Contrast

Leaning into a left curve on the trail with my favorite sports car - the Jack & Rudy skijor machine :)

Such great cornering skills!

Today is my birthday and I got just what I wanted from Jack & Rudy: a 9+ mile skijor on wonderful soft snow! Our route took us up the front side of Sallie Barber Mine, then down and back up the back side, then out and back into the backcountry on a narrow single track trail and finally back down the front side of Sallie Barber Mine.

For the majority of the morning sun had not risen over the top of the mountain we were on; so the photos are bit dark but fun was had by all!

Flying down the back side of the Sallie Barber Mine Trail. Wheeee!

The contrast between being in morning mountain shade versus being in the morning sun is quite striking. The following photo shows what I mean. We are skijoring in the mountain shade; but look across the valley from us and you see a bright, bright mountain in the morning sun. What a difference in lighting!

Fun in the shade with a striking sun soaked mountain across the
valley from us.

Today's video highlight goes along with the prior photo. Come along and watch us galloping along in the shade with sun soaked mountains ahead of us. Striking contrast :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Given the route we took today, we passed by the historic Sallie Barber Mine three times. Of course Jack & Rudy had to stop and roll snow angels on one of the passes...

Stop, drop and roll in front of the historic Sallie Barber Mine.

If you are wondering, we like to go out early to skijor for three reasons: 1) trails are less busy early; 2) conditions are usually better early; and 3) Jack & I are "morning people" so we might as well go skijoring if we are up. Now that we are past the shortest day of the year, the lighting will start getting better every morning for the rest of the season.

Anyway, back to the trailhead and in the sun you saw hitting the mountains across from us in the video:

"Happy Birthday! Do we get 'end of run' treats for your birthday?" asks
the inquisitive kids. You sure do guys!

What a birthday skijor treat for me: 9.4 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 46 days on the trails covering 383.0 miles with 36,400 feet of elevation climbed.