1097

What is right and wrong about the following skijor shot?

What is right? Jack & Rudy topping 24 MPH skijoring the Sally Barber Mine Trail!
What is wrong? Where is Zorro?

What is right and wrong about the following skijor shot?

What is right? The trio (Zorro/Jack/Rudy) flying along the shallow layer of fresh snow in French Gulch.
What is wrong? Well, nothing :)

Ok, so what is the deal with these two photos from today's outing with Zorro missing from one? Well, we knew this would be happening this winter. Zorro is almost 11.5 years old whereas Jack is nearing 2.5 and Rudy is nearing 2 years old. While Zorro is a very healthy 11.5, he is also 11.5 - that means he has shown a few signs of slowing down and enjoys shorter runs instead of long distance runs. Jack and Rudy, on the other hand, are entering the prime of their lives and really want long runs. So our solution is that we will start some outings without Zorro and let Jack & Rudy run for a while before adding Zorro to finish the outing. Today was the first time we did this setup. Jack, Rudy and I skijored up, over and down the Sally Barber Mine Trail and then met Nancy & Zorro at the Sally Barber/French Gulch intersection to add Zorro for and out & back in French Gulch.

How did Zorro handle it? Well, wonderful! Zorro had no problem staying with Nancy as the youngsters and I started the outing. Zorro had no problem waiting to join us at the French Gulch intersection and he was very happy to join for the short distance end of the day's run.

How did I handle it? Well, it was VERY strange to be on skis without Zorro as we started the day. I realized that I have been on skis with Zorro for 1097 straight outings. The last time I was on skis without Zorro was 1098 outings ago - dating back to February 2010. So, yes, it was odd to not have my Z along for the ride; but Jack & Rudy sure picked up the slack.

As for Jack & Rudy. Clearly they had been paying attention to all of Zorro's tutoring. Jack has 1-1/3 seasons of skijoring under his belt and Rudy has about 3/4 of a season. On their first ever skijor without Zorro they looked liked seasoned professionals! We were going to make it up, over and down the Sally Barber Mine Trail in record time; so we turned around and redid a section of trail to get our exercise. In addition, the pair topped 24 MPH skijoring - I do not believe we have ever topped 24 MPH in October. Come along for a great video clip of Jack & Rudy looking like seasoned pros!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Anyway, back to the other entertaining points of the outing...

We had fresh smelling moose tracks!

"Sniff, sniff, FRESH!" declares the moose sniffing trio.
The tracks started from Zorro's left and went through the trees above and to the right of Jack.
All three wanted to abandon trail and follow the tracks. I vetoed that request ;)

We had the usual snow rolling, goofball Jack at our turnaround point:

"I'm turned around, when are these kids coming?" asks Zorro.
"Rub a dub dub!" adds Jack.
"Head Dunk!!!!" states Rudy.

Finally, of course we had end-of-run pork treats:

All smiles, all focused - hand them out!

An enjoyable, albeit very interesting day on the trails. The first time in 1097 straight outings that I have been on skis without Zorro. Jack & Rudy's first "solo run". An amazing top speed of 24 MPH in October. Rudy's first 9+ mile skijor. What a day... 9 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 7 days on the trails covering 38.1 miles with 3800 feet of elevation climbed.