Summer boarding, The ultimate guide to Hiking the 4th of July bowl on Peak 10 in Breckenridge

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Back country Skiing and Snowboarding can be dangerous, even in the summer! Please have a plan, partner, proper knowledge, and equipment when going into the back country

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Normally when someone thinks of summer, winter activities are the last thing that come to mind. If you do think of snowboarding, Mt Hood in Oregon or Coppers summer park in Colorado are probably what come to mind. However for the back country enthusiast looking to do something different, the fourth of July bowl on Peak 10 in Breckenridge Colorado is a way to combine hiking and snowboarding (or skiing) for a fun back country summer day trip. If you’re not into summer skiing or snowboarding this is also just a great summer hike to do too.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the trail, what to expect, safety precautions, what to pack, and time frame for the hike. Alright let’s gooo..

Where does the Peak 10 hike start

First you’ll want to drive up the dirt road on Peak 9. If you head north on highway 9 to Breckenridge you’ll want to end up on Park Avenue and then take a right on Village road. You’ll then take a left into the Beaver Run parking lot about halfway up Village Road. Parking is free in the summer for those who have more then one car in their group.

You’ll want to have a good AWD vehicle as the road is somewhat rocky and steeper towards the top. If you’re vehicle doesn’t have good clearance I would park at the Peak 9 restaurant and start your hike from there. If you have good clearance you can drive all the way up to the green gate. Stay on the Peak 9 road all the way until you park. There will be a couple turn offs when taking the road, such as the Stables and Chair Lifts, but just stay on the road.

How long is the Hike

From your car to the top of Peak 10, it takes about 2-2.5 hours on the way up and about an hour back down if you ride the bowl, depending on your speed. Add about another 45 minutes if you only do the hike, without skiing or snowboarding. Below I listed some of the trail stats, starting from Mercury chair on Peak 9

• 5.8 miles out and back

• 2007 feet of elevation gain

• Trail Coordinates- 39.474291, -106.049371

• 13,6340 feet peak elevation

What is the best time of day to go

The earlier the better, as afternoon thunderstorms can pop up in Breckenridge! Anytime you’re doing an exposed hike above tree line it is best to do it in the morning. This is also a safer time to ride the bowl as well because the snow is typically more stable. When things start to heat up that’s when you can see wet slides.

If you can time it right later in the evening would also be a good time to go as long as the weather is good. Golden hour would a pretty cool experience if you can pull it off!

Is it safe to do the hike and bowl solo

I would ride with a partner that you trust who has good back country knowledge and experience! Someone who also has their shovel, beacon, and probe. It will give you peace of mind when maneuvering some of the more technical parts of the hike and riding the bowl.

What should we pack

Since the 4th of July bowl is in the backcountry, I would pack you’re shovel, beacon, and probe to start as well as extra layers, sunscreen, and even bug spray. I’ve listed items below that would make this hike more enjoyable. The weather can be unpredictable in this kind of environment so I’ve listed items below to make your trip more enjoyable. Make sure you also have Hiking Poles! Right before you drop in you have do some rock scrambling and the poles will make all of the difference!

• Hiking Shorts or Pants

• Hiking boots

• Burton snowboards Rain Jacket

• Mid-weight base layer

• Sunscreen/chapstick

• Water (Hydrapak works great)

• Snowboard, Skis, and boots

• Good Socks for Hiking and riding

• Bug spray

• Sunglasses/Goggles

• A ball cap and beanie

• A good hiking backpack. I really like the AK Dispatcher backpack to fit all of my backcountry equipment. It also has straps so you can keep your snowboard attached to the backpack

• A pair of snow pants. You’ll throw these on at the base of Peak 10 as the temperatures start to get much cooler at this point in the hike. I personally like anything Gore-tex because it is a lightweight, durable shell.

• Hiking Poles

What is the weather like

Thunderstorms in Colorado can show up in the afternoon, therefore you’ll want to get an early start for this hike. It also will start to get cooler as you get closer to the Peak. One thing you’ll also want to be cautious of is high winds. If it’s too windy at the top I would recommend turning around and trying the hike on another calmer day. I had to turn around my first try at this hike because of extreme winds towards the peak.

Are there wildflowers

Summer wildflowers will be in full bloom if you go during the suggested time window! Wildflowers in the mountains are what make it feel like summer after a long winter.

What is the hike like and what should we expect

What’s cool about this hike is you follow a service road in a series of switchbacks all the way to the top, so it isn’t confusing and a pretty smooth trail to the peak. As you make your way, you will come across a couple patches of snow at the bottom. This is where having a good pair of hiking boots and hiking poles will help! Because you’re at a high elevation it helps to have a lightweight jacket or long mid weight shirt.

After the snow patches you’ll hike for a little bit more until you reach the base of the summit where snowmelt is running down the mountain in the form of a creek. This is a good time to throw on your snow pants and take a break. Take in the views, drink some water, and eat some snacks if you packed them. This part of the trail is where there will be a number of switchbacks and about an elevation gain of 1,150 feet.

Once you hike to the top you’ll want to throw on your snowboard boots where there is a flat patch of snow. This will be right before you hike the ridge! It’s important to have your hiking poles at this point and you’re board strapped to the back of your pack. You’ll want to have the best footing possible for this. The top part down to where you drop will be all rocks so make sure to take it slow.

Once you get to the snow, find a good area to strap in and then pick a good line to drop. The turns will be slushy, but it’s still really fun. There’s even a few small jumps towards the bottom that you can hit if interested. Towards the bottom will be really slow, so you might have to skate a little with your back foot, with the other foot strapped into your board.

What is the snow like

The snow won’t be great, it will be hard to carve as it is pretty soft! However, overall it’s still a worthwhile experience to be snowboarding in July

What months can we ride the bowl or do the hike

If you are just looking to do the hike, the best time of year would be late May through late September. If you’re looking to ski or snowboard the bowl. Early June through Mid-July will be the best time of the summer. It all depends on snow coverage and how late of a winter season Colorado had. The snow starts to get pretty patchy around Mid July.

Should we hang out in Breckenridge after

There’s a lot to do in Breckenridge in the summer! Catch a local concert, walk around town, or grab happy hour at a local restaurant. My favorite place for happy hour or just dinner in general is Radicato, right where the town square is.. That’s the fun thing about doing this hike is.. you can do it early and then hang out in town after.

That’s it for hiking the Fourth of July bowl off Peak 10 in Breckenridge. If you have any questions or information to add, leave a comment below! Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.

Top twenty One Early Season Snowboarding Tips

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So you’ve been waiting for the season to start the past couple months, or maybe the whole summer lol. Snowboarding is quiet possibly one of the most fun activities to do and depending on where you live, you only get to enjoy it during the winter months (unless you live near an indoor snowpark). That’s what makes riding so special, and has most winter enthusiasts anticipating for colder temps, the newest board, and deep powder days.

Whether your a season veteran or this will be your first year riding a snowboard, there’s always advice or tips that could make the start of your season more enjoyable! In this post I came up with twenty tips to keep in mind for the start of your season. Alright, lets get started.

What is considered Preseason

Preseason is the portion of winter where not much terrain is open and depending on how much snow falls early on, a lot of the snow is man made. Meaning they blow snow onto the runs with a machine, once temperatures start to drop. There’s usually only a few runs open and sometimes at resorts, they have only one run open, nicknamed the white ribbon of death.

Early season is typically the first month and a half of the season, before snow starts to cover most of the resort. At higher elevations ski resorts typically open around Mid to Late November with some resorts open in October in places such as Colorado and even the midwest!

Which ski resorts open the earliest

There’s actually a number of resorts that start turning there lifts pretty early in the season. Because of the higher elevation in Colorado resorts such as Abasin, Wolfcreek, Loveland, and Keystone will be some of the first resorts to open in North America. Kind of crazy, but the midwest has resorts opening in October too. Wild Mountain in Minnesota and Troll Haugen in Wisconsin can open really early if the weather permits. Mammoth in California, Brighton in Utah, and Breckenridge also typically open early November.

Twenty early season tips

1. Tune your snowboard- If your board has been sitting in your garage or storage all summer long, give it a fresh wax, sharpen the edges, and fix any minor repairs. Tuning the board will allow you to ride smoother down the mountain and overall will increase the longevity of it. Also make sure to check all of your binding screws! For more info, check out our blog post on Waxing your snowboard, for a complete guide.

2. Repair your gear- There’s always a chance that you cut your jacket or pant on an edge, tree, or ice. Purchase Gear tape at your local outdoor store or REI and this stuff will prevent you from having to buy new outerwear. It’s also a good idea to check all of your binding straps and buckles. Keep extra parts on you when riding, as you never know when something will break. Local shops usually have spare parts, but sometimes they run out!

3. Sell your old Gear- If you want the latest gear yet still have great stuff from previous seasons take it into a consignment store or sell it on Ebay. Facebook groups are also great places to sell old gear. Consignment stores will take a percentage of the sale vs if you sell it on your own. However, the nice thing about consignment shops is sometimes they can give you cash on the spot. You also don’t have to deal with trying to sell the gear in your spare time.

4. Wear a helmet- I never use to wear a helmet, but the older I get, the more I realize how important it is to throw on a brain bucket. As the old saying goes, it’s cheaper then a cat scan. Helmets will all meet the same safety standard, so it’s going to come down to comfort and then style. Measure the largest part of your skull in cm, and that will tell you what helmet size you are. Helmets will all fit differently, so it’s best to go into a store to see what works best. However if you can’t do that, measure your head and then purchase one online with a good return policy.

5. Set up your board properly- If you’re new to snowboarding, it’s important to have a stance set up that is comfortable! Figure out if you are regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward) and then determine your stance width and angles. Everyone is different so therefore, choose what set up is best for you. Typically you want the width to be a little wider then shoulder width and your binding angles to be more open.

If you want to practice going switch (opposite of your natural stance) or like riding rails equal angles on both bindings works great. These angles can be 6 and -6 or 12 and -12. If you like to carve or want a stance that is more natural then angle your front foot out more then your back foot.

6. Talk to your local snowboard shop for the right gear- Your local snowboard shop will be able to point you in the right direction for the right gear. It’s important to get the right gear based on your size, riding style, ability level, and what terrain you’ll be snowboarding on. If you don’t have a local shop, wholesalers and snowboard shops have websites to purchase gear. You can reach out to them with any questions you might have on the latest product.

7. Start small in the Terrain Park- The terrain park is essentially a playground for snowboarding. If you’re new to the park or if you haven’t been on a snowboard for months, warm up on smaller features before you try more difficult tricks. Resorts will typically set up smaller features in an early season park that you can hike, to get the muscle memory back!

8. Ride the resort on weekdays- I know this isn’t possible for everyone, so if you do go on weekends, arrive as early as possible to find parking and get up the mountain quicker. What I have found when riding weekends is the base area gets very crowded, but once you take the lift up and ride different parts of the mountain, the lines aren’t as bad. The problem with early season is, not many trails are open yet, therefore weekdays will be the best time to ride and get the most laps!

9. Take it slow and watch out for other people- Because less runs are open there will be more people on one run. Just make sure to watch out for other people and avoid being reckless on the mountain. The person in front of you always has the right of way, regardless!

Remember snowboards are meant for turning, not straight lining down an icy run. It’s important to have good control of your board when riding. There’s no right way to turn your board, incorporate your own riding style and have fun with it.

10. Ride an older board and keep an eye out for rocks and exposed terrain- Early season isn’t a good time to whip out the new Burton Custom! Even though I have done that before lol. The best thing to do is ride an older board if you can because there is usually exposed terrain that can damage the base of your board pretty easily. Rocks, trees, and other peoples boards/skis are all things to watch out for during pre-season!

11. Have the right tires and a winter emergency kit in your car- October and November can sometimes bring winter storms. Colorado can start seeing snow as early as late September! Make sure to prep your car for winter towards the end of summer or beginning of fall. It’s important to have either snow tires or all weather tires when driving to the mountains. It’s also really helpful to have an AWD vehicle. In states such as Colorado and California, there are traction laws and failure to have the proper tires as well as traction can result in an expensive fine.

Another good tip is to have an emergency winter kit in your car, especially if you have to drive to the mountains from a major city or you plan on taking a trip somewhere far. Extra food, water, and blankets are just a few helpful items to have in your vehicle.

12. Pick up your pass early or have it mailed to you- Avoid the early season lines at the ticket office by having your pass mailed to you or by picking it up early in the morning. Also picking up your pass the night before can speed up getting to the chairlift sooner. Check the ticket office hours before you pick up your pass!

13. Stay Hydrated- As you get use to riding again, make sure to drink plenty of water while on the mountain. There’s drinking fountains at every restaurant bathroom area. I also like to carry a small Hydrapak when riding and throw it in the pocket of my jacket.

14. Bring Snacks- It’s always good to pack a few snacks when riding. Nothing wrong with grabbing a meal at the resort, but packing a couple Kind Bars will save you money for the day. Chairlift snacking is one of my favorite things to stay fueled for the day.

15. Sunscreen- It’s important to protect your skin and lips when riding! Especially at higher elevations, the suns rays will be more intense. I like Sun Bum out of California because their stuff isn’t greasy. Just apply to your skin 15-20 minutes before riding. Also don’t forget chapstick with SPF in it. Salt and Stone is my favorite right now.

16. Zip up your jacket before you get off the lift- Often overlooked, but with early season, temps can warm up and sometimes you unzip your jacket at the base. The key is to make sure you zip it up on the lift or before you get on the lift! Any loose gear can get caught on the chair which is not a fun experience when getting off at the top.

17. Double check and make sure you have everything before you drive to the mountain- Especially if you live far from the mountains, double and triple check that you have everything! I like to use the Burton Rider Bag to keep everything in one place. You can store your outerwear, gloves, and goggles in the top part of the bag and your boots in a separate compartment on the bottom.

18. Ride with friends and have fun-I ride solo a lot, but riding with friends will always be more fun. From the chairlift banter to learning new tricks from each other, it’s always a good time. I also recommend riding with people who are better then you because it allows you to progress much quicker and learn new tricks as well as improve your style.

19. Layer properly based on the temperatures and avoid Cotton if possible- This one is one of the most important tips, not just for early season but the entire season. Check the weather, but most importantly pack extra layers just in case. For really cold days down is the best because it is lightweight and packable. There is real down and synthetic down. Real Down is lighter and more packable. It loses it’s loft when it gets wet, but will last longer if taken care of. Synthetic down will still keep you warm if wet. If you run warm, a mid layer is a great option under a jacket or pant.

For warmer temps I would recommend lightweight base layers. Avoid cotton because it will not wick moisture or breathe which will end up trapping sweat and making you colder.

20. Know where to park your vehicle- Knowing where to park, especially the free lots, can save you wasted time driving around and more time spent riding. If you get on the resorts website there should be a link for parking. Some resorts don’t charge for parking at all, Some have a mixture of both, and some have a carpool rule where if you have multiple people in the vehicle, parking is free.

It also helps to review the public transportation which can typically be found on the towns website that the resort is in. Public transportation can take you to the mountain and is usually free.

21. Book your lodging early for trips- If you plan on taking a trip somewhere, especially a more popular destination such as Breckenridge Colorado, look into lodging options early! Lodging can book up quick, so in order to get the best room or place start planning and researching ahead of time. The only reason to really book your lodging last minute is if you are chasing a storm (looking to book a trip based on potentially a lot of snow).

So that’s it for early season snowboard tips. If you have anything to add or questions leave a comment below! Also, if you want the latest updates on outdoor content, subscribe to our email newsletter below. Thanks for reading the blog and I’ll see you all on the next post!