Surprise Joy Ride

Everyone was thrilled at this morning's surprise joy ride out on Prospect Hill!

"We are having a GREAT time!" declares the happy pair looking back at
me during a quick pause.

"Surprise joy ride?" you ask. Well, yes. We set out to skijor the backcountry on Prospect Hill this morning. This network of trails is historically unmaintained backcountry terrain all winter long used by both skiers and snowmobiles. But, today was quite the surprise. A groomer had recently run up the main Prospect Hill Trail and down the backside of the hill for a little ways before turning around. Look at this beautiful trail:

A recent groom on Prospect Hill! We've never encountered this before!!!!
As you see, Jack & Rudy know what to do with a groom - ZOOM!

So, what we thought was going to be a highly technical skijor on backcountry trails instead turned into a groomed joy ride; thus the Surprise Joy Ride! 

On the backside of the hill, where the groomer turned around, we were able to leave the set trail for a short distance and romp through some nice powder before reconnecting with the groomer track:

Some nice powder as we cut a diagonal between the groomer trail for
a short distance.

But, we spent most of the day on the surprise groomed trail. We actually did the Prospect Hill route twice we were having so much fun on the surprise groom: out & back once and then out & back again. Along the way we get some nice views of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley from us:

Jack & Rudy zipping along as the ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort
come into view across the valley.

As I said earlier, Jack & Rudy know what to do with a groomed trail - zoom! Come along and watch the fun. The nice views of the ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort come into view across the valley from us after the first left in the video. Finally, watch the end as I have to navigate a sharp hairpin right on pretty beat up snow while Jack & Rudy slow automatically to let me navigate the hard right before opening up the throttle again. I don't have to say anything, they magically know to slow so I can navigate this on skis. Perfect partners!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Since we did the out & back route twice, we had numerous turnaround points to add some comedy to the outing. Jack & Rudy always deliver on the comedy :)

Some (i.e., me) take in the nice views at a turnaround point.
Some (i.e., Jack & Rudy) dig & dunk their heads into the snow looking for
rodents at a turnaround point.

What a surprise joy ride, right guys?

"Oh that was FUN!" declares the very happy and satisfied kids
awaiting end of run treats atop a nice snow wall.

Stats for today's surprise joy ride: 9.2 miles traveled with 1200 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2204 Season to Date: 116 days on the trails covering 996.1 miles with 97,600 feet of elevation climbed.