Sunday, February 16, 2025

Reroute

We found over 2 feet of fresh, untouched snow on this morning's skijor outing!

Jack & Rudy powering through 2 feet of powder. Impressive.

My original plan for the day was to do a one way skijor, starting from one trailhead and finishing at another. We had new snow overnight, so I was expecting to be laying fresh tracks with Jack & Rudy on my one way plan. Well, as you see above (and below), the new snow was WAY deeper than I expected. As the snow got deeper, it was clear that my one way planned route was not a good idea today:

Stalled for a moment in a ton of deep snow.

While Jack & Rudy have no problem breaking trail, I like to reward them on deep snow outings with "out & back" routes. That means they get to break trail in one direction and then reuse the track we set on the way out on the way back. It's nice to give them that reward for hard trail breaking work on the way out. So, I rerouted us a different direction to a trail that Jack & Rudy know is an "out & back" as that is the only option on this particular trail (unless you want to skijor 20+ miles one way to the next trailhead :) So, cruising we went until I announced it was time to turnaround and head back. Everybody ready?

"Not yet, need to stop, drop and ROLL an intense snow angel first!" goes silly Jack.
"Woo, you bet! Let's floor it back!" adds Rudy singing in approval.

So, then it was time to reuse the track we worked to hard to set on the way out. Whee!

Enjoying our "out track" on the return.

But, while running back in your "out track" in 1-2 feet of snow is easier (than the way out), it is by no means EASY! Come along for today's video fun to see what I mean. Watch as Jack, Rudy and I are having fun bouncing up, down, back & forth in today's ton of fresh snow. Wheeee! 

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead and my pals are very willing to accept 'end of run' treats after a deep powder workout this morning:

"Ready! You have our FULL attention!" says the focused pair.

It's always fun when you get to announced "today's skijor was slowed by 1-2 feet of powder!" - 6.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 56 days on the trails covering 422.2 miles with 40,300 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Backcountry Powder Day

Laying fresh tracks in about 2-3 inches of new snow to start today's skijor outing:

Zipping along, laying fresh tracks!

Breckenridge Ski Resort reported 8 inches of fresh snow this morning. But, we only had about 2-3 inches at our house; so I was skeptical about that report. As you see in the prior photo, we found only about 2-3 inches of new snow at the start of our outing. So, my skepticism was seeming like reality as we started the day.

But, then, the magic happened. The higher (in elevation) we went, the deeper the snow got. I found myself changing from skeptical to wondering just how much new snow we'd encounter!

Trotting by an old, abandoned mining cabin in about 5-6 inches of fresh snow
at this point.

The further we went, the deeper it got...

Busting through at least 8, maybe 10, inches of fresh snow at this point!
For the curious, those are fox or coyote tracks going down the trail in
front of Jack (most likely fox, but could be coyote).

Did I say, "The further we went, the deeper it got?"

Snorkeling through 10-12 inches of fresh powder at this point! Wow!

How about some powder blasting video fun to go along with the deep snow we found? I love doing powder clips in slow motion as is it so cool to watch the powerful sled dogs blasting through powder as they tow me along. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course, breaking trail through deep snow is a real workout. That means you MUST stop, drop and roll snow angels to cool your jets at any pause along the way :)

Stop, drop and ROLL!!!

A great day enjoying backcountry fresh powder all to ourselves, right guys?

"Oh yes, that was a FUN workout!" says the happy & focused kids.

Today's fresh tracks to trail breaking tally: 8.1 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 55 days on the trails covering 415.8 miles with 39,600 feet of elevation climbed.


Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Fresh Tracks Fun

Laying fresh tracks in 1-2 inches of new snow in the backcountry - wheeee!

Zipping along, catching air and fun fresh snow poofs under Jack & Rudy's feet!

Trail condition wise, it was a PERFECT day. Just enough new snow for me to safely uncork the Jack & Rudy skijor engine in the backcountry. Come along and watch the fun - what wonderful conditions this morning!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

After a fun fresh tracks romp in the backcountry, we dropped onto the wide trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Much to our surprise and joy - NOBODY had been out on the upper nordic loop yet today. This meant we got to continue laying fresh tracks for miles & miles. There is nothing quite as special as 2 inches of fresh snow over a groomed nordic trail. Time to really open up the throttle!

"We believe we can fly!" demonstrates fully airborne Jack & Rudy.
What a great action shot!

Temperature wise, though, well - brrrrrr! It was below zero (F) all outing long. What do you think this meant to Jack & Rudy? Well, it was so HOT they had to roll snow angels to cool off :) In fact, below zero was so hot to Jack that he had to throw himself off trail into deeper snow to roll in and cool off - haha, silly Jack.

"Cowabunga - throwing myself into deeper snow to cool off!" goes comical Jack.
"Ah, rub a dub dub right here is fine for me!" adds upside down Rudy.

The frigid temperatures probably explains why we were first out on the morning's new snow. Who else but Jack & Rudy would relish subzero temperatures? Then, as we were completing the day's outing, we finally encountered one other set of ski tracks in the new snow. But, one set of ski tracks is easy to avoid and continue laying fresh tracks in the remaining snow on the wide trail:

"Whee - we'll ignore that ski track to our left and keep laying
fresh tracks over here!
" demonstrates fun Jack & Rudy.

Finally, back to the trailhead and who is ready for end of run treats?

"I am SO ready!" says Jack.
"Me too, me too!" adds mellow (haha) Rudy.

A lot of fresh tracks fun this morning but a bit on the cold side for me (only me :) - 7.3 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 53 days on the trails covering 398.7 miles with 37,900 feet of elevation climbed.