Rabbit Hat

We pulled a "rabbit out of a hat" to piece together one last skijor run for Zorro's 10th birthday this June 1st. Happy Birthday Zorro!

"Wanna play before we get going?" asks frisky Jack.
"Really, I'd flatten you (and you'd love it)!" declares birthday boy Zorro.

I said "rabbit out of a hat" as we returned to Rabbit Ears Pass to try and find enough patches of snow to put together Zorro's birthday run. It was truly a piecemeal run we found few contiguous patches of snow with lots of exposed ground in between. The contiguous patches got very narrow at times...

"Still enough snow if you stay behind me!" declares happy Zorro.
"My path is broken!" states happy Jack.

Every time we encountered patches of exposed ground, I would take off my skis and then jog with Zorro and Jack to the next snow patch. At each snow patch, we would pause while I put my skis back on. Well, you know what Jack thinks about pauses during skijor runs... Roll snow angels!

"Ah, feels sooo good - no need to hurry!" says silly Jack.
"Come on, I don't have all day, get those skis on!" states Zorro.

They came off (and then on) so many times, even Zorro decided to join in on the antics waiting for the silly human to get reset to go:

"Okay, I see the fun in rolling while waiting for slow humans!" demonstrates Zorro.
"Hehe, told ya!!!" adds happy Jack.

But, we did find a few extended patches to enjoy our last skijor of this 2017/2018 season. Wheeee!

Go, go, go!!! Finally, go dogs go!!! :)

Finally the fun was over and time to play with little puppy Rudy as we shut down our 2017/2018 skijor season.

Such focus! Such focus!!!

A piecemeal final run with some skijoring and lots of jogging in between patches of snow: 2.2 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a modest top speed of 12 MPH (not enough contiguous patches of snow to hit a real top speed :)

2017/2018 Season Summary: 56 days on the trails covering 342.7 miles with 33,750 feet of elevation climbed.

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Finale?

This morning was most likely our finale of the 2017/2018 Skijor Season.

Most of the day's outing looked like this! A narrow "ribbon of death" to try and
skijor with my pals.

I say today is our finale because of the conditions you see in the prior photo. But, I back of to "most likely" our finale because June 1st is Zorro's birthday and we always try to produce some sort of skijor outing for his birthday. Yet, look at the prior photo again... So, this is probably our last outing unless we find some magic patch of snow to use on June 1st.

We did find a few patches of skiable snow. Here is a look at the morning's "good" conditions:

At least there is enough snow to open up the skijoring engine.
But, these open patches were rare and short-lived.

Given the conditions, I do not have a lot of skijor highlights to show from the day; but I do have plenty of entertainment with Zorro and Jack.

First off, here is goofy Jack rolling snow angels before we even got started on the run:

"It's snow, it's snow, don't care if we haven't started!" demonstrates silly Jack.
"Really kid? Come on, we have to get going before it all melts!" declares Zorro.

I had to take my skis off many times to cross over exposed ground before getting on snow to restart again. My friends had their own ideas what to do while waiting for me to get my skis back on. "If the human is busy, why not play?" suggests Jack:

"He's busy, let's PLAY!" says Jack baiting Zorro.
Of course, Zorro fell for it and a tumbleweed of Siberians broke out after this :)

At one of our two planned short breaks. Zorro showing his pleasure with snow, despite sketchy conditions and Jack doing his patented stop/drop/roll at any break:

"It's still 'toes on snow'! I'm having a blast!" declares happy Zorro.
"Aaaahhhh, love rolling in snow!" demonstrates silly Jack.

Another unplanned break waiting for me to put my skis back on after crossing a large patch of ground:

"Boring!!! BOOOORRRRIIIIINNNGGG! Can we go yet?!?" asks yawning Zorro who is
clearly unimpressed with my equipment needs :)
"We may be stopping often; but I'm still having a BLAST!" declares happy Jack.

As has been the pattern the last two months. End the day and pick up little puppy Rudy to join in for the 'end of run' treats.

"Woooooo. Just Wooooo!" exclaims talkative Rudy.
"How about giving us quiet & mature fellas some treats?" say patient Zorro and Jack.

A short run on sketchy conditions to end a strange season: 2.1 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 14 MPH.

We started the season with Max & Zorro. We lost Max suddenly and out of no where. We had cute little Jack drop in our laps to lift our spirits. We watched Jack grow and mature into a happy young sled dog. We had adorable little "talk a lot" Rudy drop in our laps to provide even more daily entertainment. What a strange 2017/2018 skijor season!

2017/2018 Season to Date: 55 days on the trails covering 340.5 miles with 33,350 feet of elevation climbed.

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Repertoire

Catching Air Skijoring in Late May! Yay!

May 22nd on Walton Peak at Rabbit Ears Pass. Beautiful conditions and Zorro & Jack
"catch air" flying along the terrain.

Jack expanded his "snow angel repertoire" today to include rolling snow angels BEFORE we even got started. His repertoire now consists of (1) rolling snow angels before we start; (2) rolling snow angels during both of our short breaks; and (3) rolling snow angels after the day's run. Quite a talented young boy!

Here we are at the start of the day's outing. We have not even started our run; but silly Jack
is rolling himself in the snow!
"Love snow, love snow! Wheeee!" demonstrates silly Jack.
"Geez, we haven't even started yet! I cannot watch this silliness!" declares Zorro.

If you are rolling snow angels before you even run and get hot, then you know what happens during our short breaks:

"Ok, he's earned this roll in the snow to cool off!" declares happy Zorro at our second short break.
"Rub a dub dub, aaaaahhhh!" demonstrates silly Jack.

In between rolling snow angels, we actually did skijor :)  Come along for a short clip of the day's action. The trail may be bumpy as the camera is bouncing (and my legs were burning); but it's skijoring in late May - Yay!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun time, fun time, fun time! Right guys:

"Oh yes! Oh yes! So much FUN!" declare the ecstatic pair of happy huskies

Done with the outing and time to collect puppy Rudy and dish out the 'end of run' treats:

"Ready!" states intense Zorro.
"Hi mom! I had a blast today!" exclaims happy Jack looking to Nancy.
"I want treats too!!!!!" declares happy little puppy Rudy.

Today's outing was always one of our "late May goto" routes for Max, Zorro and I. To honor Max, we paused to set some of his ashes free in the slight breeze. Miss you Max!

"He was such a great pal!" declares Zorro.
"Wish I knew him!!!!" adds happy Jack.
If you look closely, the white at the top of the baggy is a puff of Max drifting off in the wind.

Still going in Late May - Yay: 3.1 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 16 MPH.

2017/2018 Season to Date: 54 days on the trails covering 338.4 miles with 32,950 feet of elevation climbed.

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