an epic pass or just can’t get reservations to Breckenridge and or Keystone try getting a ticket for Copper Mountain. If you can take the bus there is no need for reservations there. Hopefully you get to enjoy some ski days on your visit but if not always ask a local for some advice on what to do. We are generally pretty friendly people up here in the mountains! Most will point you in the right direction.

After a slow start. . .snow is finally starting to pile up in the mountains. Go get yourself some turns..but don’t forget a reservation!!

Be safe out there and please remember to respect all restrictions that are still set in place for our county. We thank you for helping us to keep Summit County safe

Do’s and Don’ts: Last Minute Bookings

December 9, 2020 by Kevin W

the Do’s and mostly Don’ts: Last Minute Bookings

Planning on coming out to Summit County to ski and snowboard this year? If so, make sure you are ahead of the game this season.

With new restrictions in town it has become a little more tricky to travel to the mountains. . .but that does not mean it has to be stressful. Here are some tips to make sure your travel plans go smoothly.

Trip Tips:

Traveling with a big party? If that’s the case. . try to plan on splitting larger groups in two. With current restrictions in place it is MUCH easier to book reservations with smaller parties. Staying together of course is always the main goal but for travel purposes and booking accommodations you may have more luck searching for a services with a smaller party. **We truly love bringing people up to our beautiful home, which is why we always suggest booking in advance. https://www.summitexpress.com/
Make sure to call hotels ahead of time. Many establishments are only allowing same family parties into accommodations. Looking for solo accommodations may be easier than traveling with a group. Here’s a good read for anyone coming into town https://www.summitcountyco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27752/Amended-and-Restated-PH-Order—COVID-19
Book your ski/ride reservations ahead of time! We’ve already seen the tragic stories~ People booked a 5 day trip and only could reserve 1 day of skiing so they ended up cutting the trip short and flying home. Make sure if you are skiing with an epic pass that you make reservations ahead of time. A ski trip with no skiing is never a good time. https://www.epicpass.com/info/reservation-details.aspx
Riding Copper? Make sure to book a parking reservation if you are driving or plan on taking the free Summit Stage bus. https://www.coppercolorado.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here/parking Last minute bookings have been available here so this might be the first actual DO’s in terms of do’s and don’ts for last minute booking. If you do not find a spot, NO SWEAT just hop on the Summit Stage and bus on over to Copper. No need for a parking pass if you aren’t parking! https://summitcountyco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29947/Copper-Mtn-Win-20-21

All in all. . . the theme this winter is to make sure you are planning ahead. Last minute/spur the moment trips are always the best kinds BUT in these trying times booking ahead is always going to be the safest and most dependable option.

Lastly, whether you like the restrictions or not please adhere to all rules and regulations. I know this is a vacation town to most but to a lot of us this is a place we call home. We constantly have visitors coming and going from Summit County so please be courteous and keep our town and its locals safe. We all want to get back to work! Please help keep our season alive.

With that being said PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE support all the local business you can during your stay here. If you are ordering take out food or using any kind of services here please make sure to TIP. There are lots of people who make their living off tips and are currently taking huge cuts to make sure all our visitors can still experience how lovely are county truly is. Please HELP US HELP YOU!

Be safe out there everybody.

One of our drivers and dispatchers practicing his social distancing earlier this month

Work Hard:Play Hard

February 6, 2019 by Kevin W

THE BUSY SEASON- WORK HARD:PLAY HARD

Hey guys! I haven’t blogged since New Years so I figured I would get back into the groove now that the holiday season has finally settled. We have been busy here at Summit Express but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been enjoying the winter season as well. We love the work hard:play hard mentality. Enjoying the mountains is always a must but we also love providing our guest with the best customer service possible while at work. We appreciate where we live and that has a direct correlation to our guest service here at Summit Express, which is focused on helping people living out their dream vacation.

Working Hard: An example of our Guest Service

Paul H (one of our key operations guys and lead dispatcher) and myself (Sales and Social Media) were voted as 2 of 13 stand out guest service representatives here in Summit County. This was awarded to us for going above and beyond for our customers and truly giving our guests the official Summit County experience. We all strive to be one of the best customer service destinations and it was awesome to see our hard work pay off. I also want to tip my hat to the rest of the staff here because it is a combined effort on all levels. The customer service all ties together . . . going above and beyond whether its out on the road, the dispatchers, our partners, or those behind the scenes in the office.

The outstanding guest service from business to business is important for our guests to leave town feeling satisfied. . .So a big thank you to our partners and all the other great companies out here in Summit County who help make this such a special place to live and visit!

Working Hard! Paul and I receiving our awards

Playing Hard

When we aren’t in the office we are usually out doing “research” on all the fun activities that Summit County has to offer so that we can always point you all in the right direction. Plus we really just like having fun. I like to keep these blogs fun because behind the scenes that’s really what this company is all about. We play just as hard as we work so make sure to ask questions when you book reservations with us. Local knowledge can be the difference between an OK trip and an amazing one! So don’t be afraid to ask…we love to fill guests in on all our favorite activities and destinations. If you haven’t been keeping up we have a lot of snow with more on the way next week so come out and join us on the slopes!!!

Casually playing Harder!

So anyway enough about us.

Lets highlight a few of the local events in the near future for you guys.

FEBRUARY 7th– JJ Grey and Mofro play at the Ten Mile Music Hall. You are missing out if you haven’t seen a show here yet. It’s a small venue so it’s a very intimate place to see your favorite artists.

FEBRUARY 8th– Check out the Upward Band and Frisco’s newest brewery- High Side Brewing OR if you wanted a different type of entertainment the Ice Castles in Dillon are having a fire performance

FEBRUARY 9th– Night two of the fire performances at the Ice Castle or check out some live music at Baker’s Brew In Silverthorne while they host the Shaky Hand String Band. Or do some night skiing at Keystone and catch the weekend firework show. If you are in Breck check out Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal at the Historic Brown

FEBRUARY 10th– Need some time to unwind after an event filled weekend of riding and festivities? Check out READY PAINT FIRE for a ‘paint your own valentine” event. Don’t have a special someone? Well then paint one for your mom or dad, duh!! 😉

Have a great weekend everyone!! Cheers

Best date night restaurant in Summit

November 2, 2018 by Kevin W

Best Date Night:

I wish I had more experience to help everyone out with this one but the couple’s of Summit County might tell you it’s the Hearthstone. Why? Well, even in the slowest of seasons the Hearthstone always has a wait. But read any of the online reviews, the wait is well worth it.
Beyond just the sheer beauty of the actual building going inside only gets better! This is an extremely classy establishment with a very skilled staff. So take your special someone out for a night of food and fun to remember.
Eclectic mix of all types of food. A great menu for all.

Local Tip: After the food is done take a short walk down to Main Street and enjoy the rest of the night enjoying beautiful views and great drinks.

The Hearthstone in Winter

The hearthstone also was chosen by the locals of Summit as the top 3 places for a date night as well. My personal opinion was not too far off 🙂 Check out Summit’s Best of 2018 for ALL the locals favorite spots.

Keep the hearthstone in the back of your mind if you have winter plans this year and are in Breckenridge with a loved one.

The Best Skiing and Snowboarding in Summit County

October 21, 2018 by Kevin W

Hey guys. Today I will be trying to give you an idea on the… Best Skiing in Summit

Locals Tips:

For me this is an easy pick. Most of you would picture the iconic Breckenridge Resort as one of the best but these days the fact that most people would guess that is the exact reason why it’s not #1. The best skiing is Copper Mountain. The in bounds terrain is unbeatable at around 2,456 sq foot, which offers long groomers, endless tree runs, and one of the best parks in the country.

Pro tip: Copper is usually WAY less crowded then the popular resorts offered on Vail’s Epic Passes.

This year they also introduce two new lifts, one using the bubble chairs (allowing you to stay even warmer) and the other lift featuring both gondolas and open chairs. One of the best parts of copper is the ease of access throughout the whole mountain. The other stand out for me is the simple fact that you can tell the employees like working there. It really creates a great atmosphere.

Great night life for anyone who is staying within the resort… no driving needed either!

The town at the bottom is also perfectly placed for all your drink and food needs 🙂

Copper was also just added to the new Ikon Pass, offering a huge selection of mountains. If you like to travel this pass is just the pass for you!

Copper is also home to Woodward. After a day on the slopes hit the Woodward barn for some indoor skateboarding or try out some new tricks in the foam pit!

They are a partner with Summit Express so save some money getting to and from the mountain. Give us (970-668-6000) or Copper a call. Either can help you arrange your transportation.

Copper also offers outdoor snowboarding through the summer. Whether it’s through the camp sessions or through the public park you can always get your snow fix at Copper.

Plenty of rentals for all abilities!

Locals Tip: Mario’s World. . .you won’t find it on your trail map but ask a local and try and ride this section of the mountain off the American Flyer lift. Oh and check out Eagle BBQ too. . .very cool up and coming restaurant at the bottom of the mountain.

Winter Is Here

October 13, 2018 by Kevin W

It may only be early October but WINTER IS HERE again in Summit County! Start booking your flights and getting your winter gear organized. The snow is here on the peaks and in higher elevations and it is here to stay. I got my first few turns in for the season a few days ago and it was glorious. . . to say the least.

SNOW!!!! 10-9-2018

With -A Basin opening next weekend and snow already on the ground it is safe to say that winter is here to stay. After last years dismal winter and a very dry summer we are all ready for a good snow year. I’m sure all our future visitors are also ready for a good snow year.

SO take advantage of our Pre Season Sale and get some turns in before the masses start flocking toward the mountains. Our drivers are extremely friendly and can usually point you towards the right direction for some local fun. Don’t be afraid to get the inside scoop from us!

Local Tip: Use a shuttle service to get here. Renting a car in the mountains is not the glorified option that it may be at your typical beach get away. Driving from Denver to Summit is not an easy task in the winter and it only gets tougher once you are here. Plus, once you get up to Summit County there is free transportation ALL over the county. Check the Summit Stage out for all the details and routes.

Here is a list of our nearby resorts and tentative opening dates:

A Basin- 10/20*
Breckenridge- 11/10
Copper- 11/16
Keystone- 11/10
Loveland- 10/20*
Vail- 11/16

*opening this week

Local Tip: The snow is out there. If you can’t wait for the lifts then head up to Loveland Pass and enjoy some free riding at no cost. Just park at the top lot and walk toward either side of the road. Both sides offer riding down to Highway 6. Pick a line that gets you to the road. From here it’s easy. Stick your thumb out and get a free ride back up to the top. This is a known back country area so people passing by are more inclined to stop for good karma. WHAT YOU’LL NEED – Bring a rock board or skis (gear you don’t like) for the pre season riding and avalanche gear for your mid season riding. Avi gear is strongly recommended any time though!

Kovu and I enjoying the fresh snow

Enjoy the fresh snow everyone! If you see us out there be sure to say hello 🙂 PS 9 more inches in the forecast tonight