Spitfire, Breckenridge (514 at Wedgewood Lodge)
by Julia Anna Moore Hello friend, Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder. We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike. We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay. How to get to Spitfire. There is an aviation theme to many of the trails on Peak 10, named by former Breck ski patroller and mountain manager who had served in the Air Force. Jim Gill was responsible for naming the trails in 1985 such as Spitfire, Blackhawk, Mustang, Falcon, and Corsair after various famous aircrafts which he was familiar with. Spitfire is a fun tree run at the edge of Peak 10 that throws you out on Upper Lehman. It’s a single black diamond but with the moguls, it’s a leg burner. We recommend that only advanced skiers attempt Peak 10. After the war. Much of the 10th Mountain Division got into outdoor sports after they left the military, setting the foundation for the outdoor industry as we know it today. While Jim Gill wasn’t in the 10th Mountain Division, I find this as a perfect opportunity to tie in what happened to some folks after World War II. Many soldiers had fallen, many returned to life as a civilian, and some couldn’t let go of their love for the mountains. The 10th Mountain Division still exists today. Read more here. En route to Arapahoe Basin with 10th Mtn “boys”: 10th Mountain Division veterans pose in front of a bus. Original creator: May 29, 1959; Moscow, Lorraine. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, Denver Public Library, TMD351–2017–440. Seven men on skis pose on flat, snowy area: From left: Howard Lent (86-M), Greenleaf Pickard (86-L), Marcus Tool (86-E), Robert Mahony (86-L), Peter Condliffe (86-L), Curt Krieser (86-L), Miller (Gordon, Robert or William?). Original creator: 1943–1944; Krear, H. Robert, 1922–2017. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, Denver Public Library, TMD351–2017–768. Skitrooper in woods, Colorado: Tenth Mountain Division skitrooper cross-country skiing through pines trees, Colorado. Original creator: [1943–1944]; Southworth, William A., 1921–2003. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, Denver Public Library, TMD-732. Skitrooper skiing: Tenth Mountain Division skitrooper skiing, with snowy mountains in the distance. He is wearing the woollen ski uniform and sunglasses. Original creator: [1943–1944]; Southworth, William A., 1921–2003. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, Denver Public Library, TMD-741. Executing a slalom turn: An unidentified skier executes a ski turn around a slalom flag during a 10th Mountain Division race. Original creator: Jan 1944; Unidentified. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, Denver Public Library, TMD351–2020–616. Ski shop in Colorado area: Five men (George C. Gagnon (10th Recon) second from right) are in a ski production shop with skis lying on adjustment tables and lined against the wall. Original creator: 1943–1944; Lafferty, Ralph Frederick, 1918–2012. 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, Denver Public Library, TMD351–2017–481.
Shock, Breckenridge (518 at Wedgewood Lodge)
by Julia Anna Moore Hello friend, Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder. We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike. We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay. How to get to Shock. This is a steep and often icy black diamond located on Peak 9, but when the conditions are good, it’s good. It’s usually half groomed with some bumps on the side but check the groom report report before you go. It’s the fastest way to get to the mid-load station for Peak 8 SuperConnect, and if you’re with someone who’s not a fan of how steep this run feels, they can take the Peak 8 Transfer run right below, rated as a blue. I’m unsure how it was named, but it gives the same vibe as the nearby black runs, or maybe it was named after Shock Hill? A hill with a view. Nowadays, Shock Hill is covered in luxury homes and has gondola access. Before the ski industry dominated the area, Shock Hill was a place where livelihoods were found through metallic commodoties. The Brooks-Snider mind operated here, mostly searching for silver and gold. I’m unsure when the mine closed, but it seemed like it barely lasted even through the early part of the 20th century. Nevertheless, the view has always been beautiful. From top to bottom: View of Breckenridge, looking east from Shock Hill: Breckenridge, Colorado, looking east from Shock Hill, with the railroad yards in the foreground. Bald Mountain and Barney Ford Hill in the background. Original creator: Circa 1890s; Ward, PJ. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. View of the town of Breckenridge and Bald Mountain, looking southeast from Shock Hill: Summit County, Colorado. Original creator: Circa 1900; Mary Marks. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado Breckenridge Colo, from Shockhill, looking west: View from Shock Hill looking east over the town of Breckenridge, Colorado towards Bald Mountain. The Denver South Park and Pacific (DSP&P) railway tracks and train depot are in the foreground, west of town. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: “Breckenridge Colo, from Shockhill, looking west.” Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado. Harry and Nellie Rogers at Brooks-Snider Mill on Shock Hill, west of Breckenridge: The Brooks-Snider Mill on the north side of Shock Hill west of Breckenridge, Colorado. Circa 1890s. Henry (Harry) and his wife Nellie Rogers stand near a small pond. Three men sit or stand nearby. One man is smoking a pipe. Huge piles of logs are stacked outside the extensive mill operations, and a small log cabin sits at the base of the hill. Original creator: Circa 1890s; Ward, PJ. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. Nellie Rogers outside the boardinghouse at Brooks-Snider Mine on Shock Hill, west of Breckenridge: The boarding house at Brooks-Snider Mine on Shock Hill, west of Breckenridge, Colorado. Circa 1890s. Constructed of board and batten with side gables, the building has three front entry doors and several windows. A tall smokestack rises from the small wood addition. A woman, Nellie Rogers, stands next to a chair placed outside one of the doorways. Two men stand nearby. Fallen and dead trees cover the steep hillside behind them. Original creator: Circa 1890s; Ward, PJ. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado. View of Breckenridge, looking east from Shock Hill: Detailed view of Breckenridge, Colorado, looking east from Shock Hill. In the lower foreground is the Denver South Park and Pacific (DSP&P) railway depot. Bald Mountain and Barney Ford Hill in the background. Original creator: Unknown; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.