About On The Alpenglow
Hi, I’m Heidi! I’ve lived in Breckenridge for a little over ten years, and I’ve spent those years working in hotels, coffee shops, emergency rooms, and town buildings. My daily life runs on the cycle of a tourist town, which means I’ve watched a whole lot of vacations from the other side of a counter. You pick things up that way, mostly about what people didn’t know before they showed up.
Getting outside with kids is rarely hard for the reasons people expect. It’s the small stuff that gets you: where to park when the lot fills by 9am, how far the bathroom really is from your campsite, what altitude does to a four year old at bedtime, whether the trail everyone raves about is realistic for short legs. None of that shows up in the pretty photos. It is, however, the difference between a good day out and one you’d rather not repeat.
So that’s what I write about here. Not the version of the trip you’d post about, but the version where you’re standing in the garage at 6am wondering what you forgot.
Living here for a decade is why the details hold up. It isn’t the subject, though. I’m not trying to be the definitive guide to Summit County, because there are people already doing that and doing it well. What I’m after is the part that travels. Parking advice might be specific to one trailhead here in Breckenridge, but the reason it matters works anywhere you’re trying to get a family out of a car and onto a trail.
I’m also a mom, a wife, and an elementary school instructor. I’ve had about forty years to dabble in things and I’ve taken as many opportunities as I possibly could: mountain biking, day hiking, backpacking, van life, tent camping, bikepacking, ultra running, road tripping, gardening, international travel. I’m not an expert in any single one of them. I’ve just done a lot of things (badly, at first) and I take good (color coordinated) notes.
Stay up to date on mountain adventures and conditions: @onthealpenglow
A note on the photos: You won’t see many faces here, and that’s on purpose. I spent my twenties and most of my thirties putting my adventures online. Writing is still how I process a trip and keep track of what actually happened, so I’m not about to stop doing that. But I’ve cut a lot of my tethers to the internet and I’d like to keep them cut. The photos show the campsites, the trails, and the views, which is the part you actually need anyway.
What I will tell you is that everything here is a place I’ve actually been. I’ve slept at these campgrounds, walked these trails, and cooked these dinners. If I recommend something it’s because I’d recommend it to a friend, and when a place didn’t work for us, I say so.
What You’ll Find Here
- Where to Camp. Campground and dispersed camping reviews with the details you need before you book, and an honest answer on whether we’d go back.
- What to Do. Hikes sorted by what a kid can actually handle, plus paddling, sledding, and the rainy afternoon backup plans, with a note on why each one worked or didn’t.
- Before You Go. Altitude, weather, parking, gear, and packing lists you can print. All the logistics that turn a mountain vacation into a full-time job.
- Guides. Printable itineraries and checklists over on my Payhip shop, for when you’d rather have the whole thing in one place.
Get In Touch!
Planning a mountain trip with kids is a big undertaking. Whether you have a question about a specific campground, need trail recommendations, or just want advice on getting the whole family outdoors without it going sideways, drop me a line using the form below. I read every single message!
