Over the years I have had many guests ask Air conditioning during the Summer months?
Well that one is easy, Mother Nature takes care of that for us! Cool nights and moderate temperatures during the day make our Lodges the PERFECT location all summer. Also the Huge insulation log and Bavarian construction holds in the cool in the days and keeps the warm in, during the nights. Come out and experience our “Green” construction that gives you comfort.
One of the favorite questions guests have before arriving at one of our Lodges is what do we need to bring? Well, we have tried to outfit our Lodges with all the conveniences of home so that you can spend your time with us building memories and not bothering with the problem of finding a cork-screw!
We provide all linens, towels and cleaning products. As a matter of fact if you’re with us a week of more you can pick up fresh linens mid-week if you desire. We know large groups often like to save by cooking family meals so we provide all the pots, pans and utensils that we could think of so you can prepare whatever you like.
Our family loves to Bar-B-que after a fun day of activities so we have charcoal grills for your use too. All we ask is you bag the COLD ashes and put them in the dumpster so the animals don’t get into them. Yes, we have bears so ashes and all trash should be put in the dumpster daily to avoid problems!
A few years back a guest called me from the lodge asking me what to do about the BIG bear on the porch…I explained that using the dumpster would eliminate the problem. Her comment to me was she thought I had been kidding about the bears!
I find I get a better attitude at higher Altitudes! That’s one of the reasons we chose to develop our 4 Lodges in Summit County. The elevation is a breath taking 9,245 feet above sea level. At this elevation one must understand there are a few precautions that need to be addressed:
Sunscreen: do not go outside without a liberal application. The sun’s UV concentration is much higher because it has to travel through less atmosphere before hitting you!
Next, the general rule of thumb is 1 day of acclimatization for every 1,000 feet of gain. However, it all depends on what kind of shape you’re in. For me 2 to 3 days with LOTS of water consumption and I am good to go. Just remember each individual is different so pay attention to signs your body is sending. If you’re tired the 1st day try taking a nap!
Standard operating gear includes a hat and a wind-stopper upper body jacket when venturing outdoors. The weather can change very quickly so bring more than less. It is very common for clouds to build in the afternoon and usually winds as well, so be prepared. Oh yes, do not forget lip balm. The average humidity is very low and will cause your skin and lips to dry out quicker!
A little preparation will lead to great family fun!
I have a TWO rules when our family is staying at Summit Peaks or Riverside Lodges, #1 drink lots of water and #2 Make sure you follow rule #1.
My rule of thumb is 8 liters of water a day or until ” your #1″ is clear! The Lodge sits at 9,245 feet above sea level and without proper hydration you are certain to have problems.
The other thing to bare in mind is avoid Diuretics, yes all the fun stuff…coffee, excessive alcohol, and even chocolate. (at least in the first days of acclimatization) This is serious stuff and is the MOST common problem I have heard of over the years from our guests. With simple prevention this can easily be avoided!
Many guests have asked how to get from DIA to Summit Peaks and Riverside Lodges. My suggestions are two: first, rent a car or SUV. Every national rental car company is located right at DIA. The second is use Colorado Mountain Express, and let the pros take you to our door step! Click on or paste this link in your browser and you get a 10% discount with your booking!!
https://reservations.ewrt.com/afrm_summitpeakslodge
It doesn’t get any easier for our guests! Enjoy!
Keeping a secret from one’s husband for over seven months is no easy task! I can’t tell you how many times I nearly blew it!
My husband, Bruce turned fifty this past June. Yep, he finally made it! Last fall I was kidding him about hitting the big 5-0 next spring when I decided I wanted to do it up BIG! I knew he would object, so I decided to leave him out of it all together. And, so the planning, scheming and secret communications began.
I wanted to plan a family and friend reunion in Bruce’s honor, but where? A few days later, I was talking to Brad Foreman who serves on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board with me. He told me about the lodging he owns out in Silverthorne, Colorado. I went on-line and checked it out (www.summitpeakslodge.com). This would be perfect! We booked the lodge Riverside East, that features 7 bedrooms + den and sleeps 30+ people! That should do it, I thought. Then the secret phone calls and emails began – inviting relatives and friends. Some “signed on” immediately and others had to wait and see what they could arrange. We honestly didn’t know who would all be there right up until about a week before!
I finally told him to make sure he “cleared his calendar” the week of June 7 – 14th. “Huh?”, he asked. Just do what I’m telling you and don’t ask any questions. He just smiled. He knew something was up, but had no idea. The morning of the flight we walked up to the ticket counter at the airport and the attendant said, “oh, traveling to Denver, eh?” Bruce turned and looked at me saying, “Denver”? The attendant looked a little surprised that he had no idea where we were going so I explained it was a surprise, up until now.
We arrived at our gate and to Bruce’s amazement, there was my step-mom, Jane sitting there reading a book. He actually walked right by her the first time. “What the heck are you doing here”? he asked. Jane explained that she was flying out to Wyoming to see her brother and had to make a connection in Denver to get to Casper. He bought it, hook, line and sinker. Jane was really flying into Denver, waiting for an hour to hook up with my brother who was coming in right behind her. Both were in on the surprise.
In the meantime, Bruce’s childhood friend and one of his best buddies was driving out with his family from Wisconsin. Bruce’s younger brother was driving in from the Kansas City area and his other brother was planning to join us mid-week. The ones who drove were already waiting for us at the house in Silverthorne. We were texting each other on the way there. I was able to ‘warn them” that we were about 15 min. away. They all hid.
We had received our security code to unlock the doors, so when we got there we went right in. We saw a laptop on the dining room table and a bowl of peanuts on the breakfast bar. Bruce turned to me and said” I don’t think the other people who had this place before us have checked out yet!”. I told him I thought he might be right, so we slowly walked down the hallway calling, “hellooo, anybody here?”. All of a sudden all the friends and family jumped out of the den yelling surprise! I thought he was going to pass out! He was in shock! Everybody hugged him, slapped his back and we were all laughing at how we managed to pull one over on him! About an hour later, after we all got settled down, the doorbell rang and we told Bruce to get it. There was my step-mom and younger brother from Wisconsin! More hugs and laughing. Bruce came to me and gave me a big hug and kiss. Wow, he said. You really worked hard on this, I’m amazed.
From that point on it was all fun. What a blast! Silverthorne was the perfect location for us. Just off I-70 about an hour west of Denver. The villages of Dillion, Silverthorne and Frisco are right next to Breckenridge. They have a bus system that runs between them, so getting around was so easy. The transportation center was a short three block walk from our lodge. The lodge was across the street from one of the best fitness facilities we’ve ever been in and because we were guests at the lodge we got day pass discounts. Silverthorne and Dillon also have a large outlet shopping center that is basically spread throughout the two villages. Very unique. Lake Dillon is right there too, with bike trails all around it and on up to Frisco.
We did everything! Took a train to a silver mine; walked the main streets of Frisco, Breckenridge, Leadville and Vail. Went to an independent film festival in Breckenridge. Eleven of us went on a whitewater raft trip out of Glenwood Springs. It was June and the snow was barely melted. It was 81 degrees out that day, but the water was 42 degrees. We all had wetsuits on and were glad we did! We went on a breakfast trail ride up near Leadville. After the ride, the cooks fixed a great outdoor breakfast for us. I hadn’t been on a horse in 30 years! What fun! The next day went to the annual BBQ cook off in Frisco.
We had so much fun and the mix of people we had was just perfect. Everyone pitched in with meals, cleaning and planning day trips. It went so smoothly that we are already looking into traveling again next year with the same group. We like the Silverthorne area so well, we just might be back there and do different trips during the day. I can only imagine what fun it must be in the winter too! The ski resorts are so close!
Beth Clark Iowa 2009
| We had a once in a life time stay at Summit Peaks. We especially enjoyed accessing the National Forest from the back yard! Our friendly Red Fox visited each morning and we heard there was a resident Moose, but never saw him/her! Our favorite activity was hiking in Wildflower Basin at 11,000 feet above sea level and it was only 15 minutes away from Summit peaks! The next best were the summer festivals at each of the resorts!
Thanks for the memories and we will be back! |
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| Hunter, Nikkie, Gabby Iowa City IA. |
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| To Say WOW would be an understatment. Our kids initial response was, “Is this whole thing just for us?” This full log “log cabin” was in its finishing stage of a complete remodel so every thing was new and with every amenity you would expect. The amount of space is enormous and would be great for a multi-family reunion, business retreat or any group needing some private bedroom spaces,large gathering spaces, smaller living spaces and 2 full kitchens. Our week there was in the summer, and we found everything to be within a 5-25 minute drive from the house including biking, white water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, and gold mining. This is a great location for the Silverthorne, Breckenridge, Dillon, Keystone and even Vail areas. | |
| Julie | |
| As a large family we annually rent over the New Year holiday. We have stayed in this home more than once, as it is our favorite. The common space is fantastic for group games and discussions. The bedroom layout is ideal for families. The central location in Summit County is a plus. In addition, the owner, Brad is great to work with. | |
| Tana, Littleton, CO | |
Paul Bachhuber MN. 2000-2010!!!
Date: 05-30-2008
Super Bowl weekend is a great time to ski. For the past 25 years I have belonged to a group of 12 guys that have headed to the mountains for friendship and skiing. It has not always been easy to find a house big enough for 12 of us and having 12 separate beds. We have been going to Summit Peaks lodge for the last 8 years. It has a great location with its proximity to many different ski hills. The spacious living space is ideal for a large group. Several in our group enjoy cooking and we are able to utilize the well equipped kitchen for the production of great meals from chili to standing rib roasts. The table is big enough to seat all of us. Prior to finding this house we had tried others. Every one of us has stated that this is the preferred place to stay. The comment I hear the most it that its layout contributes the camaraderie and the overall fun experience. I highly recommend the facility as the owners make it simple and are flexible in booking your dates. Great value for you dollars.
Best Regards,
Paul Bachhuber
MN. 2008
Posted in Guest Comments