Pictures coming soon!

Route: out-and-back up the west side of Loveland Pass
Start/End: Dillon, Colorado
Season: Spring – Fall

One of the many, many great things about living in Summit County, Colorado is the overwhelming number of places to ride. Road biking, mountain biking, path cruising, dirt jumping and downhill; you name it, Colorado’s got it.

And right here in Summit County, there are several passes that make for excellent road biking. Since I live in Dillon, I ride Loveland Pass from home, but it would be easy to ride over from Breckenridge or Frisco. Those driving from Denver or Vail for a road bike ride on Loveland Pass could park at Dillon’s Marina Park.

Getting to and up Loveland Pass

Road biking Loveland Pass is pretty straightforward. [Read more →]

Climbing (and rappelling) near Colorado's Swan Mountain Road

Routes: beginner and intermediate short, top-rope routes
Start/End: parking area near the Lowry Campground on the north side of Swan Mountain Road
Route Access: Via a short hike from the parking area

Lily naps in the shade at the climbing routes off Swan Mountain Road in Summit County, Colorado.

It’s open season for rock climbing on Swan Mountain Road between Breckenridge and Keystone, Colorado.  Eric is the professional rock climbing (and biking, hiking, etc.) guide who leads me, friends and guests on trips, so what I think I know about climbing is really just the stuff I’ve gathered from following directions.

After parking near the Lowry Campground on the north side of Swan Mountain Road, we take a short hike (making sure to stick left, or north) to the roughly 25-foot rock walls that overlook Lake Dillon. [Read more →]

Morning views while skinning the slopes of Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

Now that Eric and I have been skinning/snowshoeing at local resorts a few times a week, I’ve definitely picked some favorite uphill runs. The end goal is to finish the Imperial Challenge, so in order to make it before the time cutoff, I want to make sure my lungs and legs are ready for the long skin.

For those outside of Summit County, Colorado, the Imperial Challenge is a Breckenridge event that involves a winter bike ride and skinning/snowshoeing some 3,000 vertical feet; it finishes with downhill skiing/snowboarding.

Our skinning and snowshoeing has thus far involved groomers at the local resorts – everything in Summit County, Colorado except Copper. Once we go there, I’ll add more skinning info. In the meantime, below are the best groomed skinning routes, at least according to the Zerowins. [Read more →]