Friday, May 26, 2017

Miracle Mile

Flying along the "Miracle Mile" at Rabbit Ears Pass - wheeee!
Flying, literally flying (especially completely airborne Max) sled dogs. Fun!
What is the "miracle mile"? Well, there is a stretch of upper elevation (i.e., good snowpack) trail amidst thick trees (i.e., shaded and sun protected) that seems to hold good snow every year until late May or early June. This stretch of trail is a bit over 1 mile long, but less than 1.5 miles of "late season perfect conditions" - thus the name Miracle Mile.

Come along and watch us skijor part of the Miracle Mile on May 26th. Can you believe how nice this section of trail is so late in the year? A miracle!
[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

After the Miracle Mile, there is about another 2 miles of climb on more sun exposed terrain (and thus occasionally dirt exposed in late May) before arriving to the upper meadows of the south side of Rabbit Ears Pass. While sun exposed, these meadows are high enough in elevation to have good late season snowpack too. But, the meadows only go for a few miles before dropping you down the south end of Rabbit Ears Pass. When we reached the upper meadows this morning, we had skijored up into a thick fog bank. Note the trees in the photo - snow covered!!!! Yes, there was a dusting of new snow atop the pass last night! Just a slight dusting; but dusting is the opposite of melting!
Dense fog, snow covered trees and Max & Zorro laying fresh tracks. Yes, May 26th!
Now, before you think the entire outing was on "miracle terrain" this morning, check out the following:
You have to endure this to get to the Miracle Mile! Zorro and I hugging the thin strip of snow
while Max has to hop the puddle to make it through. 
There were many patches like the previous (with many much worse in length and lack of snow); but it was worth the cautious conditions down low to go up/down the Miracle Mile and frolic around the upper elevation meadows. Right guys?
"Oh my, SO WORTH IT!!!!" say the ecstatic pair at our turnaround point of the morning.

A late May miracle: 9.3 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2016/2017 Season to Date: 164 days on the trails covering 1365.1 miles with 144,400 feet of elevation climbed.

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