Classic

Love how skinny Jack can fit in a classic ski track to roll a snow angel!

That's classic Jack :)

While Jack is known for his skijoring POWER, he is also a skinny guy as you see above. There's a LOT of power packed into that skinny frame!

This morning was a gem of a day, especially for April! We started out laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow in the Dry Gulch backcountry:

Laying fresh tracks! Wheeee!

We then found ourselves first tracks on the freshly groomed upper trail at Gold Run Nordic Center. Sweet!

The hover huskies catching air as we are first tracks on the fresh groom!

We were doing a short outing today, so we only spent a short distance on the upper loop trail before transitioning onto the main trail. But, what did we find on the main trail? Darn near PERFECT. Only one other skier with a dog had been on the trail since the fresh groom. That's pretty much still "first tracks" :)

If you look closely, you can see a set of dog footprints in front of and to Jack's
right. The skier had used the classic track (you can see the ski pole holes on each
side of the classic track). This was about as close as you can get to being first
tracks on this popular section of trail!!!!

So much fun footage from today's short outing. What to feature in the video? Hmm, how about the counterpart to the prior photo as the GPS registered us topping 23 MPH along this section of trail. Come along, watch the fun and enjoy the light snowfall coming down around us. Whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

What a classic day!

"Ready!!!" says the happy kids perched atop a snow wall awaiting
end of run treats.

Today's tally: 4.3 miles traveled with 200 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 87 days on the trails covering 676.3 miles with 64,800 feet of elevation climbed.

 

April Snow

Off we go!

Starting out the day with fresh snow on the Sallie Barber Mine Trail.

This time of year, ALL new snow is welcome snow! We know that April signals the season is really winding down (although we'll skijor as far into May or even June as the snow allows). So, every day that there is new snow is a celebration! Today we had fresh snow to enjoy on the Sallie Barber Mine Trail. What fun!

Talkative Rudy is really a funny, wooing comedian out on the trails. When we pass other skiers, if they say anything, Rudy will almost always answer. Typically it is a "Hi" or "Morning" or "Looks fun" or some short comment like that. Well, Rudy takes all addresses as needing a "Woo" response. Such a funny kid.

This skier said, "Morning." as we were approaching. Talkative Rudy
responded with a "Woo" back to acknowledge the greeting :)

We did a short outing at Sallie Barber Mine this morning. But all outings are fun outings and all climbs to the mine must be celebrated with snow angels, silly kids.

Jack enjoying a roll in the snow.
Rudy getting a face full of fresh snow during his roll.

Now for today's video fun. Come along and watch as the clip starts with Jack & Rudy patiently waiting for me to turn around on my skis. Once turned, all it takes is me to mutter a simple "Ok" and the kids TAKE OFF! They know what to do when they get the verbal release to GO :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As I said, they know what to do :)

Flying along, wheeee!

A short outing, but all outings are fun outings, right guys?

"Yes, we had a BLAST!" says the happy, happy kids awaiting
end of run treats.

Today's tally: 4.1 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 86 days on the trails covering 672.0 miles with 64,600 feet of elevation climbed.

Fresh Tracks

Who was enjoying the wonderful fresh snow this morning?

"I am! I am!" exclaims happy Jack.
"You know if you ask I'll respond in song!" woos silly Rudy.

Today was a surprising and absolutely amazing day of laying fresh tracks in new snow.

We started in the Dry Gulch backcountry and, no surprise here, we were first laying fresh tracks in 4-6 inches of new snow. But, to our surprise and pleasure, we came across the occasional wind blown drift providing us upwards of 10 inches of snow (or more) to blast through for short distances. What fun!

Jack & Rudy blasting through one of the short-lived, but many, wind blown
drifts of fresh powder!

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo. As you'll see, most of the outing was spent laying fresh tracks in 4-6 inches of snow. But, the occasional wind drift provided some nice powder caches to blast through. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We then dropped onto the trails of Gold Run Nordic Center to extend the day. Well, it was "surprising and amazing" as there was 2-3 inches of untouched, fresh snow over the otherwise groomed and packed upper nordic loop:

Jack & Rudy literally FLYING as we are laying fresh tracks on the
upper loop at Gold Run! What a treat.

Next it became "shocking and amazing" as we transitioned onto the popular and well-used main trail at the nordic center. What did we find? Well, once again, 2-3 inches of untouched, fresh snow over the nordic trail. We were laying fresh tracks on the busy main trail almost the entire distance! It wasn't until the last 1/2 mile or so that we finally encountered other tracks and people. I don't think we've ever been able to lay fresh tracks on this busy trail for almost the entire distance! Shocking!

Laying fresh tracks on the popular & (usually) busy main trail.
Shocking and amazing :)

We did have one turnaround point during the outing. Jack & Rudy were running hard in the fresh snow all morning long; so I fully expected dual snow angels from them to roll in the fresh snow to cool off. Yep:

"Ah, rub a dub dub!" goes the snow rolling sillies.

Laying fresh tracks in the backcountry and then almost the entire distance at the nordic center! Could it get any more surprising and amazing than today?

"No, you cannot top today's amazing outing!" states the happy & proud
kids awaiting their end of run treats.

Today's fresh tracks tally: 9.2 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 82 days on the trails covering 646.3 miles with 61,600 feet of elevation climbed.