
My wife and I have always wanted to spend more time living in a ski town. To make the dream come true, after reading The Cult of We, we started a [coworking space in Breckenridge](https://breckworks.com/). It was not planned, but the right opportunity came, and we jumped on it.

We did not have a lot of experience with small business, and so to maximize our chances of success, we focused on speed and kept ourselves on a very tight budget.

We managed to start Breckworks by quickly prototyping a product that people loved, without spending a lot of money. Now I want to share how it went down, in case you would find it useful.

![Breckworks Coworking in Breckenridge](https://breckworks.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fexecutive-office.0d8947c7.jpeg&w=3840&q=100)

Startups are lean by design and you never have enough of either money, time, resources, or most likely all the above. Nobody knows anything for certain, and early on all your time is spent trying to find a product-market fit. An early small business isn't much different.

When we took over this office space, we needed to figure two things:

1. Was there a demand for coworking space in the way we've envisioned?
2. Could it be run autonomously, without any employees?

The former was obviously really important to know because without any users there is no business, and we had to know it quickly, or pivot to something else. The latter was necessary because we could not guarantee our presence, nor did we have the budget to hire someone full time to manage the space. It was a bit of a stretch, but it had to be done.

In the world of tech startups, you can build a quick prototype, send a survey, call some people and ask them questions, and pretty soon you could get a pulse on whether anyone even cares. But how do you do that when you have an office space? You prototype just the same!

We picked one of the rooms in the office, and dedicated it to be the new coworking space. My wife outfitted one of the rooms with IKEA furniture, while I made a quick website and made sure we were [easy to find on Google](https://goo.gl/maps/NYCyCYS3VNPUh2Wm9). The website had no features, and no options, just a way to buy one day at the space. The room wasn't fancy either, but it was clean, useful, and friendly. Just like that, with a grand total of a few thousands dollars invested in furniture we were in business!

Considering that our only closest competitor spent millions of dollars to remodel their space, the results were shocking!

In just the first week of operation we made more money per square foot than we did for the whole month. Turns out tourists that came to Breckenridge to ski and ride have always been looking for a space like Breckworks, but it just wasn't there. This was enough of a signal to double-down.

We rolled up our sleeves and put in 2-3 weeks of 20 hour days. We painted, cleaned, and knocked down some walls. It wasn't amazing, and we sure weren't "professional", but the space was no longer an eye sore. It's truly fascinating how much can be done with white paint, and a few vanity decorative pieces. The space started to look really nice!

![Kirill & Jenn setting up the conference room at Breckworks](https://kirillzubovsky.com/assets/blog/images/reworking-breckworks.jpeg)

To make it truly a coworking space though, we needed private spaces, but nobody wanted to build any walls. We looked at a million possible options, and ordered Popping Pods and Rooms. They came in quickly, and most importantly, we could put the whole order on a credit card. This was a huge plus because we didn't have the $100k required for these upgrades, but as long as our monthly payments were covered by the visitors, it was plausible.

Just like that an old space became new, and what was previously bringing in just a few people a month was now capable of bringing in almost 40 people a day. We now had space for private meetings, phone calls, focused work and even an event space. It felt unreal.

To me the lesson here was simple. If you want to do something, you have to just do it and look for the minimal viable solution to each of your problems. People are looking for a solution to their need, and when the need is big enough, even the most minimal solution would do.

When you look at the tech startup, it's easy to assume that yet another feature is what will turn the product to a success, but in practice, it's probably all the same in small business as it is in tech - it's the few little things that can make all the difference, as long as you make something that people really want.

Next time I will discuss how user acquisition for a small business is actually a much simpler process than one for an internet startup because when you have a physical product it becomes very clear who it is for, and who it is not a good fit for. Follow me on Twitter [@kirillzubovsky](https://twitter.com/kirillzubovsky) if you want to get notified.

How we started a coworking space by following lean startups.


Asking questions is a life skill that can be learned and improved at any point in life, whether you are 5 or 55 years old. Very often, starting as early as in preschool, we are taught to ask questions wrong! How so, and what is the better way to ask questions then?

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<i>TLDR: If you don't have time to read, Kirill explains the process in this [Sudden Schools](http://suddenschools.org/) video.</i><br><br>


When you have a question, the goal should not be to get an immediate dopamine injection by getting the answer, but to learn enough about your question to derive the answer yourself.

You know how they say -- "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime," -- this is no different.

If you asked a question and I gave you an answer, that only satisfies your curiosity in the moment, but it does not teach you how to find the answer. If that's so, then how are you going to find the answer to your next question?

Here is a better method. When you are facing a problem, and you want to ask someone to help you, follow this process:
<br>

1. Write a problem down, and explain what the problem is to yourself, then write it as if you are explaining it to someone else. Furthermore, explain what you think the solution could be. As you do this, you will see yourself describing your problem in a much deeper way than a single question. Not only will you gain a fuller understanding of what you are asking, you just might find the answer in this phase of the process.

2. If the answer has not occurred to you yet, try to find the solution yourself, experiment, try different hypothetical answers, improvise and use your imagination. At this point, you are not trying to be right, you are just trying to find all the possible ways to find your answer. Document the steps that you took to solve the problem. If you looked up information elsewhere, write down what you tried to search for and where you looked. Document if you found what you were looking for, and if not, why not. In this step you will expand your solution space by learning more about the problem, and you will probably find the answer.

3. Lastly, if you are still struggling, now might be a good time to finally ask someone a question. Figure out who is the most knowledgable person that might know the answer, take all your research from step 1 and 2, and ask them. 

<br>

Asking someone a question without doing any prior work is lazy, it just means you want to put the burden of doing the work on the person that you are asking this from. Smart people don't generally like to help lazy people. On the other hand, if you put in the maximum effort in trying to find the answer, you will show that you did what you could, and came to this person for a reason. You would be a lot more likely to get help, leaving the person feeling good about helping you. It would be a win-win.

If you have other suggestions on how to ask good questions, feel free to email me `kirill@suddenschools.org`. Happy to hear from you!

<br>
-Kirill Zubovsky,

Founder of Sudden Schools

Ho to ask questions to learn almost anything in life


A friend and I were discussing school openings in light of Covid19. He was keen on keeping the kids home, while I though it would be better if our kids could go to school and interact in person. To convince me that school should remain online, he sent me an article with the following title - "Scans Reveal Heart Damage in Over Half of COVID-19 Patients!" 
  
Wow, that sounds scary, no parent would want their kids to get heart damage from going to school! If Covid was indeed causing all these issues, then of course it would be wise to keep kids at home. But was it? 

From what I could tell after reading the actual paper cited in the article (<a href='https://academic.oup.com/ehjcimaging/article-pdf/doi/10.1093/ehjci/jeaa178/33402488/jeaa178.pdf' target="_blank" rel='noindex nofollow'>link here</a>), the paper was not very scientific and had no clear evidence that heart issues in the study were somehow the result of Covid. They sampled a handful of old people who had Covid, and found issues with their cardiograms. They used the two unrelated measurements to draw a conclusion that Covid was somehow responsible for the potential heart problems. To be sure that I was not hallucinating, I asked a medical statistician friend for his opinion. His answer? 

"This study reveals no clinically useful information. This is an online retrospective survey, which is generally the lowest possible grade of robustness of clinical data. Definitely not good enough to suggest any causality. Absolutely empty paper."

This is the new reality we live in. Information is free, it's abundant, anyone can publish without much thought, and it is being disseminated with incredible speed. Pick a catchy headline, make the most noise, and your opinion becomes the truth, regardless of how wrong it actually is.

Not only is this bad because false information gets across as facts, it also confuses people and makes us question the facts. No information is safe, no truth is for certain.

The problem with this paper on heart conditions, for example, is that it is not explicitly false. Even though the headline, the data, and the conclusion are all misleading, the very idea that Covid could be related to heart conditions introduces a doubt. The paper does not prove that Covid causes heart conditions, but it also does not prove that it does not. 

A trained scientific mind will see that to prove that Covid does not cause heart problems you would have to design a study in which a group of volunteers would get infected with Covid at random, and then measured to see if they develop any such problems. You would not find many volunteers.

Unfortunately, many people without training would read this paper and interpret the lack of evidence as the evidence in itself. "See, they did not prove that Covid did not cause heart problems, therefore there is a _chance_ that it may have caused heart problems." - they would say.

Nobody wants to get their kids sick, so it's only natural to look for ways to be at least somewhat right, when being right means your kids will be safe. But when it comes to serious issues, being right for the sake of being right is wrong. 

If we continue down this path, where instead of having intellectual conversations we instead try to win arguments at all costs, we are going to fail. We will have true information presented as disinformation and visa-versa, and so long as it seems legitimate and appeals to one's believes, it would be interpreted as true information.

There is no quick solution to this problem. Facebook won't fix it for us. While Facebook, through human scanning and algorithms can identify that a shark walking across the desert is probably a piece of fake news, only inquisitive dissection of data can uncover fake news like the one above. No, the solution to this problem is us, the collective wisdom of humans.

To be able to identify this type of high quality fake, we need to debate, to discuss, to be willing to lose and to be willing to be wrong. We need to have the freedom to doubt, and the desire to uncover the truth, regardless of what we find. We need to share, openly, willingly, without being afraid that such thoughts would get us in trouble. Asking questions, reasoning, those are the basics we should hold dear.

It is on me, and on on you, and on all of us to be curious, to question the status quo, to question the authority, to question the media and the truth as it appears. But question it not blindly, at the expense of all reason, but question it with the naiveté and the intellectual curiosity of a child. 

Assume you don't know, look for answers, don't stop until there are no more questions.

Intellectual Curiosity


When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, it made a lot of sense. He put a camera into everyones’ pocket at the time when it was not possible. Back then when you were looking at a $500 iPhone, you were comparing it to either a $200 flip phone or a $2000 DSLR. While it was clearly more expensive than a regular phone, iPhone could make calls, took instantly sharable pictures, had games, basic apps, and of course it also stored all your music and thus replaced an iPod. iPhone was not just magic, it was also a good financial decision.

Fast forward to today, iPhone 12 Pro Max with 500GB of memory costs $1800[^1], has a camera, and can do about the same things that an equivalently priced iPad or even a Laptop can do.
Does it make sense to buy one?

After ten days of testing it, for me it was a resounding No.

The new camera is a bit faster, and it is definitely a lot brighter, but at the end of the day, that is it. It is still a tiny lens, and anything that isn’t close and steady gets pixelated, and blurry. 

Apple’s promoted photography is mostly portraits, people sitting still, posing. I have two kids though, and they love to run. There is no way I can take their pictures on this phone without having them to pause, just like I do with my 3 year old iPhone X. I can always turn on the video, but the quality is no different from my 5-year old Sony RX 100 iv, in fact, I think the old Sony actually does better video.


iPhone Pro Max feels great in my hands, and I love the quality of the big screen, but that is it.

Back a few years ago when everyone went massive in phone sizes, the logic was that big phones were great for those who had it as their primary and only device. That’s reasonable logic, but in today’s world, I think it makes so much more sense to buy a tiny small phone, for rare calls and text messages, and then to splurge on a proper laptop, or a large iPad, for everything else. 

For between $1100 and $1500 one can buy an iPad Pro with 12.9 inch display, and a cellular connection. That’s a whole computer that you can touch, and a screen big enough to serve as a home TV. Now that’s a good deal!

There are probably decent use cases for the new iPhone, although I can currently only think of one. If you are a narcissistic Instagram celebrity who loves to post selfies from a nightclub, this phone is for you. For everyone else, iPhone 12 Pro Max is not a smart financial decision.

Personally, I am going to save up the money and put them towards a really nice camera, with a real photo sensor, and a real lens. I am hoping for a Leica Q (Matte Black Special Edition), but that is rather expensive. Perhaps a Nikon or a Sony would do. Either way, for anything photo related, I would rather get a great camera with outrageously better photo quality. For everything phone, an old iPhone would do.
<br>

[^1]: At the time of publication, I thought the new iphone cost me $1300, but as I was filing my return, I realized that after Apple Care, trade in value of my original phone ($250), and taxes, the actual full price of this phone (with Apple Care) is $1,757.80. This is 2/3 of how much I paid for top of the line MBP that I use for all my work. This is insane. What is more insane is that you hide this behind $55/months for 24 months payments. It seems affortable, but in practice is just a ridiculous amount for what is otherwise just a phone.

iPhone 12 Pro Max. Is it worth it?


My friend is a successful professional, having done startups and big co's, he's making a living with his work and is doing well above the norm. Yet, when he was in high school, growing in a small town in the middle of the country, he was told that he would not account to anything. According to his teachers, he was "a little slow." If you or someone you know is in the same situation, I just want to tell you how it's a load of baloney!

We live in a society that has got it all backwards. Schools are designed to babysit kids, to work as predictable nine-to-five shelters that occupied kids, while parents go to work. What most schools aren't designed for is to enable the creative and intellectual freedom that many kids yearn, but don't get.

Typical schools divide learning in blocks, by age, by grade, by ability, and by subject among other things. It is presented as a way to help children learn, but in practice it is nothing but the tool to fit school content into a repeatable systems that is easy to implement and oversee across the country. There is  absolutely no reason why a 5 year old cannot learn grade 3 math, or why you have to stop drawing your masterpiece half-way, only to go on a break and continue to another class. A typical school is anything but designed to let minds prosper.

"Slow" kids see this early on, and they demand better. They want to learn on their own pace, in their own world, skills and interests that appeal to them at that time. Students that feel the drive in math and physics want to experiment: roll things, launch things, blow things up. Students who want to express their mind make art. Others consume themselves in sports. Some want to participate for 5 minutes, while others are happily self-occupied for 5 hours. Slow kids want things in a way that works for them, not for the school, but instead of rewarding the drive, schools label these kids non-confirming, and proceed to eradicate the disease.

Schools should be encouraging creativity, nurturing it, giving it all the opportunities to explode. Instead, schools peg students into groups. "Smart" kids, those with high marks, willing to follow the process, play by the rules, learn at the pace set of them by the norms, those kids are praised and rewarded. Meanwhile, the kids who want more are labeled and set aside.

Schools are a wild place for learning if you crave better, if you are not satisfied with the status quo, if your passion lie outside of the boring norms. You can operate within them, get through them, but you are probably not going to make the most out of them. 

At the end of the day, "slow" kids are the ones who build companies, compose symphonies, sculpt historical monuments and make a difference. Meanwhile, most of those smart kids end up someplace middle-management. Woopty doo! 

The next time someone says you are slow, ignore the haters, and you do you.

Are you a little slow?


Responding to my wife's worries that our kids need to write better, I asked Chat GPT-4 to write me an eassy that will get me into Stanford. Here is what we got.

Prompt: "Hi Chat, can you write me an essay that will get me into Stanford?" Model: "GPT-4"

---

## Title: Transforming Dreams into Reality: The Journey of an Aspiring Innovator

### Introduction: Visionary Thinking and a Thirst for Knowledge

Ever since I can remember, thinking big and dreaming endlessly have been intrinsic aspects of my persona. I am always eager to learn, innovate, and contribute to making the world a better place. Stanford University, with its rich history of cultivating innovators, presents the ideal environment to foster my aspirations. My intellectual curiosity, passion for technology, unwavering determination, community-driven mindset, and diverse background make me uniquely suited for contributing to and thriving in such an environment. Through this essay, I aim to demonstrate that gaining admission to Stanford is not merely about attending a prestigious university, but about advancing my dreams and establishing life-long academic and professional connections.

![A Student in front of the Stanford Campus, image by Lexica.Art](https://kirillzubovsky.com/assets/blog/images/lets-go-stanford-lexica.jpg)

### Body:

1. Intellectual curiosity and innovative thinking

In my formative years, I found my calling in computer science and engineering after being captivated by the infinite solutions technology presents in addressing global challenges. After teaching myself coding languages, I developed applications that assisted the visually impaired and helped streamline the work of local businesses. Through these experiences, I honed my innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, resulting in an unwavering determination to contribute meaningfully to the world around me.

2. Overcoming personal challenges and building resilience

Growing up in a household that battled financial instability, I experienced firsthand how economic challenges hinder one's opportunities to pursue higher education. Nevertheless, I remained undeterred and relentlessly pursued my passion for learning. Supported by a strong family foundation and a growth mindset, I have overcome obstacles and achieved academic excellence. I firmly believe that Stanford's nurturing atmosphere will amplify my resilience and drive to succeed.

3. Diverse background and worldly perspective

Hailing from a multicultural background, I understand the power of diversity in fostering innovation and personal growth. My experiences living abroad have broadened my perspectives and enabled me to adapt to and flourish in different environments. I am confident that at Stanford, I will contribute my unique viewpoint and simultaneously benefit from the enriching experiences of my peers.

4. Passion for community and social causes

I also believe in giving back to society and, consequently, have actively participated in community service projects, such as volunteering at food banks and tutoring underprivileged students. Stanford's commitment to community service and social impact resonates deeply with my personal values. This further solidifies my conviction that Stanford is the perfect incubator for my ongoing initiatives and future endeavors.

### Conclusion: A Transformative Experience Awaits

Attending Stanford University would be a transformative experience that elevates my intellectual and personal development, enabling me to become a true change-maker in society. With a steadfast commitment to excellence and an unwavering determination to effect positive change, I am poised to embrace the challenge and privilege of joining the Stanford family. By honing my skills and gaining invaluable insights from the brightest minds, I will walk the path of innovation and continue to manifest the dreams that once seemed unattainable. Together, we will defy the odds and transform my dreams into an inspiring reality.

---


ps. In for a penny, in for a pound. This is a blog post, and I needed a photo, so I said: "Hi Chat, the following is an essay which I wrote for my Stanford application. Could you suggest a good photo to go along with it? " Chat responded:

"For this essay, I suggest a photo of a student standing on the Stanford University campus, looking out into the distance with determination and optimism. The student could be holding a laptop or another piece of technology, symbolizing their passion for computer science and engineering. The background could feature iconic Stanford buildings or scenery to emphasize the connection between the student's dreams and the university environment. This image would represent the theme of transforming dreams into reality and the journey of an aspiring innovator at Stanford."

Well then, so it shall be! I went to DALL-E and gave it the above assignment. The [resulting image](https://kirillzubovsky.com/assets/blog/images/lets-go-stanford.png) is not amazing, as DALL-E 2 isn't yet optimized to create Midjourney like crisp details, but for a blog post it will do. 

Stanford, on the other hand, I was not sure, so I used Lexica.Art to get the details, and the details it got! You see the Lexica-generated image at the top of this post.

Well, fellow humans, what can I say, enjoy it while it lasts! :)

Chat GPT, can you get me into Stanford?


You will not always remember what people said, but you will never forget how they made you feel. This adage proved true for me, as I was sharing a story with a friend, I realized that I still recall a story from sixteen years ago where a business leader had a choice to play nice or to get what he needed, and he chose the latter. In my view, it was not the best option, and if you are a leader, I hope you will read this and consider changing your ways, aiming to create long lasting positive impact, instead of taking short term gains.

Once upon a time, I was an intern at a large company. We were not working on anything groundbreaking, but we reported directly to the CIO and had a substantial budget. It was as good a position as any within the organization. Being young, restless, and eager to work, I convinced my manager that automating a routine, time-consuming process was a great idea. Personally, I just did not want to do it manually, and automation made perfect sense.

It took a few weeks to persuade the higher-ups and a month to design, implement, test, and get all the necessary approvals. Eventually, the new process was adopted. I was delighted because instead of sitting at my desk, I could now spend more time playing foosball with friends, and the automation was saving the company at least a million dollars every year.

As my internship was drawing to a close, feeling satisfied with my contribution, I informed my team that I planned to use my accumulated vacation time to visit Palo Alto and learn more about startups. The team was likely thrilled (since I automated their jobs away, oops!), but the response from our Director was far from what I expected. He suggested that, given our recent product launch and his uncertainty about it running smoothly without me, I should stick around just in case something went wrong. Sensing that I was already halfway out the door, the Director pressed further, implying that if I ever wanted to work with anyone in his circles again, I should really reconsider my decision.
I did not mind that he claimed the project as his idea and that my name never even came up with the CIO, but was it necessary to threaten an intern over a two-week vacation at the end of a year-long stint with no breaks?

Some might argue that he was pragmatic, knowing I might not be a great fit for the organization's pace, there was no point in worrying about my return after graduation. He had everything to lose if the project had a hiccup and nothing to gain if I went on vacation. Perhaps so, but in my view, this was such a short-sighted approach. Business and life is a long game. You may not get what you want immediately, but as long as you put in the effort and help others, it all compounds over time. Eventually, it all comes together.

Instead of resorting to bullying, which I never respond well to, the Director could have simply said "Thank you" and offered a way for me to continue to Palo Alto while keeping an eye on the project remotely. It would have cost him pennies, made me feel elated, and ensured the project continued uninterrupted. Instead, he chose violence.

There are some organizations where fear and control are the norm, but that is not a good fit for me, nor is it a way I would ever work with someone. Maybe you can scare some people some of the time, but if you want to go far, it helps to elevate people, make them feel wanted and appreciated.

I believe in creating environments where people feel valued and empowered. If you share these values, let us connect and build something great together. Let us choose the long game and make a positive impact that resonates for years to come.


The Long Game

Beautiful northern lights seeing over Breckenridge, Colorado. Thanks to the solar flares that made this possible. Breckenridge really looks beautiful in all kinds of weather!

Aurora Borealis over Breckenridge

Rumor is that Clearpath Snow Removal team is building something amazing in the Breckworks backyard. What could it be? Look at the intensity and the effort involved. It's got to be something amazing. Stay tuned, the mystery will eventually reveal itself.

Work In Progress

Skin uphill at Breckenridge early enough and you will find the peaceful silence of the mountains rewarding in ways only felt by your heart and your mind. 

Morning Meditation

Somehow it is incredibly cold this morning, while only supposed to be -13C. But with cold comes a gorgeous reflection of the rising sun. It is worth it!

Rose cold morning sky

At night, the village can look rather spooky.

Breckenridge is getting ready to sleep

Snowblowers are on all over the mountain, trying to fix the problem with the lack of snow. On one hand, this rain does not help, on the other, rain at a higher altitude is snow, so maybe we'll get at least the peaks covered early. Let's hope for the best.

Snowmaking On Full Blast

A quiet river early in the morning and a ray of sunshine over the peaks. That's happiness. 

Winter Wonderland

Morning light

Winter will come soon enough, there is no rush, let's enjoy the silence and beauty that comes with the shoulder season. There is a charm in everything, you just got to look for it.

Fall Mornings

Sunny one moment, and stormy another. Be prepared and get the right gear ahead of time.

Mountain weather can be quite unpredictable

The founder and Chief Snow Officer at Clearpath Snow Removal. He brings a snow white smile to work every day. 

Billy Sulicz

While most of the country is still merely entering the period of not-summer, Breckenridge is almost ready to open up for skiing and riding. 

It is beginning to look a lot like winter

A dog looking longingly out of the car window, waiting for his dog parent to return and take them away to a trail, or maybe a river.

Bark

A-Basin is getting ready for an epic season of skiing and riding.

Arapahoe Basin: Colorado Ski & Snowboard Area

Iowa Hill Trailhead is located just a short walk away from Breckworks, and is a sweet little hike that is perfect for a mid-day break, or maybe a way to clear your head before/after work. Part of the trail is shared with the mountain bikers, but even so, there is rarely anyone there.

A lovely autumn day on Iowa Hill trail

Our dog loves snow, so I took her up the hill at the first site of white flurries. The trek up to Peak 9 was worth it, as you can see.

Dogs are awesome!

First snow is forming at the top of Peak 9 road. A fun little adventure on a sunny day. Enter the road via Beaver Run Parking Lot and drive up as far as your can can take you. Then hike up the rest of the way. The views are great, and you get to leave all the crowds at the bottom.

En Route to Peak 9

It's only September but the snow has settled on Peak 10 near the weather station. With a little bit of rain, and a little bit of luck, it's here to stay. A few more weeks, and this whole place will be covered. Get your gear and your Epic Pass ready. This is going to be a good one!

The winter is coming

With the colder temperatures settling in, it's only a matter of days until the peak is permanently white for the season. The air is fresh, the sunshine low, and you the mountain staff is out in full force getting the lifts ready. The winter, it's coming!

Peak 8 is getting ready for the 2023/24 Season

By the river's side,
Little homes upon the hill,
All is quiet now.

Simple Little Town

Look at how pretty the sunset reflects off the water 

Beautiful day by the river

It's been a fantastic summer and now you can clearly see the fall approaching. It's in the color of the clouds, in the shade of the sky, in the way the trees sways in the wind during the afternoon storms. 

The clouds are coming

Take the popular Spruce Creek Trail just south of Breckenridge, and along the way you will stumble on this quiet beauty. Go early enough and you will hear nothing, and see no one. It's perfect.

A quiet lake along the Spruce Creek Trail 

Something very special about food being cooked in a real brick oven, with a real wood fire. You can feel the heat, smell the taste, and sense that your dinner is special.

Wood burning fire at Piante Pizzeria

Many tourists go hiking or mountain biking on the Boreas Pass road, but how many make it all the way through? If you take it easy, the route from Breck to Como to Fairplay and back to Breck can take over 2 hours. Well, if you push yourself past the continental divide, here is what you will see.

What is on the other side of the Boreas Pass Road?

The weather in the mountains can change really fast. Here's side of a mountain, near the Kite Lake hike. One moment it was sunny and clear sky, and the next it's dense fog that rolls over the hills, and right onto your feet. A few minutes later you couldn't see 10ft in front of you. It got cold, dark, and wet. When high up in the mountains, remember to prepare for the unexpected.

Mountain Weather Changes Quickly

Sure it may have rained a bit more in Breckenridge this summer than usual, but without rain, there are no rainbows! Isn't it better to have lavishly wet forest, than to walk on scorched earth? The greens just look so delightful!

It has been a wet summer

If you are coming to Breckenridge from Colorado Springs, this view is familiar to you. It's the final frontier, somewhere between Woodland Park and Fairplay. It's gorgeous, open, and filled with epic views. If you've never driven on US-24, it's a little detour that can bring a lot of joy, especially in the summer.

A road less traveled

The weather is getting better every day, and now it's just the perfect combination between moist and pleasant, and before it gets too hot during the day.

You can smell the summer

Typical Breckenridge. It might not look like that on the surfaces, but hundreds of people live in their cars all around town. It's not fancy, it's not always comfortable, but for many it's the only way to afford rather high prices. 

Employee Housing

This little ant is out for a walk and a meal. Is it snaking on the juices in the buds?

The spring is in the air

Breckenridge is heating up, the snow is melting, the rivers are flowing, and you can almost smell the summer in the air. A couple more weeks and everything will be green, and blooming, and birds will be chirping. It's going to be great.

The summer is almost here

Just when you thought the winter was over, Breckenridge delivered a ton of fresh snow. With the warm weather and sunshine, the forest looks as stunning as ever. Let's hope for a few more of these before the end of the season.

April Pow in Blue River

A short walk away from Breckworks, River Park provides a cheerful place to rest and play for both kids and parents. 

Kids get to crawl all over the play structures, while parents bask in the sun, or do pull ups, or swing on the swings and ride their bikes around in circles. 

A nearby biking trail provides endless miles for a walk, a run or a stroll. You could get anywhere from town of Breckenridge to the town of Frisco. 

River Park and Playground

It’s hard to believe the mountain is starting to shut down. Last weekend for Peak 9 and 10. Till next season, you beautiful beasts!

Last of peak 9 and 10 this weekend

It's hard to believe that Keystone ski resort will be closing this coming Sunday. It's been a great season.

Keystone Ski Season is Almost Over

I had a pleasure of going uphill this morning on the Peak 9 route, and it was excellent. Snow was soft, yet firm and cold. The views were stunning as always.

Delightfully groomed snow on Peak 9

Whether you ski, snowboard, or having a stroll through the woods with your dog, Breckenridge has got a lot to offer, and on a sunny warm day like this, it's just a joy to be here!

Beatiful day in the mountains

If you are a hungry after skiing in Breckenridge,  Keystone, or Copper, then Bird Craft is your best bet for a quick and extremely satisfying meal. Order a bird, make it all dark meat for an upcharge, get some dairy free ice cream with it, and sit back as you look at the mountains on the outdoor deck, while devouring this feast! Birdcraft is fast and delicious, and you will not walk way disappointed. In the photo, Joe is laughing as I am hopping around him with a camera :)

Bird Craft

Winter forest on a cloudy day is deprived of any emotion. It's still, quiet, and colorless. There is almost nothing joyful about it. And somehow this lack of any excitement is interesting in itself. It's just there. That's all it does. 

So boring it is mesmerizing

Town of Breckenridge streets are quiet on a weekday night. A perfect time to stroll around undisturbed. 

Calm before the storm

Inside Breckworks coworking space there is an inspirational poster from YCombinator that encourages makers to create something that people want. In this case, it's a place to host meetings, have zoom calls, and to work before and after skiing at Breckenridge.

Make Something People Want

Great views from the Vista on top of Peak 9.

Blue Bird Day in Breckenridge

Somewhere in the backyard of America, children get to have fun and live a life full of joy and excitement.

Narnia

Another fantastic morning ascend. It doesn't have to be far, and it doesn't have to be long. The joy is in the process.

Early bird gets no lift lines

The best time on the mountain is early in the morning while the lifts are still asleep. It's the only time when the world is standing still. Watching sun rise slowly over the peaks in perfect silence is pure magic.

Cold and Quiet

View from a lovely hike that starts at the top of Hoosier Pass. If you have snow shoes or uphill skis, bring them along and you can go further. The trail is well compacted, but if you step off to the side, it's a few feet of deep deep snow.

Beautiful Blue Bird Day in Breckenridge

A hike with a view. Walk up the hill for long enough, and you will get rewarded. If you have skins or snow shoes, might be a good idea as you'd be able to go further, and not fall into deep snow on occasion. Although most of the hike to this point is well compacted.

Lower McCullough Gulch Hike in the Winter

You are already here, there is no rush. The mountain will be there regardless. In a waist-deep snow, there is nowhere to go.

Take it slow in the mountains

Great way to let others know you exist is to put yourself out there. Here's Breck.Works car parked across the street from The Crown early in the morning. Lots of tourists walk by every day.

Breckworks Coworking Tesla on Main St.

That dog knows - the usual two hours will take four. He isn't looking forward to the drive either.

Snow day traffic back to Denver

The best time to ski Breckenridge is by far a pow day that lands on a Wednesday, when nobody is expecting it. It is especially good if the temperature is a bit cold, and the road conditions are gnarly. Be it 8am or 3pm, there's still plenty of the white stuff to play with.

Fresh pow on a weekday

What a great way to spend a holiday. Just a few friends on the trail, enjoying a beautiful sunny and snowy morning. Endless possibilities.

Friends enjoying Breckenridge side country

Quiet forest on the pow day. You can see some folks have already been up and down a couple of times. There is no one here otherwise. Just you, and the nature. 

A perfect day in the high country

It is only January, but the weather is warming up. We just got a lot of new snow, but will it stick around? Get your turns int before it's too late.

Spring is in the air in Breckenridge

When the holiday lift lines at Breck get too long, consider spending a day at the Keystone resort. Ample parking, very few people, great views. Then at the end of the day, you can always drive up to Breck for a tasty dinner. Reverse commute!

Consider Keystone

Magnificent views on the mountains around Breckenridge.

Early bird gets the worm!

The mountain has finally opened up for uphill access, and the only challenge now is to get there earlier enough to beat the crowds. Maybe it's the holidays effect, but while last year there were a handful of users, this year there seems to be a never ending train. Still, a lot less than during peak our on a lift! And the views, the views from the top are just marvelous!

Uphill is now open!

Nature makes the best art. Frost over the windshield early in the morning. Deep in the forest.

Sometimes to see something new, all you have to do is turn off the lights.

Look up

While the golden colors are still around, you can see that it is the last few days before the winds, and the cold blows it all away. Don't wait, visit Breckenridge today :)

The fall is almost over in Breckenridge

The colors of the fall play along with the furniture at Breck create.

Breck Create Ceramic Studio in the Fall

Photo taken on a hike towards Continental Falls, along Spruce Creek.  Majestic autumn forest at 11,000 feet. 

View on the Bald and Boreas Mountains

The photo makes everything look beautiful, but the combination of old style buildings and golden colors really accentuate the vibe.

Breckenridge Art District in the fall

If you are looking to get out of Breck for a few hours and spend the day meaningfully, highway 82 going to Aspen via Leadville is a good choice. It's a stunning drive that doesn't take too long, and when you get there, Aspen isn't too bad either. The downside is that the road is closed October to May.

CO-82, Breckenridge to Aspen, Colorado

I like subtle humor. Here is a fun postcard from the Piante pizza 🍕 

Marinara Dealer

Sometimes all I have is an iPhone, but it doesn’t matter. The nature makes it look good either way.

The fall is beautiful!

Isn't it just epic the kind of landscapes that exist just 30 minutes outside of Breckenridge? 

On our way to Kite Lake Trailhead

I stepped out the back door of a coffee shop in Frisco to find this incredibly realistic mummy. Add this to the "wtf were they thinking" collection.

Incredibly Creepy

Sunset over the Tarn in Breckenridge / Blue River area.

There is beauty in every kind of weather

View on Dillon Reservoir from the truck rest stop on highway 70.

View on the Wildernest neighborhood near Silverthorn from I-70.  Just yesterday it was sunny and warm and not a sight of the storms, and a few weeks from now all of this will be covered in snow! 

Every time I walk by this window it makes me look. There is nothing in there that I want, never mind anything that I need, and yet all the little tourist gimmick are so attractive that it makes me stop and look. Amusing how it works.

Tourist attractions await in Breck

Just as the summer is wrapping up and the winter isn't quite here yet, Breckenridge is in full on construction mode. Get it done now or wait for another 8 months!

Construction time in Breckenridge

While the sun is still hot and the roads are still clear of snow, once the sun goes down you can now feel the chillness in the air. It is only a matter of days until the first snow, and a few months until the ski season opens. There is beauty in every moment around here.

The last days of summer in Breck

This squirrel doesn't seem to mind humans at all. It let me stick a camera into its face (no zoom). I suppose it wanted a treat. Sorry little buddy!

Squirrel looking for food.

A quiet hideaway on a busy Sunday. Just a few steps below the Quandary Peak, this lake provides magical views and zero cel signal. A great place to stop by for and chill for a minute.

Blue Lakes near Quandary Peak

I know they say not to feed the wildlife, but does it count if you turn around, and the wildlife is stealing your food from your table? 

Happy Chipmunk

The fall is near. The colors of everything are starting to change, and it’s just the best. So vibrant and cheerful!

Beautiful time of the year in Breckenridge

It only takes about 1.5 hours of running uphill from town of Breckenridge to reach this epic mountain lake. Start early in the morning and have it all to yourself. Later in the day the lake might get "crowded," with a few hikers, and an occasional ATV or Jeep that is able to crawl up a rather treacherous rocky road. 

Lower Crystal Lake

When Breckenridge traffic gets too much, there is always an escape to the nearby town of Fairplay, a much more quieter place with an amazing view of the mountains.

Town of Fairplay with a stunning view of the Mosquito Range

Honestly, I wish I knew what this is. Half-way down the Main Street of Breckenridge, there is a wooden troll holding on to his long ... nose. That is it. That's the story.

A scary troll on the Main St of Breckenridge.

Such a magical place to camp, and is only 15 minutes away from Breckenridge. It's hard to find an open spot though. Many sites seem to be booked six months ahead. But overall, a stellar experience as each site is set fairly far apart from its neighbor, while having lake access just a short walk away, and fully functional bathrooms that are actually very clean!

Peak One Campground near Dillon Reservoir

Accidental early morning capture of the crazy weather in this area. One side of the lake is sunny, happy and vibrant. The other side is all darkness. The transition happened in a matter of minutes, and then just like that, whoosh and the lake was sunny again. Photo is taken from the Peak One campground on Dillon Reservoir.

Wild Weather on Lake Dillon

Van life is a fantastic way to explore. I don't think full time living in a car with 4 people would be fun, but being able to jump in and go on an adventure, being able to sleep anywhere at any point, that's a pretty liberating way to be.

Photo is taken on the US highway 6, Loveland Pass.

Sprinter 2500 near Breckenridge

There isn't always a big camera handy when the moment calls for it, and that's when even an iPhone would do. Look at this peaceful, moist, beautiful morning in the forest near the Burro Trail and the Lower Lehman ski run.

Misty Monday Morning near Burro Trail

River Walk

This scrap metal robot is across the river from The Riverwalk Center. 

Robot

A couple of baby moose spotted at a friends hose in Blue River. 

Baby Moose

Juvenile Moose spotted at a friends hose in Blue River.

Juvenile Moose

My first car was a 1966 VW Beatle so I always take a picture when I spot one. This is on N French str.

Beatle

Stormy Fall Day

Did you know we have a soap company in Breck? Neither did I. Sometimes it's fun to play tourists and explore the stores that town has to offer. Fresh Soap Company is located at 500 S Main St, and offers a variety of soaps, and bath products. Bath, as it turns out, can be quite enjoyable!

Breckenridge Fresh Soap Company

Spotted this on a van parked at the City Market lot, and thought it was a good reminder to take life a little less seriously. "We don't make mistakes, just happy accidents."

Happy Accidents

As the sign reads: *UlIr, Snow God from Scandinavtan Folklore, protector of all those who participate in
winter sports."

I've walked by this place a dozen times and didn't see the statue right in front of my eyes.

Ullr Statue in downtown Breck

A fairly easy but rewarding hike just 15 min drive outside of Breckenridge. While most people are busy waiting in line to climb Quandary Peak, this hike delights and amazes with fraction of the effort.

Early morning walk around Blue Lakes

Breckenridge is an amazing place. One day you have a foot of snow, and then next wild flowers bloom in the heat of the sun. 

Kirill Zubovsky

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