It's Springtime in the Rockies, which sadly means that the end of ski season is in sight. For all those pin hunters out there this means you only have four more weeks of slope time to get those elusive rewards and bragging rights until next year. No collection would be complete without these beauties, only found in Summit County.
Breckstone Pin - The quintessential Summit County pin if there ever was one. This unique pin is earned by visiting the slopes of Keystone and Breckenridge on the same day. The resorts are only 30 minutes away, so getting there is no trouble, especially if you take advantage of the Summit Stage; a free bus service that services Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin.
Jesse Owens - You'll be moving lighting quick to receive this pin, which is earned once you've ridden all of the "Express" lifts at Keystone Resort in the same day. There are six in total, can you name them all?
Night Rider & Dark Knight - The perfect pins for any "Night Owls" out there, these are only earned after 4 p.m. Night Rider only requires one run during night skiing hours, but to truly experience a full night of skiing under the lights go for the Dark Knight, which requires 10 chairlift rides after 4 p.m. With only three weeks left in the season, check out Keystone's Night Skiing Schedule to plan accordingly.
Latin Legend - Start "Livin' La Vida Loca" and go for the Latin Legend pin next time you visit Keystone. Earned by riding the Montezuma, Santiago, and Peru Express lifts, you'll get a muy caliente tour of Keystone's Dercum Mountain in the process.
A-C-E of Diamonds - Take a trip back in time and slow things down with this pin. Earned by riding the A, C, and E chairlifts all in one day, these nostalgic, fixed chair rides will give you an opportunity to catch your breath and enjoy Breckenridge's nature beauty.
5' til 5 - Specially introduced as part of Breckenridge's Spring Fever, this unique pin is earned by riding the 5 Chair between 4 - 5 p.m. to enjoy the terrain park's Happy Hour. But plan accordingly, as this pin is only available for three days this season (March 30th, April 6th, and April 13th).
Zookeeper - Channel your inner Steve Irwin and take a ride with the animals for this pin. Earned by riding the Beaver Run SuperChair, Falcon Superchair, and Rip's Ride this pin is perfect for a sight-seeing safari at Breckenridge.
So strap on those goggles, grab your skis or board and take to the slopes in search for those elusive and unique pins. And if you're still looking for a challenge there are plenty of pins out there, including some of the Hardest Pins to get at Breckenridge as well as the epic Keystone Conqueror pin. Good luck!
-- Chris Yonushewski