Firsts

Another skijor outing putting smiles on the faces on oncoming skiers as Jack & Rudy flirt and cruise on by!

"Hi! Bye! Made you smile!" says the flirting kids cruising on by.

Today's skijor outing had a lot of firsts for our 2024/2025 season. We had FIVE firsts in all!

The first first was skijoring Dry Gulch, one of my favorite trails. I was unsure if there would be enough snow to skijor this trail safely and, boy, was I (happily) wrong as there was a TON of great snow!

The second was our first time encountering moose tracks crossing the trail this season. Not much can cause Jack & Rudy to come to a halt on the trail, but moose tracks most certainly bring them to a stop. You HAVE to sniff moose tracks afterall!

"Sniff, sniff, aaaahhh, fresh moose tracks!" says the track inspectors.
The moose had come from the trees to the right, crossed the trail and exited
to the left. How do I know the direction? Well, because Jack, the expert mooser,
always points himself in the direction the moose went :)

The third was our first time laying fresh tracks this season. We found 3-5 inches of fresh, untouched snow for about the first 1/2 of the outing! This particular trail is closed to vehicles in the winter (open in the summer). But, our local open space & trails department did not put out the winter gate to block vehicles until sometime Monday. Before they officially closed it, someone had driven it. As a result, you can see the indentations of two tire tracks in the photo below. Jack took one track, Rudy the other and I glided in the deeper middle powder - fun!

First time laying fresh tracks this season - yay!

The fourth was our first time breaking trail in deep snow this season. At one point we veered away from where the vehicle had driven to enjoy a side trail. Well, this trail was UNTOUCHED!!!! We found ourselves blasting through upwards of 12 inches of fresh snow. What a fun workout!

Cool deep snow indentations behind Jack & Rudy hopping and towing me
through some nice deep powder!

Today's video highlight goes along with the first photo above. Come watch as we are skijoring along in a wonderful layer of fresh snow until we come upon an oncoming skier. So, it's move to the left, put a smile on the skier's face as she watches fun Jack & Rudy and then put the pedal to the metal a few seconds after we pass the skier. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The final and fifth first of the day: Our first time climbing a snow wall for end of run treats this season. Jack & Rudy had been climbing snow walls occasionally since skijoring with Zorro. But, last season, the silly kids took it to a new level and climbed EVERY available snow wall to get as close to eye level with me for the treat celebration. 

Climbing a snow wall leftover in the recently plowed trailhead parking lot
to get to my level for end of run treats. Fun kids.

5 season firsts in one outing, what a fun day: 6.7 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 3 days on the trails covering 19.7 miles with 1700 feet of elevation climbed.