Perfect Plan

Beautiful views to our right as we gallop along in a snowmobile track between Rabbit Ears Pass and Buffalo Pass!

Cruising along! The white patch you see down to our right are the
shores of Dumont Lake at the top of Rabbit Ears Pass. Yes, we
are this high above Rabbit Ears as we are returning from skijoring
halfway up from Rabbit Ears Pass to Buffalo Pass.

I had a great plan for our outing today and was really hoping the conditions matched my plan :) We started on a lesser used trail on Rabbit Ears Pass. This trail had evidence of a previous snowmobile track that was now covered in a couple inches of fresh snow. Perfect, we were able to lay fresh tracks along this section of trail for about 1-1.5 miles.

Freshies - Wheeee!

The trail we started on eventually connects with more popular trails on the pass. My hope was that we would find a snowmobile or ATV track to follow on the popular trails with a snowmobile track much preferred. Success again!

A wonderful solo snowmobile track to follow for miles & miles.

Rabbit Ears Pass and Buffalo Pass are two wonderful snow collecting passes in Colorado. By straight line, the passes are actually only about 7 miles apart. But, there is no "straight line trail" and, by snowmobile (or skis), it is roughly 15 miles of trails from Rabbit Ears up to the base of Buffalo Pass. The snowmobile track we found was on this path to Buffalo. 

We did not go all 15 miles to Buff, but, instead turned around after 7.1 miles and came back the same way. The result? Young Jack & Rudy's first ever 14+ mile skijor! Yes, the kids are full grown into professional sled dogs. I have lofty expectations for the two professionals this season as long as Mother Nature (i.e., the snow) matches our abilities!

After yesterday's breaking trail in 15+ inches of powder, Jack & Rudy were able to floor it today following this solo snowmobile track. Come along for a video glimpse into the fun. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

7.1 miles out before 7.1 miles back - the kids needed to "cool their jets" rolling in snow before the return leg :)

Is it me or are Jack & Rudy's back feet touching?
Playing patty cakes while rolling snow angels, talented!

Zorro, of course, had run many 14+ mile skijors in the prime of his career - he's still accepting 'end of run treats' for past accomplishments :)

"Serve 'em up!" declares Zorro.
"Slurp, we can taste them in anticipation!" demonstrates the tongue
slurping kids.

What perfect day finding an endless snowmobile track between Rabbit Ears and Buffalo passes to cruise to young Jack & Rudy's longest skijor of their career: 14.2 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date; 6 days on the trails covering 43.9 miles with 4250 feet of elevation climbed.