Preston

With all our recent snow, the backcountry trail in Dry Gulch was a bit narrow this morning!

Jack & Rudy trying to fit shoulder to shoulder in the pre-existing single track.

The single track got so narrow at points that Jack & Rudy had to run single file (taking turns who was in lead). I rode out of track behind them this entire section of the outing in an attempt to widen the set trail for us the next time we want to use it.

Our goal was to use the backcountry trails in Dry Gulch to eventually connect onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. As we were completing Dry Gulch and about to enter the nordic center, moose tracks appeared all over the place! From Jack & Rudy's intensity at sniffing these tracks, I knew there were fairly fresh. Jack always points in the direction the moose went (Rudy is hit or miss on pointing the right direction :) But, both aligned the same way this morning, sniffed for a bit and then popped their heads up as if to say, "Moose when this way! We should too!" 

"Sniff, sniff, these are FRESH!" says the moose inspectors.

Unfortunately for me, we eventually had to go the direction Jack & Rudy were suggesting to get to the trailhead. Fortunately for me, another trail at the nordic center had been opened last Wednesday. This trail is a large loop in the direction AWAY from the moose tracks, phew. I convinced Jack & Rudy that we should do the loop going away from the direction of the moose. Once they got a few feet away from the tracks, they agreed. After all, they LOVE this upper loop!

Flying around the Preston Loop as we (or I) hoped that gave the moose
enough time to leave the vacinity before we arrived back!

This Preston Loop is one of our favorites during the season. It is often one of the trails where we hit between 24-26 MPH skijoring. But, it's still November and the trail is not perfect for full throttle yet. But it was VERY nice for a wonderful November skijor. Come along and see for yourself:

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Once we completed the Preston Loop, it was time to head to the trailhead in the direction of the moose tracks. I needed to catch my breath before starting this final leg as I knew it would be a wild ride. Well, catching my breath meant I stopped :)

"Stop, drop & roll! Let us know when you are ready to go find those moose!"
says the snow rolling sillies.

Well, as expected, it was quite the wild ride behind "moose juiced" Jack & Rudy on this final stretch of the outing. I came around every corner on the trail ready to hit the ground if a moose was in the trail. I could read Jack & Rudy's body language and the "scent of moose" was clearly in the air!

The kids catching air while on high alert in moose country!

Luckily, for me, we never encountered the moose. It was just a fast & furious ride behind moose juiced Jack & Rudy. What a way to earn your end of run treats:

"We were working HARD! Well earned treats are in order!" says the
fun kids atop another snow wall for receiving treats.

A fun romp in Dry Gulch and the sprint around Gold Run Nordic Center this morning: 7.1 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 17 days on the trails covering 132.3 miles with 13,000 feet of elevation climbed.