Summit County fire departments remind residents to dig out gas meters

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

With deep snow already on the ground and more coming, Summit County fire departments want to remind residents to keep their gas meters clear of ice and snow.

Buried or ice-encrusted gas meters can create dangerous natural-gas buildups inside the house, according to a Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue news release. The vent can become plugged when ice and snow melt during the day and refreeze at night.

“We have seen home fires and explosions due to snow and ice damaging a gas meter or the piping,” said Red, White & Blue deputy chief and fire marshal Jay Nelson in the release. “It’s also important to keep the area around the meters clear from snow, so if firefighters need access to turn them off, they can reach them.”

Xcel Energy recommends keeping the entire meter assembly clear of snow and ice as well, according to its website. Accumulated snow can prevent the meter from operating properly by stopping the flow of natural gas.

Xcel officials recommend gently removing snow or ice from natural gas meters and any associated piping by carefully shoveling around a meter to move snow away from it.

Experts recommend avoiding the use of a snow blower near a meter, but to maintain a clear path to a gas meter to allow quick access in an emergency.

A snow-covered meter, in addition to being potentially dangerous, can also lead to a loss of service and freezing of inside pipes as a result of lost heat, Xcel Energy’s website states.

To avoid a gas meter-related emergency, local fire authorities suggest the following tips:

• Make sure your meter is visible and accessible at all times;

• Never kick or hit the gas meter or its piping to break away built-up snow or ice;

• Keep air supply ducts and vents clear to avoid obstructing the release of gas;

• Do not tie anything to the meter, including pets.

Residents who smell natural gas or propane, or suspect a gas leak, are advised to leave their home immediately, call 911 and wait until the home is deemed safe by fighters, the release stated. Gas buildup in a home can ignite with the simple flick of a light switch or furnace pilot.

Copper Mountain Fire, Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue and Red, White & Blue Fire, along with Xcel Energy, recommend residents check their gas meter regularly to ensure it is free of ice and snow, especially if the meter is exposed to melting precipitation.

Residents who notice ice on their meter or think their meter’s regulator vent may be blocked should call Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999 or — for residents of Blue River and the Hoosier Pass area — Colorado Natural Gas at 800-720-8193.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Two theories of how Breckenridge got its moniker

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Courtesy of Bill Fountain |

                        A 1896 photo of Thomas Breckenridge.

For years, two seemingly contradictory theories have been used to explain the town name of “Breckenridge” — the well-known story of George Spencer naming it for U.S. Vice President John Cabell Breckinridge and that of a prospector by the name of Thomas Breckenridge (note the different spellings).

Recent research by local historian Bill Fountain, however, and an aha moment by fifth-generation Breckenridge resident and historian Robin Theobald suggests the possibility that both stories might, in fact, be true.

The George Spencer story

The George Spencer story is the better known of the two theories. A land speculator, Spencer was among two pioneer parties to enter the area. He secured a claim for a town site in Breck’s current location, though it is not clear whether he legitimately staked his own claim or swindled another early land speculator named Felix Pozansky out of his legal claim.

In either case, two problems presented themselves: what to name the town and the provision of a post office — since in the old West, any successful real estate development had to have a post office. Spencer solved both problems with the instinct of a true politician.

Through an intermediary, he contacted Breckinridge, vice president under James Buchanan. Spencer offered Breckinridge the honor of having the town named after him in exchange for “pulling a few strings” to have a post office built in the town. The flattered Breckinridge obliged, and on Jan. 18, 1860, a post office was in place and the town had a name — Breckinridge.

At least one official map from this period has been discovered with the “i” spelling.

The Thomas Breckenridge story

It is now well established that there were many prospectors seeking gold in the Summit County area in the late spring and summer of 1859, though Ruben Spaulding is credited with making the first recorded gold discovery at or near what would become the town of Breckenridge on Aug. 10, 1859. Among Spaulding’s party — or possibly the Spencer party — was a man named Thomas Breckenridge.

According to Fountain’s research, Thomas Breckenridge was also a member of an 1845 expedition led by Col. John C. Fremont to explore the region before both continued on to California to fight in the Mexican-American War.

In his diary, Breckenridge tells the story of losing a mule during the 1845 expedition while camping on a pass near current-day Breckenridge. He spent two days looking for the animal while Fremont’s main party moved on. Upon his return to the Fremont party, a somewhat irritated Fremont stated that the pass, henceforth, would be named “Breckenridge Pass” in honor of the mule mishap. While this name no longer graces official maps, the pass is located just southwest of Boreas Pass.

A convenient name?

As Theobald recently mused, it is easy to imagine Thomas Breckenridge and others sitting around a campfire with a bottle of whiskey, pondering what to call their gold diggings. Breckenridge certainly could have piped up and said, “Well, there’s a nearby pass named ‘Breckenridge.’ Why not name our camp the same?”

Advance a few weeks in time to Spencer’s challenge to find a name and a post office. Spencer’s promising to name the new town “Breckinridge” would have been made easy, of course, if the settlement had already been named “Breckenridge” weeks earlier. Hence, it is very easy to visualize the clever Spencer seizing the moment and realizing the opportunity that had presented itself.

Adding support to this “duel theory” of name origin are two early newspaper articles found by Bill Fountain. The first, written in 1880, states that the town was named after an early and popular miner, but the article does not provide a specific name. The second article, published in 1900, implies that the article, at least in part, was based on an interview with an individual who was in the Breck area in the summer and fall of 1859 and stated that the town was named after Thomas Breckenridge, who built the first cabin in the area.

Unfortunately for Vice President Breckinridge, January 1860 and the naming of a town in his honor may have been the high point of his political career. He ran for president that year, lost to Lincoln and was elected to the U.S. Senate from Kentucky. Shortly thereafter, the Civil War broke out. Breckinridge was expelled from the Senate as a traitor for his support of the Confederacy and slavery; he went on to become a Confederate general and the Confederate secretary of war.

As the story goes, the Yankee citizens of “Breckinridge” were so incensed by Breckinridge’s betrayal that they changed the spelling of the town name back to “Breckenridge.”

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Nationally ranked series of art festivals returns to Breckenridge this summer

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Mark Fox / Daily file photo

Mountain Art Festivals recently announced its 2014 summer season in Breckenridge.

The town will again host three Mountain Art Festivals, starting with the 31st annual Breckenridge July Art Festival, from Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6. The 13th annual Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival will take place from Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27; and the 39th annual Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival is schedule for Saturday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Sept. 1. Festival times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with free admission.

Mountain Art Festivals producers Mark Beling and Judith Pollock have staged their outdoor Colorado art shows — consistently ranked among the best in the country — for 22 years.

“The Mountain Art Festivals provide venues for talented artisans to exhibit and sell their work to thousands of art enthusiasts every summer,” Beling said, “while offering patrons the unique opportunity to meet the artists, learn the sources of their inspiration, ask questions about techniques, commission a specific piece and, of course, purchase fine works of art.”

✔ 31st annual Breckenridge July Art Festival, Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6, at Main Street Station, corner of Main Street and Park Avenue — More than 100 artists will be featured at this festival, recently ranked the 22nd best fine art festival in the United States by Art Fair Source Book and 26th best fine craft show. Show times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily, with free admission.

✔ 13th annual Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival, Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27 — A favorite among visitors and artists, this event is held on North Main Street at Wellington in Breckenridge. More than 120 artists from around the country will be presented. Show times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily, with free admission.

✔ 39th annual Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival, Saturday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Sept. 1 — The granddaddy of Summit County art festivals, this longtime event will feature more than 120 artists and is a great way to end the summer season and celebrate Labor Day in Breckenridge. Show times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily, with free admission.

For more information on Mountain Art Festivals, visit www.mountainartfestivals.com or call (970) 547-9326.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Colorado records above-normal snowpack for second consecutive month

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Courtesy of Garrett Fisher

A significant storm across Colorado during the last week of January was enough to boost the snowpack numbers for the month to above average.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service of Colorado, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conducts a monthly snow surveythroughout the winter, in order to help estimate how much water will be available in the spring and summer.

Mage Hultstrand, assistant snow survey supervisor, said the southwest basins and the Upper Rio Grande basin were especially in need of the boost from the recent storm, having received very little snow since early in December.

Summit County is part of the Colorado basin, which reported snowpack 116 percent of the median. That’s 177 percent over the snowpack at this time last year. The reservoir storage in the Colorado basin is at 98 percent of average, better than last year’s 66 percent of average storage.

Across Colorado, the Feb. 1 snowpack was reported to be 107 percent of the median.

“The snowpack is above where it typically is this time of year,” Hultstrand said. “So 107 percent statewide just means it’s up 7 percentage points from the median. It’s not a lot above where we normally are.”

Across the rest of Colorado, the Feb. 1 snowpack ranged from 100 percent of median in the Arkansas basin, to 126 percent of the median in the South Platte. The reservoir storage in Colorado has improved since the last measurement; statewide storage is currently at 90 percent of average.

The snow survey department was formed in the 1930s in response to the Dust Bowl, Hultstrand said. The state was looking for accurate water supply information, based on snowpack.

The snowpack is measured two different ways — the first is 120 automated SNOTEL sites, mostly at higher elevations, functioning as weather stations and generating hourly reports. The stations can weigh the snow to see how much water is in the snowpack, Hultstrand said.

There are also 102 manual sites people travel to once a month, to fill in the gaps from the SNOTEL sites. They stick a hollow metal tube in the snow, and weigh the core to get the snowpack. The type of snow can also drastically affect the snowpack measurements: A light fluffy snow doesn’t contain as much water as the heavy, denser snow, Hultstrand said.

In areas like Upper Colorado, the current percentage is higher than the state average, 121 percent of the median, Hultstrand said. That’s a comfortable number, she said, so that the next few months don’t have a lot to make up for.

“Having this early season be really good so far — and this last storm really helped — that good base will help us not go into February and March worried about a deficit,” Hultstrand said.

However, there still has not been enough snow to bring the snowpack in some regions back to normal. Two basins, the Upper Rio Grande and San Juan, were the only ones in the state to report below-normal snowpack: 82 percent of median for Upper Rio Grande and 79 percent for San Juan basin.

Streamflow forecasts for the spring and summer seasons are expected to improve, compared with last month’s, for the northern part of the state, but decline for those two basins.

According to snow reports submitted by 345 U.S. resorts to www.OnTheSnow.com, Breckenridge Ski Resort’s 123 inches of snow in January was 22 inches more than its closest competitor. Since Jan. 1, Breckenridge has received almost 11 feet of new snow.

Hultstrand said most water providers hope for at least a normal year, if not above average. At a lot of points farther downstream, water providers in other states pay attention to the snowpack because a low snowpack means a lot less water for them, she said.

“The good news about (early snow) is, when we have an early-season deficit like last year, it is really hard to reach normal conditions by the spring, since it tells us how much water is going to be available,” she said.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Summit County forecast calls for snow through the weekend

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

A storm system has moved into Summit County and snow is in the forecast through Sunday.

But Jim Kalina, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder, said powder junkies may want to keep their expectations in check, as this system doesn’t contain nearly as much moisture as the one that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on Summit last week.

“The last system had a strong, moist jet stream that came all the way from Hawaii,” Kalina said. “We don’t see that very often, but when we do the mountains tend to do really well with that kind of a system.”

Although a trough moved in and settled over the area Monday night, Kalina said there’s not as much moisture and the jet stream is significantly weaker than in last week’s storm.

However, Summit County can expect to receive snow accumulations of 1 to 5 inches daily between Wednesday and Sunday.

It’s also going to be cold, Kalina said, with daytime temperatures averaging in the teens all week except Friday, when the high could be in the low 20s. On Sunday, the trough will make its way out of the area, and Summit County could experience a slight warming trend with partly sunny skies and daytime highs in the mid-20s.

The warming trend looks like it will continue into Monday, Kalina said, with more clear skies and temps reaching the 30s.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Summit County pets available for adoption

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Sue

Summit County Pets available for adoption.  Contact the shelter at (970) 668-3230.

CATS

CATALONIA, 2 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, white and black, spayed female

MASYA, 7 years, Domestic Mediumhair mix, dil calico and gray, spayed female

REGGIE, 1 year 6 months, Domestic Shorthair, gray tab, neutered male

FELIX, 3 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, orange, neutered male

SHEBA, 1 year 6 months, Domestic Shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

MISTER, 6 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, black, neutered male

DOMINO, 1 year 6 months, Domestic Longhair mix, black and white, spayed female

MONA, 9 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

FIONA, 1 year, Domestic Shorthair mix, tortie, spayed female

LUCAS, 1 year 6 months, Domestic Longhair mix, tan, neutered male

TURTLE, 4 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, black, spayed female

DOGS

SUE, 5 years, Border Collie mix, black and white, spayed female

SCARLET, 4 years, Boxer, brindle, spayed female

STRYKER, 1 year 1 month, Border Collie mix, black and white, neutered male

PIP, 2 years, Australian Shepherd and Labrador Retriever mix, tan, spayed female

PIPPA, 8 years, Irish Wolfhound and Bearded Collie mix, brown and white, spayed female

KATE, 8 years, Irish Wolfhound and Bearded Collie mix, brown and white, spayed female

ROCK HUDSON, 6 years, American Bulldog, brindle and white, neutered male

IZZY, 3 years, Boxer mix, black and white, spayed female

DIEGO, 4 years, Pit Bull Terrier, brindle, neutered male

LUCY, 2 years, Dachshund and Chihuahua - Smooth Coated mix, red, spayed female

CHANCE, 4 years, Australian Cattle Dog mix, white and brown, neutered male

WAFFLES, 1 year, Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, tan and white, spayed female

SUGAR, 3 years, Labrador Retriever mix, chocolate, spayed female

SIA Snow Show on-snow demo puts next year’s skis on display at Copper Mountain

#Copper Mountain, Colorado.

After wrapping up its annual convention in Denver Sunday, the 2014 SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Snow Show took to the slopes at Copper Mountain Resort Monday for the on-snow demo portion of the convention. More than 4,000 members of the ski industry — including media, company reps, suppliers and buyers — took over Center Village at Copper to get a sneak peak at next year’s lines of ski and snowboard gear.

“We’re proud to host the newest technologies in the winter sports industry,” Copper spokeswoman Austyn Williams said. “Conditions are primed to hit the snow.”

Now celebrating its 60th year, this is the first time that Copper has hosted the on-snow portion of the snow show. The convention has been in Denver each of the last five years with the on-snow demo at Winter Park.

“Copper has really progressive terrain to make it perfect for demoing a variety of products,” SIA communications manager Elizabeth Hurst said. “It’s a new location which we’re really excited about.”

For retailers like Kristopher Carlstead of Podium Sports in Frisco, it’s an opportunity to test gear and make decisions on what they may choose to stock in their stores next season. He said that next season Podium will shift its focus away from apparel to more hard goods and higher-end demo skis and snowboards for their rental fleet, making this demo opportunity especially important for them.

As to trends, Carlstead echoed comments heard at the Denver Convention Center.

“There’s not a lot of stuff that’s brand-new,” he said. “Everything’s been revised.”

Unlike years past, the trend now is toward refining existing technologies rather than introducing new ones.

“Five years ago it was bigger, bigger, bigger,” he said regarding companies continuing to make wider and longer skis designed for powder skiing.

While that trend has slowed to where companies have narrowed their focus to a certain ranges of ski widths — designed for specific types of sking — rockered skis and board technologies continue to be a major focus among industry designers as their popularity continues to grow. Developed in recent years, rocker or reverse-cambered skis and snowboards have more of a curve from front to back in order to better float in deeper snow.

Carlstead said companies have shifted toward revising how side cut and rocker work together.

The other major trend is the push toward Alpine Touring (AT) gear designed for back or sidecountry skiing.

“We’re seeing strong growth in that category,” Tom Winter of Colorado-based Liberty Skis said.

That means we can expect more companies entering the market next season, with everything from specialized skis and bindings to climbing skins and avalanche gear.

SIA reported that AT equipment sales increased 23 percent in the last year, making it the largest growth market in the industry.

A big focus with AT skis and boards is lighter core materials — everything from carbon fiber to bamboo.

Hurst said we can also expect more companies to expand into the touring boot market — lighter boots with heel release walking features.

SIA’s on-snow demo continues at Copper though Tuesday. It is limited to credentialed members of the media and ski industry and not open to the public.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Summit County gear review: Mixing it up with The North Face, VZ and Lange

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

This week, as we head into the peak of the ski season, we’ve put together a mix of gear we’ve been wearing on the hill since the start of the year. There’s no real unifying theme; these are just a few pieces we like and that have become go-to choices for charging the mountain. We’re looking at a mid-layer from The North Face, goggles from VZ and boots from Lange.

Together, I guess you could say we’ve got you covered from head to toe.

Men’s Pemby Hybrid Jacket from The North Face

The name says it. Part fleece, part puffy synthetic vest, the Pemby Hybrid Jacket from The North Face is the best of both worlds, and it’s one of the company’s “athlete’s picks” for a reason. It offers the versatility and, more important, breathability you want in a mid-layer, and it can double as a shell when those bluebird spring ski days start rolling around.

A full puffy — synthetic or down — jacket is great as a mid-layer if you want to stay extra warm on the coldest of days, but they generally lack breathability and can leave you sweaty before long. A fleece jacket, on the other hand, is a solid choice to insulate, but wear it by itself and the wind will go right through. The Pemby Hybrid combines the warmth of a synthetic core vest with the breathability of The North Face’s FlashDry fleece sleeves. Unlike traditional fleece, the FlashDry sleeves are soft on the inside with a smooth weather-resistant exterior designed to wick moisture away from the body. The synthetic core is filled with The North Face and PrimaLoft’s Thermoball insulation technology. Thermoball synthetic filler is designed to replicate the warmth and lightweight packability of down with all the advantages of a synthetic.

We found this jacket to be pretty amazing at keeping the core warm even on the coldest of days. And the FlashDry sleeves absolutely helped manage moisture generated from a hard day of charging the slopes. While The North Face suggests the jacket can be used as a shell, with its fleece sleeves it may be better suited to mid-layer use. It could, however, be a solid around-town option on a milder winter day. The jacket’s thumb-hole cuffs may take a little getting used to but are definitely useful when combined with a shell and ski gloves. The cuffs can also be rolled back fairly discretely when not being used.

All in all, this is a really solid choice as a mid-layer. The North Face’s Hyline Hybrid jacket offers a similar design, with 600-fill natural down instead of the Pemby’s synthetic fill.

Retail: $199

Fishbowl Snow Goggle from VonZipper (VZ)

We’ve talked about the advantages of spherical lens goggles before, but the Fishbowl goggles from VZ take it to a whole new level. The name is appropriate. The lens looks huge, popping out like a bubble, but the goggles actually fit a medium-sized face surprisingly comfortably. The field of vision the large lens offers may be second to none. With their rounded shape, spherical lens goggles are designed to provide a wider field of vision — specifically when it comes to peripheral sight lines — but some goggle designs can counteract the benefit with thick frames or excessive padding. The Fishbowl goggle is really low profile, and the lens size nearly puts the frame out of the wearer’s line of sight. Extra space in the arch of the nose makes the large-lens effect especially noticeable. And, unlike less-expensive flat-lens goggles, spherical lenses don’t distort vision. At least in that sense, the Fishbowl name is a bit of a misnomer. There’s no distortion whatsoever. We were impressed by how much we could see when we took them to the hill. And with a variety of mirrored-lens options they look pretty cool, too.

Retail: $150

Lange RX 120 Ski Boots

When it comes to performance, a lot of snow pros opt to keep their feet in Lange boots. The name is trusted in the ski industry, and this year’s RX 120s won’t change that. It’s a high-performance boot recommended for expert skiers.

When buying a boot there’s a lot to think about. Rushing a boot choice can lead to buyer’s remorse pretty quickly and make skiing downright unpleasant.

The process starts with flex rating, or how much a boot will give or move when pressure is applied. A lower flex rating will have a little more give, allowing for more forward and backward movement in the ankle, whereas a higher flex keeps the foot more firmly in place.

While the feel from one manufacturer to the next might vary, even though the ratings are the same, the idea is that there is a range. A beginner, or someone looking to charge the park, might go for a lighter rating to have that range of motion, whereas a racer or a more aggressive skier will opt for less flex. Ratings typically range from around 90 to 130 or 140.

That puts the RX 120 in the firmer range. Its 100 mm last, or width, makes it a solid choice for someone with a medium to narrower foot. The mono-injection shell also gives it a durability that an aggressive skier can appreciate.

The boot’s more upright or neutral stance is worth noting. It might not be the most ideally suited to someone looking to really charge downhill full time.

Lange says the design provides more efficient power transfer and less quad fatigue, but it may take some getting used to for someone accustomed to a forward-leaning boot. Still, for a serious skier, this boot could be a great match. Lange’s “out-of-the box” fit liner is designed to provide a firm fit right away.

Combine them with a Surefoot custom liner, and these puppies will fit like a glove without question; they might even make you ski better.

Retail: $700

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

On the road to Breckenridge: The original five routes before Highway 9

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Courtesy of Rich Skovlin 

It may surprise some of you that there was life in, and access to, Breckenridge long before good old Highway 9 came along. Furthermore, “back in the old days” — meaning the spring, summer and fall of 1860 and before — there were actually a lot more ways to enter the Breck area than there are now, and these alternatives were used very extensively.

It’s probably safe to say that all of the “old” routes into Breck were originally seasonal game trails used by migrating mountain buffalo, elk, deer and other animals that moved to and from summer and winter grazing areas. Ute Native Americans also used the trails as they followed the game from season to season for thousands of years. In turn, early trappers later plied these routes in the first half of the 19th century.

When early Pikes Peak Gold Rush prospectors and miners appeared on the scene in the spring of 1859, why should they bushwhack through the woods when there were perfectly good trails, already well trodden? Recent research — in old diaries and personal accounts — by Bill Fountain and Mary Ellen Gilliland (see her book “Breckenridge: 150 Years of Golden History”) has turned up some unexpected early access routes into Breck. Not surprisingly, all of these early routes came through high mountain passes, most over the Continental Divide and most from South Park.

Two of the earliest routes came over passes no longer carrying their original names — Tarryall and Breckenridge passes. Tarryall Pass was the next pass to the southwest from our current Boreas Pass, while Breckenridge Pass was the next pass to the southwest. Breckenridge Pass was renamed Hamilton Pass in 1861. The currently unnamed Breckenridge/Hamilton Pass has high-tension electrical power lines running over it.

The Tarryall Pass road wound its way down through Dyersville, which is now a ghost town, in Indiana Gulch and passed through the current development of Spruce Valley Ranch, near the HOA’s skeet-shooting range. The road over Breckenridge Pass actually split soon after it entered the Blue River Basin — one branch forking into Indiana Gulch and passing through Dyersville before continuing through the current Spruce Valley Ranch, the other winding its way down Pennsylvania Gulch. There are actually the remains of an old stage stop along this road in Pennsylvania Gulch.

A third original route came over what we now call Georgia Pass but what was originally called Swan River Pass. This route wound its way down through Georgia Gulch, the long-gone town of Parkville, through Gold Run and to the Blue River. The “Georgia” name undoubtedly derived from the early prospectors from Georgia, veterans of the 1830-40 Georgia gold rush, who came west again to seek their fortune.

A fourth route came over what we now call Hoosier Pass (originally called Ute Pass) from South Park and down the Blue River (roughly the path of Highway 9). Yet another route came over French Pass, through a current private development roughly three miles above the Country Boy Mine, through Lincoln City, along French Creek and eventually to the Blue on what is now French Gulch Road.

Aside from these original five routes, several others came into Summit County, but probably later — over Loveland, Argentine and Boreas passes. It appears that despite its being a relatively easy-access pass, Boreas was not used extensively until a toll road was built over the pass in 1866.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Where to watch the Super Bowl in Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and around Summit County

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Courtesy Summit Daily News

Whether your Super Bowl plans include heading out to the bar and soaking up a few pints or staying home and hosting the party of the year, Summit County businesses have you covered with deals all day long on Super Bowl Sunday. Here are a few places you can watch the game or pick up and carry out consumables for your home stand.

Arapahoe Basin

When the lifts close, catch the first half of the game at the 6th Alley Bar & Grill in the base area at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. The restaurant will feature food specials all day, and the bar will close around halftime at about 6:30 p.m. Specials will include $20 whole pizzas, $3.50 drafts of Coors Light, PBR and Budweiser and seafood deals such as cocktail shrimp or snow crab claws for $1 each or $10 for a dozen. The ski area also is offering a limited amount of discounted lift tickets and packages, when purchased in advance. Visit www.arapahoebasin.com for details.

Breckenridge

TVs line the walls at Breckenridge Brewery (600 S. Main St.), where you can take advantage of the brewpub’s regular happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.breckbrewpub.com.

Burke and Riley’s Irish Pub (502 S. Main St.) is offering up $2 Coors and Coors Light pints during the game, as well as its regular happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Visit www.burkeandrileyspub.com for more information.

Known for pizza, burgers, beer and sports, Downstairs at Eric’s (111 S. Main St.) will start seating at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The restaurant has 14 flat-screen HDTVs to watch the game, as well as 20 beers on tap and 100 beers by the bottle. Visit downstairsaterics.com for more information.

Fatty’s Pizzeria (106 S. Ridge St.) will be offering $1 sliders and specials on ribs, sloppy Joes and other food, as well as drink specials. The restaurant will also host its regular happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., with half off appetizers, $3 well drinks and New Belgium drafts and $2 domestic drafts and bottles. Visit www.fattyspizzeria.com for more information.

Kenosha Steakhouse (301 S. Main St.) will be raffling off a Broncos Peyton Manning jersey and a Seahawks Russell Wilson jersey on Sunday, Feb. 2. The restaurant is also honoring all of its weekly food specials, including all-you-can-eat ribs for $17, a 10-ounce steak burger for $10, Kenosha Steak Loaf for $10 and the Pig-Out Platter for $15, in addition to its regular Sunday Smokehouse Salad deal. Top it off with beer and drink specials throughout the game, or head downstairs to Rita’s for happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Visit www.kenoshasteakhouse.com for info.

The Super Bowl will play on all of the screens at Napper Tandy’s (110 Lincoln Ave.), which will feature food and drink specials. Regular dinner service will be available at Salt Creek Steakhouse below. Visit http://nappertandysbreck.com for more information.

Ollie’s Pub & Grub (401 S. Main St.) in Breckenridge is sticking to what works: regular Sunday drink specials and the Super Bowl on 16 HD TVs. Visit www.olliespub.com for more information.

Quandary Grille (505 S. Main St., Unit C1) is giving away a flat-screen TV on Super Bowl Sunday. The game will show on 10 TVs and a 90-inch projection screen. Visit www.quandarygrille.com for more information.

Ullr’s Sports Bar and Grill (505 S. Main St., Suite B1), voted one of the best sports bars in Breck, according to www.gobreck.com, has nine HDTVs to check out the big game and free pool from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit www.ullrsbreck.com for more information.

Copper Mountain

For more information on any of these Copper Mountain restaurants, visit www.coppercolorado.com. Free parking is available in the Alpine Lot, with shuttle service to each of the villages.

Double Diamond Restaurant (East Village) will feature $4 Colorado pints and $10 beer and a bump with Colorado microbrews and well whiskey.

Get $2 PBRs and $2 tacos at Salsa Mountain Cantina (Center Village).

Endo’s Adrenaline Bar & Grill (Center Village) will have 50-cent wings, either barbecue or hot, as well as $3 Coors and Coors Light drafts, $10 Coors and Coors Light pitchers and $3 Jager or Jager Spice shots.

A slew of Super Bowl-themed menu items will be available at Jack’s Bar (Center Village). Options include the No. 18 Wings, Eric Decker Sliders, Bronco Blue Balls, Northwest Big Mouth Seafood Chowder, The Sherman “Hater” hot dog, Bronco Buffalo Wraps or The Omaha, a hot roast beef Panini. Drink specials are also available, with $3 Coors and Coors Light drafts, $3 Jager or Jager Spice shots, $5 Bronco Berry Punch and $2 shot specials on Seattle Balls, The Bronco Buster or The Razzle Dazzle.

JJ’s Rocky Mountain Tavern (East Village) will be serving up Seahawk Wings with a pitcher of Coors or Coors Light, or try some of Peyton’s Punch, with Svedka raspberry, lemonade and a splash of soda.

Storm King Sushi & Lounge (Center Village) will have $2 orange beers or $3 green beers, Jager or Jager Spice shots for $3, Blue Moon drafts for $4 and Super Bowl Pulled Pork Sandwiches for $7.

Dillon

Watch the Super Bowl on the Dam Big Screen with sound at the Dillon Dam Brewery (100 Little Dam St.). Drink specials include $2.75 pints and $3 wine from 3 to 6 p.m., and the restaurant will be serving the Dam Football Menu during the game, with all items priced at $4 to $4.50, including Green Chili Jalapeno Dip, Sweet & Spicy Meatballs, Bangers & Mash and ’Tato Skins. The full menu also will be available. Visit www.dambrewery.com for more information.

Lakeside Bowl & Billiards (135 Main St.) will be showing the game on all eight projectors and four flat screens. The alley is teaming up with Krystal 93, who will be co-hosting the event. Food and drink specials include $2 Coors Light drafts, $4 Jager bombs, $4 margaritas, $4 wines and buy-one-get-one half off appetizers. There will also be a happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., which includes $1 off all wells, wines and drafts, and bowling will be discounted, with $3 games and $3 shoes. Visit www.lakesidebowlandbilliards.com for more information.

Pug Ryan’s Brewing Co. (104 Village Place) will be showing the Super Bowl on seven HDTVs. There will be a special game-day menu, drink specials and $3 pints of beer. For information, visit http://pugryans.com.

Frisco

Upstairs at Jonny-G’s (409 Main St.) will open at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2, for its annual Super Bowl Bash. Early birds will be eligible for a pregame prize, and other prizes will be given out throughout the day, leading up to the grand-prize giveaway, a 50-inch LED TV. Buy a drink on special during the designated quarter and get a raffle ticket to win that quarter’s prize. All of those chances go into the grand prize pool, and any Red Bull drink special or 9-inch pizza purchase also will provide an additional chance for the TV. Jonny-G’s will close the night with free karaoke hosted by DJ Davina after the game. Visit www.jonnygs.com for more information.

Catch the last brat and beer special of the season at Prost (313 Main St.), where $10 gets you a half-liter of beer and your choice of brat during the Super Bowl. For more information, visit http://prostfinebeers.com.

Watch the big game at Kemosabe Sushi (605 Main St.) and get two-for-one sushi rolls all night and 30 percent off all sake. This special Super Bowl deal is not valid with other happy hour deals. Visit www.kemosabesushi.com for information.

Ollie’s Pub & Grub in Frisco (620 Main St.) will feature its regular Sunday drink specials. Come early to check out the game on one of 18 HDTVs. Visit www.olliespub.com for more information.

Blue Spruce Inn (20 Main St.) opens at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2, with six large flat-screens TVs and Super Happy Hour from open to close. For more information, visit www.thebluespruce.com.

Backcountry Brewery (720 Main St.) opens at 11 a.m., with 11 large flat screens, $2.75 pints of its award-winning microbrew beer and fish and chips and braised buffalo rib specials. Visit www.backcountrybrewery.com for more information.

The Summit County Brewery Tour will be giving away deluxe blue and gold football Mardi Gras beads to all of its customers who sign up for the Sunday, Feb. 2, evening tour.

Tours pick up at customers’ front doors, last five to six hours and include a pint of beer at each brewery. The game will be shown at all of the local microbreweries. For more information and pricing, visit www.sucobrewtour.com.

Take it home

Climax Jerky will be offering 10 percent off all purchases of its gourmet jerky for the Super Bowl. Beef, buffalo, elk, pork and specialty jerky, including salmon, venison, turkey and wild boar, are available. Climax sells jerky out of the covered wagons in two locations and will honor the deal all weekend.

The Breckenridge location on the southeast corner of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue is open Friday, Jan. 31, through Sunday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Outlets at Silverthorne location in the Blue Village by the Nike store is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. the same days. For more information, visit www.climaxjerky.com.

Host your own Dam Super Home Party, with an appetizer and beer package from Dillon Dam Brewery. Get pulled-pork sliders with rolls, sweet and spicy meatballs, cowboy dip and chips and a veggie tray for four to five people for $60 or eight to 10 people for $110. Add six-packs, growers, party pigs or kegs and get 10 percent off the beer. Packages must be reserved by noon Saturday, Feb. 1. Call (970) 262-7777 to place an order or for more information.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.