Wildlife Alert

Everybody having a great time on this morning's skijor outing?

"YES! We are having a BLAST!" exclaims the happy, happy kids
at our turnaround point at the Jumbo Overlook.
Oh, don't worry, we had two turnaround events today and the first was
executed with the usual "stop, drop & roll" from the snow angel brothers :)

Today's outing was very similar to yesterday's with a few modifications along the way. We once again started on the backcountry trails in Dry Gulch:

Zipping along in the backcountry as Jack & I are focused forward while
nosy Rudy glances for anybody to flirt with on the trail going left :)

Once again, after doing a backcountry lap, we dropped onto the wide trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. The secondary trail (Preston Loop) had not been groomed since yesterday morning. So, it was a little tracked up and had a few "deep fat tire bike indentations" in the trail to avoid; but still groomed enough to open up the skijoring throttle!

Jack & Rudy flying along the somewhat tracked up nordic trail. 

As we were on the trail in the prior photo, I heard the groomer running nearby. So, I knew once we transitioned onto the main trail it would be a fresh groomie zoomie. Indeed it was as we were first tracks on the freshly groomed main trail! Wheeee!

Hovering Jack next to Rudy the Missile as we floor it on the freshly
groomed nordic trail!

One significant difference from yesterday's outing was Jack & Rudy catching the "scent of moose" and running on high wildlife alert!

Rudy glancing left into the trees while Jack is in "high alert" body
language as we cruise along.

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo. For background, we are in well known "moose territory" during this clip and we have seen moose and evidence of moose many times. I know Jack & Rudy's body language and both are on clear wildlife alert during this clip. You'll see Rudy making frequent glances into the trees to our left and Jack is running "on alert" (I know his wildlife alert body language). Once I saw their body language, I was on high alert too, constantly scanning the trees for moose. Despite the intensity from Jack & Rudy we never actually saw a moose, phew. This clip may be only 45 seconds long but it feels like an eternity in real life when you see them this "on alert" and are scanning the trees yourself!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Another successful skijor outing means another enjoyable "end of run" treats session with my pals:

"Fun! But too bad we didn't find the stinky moose!" says the happy kids
up on a snow wall for end of run treats.

Another quick, but very entertaining, outing this morning: 6.2 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date; 72 days on the trails covering 607.6 miles with 59,100 feet of elevation climbed.