Ears

I love 'end of run' treat time with my super sled dog pals!

Such happy, patient and attentive boys!
My favorite guys in the world! :)

Today's plan was to start our skijor atop Rabbit Ears Pass with Zorro, do a loop with the fun old Z, then hand him off to Nancy and continue on to give the youngsters, Jack & Rudy, some extra exercise (the kids NEED it :)

It started out just as we planned as we found a light layer of soft snow over set snowmobile tracks:

Off we go from the start zipping along in the soft snowmobile tracks!

Surprisingly, though, as nice as the prior photo looks, the tracks quickly dispersed within a 1/2 mile of our start and fanned left & right uphill into the trees. A fun ride for a snowmobile, but not quite want I wanted for older Zorro. So, we ended up abandoning the set trails and making our own path out & back (instead of making a loop). Look at what transpired at our turnaround point of the out & back - Zorro rolling snow angels!!!

"Head plant and roll!" demonstrates Zorro rolling a rare snow angel.
"Of course I joined in!" adds silly Jack with 3 legs fully extended :)
"Um, I'd like to keep running, are you two done yet?" asks that mature young Rudy (haha).

After the fun start with Zorro, Jack & Rudy took me off towards the ears of Rabbit Ears Pass. Look closely in the photo below at the mountain peak in front and slightly right of Jack & Rudy. You can just make out two large rocks atop the peak - these rocks are the "ears" for which Rabbit Ears Pass is named.

Zoom, zoom - the ears, the ears :)

Come along for today's video fun as we skijor towards the ears. The clip starts out without a view of the ears. Then, about 20 seconds in an the ears come into view and remain there for the remainder of the clip. If you can take your eyes off the ears, watch for the "bumpy trail" from about 10 to 25 seconds in the video as you'll see the camera (and, thus me) bouncing around. If your volume is up you'll also hear me comment, "Whoa, bumpy trail!" until it finally smooths out again as we sprint towards the ears!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Final shot of the morning's outing at take a look at "sprinting & hunting" Rudy. Today was the first time Jack & Rudy have been on this stretch of trail at Rabbit Ears without Zorro along. Now, years ago, we (Max, Zorro & myself) have seen moose from this stretch (3 different times). Jack & Rudy have never seen a moose along this stretch. But, in the kids' young skijoring career, they have been on this stretch with Zorro many times and Zorro ALWAYS kicks it up a notch in speed & intensity as this is a known moose stretch. Now, take a look at Rudy, sprinting while glancing to the right. I think Rudy has been listening to Zorro! Despite no visible moose today, Rudy took on Zorro's persona on today's moose stretch!

"I've never seen one, but Zorro always said, 'be moose aware' along this path before!' says
sprint & hunt Rudy!
"I'm waiting for the real thing!" adds forward focused Jack.

A gentle early run with snow rolling Zorro to start today and then a run to & from the ears with Jack & Rudy: 6.9 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 135 days on the trails covering 919.2 miles with 83,600 feet of elevation climbed.