Caretaking the land

Before our ancestors settled down into an agricultural society, hunter-gatherers were gardening in the forest. Land used by Native Americans was more productive than land left alone. This is because of their knowledge of natural systems, systems that permaculture practitioners have brought to light in the last few decades.

I live a 10 second bike ride away from National Forest land. Sometimes I feel naughty for care-taking the land guerilla style. I am strictly a volunteer, but with no paperwork submitted to the Ranger District. Of course I'm responsible! I take nothing from the land, and I harvest nothing. I even walk my bike over muddy trails because I know the bacterial, fungal, and mycelial damage it can do! But I do go off trail, carefully avoiding the ephemeral flowers here and there, and I go off trail to discover the hills beyond the trails. Then I spend hours there, moving stuff around for the purpose of biodiversity and long-term producitvity!

Here are a few things you can do to help the Earth around you thrive.

• When trees fall, move them perpendicular to the slope, so over time it will catch soil, retain water, and encourage new plant life. Permaculturists call these water retaining elements "swales."
• In springtime, after the wind of the winter has blown branches down, clear the branches into one pile to give light to the plants that lie dormant underneath. You can neatly add the branches to the swales, or create big mounds. If you cover the mound with leaf and soil, you've started what Permaculturists call "HugelKultur" which will retain water and create a nutrient rich soil in the years to come. 
• Create "Mason Bee hotels". Mason Bee's pollinate more flowers than honey bees, and are more resilient to disease. Let me google that for you. 
• Find the lowest point of the hill where water accumulates, dig a hole, and create transplant a rock from a body of water nearby. Do not bring contaminants from far away, but do introduce local lifeforms to your new body of water. 
• Little critters like crawl space. Those mounds and swales you made are great for them and will help the biodiversity thrive. If brambles get overgrown, little critters lose their running space. It's very kind and helpful for them if you maintain their running spaces. Deer also like to have multiple escape routes out of open fields. If the exit-ways are blocked, clear them up for them and watch the populations return!

As John Muir once said "In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks." Learn how to track animals and listen to the birds, and even if you don't see them, you will feel their presence. 

A guide to Breckenridge

Housing

Airbnb is a great option for getting to know locals, finding good deals, and feeling cozy. For ski-in, ski-out lodging, the Beaver Creek Hotel is a great option. It is located on Peak 8 and is the best deal.
You could also try Couchsurfing. That's how I first lodged in Breckenridge before moving here!

Supporting Local Shops
Driving into town from 70w you will see Safeway, WholeFoods, and Wal Mart. Although these businesses provide a few jobs for people in town, the profit goes to nonlocal bigshots. If you would like to be a mindful consumer, please visit the Breckenridge Market and Liquor shop. They have great breakfast sandwiches, grab-no-go lunches, postcards, and groceries. The post office is right next door so you can send your family a postcard.

The local hardware store is Breckenridge Building Center. The local craft store for fiber arts is Knititation in Frisco.  For pet supplies, head over to A&A Pet Feed and Supplies. It's right on the way to Breckenridge.  Most anything you need in terms of winter wear (for you or your children) can be found at Summit Thrift and Treasure (on Airport rd, which supports FIRC, Families intercultural resources center. ) The Animal Rescue of the Rockies Thrift Store is smaller, located on Main street, but you can find jackets and sweaters there, too, although not as much for children (but they have kids books!).

Dining
There are so many great places to eat on Main street. However, don't forget to go North of town on Airport rd and visit the Hangar. The glass-blowing shop adjacent and accessible from the restaurant is a great show when active, and there is a free old-school game console so the kids can play while the adults enjoy the bar and healthy, locally sourced food. If you need a gluten free, dairy free option, Amazing Grace cafe is located just off of Main street near the library and theatre.


Nightlife
The Hangar is also a great source of Sunday Night live music. Musical instruments of the Appalachian sort are available week round for a quick jam if you and the owner are so inclined! The other place in town that is a consistent source of entertainment is the Motherload Tavern, located on Main street. They have Karaoke, live music, et cetera. Check out I'm Not At Work to find a plethora of things to do every night of the week.

Dispensaries
Yes. Weed. There are four dispensaries in Breckenridge, all pushed to the edge of town on Airport rd. Green Dragon is known for cheap weed. Organix is known for bad customer service and good weed with good deals. Alpenglow is known for growing it right there, packaging it right there, having a friendly staff and decent prices. Breckenridge Organic Therapy is known as the local's choice, with a great variety of good quality weed, friendly staff, and the only place in Breckenridge that carries Northern Standards, the vape pens and cartridges made in neighboring town Alma.

There are laws, and then there are customs. Law says don't smoke in public or in the car. Custom says: don't smoke in heavily trafficked areas, favor vape pens over joints, and try some edibles.

For Children
Carter Park has tennis courts, a dog park, and Breckenridge Elementary's playground, which may be used during non-school hours.

The Mountaintop Children's museum advertises often and has camps during break, and occasional exciting events.

Ice skating at the Stephen C. West arena is fun. There is indoor and outdoor ice skating, and it tends to be very empty when it's not Christmas.

The Rec Center of Breckenridge is awesome. They have a skate park next to the playground and soccer field. There's childcare for the very young child, and an amazing pool for all. There's a small climbing wall, a gym, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and an indoor running track. Its about $10 for entry, so it's a definite go-to! They provide all the after-school activities for the local school children and I really appreciate their amazing programs in tennis, rock climbing, tumbling, karate, swimming, skateboarding, and cross country skiing. The Rec Center also offers a la cart day camp for kids during summer and winter holidays.

If you're into art, Breckcreate is the local source for all things amazing! When we first moved here, some temporary public art exhibits provided a playground for my young one. They host workshops, classes, and festivals at all times. They also provide after school activities for local children, but my son is not artistically inclined.... (yet?)

For overnight and adventure camps, and camps during local breaks, and group activities for children, 25 minutes away from Breckenridge is the Keystone Science School. They offer bus service from the Summit High School parking lot, so it's really only a 10 minute commute (for the parent) from downtown Breckenridge.

The Breckenridge Stables offers sleigh rides and trail rides. It is located right next to the Wellington Pump track, where youngsters on strider bikes can practice their bike skills, and where children and grown ups can practice riding a pump track. The Wellington trail is accessible from the pump track if you want something natural, but is for intermediate bikers with a complete introduction to uphill stamina and those who are adjusted to this altitude!

Skill Level Assessment and learning expectations

How do you teach your friends and family to ski? I'm about to have visitors from all over the country who will try skiing in Breckenridge. I am not an instructor with Vail Resorts, so I'm not allowed to make money teaching skiing, but I know I'll be teaching skiing! I suppose I'll have to barter for other services that I need, like a massage, babysitting, or whatever creative options there are. Luckily I have a job in town where I can actually earn money, so my ski hobby can stay my ski hobby!

LEVEL 1 | NOVICE

You have never tried skiing before. Welcome to the greatest sports on earth!

Start out right! You will learn to think like an expert and discover the techniques, tactics, and mindsets of the world’s best skiers and riders while avoiding bad habits from Day 1.

What to expect: 
- Learn about equipment and the mountain environment.
- Discover the joy and excitement of sliding on snow!
- Learn to stop.
- Learn to get up from a fall.
- Learn to make first turns.

- Make it fun.

LEVEL 2 | NOVICE

You have spent a few hours on the slopes—probably a day or two. You can put on and take off your equipment and move around on the flats. You are comfortable gliding and stopping on the easiest learning terrain (carpet lifts), and you can sometimes make simple direction changes while sliding.

What to expect
- Improve your turns.
- Gain confidence, control, and freedom as you explore the secrets of expert skiing and riding!

LEVEL 3 | NOVICE

You are very comfortable gliding and making turns on beginner terrain. You feel almost ready for easy green runs on the mountain. You probably make “wedge turns,” but you may make “parallel turns” too. 

What to expect:
- We will assess your technique and get you up to speed.
- Develop confidence with different sizes and types of turns, with rhythm and consistent speed.
- When you’re ready, ride a chairlift and ski on the mountain!

LEVEL 4 | INTERMEDIATE

You ski comfortably and confidently on “green circle” mountain terrain. You can ride chairlifts and link smooth, gliding turns on all but the steepest green sections. You may be skiing parallel, but probably use a slight wedge much of the time, especially when it gets steeper. 

What to expect:
- Refine your fundamentals, becoming more consistently parallel.
- Build confidence to glide at slightly higher speeds or steeper slopes
- Explore all “green circle” runs and perhaps easiest “blue square” runs.

LEVEL 5 | INTERMEDIATE

You ski comfortably and confidently on all “green circle” and most groomed “blue square” terrain. You can link turns using mostly parallel skiing,  and you can control your speed in most situations by adjusting your line, with little need for braking.

What to expect—depending on your needs and goals:
- Explore higher speeds and more vigorous movements for shorter, complete turns.
- Develop higher edge angles and discover the control and sensations of carved turns.
- Gain confidence on steeper, more challenging groomed blue terrain.
- Venture into easiest ungroomed terrain.
- Learn to incorporate pole use for better timing and precision.

LEVEL 6 | INTERMEDIATE

You are comfortable and confident on any groomed “blue square” terrain, and capable of skiing easiest ungroomed and moguled blue terrain. You can link turns of varying size at moderate speed. If you are a skier, you are usually parallel, and you may use a pole swing or plant in most of your turns. 

What to expect—depending on your needs and goals:
- Refine your balance, technique, and consistency.
- Explore technical options for more versatility, from pure-carved turns to braking. Skiers learn to use both skis independently, with step turns, stem turns, and one- or two-footed movements.
- Explore tactical options for confidence in more challenging blue terrain and conditions, including the steepest blue square runs and easy moguls.

LEVEL 7 | ADVANCED

You are comfortable and confident on all blue square and easier black diamond terrain, including moderate moguls and ungroomed snow. You can modify your technique and tactics from a growing quiver of options, linking dynamic carved turns with consistent rhythm on blue groomed terrain. You usually ski parallel, with effective pole use. 

What to expect—depending on your needs and goals:
- Continue to refine balance and develop skills and versatility.
- Learn to manage the changing forces of higher speed, short, medium, and long carved turns, and uneven terrain.
- Explore tactics and technique options for enjoying the whole mountain, including moderate moguls, steeps, powder, racing, carving, crud, ice, or freestyle.

LEVEL 8 | ADVANCED

You ski with confidence and flair, with offensive tactics and techniques on most terrain. You handle moderate mogul runs with consistent speed and rhythm. You are competent, if not always confident, in moderate ungroomed conditions, and you can handle all but the most extreme in-bounds terrain. You may lack the needed confidence or particular technical or tactical options for true virtuosity in all terrain and conditions.

What to expect—depending on your needs and goals:
- Solidify your fundamentals while expanding your limits with versatility and confidence at an ever-growing range of speeds, terrain, and conditions.
- Refine your technique for efficiency and strength at higher speeds and longer runs.
- Identify your strengths and growth areas for continued learning and improvement.

LEVEL 9 | ADVANCED

You can ski almost anywhere, almost any time, with confidence, flair, efficiency, and offensive movements and tactics. You fear no terrain. The challenge is no longer merely to survive, but to continue to improve, and you can challenge yourself on even the easiest green, groomed runs. You are becoming a true virtuoso, enticingly close to earning the title “expert.”

What to expect—depending on your needs and goals:

- Explore any of the challenges of the mountain, from steepest and gnarliest double-black diamonds to easiest corduroy-groomed greens, to the Freestyle parks and race arenas.

View Source

Rates and Legalities

It is reasonable to expect 3 days to get the basics of skiing down for a first-time skier.

1. It is legal to receive instruction from whomever you see fit.

2. The mountain is owned by every U.S. citizen (you and me) because it is National Forest land.

3. The forest service regulates commercial operations on the mountain (for you and me)

4. The forest service issues special use permits for commercial mountain operations

5. The ONLY permit for commercial mountain operations for skiing in Breckenridge and nearby resorts is given to Vail Resorts

6. Vail resort owns the ski lifts and as a private entity has rules for use of its lifts, one of which is that the lifts cannot be used for commercial purposes without Vail's permission.

Pricing
Breckenridge: 1-day beginner private $830, 1-day beginner group $120-180, 3-day beginner group $265-$382, Half-day Private (or family group) for any level: $679.

Me: Exchange through the barter system.

Independent Instructors

Advantages
When hiring an independent instructor, you lower the overhead costs and you can save money while getting personalized instruction. You have maximum control about where we meet, what time, how long we go for, and who we ski with. Contrary to resort-instructors, you can develop a personal relationship and book them again if you enjoyed their method and personality. With resorts you usually get whoever is available on that day. The final advantage that I can think of is that since I ski in plain ski clothes, if you want to be discreet because you are a recognizable public figure, no one will know you are on the mountain except me. Unless you're someone who played in Harry Potter. Then I'll tell my son.


Disadvantages
There is no management to complain to. Although this hasn't happened to me, any significant problems that may arise will need to be worked out with the instructor herself. Speak up for the smallest reasons and we will have a good time! Another disadvantage is that we also cannot cut lines like the ski school can. For beginning skiers in Breckenridge, this can be a noticeable pain during peak season. Advanced slopes get less traffic, so it is less of an issue there. Just know that during peak season, even the ski schools need to wait as they alternate groups from ski school and everyone else. The biggest disadvantage of hiring independent instructors, at least in the town of Breckenridge, is that it's not allowed! Therefore, this whole website is pointless, really. I'm just creating a portfolio website, and these are the details therein.

Lunch on the mountain

When living in the mountain, it is not necessary to ski all day, because an hour or two in the morning is enough to last until the next time, since that may be tomorrow or in the evening with my child after he gets out from school!

When we travel, though, we like to pack our lunch in a fanny pack or backpack and have a home-made lunch, because you know how expensive mountain restaurants can be! 10$ for a hotdog, oh my!

Sometimes it so happens that students will want their instructors to eat lunch with them in a resort restaurant. In these cases, it is customary for the instructor to be treated as their guest. However, it is not obligatory to eat with your instructor. You can have some alone time with your spouse or children, and we can meet up again at a certain time. If those alternate arrangements are made, the instructor is then free to eat her burrito on a lift while riding to the moguls that were calling her name.

payments, deposits, certification, references:

Deposits and payments
There is no such thing! I would use Venmo or Paypal, wouldn't you? I operate by the barter and the honor system.

Certification
In the United States, the national organization for training and certification of ski instructors is PSIA, Professional Ski Instructors of America. I am not certified with them! However, I still believe myself to be a good ski instructor capable of movement analysis, mechanics instruction, diagnosis of problem areas, and skills implementation. My article about how a student progresses through my instruction should be a helpful resource for understanding how I teach.

References 
I have a list of references from people I have taught whose privacy I like to respect, and if this is your last step before booking, I can have one of them call you.