Duell Reunion: March 2012

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Directions to Reunion Site

Go west on I-70 W (Portions toll) (Passing through Kansas, then crossing into Colorado).
Take the CO-9 S exit, EXIT 203, toward Frisco/Breckenridge.
Enter next roundabout and take the 4th exit onto CO-9 S.
Keep right at the fork to continue on CO-9 S.
Turn right onto Leap Year Trl (Portions unpaved).
43 LEAP YEAR TRL is on the left.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Invitations Are In The Mail!!

The invitations to the 2012 Duell Reunion are in the mail as of today!

This is so exciting! We have so many fun activities planned for this year! We know everyone is going to have a great time.

Please send us your RSVPs so we can plan accordingly for food and some of the activities.

See you in June!

Breckenridge Lodging

Time flies and it seems like the older we get (of course I'm not referring to myself) the faster it goes. We're all looking so forward to this year's Duell Reunion!!

If you haven't booked your accommodations yet, don't worry.

If you've heard about Groupon, Living Social, etc... they post deals regularly for mountain towns. As a matter of fact, today, SniqueAway posted a great deal for $99/night. Check out the details here: Park Avenue Lofts - Breckenridge, CO.

The lofts look amazing! These deals come and go quickly so be sure to check it out.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Cake Anyone?

Do you like cake? If so, you're in for a treat!

I've been taking cake decorating classes and since I don't have many occasions to bake cakes, I'm going all out at this year's reunion!

We'll be serving a fully decorated sheet cake at our Ice Cream Sundae Bar.

They only question is what flavor should we make?

Please take a moment and submit your choice in the poll at the bottom of this blog. Most votes will be the flavor made.

Breckenridge Fun Park

Did we tell you that there's something to do for everyone in Breckenridge? You bet we did!

If you're looking for some extraordinary fun, you'll want to check out the Breckenridge Fun Park.

Some of the activities that you can enjoy include:

Alpine Super Slide

4x4 Tours

Pony Rides

Gondola Rides

Gem Panning

Mountain Biking

They offer Day Passes or you can pay for events separately.

The Gondola rides are free!

Transportation from DIA

For those of you flying into DIA please read!!!!

If you need transportation from DIA to Breckenridge, we've got you covered!

Please let us know here if want us to pick you and we'll arrange it.

Facebook?

For those of you on Facebook, we've posted an invite there in addition to the postcard invites that are going to be mailed at the end of March, 2012.

It doesn't matter how you RSVP, but we want to hear from you!

Please let us know by June 1, 2012 so that we have time to prepare for your arrival.

We're so excited to see all of you!

Family Reunion Memories - Playing Card Deck

In case you missed picking up your Family Reunion Memories playing cards in 2009, they are available again for $22.50 per deck, plus shipping and handling.

If you would like to order a copy of your own, please click here.

23rd Annual Duell Reunion Photos

To see pictures from the 2010 Duell Reunion, click here.

A little history on Breckenridge

For those of you who have never traveled to Breckenridge, it's one of my favorite Colorado mountain towns. It offers a little of something for everyone.

Breckenridge was established in 1859 and has a population of around 4500 residents. Prospectors entered what is now Summit County (then part of Utah Territory) during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859. Breckenridge was founded to serve the miners working rich placer gold deposits discovered along the Blue River. The Breckenridge mining district is credited with production of about one million troy ounces of gold. The gold mines around Breckenridge are all shut down, although some are open to tourist visits.

The elevation of Breckenridge is 9600 feet above sea level. Breckenridge's climate is considered to be high-alpine with the tree line ending at 11,500 ft. The average July high and low are 73 °F and 39 °F respectively. The town receives an average of 163 inches of snowfall per year. The valley basin has only 30 frost-free days each year. The highest average precipitation occurs in July with 1.75 inches.

Common Summer activities include mountain biking and road biking, hiking, and fly fishing. For mountain biking, Breckenridge hosts innumerable trails such as the Peaks trail which connects Breckenridge and Frisco and the Flume Loops which explore the Highlands Area. The 9-mile tarmaced Breckenridge to Friso bike track parallels Highway 9 and is a popular ride. The large number of passes in Summit County also attract road bikers. The nearby fourteener Quandary Peak gains the most attention for hikers. Fly fishing is also popular. Breckenridge Ski Resort hosts the annual Summer Fun Park from June-Sept. on the slopes of Peak 8 with attractions from everything from Jeep tours to chairlift rides to mountain biking.

Cookbook Honoring Alice Duell

In 2011, Dot, Dari and Heidi started collecting recipes and stories for a cookbook commerating Alice Duell, fondly known as "Mom" and "Grandma" to most of us.

We would love your contributions on those recipes that she was known for.

Some of the recipes we have include:

Angel Food Cake
Indian Cake
Chocolate Pudding
Egg Noodles
Green Beans and Bacon
White Bread
Dinner Rolls
Corn Bread
Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken Gravy
Liver and Onions
Pot Roast
Beef Tips and Gravy
Ham Hock and Beans
Waffles
Breakfast Pork Sausage
Biscuits
Canned Plums
Canned Apples
Canned Tomatoes
Canned Green Beans

Copies will be avabilable for purchase once the cookbook is completed.

Stay tuned for details!

Horseback Trail Rides

Don't you love spending time visiting with the family? I know I do, but I find myself getting a little stir crazy ever now and again. We set out this year to offer everyone opportunities to get out and about and enjoy all the activities that Breckenridge has to offer.

Horseback riding is just one of those opportunities.

Breckenridge Stables offers one and half hour trail rides that leave every hour on the hour (except for noon).

On a Breckenridge Stables trail ride, you'll spend an hour and a half exploring the beautiful Breckenridge scenery between Peaks 9 and 10 on the Ten Mile range above Breckenridge. You will experience river crossings, beaver ponds and breathtaking panoramic views of the Continental Divide. With over 100 horses, we're able to match each rider to a horse based on the rider's ability and age.

Ages 0-3: Children ages 0-3 ride double in the saddle with an adult. This is a general guideline and is based on a number of factors, including the size and weight of the child and adult.

Ages 4 and up: For those that are too young or unable to control their own horse — generally 4 to 5 years old — we will control the horse for them by attaching a rope from their horse to one of our staff. Children 6 years and older may ride on their own horse or pony.
Individual Rates
$60 per person
$25 for small children (3 years old and under) who ride double with an adult

If you're interested in doing this, please contact Dari so she can set up a group reservation.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Video from the 24th Annual Duell Reunion

The 2011 Duell Reunion was fantastic fun. Check out the video:

Hiking in Breckenridge

Hiking in Breckenridge offers beauty beyond the imagination. In the stunning summer months explore meadows, creeks, lakes, forests, flowers, and views you could only dream of. In the winter the same trails can, most of the time, be used for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

Burro Trail: To access this trail from town, head up to Peak 9 base area and look for a trail that continues into the woods on the left-side of the ski slope. You can also access this trail from behind the Main Street Station. People love to bring their families and dogs on the trail. You may see early morning runners going up this trail.

Trails by Carter Park: Carter Park, located on S. High St & E. Adams Ave in Breckenridge, is the base of many hiking trails around the county. If you are looking at the slope adjacent to the Carter Park Pavilion, you will see a trail that you can follow to the right and will lead to the Moonstone Trail. Continuing on this trail you will encounter other trails and can hike for miles.

Boras Pass Trails: There are numerous hiking trails located off of Boras Pass road. Take a left onto Boras Pass Road. Pass the Ice Skating Rink on the right and at the first switchback there is a small parking area and old mining relics. Park and either hike up the hill to the Boras Pass Trail head or you can take a trail to the right which is not so steep.

Breckenridge Festival of Film June 7-10, 2012

Breckenridge Festival of Film Begins its 32nd Festival

In its 32nd year, the Breckenridge Festival of Film celebrates the art and craft of filmmaking. Each year, a unique and varied array of independent films, premieres, receptions, educational programs and retrospectives honoring featured guests takes place high in the Colorado Rockies.

For more details, check out their home page: http://www.breckfilmfest.com/

Watermelon Eating Contest

What would a Summer family reunion be without a contest or two?

This year we're going to have a Watermelon Eating contest. Sound fun? You bet it will be!!

We'll have 3 age groups.

Ages 3-6
Ages 6-13
Ages 14-Adult

For those who don't want to participate in the contest, there's no pressure. You can enjoy a slice of watermelon and eat it at your leisure. We'll be surprised if anyone takes us up on this though!

The rules are simple: Keep your hands behind your back. Don't touch the watermelon with anything but your face! The first person to finish the red part of their watermelon wins! On your mark, get set, GO!

Accommodations in Breckenridge

If you haven't already booked your accommodations for this year's Duell Reunion, don't wait any longer!

Please call Dari, 303.550.7169, if you need any help finding a place to stay!

Here are some places to check out:

Beaver Run Resort
http://www.beaverrun.com/
970.453.6000