Second

Smiles all around as we complete yet another fast & fun skijor outing!

Wheeee!

The footage in today's blog is actually from last Wednesday, Dec 11th. I did not have time to process the video footage until today. So, here's our summary of last Wednesday's fun outing.

We started the day being second tracks to a previous skier on a wonderful backcountry trail in Dry Gulch. With a light layer of fresh snow, I was comfortable "putting the skis parallel" and letting Jack & Rudy open up the throttle!

Zipping along a wonderful backcountry trail.

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo as we are second tracks out on this great backcountry trail. Notice about 36 seconds into this clip and Jack & Rudy really floor it! Then, about 52 seconds in and I call out "Forward" to direct us that direction versus following the existing ski tracks going the left. After the forward I call out "Good boys" and then, if your volume is up high enough, you'll hear Rudy respond with an acknowledging "Ruff" (as if saying, "Yep, got it!") in reaction to my "Forward. Good boys." Silly, talkative kid :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

After the fun backcountry romp, it was time to drop onto the wide trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We started on the uppermost Preston Loop. While this loop had not been freshly groomed, it is far enough away from the trailhead that it does not get too much traffic. So, a "day old" groom on Preston is often almost as good as a fresh groom. So, that means ZOOM!

The fast kids kicking it info overdrive on the Preston Loop.

After the Preston Loop, we did an out & back on another backcountry side trail before finally re-connecting with the main trail at Gold Run. Much to our pleasure, the main (and thus most used) trail had been groomed just moments before. So, we were first tracks on a fresh nordic groom to end the day. What fun!

Jack & Rudy making full use of the wide and freshly groomed nordic trail!

Along the way, we also skijored the Jumbo Overlook at the nordic center. This is a short "out & back" groomed side trail. Well, "out & back" means you have to turnaround at one point, right? So, you guessed it: Stop, Drop & Roll from the comedians at turnaround time:

The snow rolling goofballs not much interested in the views you are supposed
to take in from the Jumbo Overlook :)

Finally, as is the ritual, climbing a snow wall to received end of run treats to complete the day:

"Ready!" says the happy & focused kids atop a mini snow wall.

A fun day mixing backcountry and nordic skijoring in the same outing: 7.2 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 28 days on the trails covering 215.3 miles with 20,500 feet of elevation climbed.