Breathless (Room 405)

Julia Anna Moore
Jan 1
3 min read

How to get to Breathless

You can only get to Breathless by going up Kensho SuperChair and hiking to Beyond Bowl or traversing across, staying high on the mountain. This is an avalanche-prone area, so lots of mitigation has to be done before opening the terrain. Otherwise, it’s packed with powder and a great time. I recommend that experts only attempt this run, and don’t try to hike if you are experiencing elevation sickness. When you get to the bottom, stay high on the catwalk especially if you’re a snowboarder, because Barton Breezeway is probably the flattest road I’ve ever seen.

Ski resort trail map showing various ski runs in blue, black, and red lines through mountainous terrain with tree symbols, names, and symbols. — *Map of Breckenridge’s Peak 6*

Dedicated to the most beautiful places near Breckenridge

I call this unit Breathless because the pieces in your historic living room gallery are from places that will leave you… well… breathless. It’s no secret that humans like pretty places, as these old photos will prove that leisure time in nature was valued highly. This may be one of my favorite overall galleries at Wedgewood. Which photo catches your eye the most?

People stand by a lake with rocky shores, surrounded by mountains. Sepia tone. Handwritten text reads: "Upper Blue Lake, 11,000 ft above sea." — **Upper blue lake, 11,000 ft above sea level. 1/2 mile wide, stocked with Mountain Trout:** A group of men, women and children on an outing to Blue Lake, south of Breckenridge, Colorado. Some people sit on rocks, while others stand in the talus or scree field near the water’s edge. In the background is a mountain cirque. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: “Upper blue lake, 11,000 ft above sea level. 1/2 mile wide, stocked with Mountain Trout.” *Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Snow-covered valley surrounded by forested mountains, with a clear sky above. Text at bottom reads: "7665, Up the Blue, Near Breckinridge." — **Up the Blue near Breckenridge:** View of mountain valley with Blue River and snow covered mountain range, Summit County, Colorado. *Original creator: [1882–1900?]; Jackson, William Henry, 1843–1942. Denver Public Library Special Collections, WHJ-394.*

River flowing through rocky terrain with a log cabin and pine trees in the distance, set against a backdrop of mountains under a clear sky. — **Ten Mile Peaks. Blue River Valley:** View of shallow bed of Blue River with Tenmile Peaks and one-story log building, Summit County, Colorado. *Original creator: [1882–1900?]; Jackson, William Henry, 1843–1942. Denver Public Library Special Collections, WHJ-534.*

A woman in a hat kneels by a river, panning for gold. She's surrounded by rocks and trees, with mountains in the background. — **Mary Marks Collection:** No description. *Original creator: Unknown date; Mary Marks. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

Waterfall of Upper Blue River flows over rocks. Two people stand on the rocky bank. Sepia tone adds a historic feel. Handwritten note. — **Falls of upper Blue River:** A group of men and women sit or stand on the edge of the upper Blue River waterfalls, south of Breckenridge, Colorado. Pink hand tint/coloring on the photograph indicates where flowers grow despite the remaining snow. Title taken from handwritten caption on card mount: “Falls of upper Blue river, showing where flowers grow near a Snow bank, eight feet deep, in mid June”. *Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

A sepia-toned photo shows a river with visible rocks, surrounded by trees and hills, beneath misty mountains. Text reads "View showing traces of ancient Snow slides." — **View showing traces of ancient snow slides:** The Blue River looking west toward Frisco, Colorado. Snow covered mountains (right to left): Mount Royal, Mount Victoria (with avalanche chute), Peak 1 and Tenmile Peak (often called Peak 2). Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: “View showing traces of ancient Snow slides”. *Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado.*

A modern touch

At Wedgewood Lodge, we want to give you a distinctive look into the past history of Breckenridge. Each photo in your historical gallery is unique to your stay and took countless hours to curate. There are stories to tell about Breckenridge and Summit County today as well, and the following photos have been shot by Julia Anna Moore.

Summer 2022

Storms in Summit County roll in like clock work during the summertime, so you better do all your fun outdoor activities before lunch. Sometimes the rain blows over quickly, sometimes it lasts until sunset, creating a beautiful pattern in the sky.

Mountain peak bathed in orange sunset light under dramatic clouds. Dark foreground contrasts with vibrant sky, creating a serene mood. — The sun sets in July after a thunderstorm kissing Bald Mountain with alpenglow.

Orange and gray clouds fill the sky during sunset, creating a dramatic and serene atmosphere. No text visible. — The sun sets in July after a thunderstorm kissing Bald Mountain with alpenglow.

Moon in a twilight sky with dark clouds and hints of pink and blue, creating a calm and serene atmosphere. — The sun sets in July after a thunderstorm kissing Bald Mountain with alpenglow.

Autumn 2022

A small snowstorm turned the peaks white in September, and I ran out of my front door to get the clouds leaving the mountains as the sky cleared. The excitement of ski season set in.

Snow-capped mountain under a cloudy sky, surrounded by dense green forests. Yellow foliage in the foreground adds a touch of autumn. — The first snowfall in September, the aspens on Peak 8 already ready to drop their leaves for wintertime.

Want to take a piece of Summit County home with you? We will ship any of the prints from Julia’s gallery straight to your house. We offer different sizes and framing options. Reach out here.