Packed Powder

Nice "360 views" from high up on fun packed powder trails this morning!

Great views all around us, great trail in front of us, great
partners propelling me along :)

We went to the upper trails of Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning expecting to find a freshly groomed track (they try to groom every Monday morning after busy weekends). But, we got out on the trails before the groomer had a chance to get out. As a result, it was quite an interesting contrast in trail conditions. 

When we got far away from the trailhead, it was basically packed powder conditions as you see in the prior photo. Only a few other skiers had made it out this far to provide a little bit of packed tracks in otherwise soft powder. Then, for a complete 180, when we were near the trailhead, the trail was completely packed from side to side from all the heavy weekend usage!

Fully packed, side to side, closer to the trailhead.

We spent about 2/3 of the outing on the lesser used "packed powder" conditions and the remaining 1/3 closer to civilization on packed trails. While it all was fun, all three of us enjoyed the packed powder stretches the best. It was packed enough for Jack & Rudy to really fly while being powder enough for me to have some control of the skis. Wheeee!

Jack & Rudy flying in the shoulder powder as I ride one ski 'in track'
and the other ski 'in powder'.

Come along for a fun ride behind Jack & Rudy in beautiful packed powder conditions. Oh, if your volume is up, you can hear Rudy "trash talking" briefly about 40s into the clip. What was Rudy talking about? Well, I've learned that is often a pointless question to ask - Rudy talks when Rudy wants to talk :) Seriously, I think it was just a minor burst of "this is fun, come on Jack!" from the silly & talkative redhead.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The following is a funny shot once given full context. We paused briefly at the Hallelujah Warming Hut to note the trail conditions. The trail before and at the hut was packed from heavy usage. The trail after the hut was the packed powder you see in most of the photos and video herein. So, the hut was the marker of the transition from packed to packed powder. Well, that seems like a worthy transition to stop and admire by rolling snow angels, right?

"Ah, love the 'warming' hut!" demonstrates the snow rolling goofs.

Finally, as is the tradition with retired mentor Zorro this season: end of run treats for all after a beautiful and fun morning!

"Ready!" declares focused Zorro.
"Fun day!" adds the giddy kids.

A fun morning on mostly packed powder with a bit of fast packed trail near the trailhead: 8.8 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 52 days on the trails covering 412.6 miles with 39,000 feet of elevation climbed.