Arrival & Check-in, Registration & Orientation, Dinner, Program Overview

Arrive To: HOTEL CHECK-IN: 4:00 pm. Rooms may be ready earlier.

Afternoon: ORIENTATION: 5:00 pm. Meet in the hotel lobby. You'll have an informative overview of the program to come plus an opportunity to meet the program staff and your fellow participants during an introductory get-acquainted session. We’ll review the updated schedule, cover responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Light refreshments will be provided.

Dinner: DINNER: 6:30 pm

Evening: After dinner you will be on your own to continue getting to know one another, explore the beautiful town of Frisco, or get some rest for tomorrow's day of skiing. You are about to embark on a very special and educational adventure to explore some of the best skiing Colorado has to offer. Please note that the daily itinerary is subject to change, and where we ski each day is dependent on weather and conditions.

Lodging: Best Western Lake Dillon Lodge

Meals Included: Dinner

Skiing at Keystone Resort, expert presentation on ski equipment and technology.

Breakfast: BREAKFAST: At hotel.

Morning: Today we begin our "Ski the Summit" journey by heading in our private van transportation to Keystone. Keystone Resort has everything that makes a perfect Colorado vacation. Keystone consists of three mountains named Dercum Mountain, North Peak, the Outback, and 5 Bowls (Independence, Ericsson, Bergman, North and South Bowls) for skiing at every level. We will divide up into groups based on skiing ability, speed, and terrain preference. Each group will have a knowledgeable guide to show them the mountain, but participants are also free to ski independently if desired and meet up with the group later. Depending on how many ski days you've gotten in so far this year, you might need a few reminders and tips to help you improve your skiing. A lot of people don't realize that your ski boots are the single most important piece of equipment you'll be using. You'll learn a lot more about ski equipment during the week, but one thing we'll help you with on the first day of the program is bending your knees and pushing your shins against the tongues of your boots. Your boots are what connect you to your skis, and this pressure on your boots is very important. We'll take time to learn and practice this technique and more. (Annual Snowfall 230 inches/584 centimeters) (Total Area 3,148 acres/1,274 hectares) (Highest Elevation 12,408 feet/3,782 meters) (Vertical Rise 3,128 feet/953 meters)

Lunch: The groups will join and meet for lunch at a resort restaurant on the mountain.

Afternoon: Continue skiing Keystone after lunch; groups can be adjusted to experience skiing with different guides and participants. We'll introduce the topic today of the "Mountain Pine Beetle" and the effect it has had on the health of Colorado forests. If you've been on a road trip through the mountains of Colorado recently you may have noticed a number of dead, or brown, pine trees. This isn't from a fire or old age, but a result of the devastating outbreak of mountain pine beetles in the Rocky Mountains. The mountain pine beetle will bore a hole into a pine tree, feed on the bark, lay eggs, and hibernate for the winter before moving on to new trees during the warmer summer months. The portion of the tree that the pine beetle feeds on destroys the flow of water and nutrients through the tree. It is thought that the effects of climate change have resulted in warmer winters giving pine beetles a higher probability of surviving. The lack of frequent forest fires is also thought to be a factor because the trees are old and susceptible to the beetle. The most recent outbreaks of the pine beetle have been much larger and more extreme than previous outbreaks and the destruction is obvious. We will take some time to find a good sample of trees to stop next to and show you the trace evidence that you can look for when you are looking to see if a particular tree has been affected by the beetle. The pine beetle is such an issue that the town of Frisco now has a festival each fall to educate the community. The first "Beetlefest" came about as a way to educate the community on the effect mountain pine beetles have had on the area's forests and wilderness areas. What started as an idea for creating awareness grew into a full blown day of fun and activities for the whole family each September. The public ski shuttle runs frequently so participants can return to the hotel when they choose. We will offer one private van shuttle opportunity in the afternoon. Apres ski at hotel.

Afternoon: 5:00 PM - We gather at the hotel for a late afternoon field trip to a local ski shop. Here we'll have a presentation on the latest technology in ski equipment and learn how this affects technique, followed by a question/answer session with the expert ski technician. We'll discuss skis, boots, bindings, helmets, and more!

Dinner: Explore historic downtown Frisco with dinner on your own to discover the dining of the town, or take one of the free shuttles to the surrounding towns.

Lodging: Best Western Lake Dillon Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: At hotel.

Morning: This morning we board our private van transportation to discover the renowned "Kingdom of Breckenridge". As the largest historic district in Colorado, Breckenridge displays the charm and character of an authentic Victorian village. In town, you'll find quaint coffee shops, trendy boutiques, fine dining restaurants and bustling breweries. At the ski resort, you'll find four huge peaks, 2,358 acres, and awe-inspiring views to help Breckenridge stand out from the rest. Long before white settlers from the east crossed the Continental Divide, the area that would become Breckenridge was part of the summer hunting grounds of the nomadic White River and Middle Park Ute Native Americans. Although there were a few white trappers, mountain men, and traders roaming the area as early as 1840, the establishment of a town was the result of America's mid-nineteenth-century rush to settle the West. You'll learn more about the history of the area and the ski resort. The Breckenridge Ski Area opened in 1961 on Peak 8. During its first year of operation, 17,000 skier visits were recorded. During the 2007-08 season, there were 1.63 million skier visits. (Annual Snowfall 300 inches/762 centimeters) (Total Area 2358 acres/954 hectares) (Highest Elevation 12,998 feet/3,963 meters) (Vertical Rise 3,398 feet/1,036 meters)

Lunch: The groups will join and meet for lunch at a resort restaurant on the mountain.

Afternoon: After lunch, discover more runs that fit your skiing ability. For the adventurous, try Peak 8’s Black powder runs. For those saving their energy for Vail, take the amazing long groomed runs on Peak 9. Save a bit of energy for the area’s longest trail and epic end of the day cruiser: “Four O’clock” - 3.5 miles. Speaking of energy, how are your legs feeling? Did you know that certain sore muscles indicate that your body position while skiing and perhaps other technical aspects of your skiing likely need to be improved? We'll talk about how to improve your form so that skiing isn't any harder than it should be, and then we'll work on it. Apres ski at hotel.

Dinner: Dinner is provided at a restaurant in historic downtown Frisco.

Lodging: Best Western Lake Dillon Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At hotel.

Morning: This morning we're off to legendary Vail. Coveted as North America's top ski resort, Vail is an extraordinary winter skiing destination. Spanning seven miles are seven legendary back bowls, blanketed annually with up to thirty-eight feet of powder snow. With blue skies three hundred days a year and more groomed terrain than anywhere on the planet, skiers reconnect and celebrate here from year to year and generation to generation. Are your legs feeling tired/sore after three days of skiing? We'll teach you some exercises and activities you can do before your next ski trip, or in the off season to help improve your flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, strength, stability and balance, and power. If you think skiing exercises are just for serious skiers, think again. Strong muscles improve every skier's performance, whether he or she is a beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert skier. For those who feel they've reached a plateau in their skiing ability, ski exercises may provide the boost you need to reach the next level. (Annual Snowfall 350 inches/889 centimeters) (Total Area 5,289 acres/2,141 hectares) (Highest Elevation 11,570 feet/3,527 meters) (Vertical Rise 3,450 feet/1,052 meters)

Lunch: The groups will join to meet for lunch at a resort restaurant on the mountain.

Afternoon: After lunch, there will once again be the opportunity to switch groups and guides for new ski challenges and experiences. Work to practice some of the tips and techniques you have been learning, and ask your guide to watch you. Let them know specifically what you are working on mastering. You can't watch yourself ski very easily, so take advantage of your guides to watch you and offer encouragement and feedback. Apres ski at hotel or relax. 5:00 PM - Hotel Meeting Room: Expert presentation on Ice Climbing. Have you ever experienced the extreme sport of ice climbing? This presentation might be as close to the real thing as you ever get! See a slideshow of ice climbing pictures, pass around the tools necessary to climb, hear stories from our expert ice climber, and ask plenty of questions!

Dinner: Explore historic downtown Frisco with dinner on your own to discover the dining of the town, or take one of the free shuttles to the surrounding towns.

Lodging: Best Western Lake Dillon Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: At hotel.

Morning: After a short shuttle ride, we tackle the Copper Mountain ski area. For locals, one of the top spots is Copper Mountain. And the trails deliver on our quest for great runs. Copper's 22 lifts and 125 trails will more than satiate the urge to fly down the mountain on skis or a snowboard. Copper Mountain has 2,465 acres of skiable terrain and a village that feels more like a neighborhood. The terrain is naturally divided featuring beginner slopes on the western side of the mountain, intermediate slopes in the center, and expert terrain on the eastern side. Advanced "double black diamond" slopes are located on the two peaks above 12,000 feet (Copper and Union Peaks), including four expert-only bowls: Copper Bowl, Union Bowl, Spaulding Bowl, and Resolution Bowl. One thing that Colorado is famous for is it's powder skiing. Are you comfortable skiing groomed runs, packed powder, or even icy conditions but nervous about skiing in deep powder snow? Despite what you may think, learning how to ski powder is not as difficult as it may sound. If you are already an intermediate/experienced downhill skier, making the switch from a harder surface of snow to powder is a fairly simple process. With some fundamental instruction, you will be able to work your way through powder after we do some practice. We will teach you important things that should stay in your mind while you are learning how to ski powder, such as maintaining an even balance and evenly distributing your body weight. After some practice you'll become a full fledged "powder hound" like the locals and you'll love the search for great powder skiing. (Annual Snowfall 285 inches/723 centimeters) (Total Area 2,450 acres/985 hectares) (Highest Elevation 12,313 feet/3,767 meters) (Vertical Rise 2,601 feet/793 meters)

Lunch: The groups will join for lunch at a resort restaurant on mountain and likely at the top of one of the gondolas to prepare for afternoon skiing.

Afternoon: The afternoon will once again give us the opportunity to divide into groups for more skiing. Take a minute to notice the Aspen trees. Did you know that Aspen grow in large clonal colonies derived from a single seedling? We can talk about this and anything else that strikes your educational curiosity, from porcupine in the pine trees in the winter to the weather and science of Colorado. Take a deep breath and smile as you enjoy these beautiful mountains you've become one with during the week. You'll notice yourself looking at trees for signs of the pine beetle, skiing with improved form, and giving advice to strangers on the chair lift with your new knowledge of ski equipment and techniques. Save enough time to relax in the hot tub before the late afternoon and evening festivities start. 5:00 PM Apres Ski in hotel.

Dinner: Farewell dinner provided to enjoy a local restaurant in beautiful downtown Frisco.

Lodging: Best Western Lake Dillon Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast provided at hotel, goodbyes, end of program. Safe travels, we hope to see you on our ski program next week!

Meals Included: Breakfast