First Tracks

A rare treat - laying fresh tracks all the way up Boreas Pass!

First on the trail as we laid fresh tracks in 3-5 inches of new powder all the way up Boreas!

We got some nice new snow overnight, so the Big Boys (Zorro & Jack) and I set out for a long run up & down Boreas. Why a "rare treat"? Well, Boreas is one of the most popular cross country ski trails in our area. Usually you have to be on the trail near sunrise to be first tracks. But, to our joy & surprise, we were still first tracks even though not starting the outing until 9am! What a treat!

Quick geography lesson on Boreas in the photo below: if you crossed the open meadow in front of Zorro & Jack and then drifted through the trees for a bit then you would eventually run into Indiana Creek. Indiana Creek is a popular destination for moose and we have spotted moose in this meadow before. You can also see moose tracks traversing through the meadow. Clearly Zorro & Jack "sensed" moose and had to hop off trail to scan for moose.

"Sniff, sniff - we smell you -where are you?!?" say the moose seekers.

After laying fresh tracks all the way up, time to turnaround. But, first....

"Turnaround = roll around!" demonstrates snow angel rolling Jack.
"He's rolling angels again. Surprise - NOT!" declares Zorro.

I fully expected everyone to ride in the track we set on the way up on the way down. Silly me as even 10 year old Zorro wanted to continue in the freshies all day long!

Keeping in the freshies all the way down!
Why use the track you set on the way up when you can stay in the freshies all the way down?

End of a fun day laying fresh tracks all morning long!

"Ready for more!" says 'not tired yet' Zorro.
"Now that was FUN!" declares young Jack (this was his first outing laying
fresh tracks all day long).

A day of freshies with the Big Boys: 8.2 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 16 MPH (we were happily slowed by fresh powder :)

2018/2019 Season to Date: 11 days on the trails covering 52.1 miles with 5050 feet of elevation climbed.

Fast Packed

A ridiculously fast packed trail at Indiana Creek this morning!

Flying Zorro + Airborne Jack + Launching Rudy = Zoom!

The trail at Indiana Creek was thin & fast packed terrain this morning. Almost too fast as you see patches of shiny ice instead of snow in the photo above. But we did it as I was riding my skis hard to keep the 3 pack under control all outing :)

Today's short video clip demonstrates what I am talking about. Come along as we are on ridiculously fast packed terrain. Zoom!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

To date, Rudy had been perfect at all our skijor starts. Perfect meaning he was "lined out" with Zorro & Jack and took off with them. This morning, though, he was so busy talking about how much fun he was about to have that he forgot to line out and almost missed the start. Silly puppy!

Zorro & Jack taking off as little Rudy forgot to line out with them.
"Wait for me! Wait for me! Here I come!!!!" screams Rudy :)

Love this fun shot of the tightly configured 3 pack. Airborne Zorro leading the youngsters hanging off each of his shoulders.

"Keep with me kids!" declares lead dog Zorro.

As usual, lots of breaks since it is still "training mode" when young Rudy is along. And, as usual as well, snow angels from Jack at every break!

"Rub a dub dub!" demonstrates silly Jack.
"So many breaks, but still a ton of fun!" expresses Zorro.
"I love love love skijoring!" declares happy Rudy.

Skijoring over, time for "end of run" treats!

"Slurp, yum, yum!" says Jack taking a pork treat from my hand.
"Hurry back to my turn!" says Zorro.
"Me next, me next!" little Rudy is saying to me :)

Another short, fun & easy Rudy training run: 1.9 miles traveled with 100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH (Rudy's fastest speed yet!)

2018/2019 Season to Date: 10 days on the trails covering 43.9 miles with 4250 feet of elevation climbed.

Snow Beauty

An absolutely beautiful morning to skijor great conditions atop Rabbit Ears Pass!

Zoom, zoom, zoooom we go with Zorro, Jack and little Rudy!

We planned a nice & easy training run to introduce young Rudy to Rabbit Ears Pass. A short 2.6 mile skijor with 3/4 of the outing being on downhill terrain and about 1/4 of the outing with a small climb. It is safe to say that Rudy officially "gets" skijoring. He has such a blast on these short training runs!

Come along for today's short video clip as we fly along snowmobile tracks in what was a beautiful morning atop Rabbit Ears Pass.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As with all our training runs, lots of breaks to rest & regroup before going again. The morning temperatures were in the single digits (F); you'd think that was cold, well, here's our first break:

"Having so much fun!" declares happy Zorro.
"Oh man, must roll snow angels to cool off!" demonstrates silly Jack.
"Why are we stopped?!?" asks cute Rudy.

A little further along and we took our second break at the official Rabbit Ears Pass marker. Remember it was cold (to humans) this morning :)

"Still having a BLAST!" says fun Zorro.
"Rolling, cooling, so hot!" suggests goofy Jack.
"Must eat snowcones to cool my jets!" demonstrates silly Rudy.

Time to complete the day's outing as we leave the top of Rabbit Ears to glide down into the forest leading to the trailhead:

Fun shot of the skijor triplet!

Another very successful "short & easy Rudy training run": 2.6 miles traveled with 200 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 15 MPH.

2018/2019 Season to Date: 9 days on the trails covering 42.0 miles with 4150 feet of elevation climbed.