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Uh-oh, moose in the neighborhood!

Jack & Rudy BOTH catching a "scent of moose" to our left!

Over the years, I've learned how to read the kids' wildlife sensors. When I see a sensor fire on the trail, I read it for what level of wildlife has caught their attention and how I need to react and prepare. In the photo above, this is Jack & Rudy catching a "scent of moose" but no visual sighting of the moose. When any of their moose sensors goes off, I am on HIGH alert the rest of the outing and ready to throw myself to the ground to become an anchor if a moose appears! No moose today, but the sensors were ON and there was certainly one nearby in the trees.

Sometimes people ask me which of Jack/Rudy runs on the right side of the team and which on the left. Well, I let them choose what side they want. As they have matured into professional sled dogs, their default configuration has become Jack on the right and Rudy on the left. I don't enforce this, it is just what they choose. I'd say about 75% of the time it is Jack right and Rudy left; but they'll switch it up now and then for reasons known only to them :)

Cruising along this nice trail with views in the default Jack on right
and Rudy on left.

Every once in a while, we'll redo sections of a trail. Sometimes because we are ahead of schedule and sometimes just to re-enjoy a great section of trail. This is the one time I can guarantee Jack & Rudy's alignment. They will always switch sides if we redo a section of trail. Apparently it's a different feel to run the same trail from the other side :)

Same location as the prior photo; but this is pass 2 on this segment so
Jack & Rudy have switched sides.

Today's video highlight is "pass 1" along this nice stretch of trail. Come along as we start with Jack & Rudy towing me up a slight rise in the trail and then they floor it as the trail flattens out into a sprint run. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the first photo, the kids' moose sensors were ON for a significant amount of time this morning. Around the corner and uphill from the first photo and we encountered where a moose had crossed the trail and sauntered off into the trees (the same trees Jack & Rudy are sniffing towards in the first photo):

"Sniff, sniff - very fresh!" declares the moose track inspectors.
Look at those deep post holes the moose has put in the trail before
exiting into the woods. Lots of scent of moose today but no actual sightings.

Finally, I have a mugging to report during end of run treats at the trailhead :)

"HAND THEM OUT!" demands my muggers!

Fun day on the fast trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center: 9.9 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 23 days on the trails covering 183.4 miles with 15,800 feet of elevation climbed.