Catch and Pass the Groomer

Zipping along in the morning's fresh snow in the backcountry. Wheeee!

Having a blast with my hover husky pals.

We started this morning's outing in the backcountry with a light layer of new snow and active snowfall coming down around us. After doing a few backcountry laps, we dropped onto the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Despite heavy falling snow by the time we got on the nordic trails, I could see fresh groomer corduroy lines on the trail. This meant the groomer had been here just minutes before us. I looked to my pals and said, "Oh boy, I bet we can play catch & pass the groomer! You guys ready?"

"READY!!!!!" declares happy, snow covered Jack.
"WOOOO!! ME TOOOO!!!!!!" belts wooing Rudy.

So, then it began.... First we flew:

"Where's the groomer? Floor it!" goes Jack & Rudy.
Notice some of the groomer corduroy you can make out in the bottom
center of this photo. The groomer must be near!!!

Then we caught the groomer!

"You cannot outrun us! Whee!" says the fast & fun kids who LOVE
catching a groomer in front of us.

Finally, we passed the groomer!

Coming on through!
Jack likes to pass right by the groomer while Rudy likes to swing a little
further away from the big machine.

We know the groomer drivers from years of skijoring these trails. When they see us come up behind them, they will always slide right or left when the trail is wide enough and stop to let us pass. We swing to the wide side and trot on by. I always smile and wave to the driver who is always smiling and waving back.

So, let's put it all together in today's video highlight: 1) flying... 2) catching... 3) patiently trotting behind... 4) passing... and FINALLY, 5) flooring it again once past the groomer. Wheeee! We love this fun game. Oh, and notice the nice, heavy snow falling throughout this video. Yay for Snow!!!!

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Fun day, right guys?

"Yes, we LOVE catch & pass the groomer!" says the happy & focused kids.

Today's tally: 5.2 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 37 days on the trails covering 236.3 miles with 26,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Fresh, First and More

Laying fresh tracks in the backcountry! Wheeee!

About 2" of new snow all to ourselves! Nice!

It was a great morning out on one of our favorite network of trails. Despite being a usually busy Saturday, we were thrilled to find the terrain all to ourselves almost all morning long! We started by laying fresh tracks in the backcountry and shown above and then we finished by being first tracks on the recently groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. It doesn't get much better than this!

First tracks on the recent groom despite being a typically busy Saturday.
Wow!!!

How could we top "fresh tracks to first tracks"? Well, Jack & Rudy can always add more :)

To start with, there was an addition of hopping off trail to wrestle in the deeper snow:

Unauthorized snow wrestling! Silly kids!

Then there was an addition of lunging and diving off trail to search for rodents under the snow. There is ALWAYS time to add rodent hunting to any outing :)

"Lunge, dunk, where are those pesky rodents?" asks searching Jack.
"I'll find them! INCOMING!!!!" adds beautiful rodent diving Rudy.

But, aside from one episode of unauthorized wrestling and one hilarious search for rodents, it was a wonderful morning to go, go, go! Come along for a glimpse into the skijoring fun for yourselves:

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Fresh tracks, first tracks, wrestling and rodent hunting - which was your favorite guys?

"ALL OF IT!!!!!" says the happy kids proudly awaiting end of run treats
atop a snow all.

A nice and peaceful fresh tracks to first tracks outing: 5.4 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 36 days on the trails covering 231.1 miles with 25,500 feet of elevation climbed.

24 MPH Day

Aerodynamics at their best:

All four ears across Jack & Rudy tucked tightly against their
heads to achieve maximum aerodynamics. Impressive!

We had a fast & fun day on the upper elevation trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning. Jack & Rudy kept flooring with maximum aerodynamics on the groomie zoomie straightaways:

The aerodynamic hover huskies in perfect form. Impressive again :)

What happens when you keep achieving maximum aerodynamics? Well, the GPS clocked us topping 24 MPH skijoring is that happens! Come along for today's fun clip were we topped 24 MPH somewhere along the first half of this clip (before we come to the tight right in the trail where the camera dips as I struggle to keep upright and corner with the speed demons :) Whee!

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Sometimes, though, you need you ears up to hear upcoming "treats" along the trail:

Ears up as we round a corner with a little squirrel in the trail.
The black dot up and to the left of Rudy is a little black squirrel.
Squirrels are quite small at 10,000+ feet elevation in Breckenridge.
But, all squirrels are potential "trail food". Unfortunately for Jack & Rudy,
it scampered off trail before they got to it.

With all that fast aerodynamic running this morning, rolling snow angels to cool off was definitely needed at our turnaround point of the outing:

"Rub a dub dub!" goes snow rolling Jack.
"Aaahhh, I LOVE snow!" adds happy Rudy who is just completing his roll.

Finally, the ears are ALWAYS up for full attention to get end of run treats!!!

"You have our FULL attention! Ready!" says the happy & focused kids.

A zippy day on fast nordic trails: 7.4 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 35 days on the trails covering 225.7 miles with 25,1000 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Safety Dust

Nice wide angle view of the ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley from us this morning!

The fun kids in the morning shade while Breck Ski Resort is in
full sun across the valley from us. Postcard shot :)

Today was a "safety dust" outing for us on Dry Gulch, one of our favorite trails. A snowmobile had run along the trail a day or two ago. With warm days and cold nights, such tracks become very icy and almost unskiable each morning. But, we had a light dusting of new snow overnight. All we need is such a dusting to turn unskiable icy snowmobile tracks into safe to ski tracks. I refer to this as the "safety dust" :)

Just enough of a dusting of new snow to make the "unskiable yesterday"
snowmobile track skiable today! Yay!

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo. It is so much fun to have the safety dust so I can let Jack & Rudy uncork the skijoring engine. Wheeee!

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After a fun ride along the backcountry safety dust, it was time to transition to the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Well, the transition came with a pause, so the pause came with a stop, drop & roll from the comedians:

Hopped off trail to "stop, drop & roll" in the untouched new snow.

Next it was time to entertain the oncoming skiers at the nordic center. Jack & Rudy love flying on by skiers and putting smiles on their faces:

"Hi! Bye! Coming through!" says the entertaining sled dogs.

Then, when we had the whole trail to ourselves, it was time to floor it. Wheeee!

Pedal to the metal on the groomie zoomie nordic trail.

Finally, it was the usual ritual to end the day: climbing a snow wall to receive end of run treats:

"What a fun day! Ready for the treats!" says the happy, happy kids.

From backcountry safety dust to nordic groomie zoomies: 7.6 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 34 days on the trails covering 218.3 miles with 24,100 feet of elevation climbed.

Zoom

What 24 MPH skijoring often looks like:

The kids catching air on a recently groomed nordic speedway!

What is slightly unusual about the prior photo? Well, you cannot see much in front of Jack & Rudy as I'm in a tight ski tuck myself trying to keep pace & upright with the speed demons! Talk about working the human's legs!!!!

When I'm not in a tight ski tuck to save my life, I am able to rock back a bit and enjoy the scenery:

Ah, just a mild 20-22 MPH so I can rock back and take it all in.
Jack & Rudy catching air again as we round a slight left in the trail.

When we get on open straightaways, I can really rock back and relax:

The fun kids still catching air as I'm able to rock back and catch my breath!

When off trail antics break out, then I'm really able to stand upright and watch the comedians:

"Rodents under the snow! Must dig!" says rodent lunging Jack.
You can see Jack's first dunk into the snow behind him.
"What? Rodents? INCOMING!" adds the always high arching, rodent
diving Rudy.

It really was a beautiful morning to glide along behind the power kids. We were second on the freshly groomed trail as only 1 skate skier had been out before us. Come along and see the wonderful & peaceful morning for yourselves:

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Such fun, right guys?

"Zoom, that was FUN!" says the proud speed demons awaiting end 
of run treats atop a snow wall.

Today's groomie zoomie: 7.4 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 33 days on the trails covering 210.7 miles with 23,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Nordic Fun

Who was having a great time out of the trails this morning?

"We were! We were! We had a BLAST!" says the happy, happy sled dogs.

It was a day of fast skijoring zooming around the trail at Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning. The kids were in a real fast mood!

It was zooming along in the early morning shade:

Cannonball Jack and Rudy the Missile with fun snow poofs behind their feet!

It was catching air as it got lighter as the morning unfolded:

Whee - the hover huskies at it again :)

It was flying by the silly warming huts, zoom;

"Who needs a warming hut? Floor it!" says the 'never cold' Siberian Huskies.

There was one interruption, though, you CANNOT ignore pesky rodents under the snow off trail!

"Dunk! I sense rodents!" declares rodent lunging & dunking Jack.
"Really? Well, then, INCOMING!" adds high arching rodent diving Rudy.

But, aside from the rodent dunking/diving distraction, it was zooming all day. Come along for today's video highlight as Jack & Rudy tow me around some fun corners as we complete the morning's fast and fun outing. Hang on human! Wheeee!

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Fun day, right guys?

"Oh yeah, we love nordic zooming days!" says the happy kids awaiting
end of run treats.

Today's tally: 8.4 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 32 days on the trails covering 203.3 miles with 22,500 feet of elevation climbed.

BOOM

Laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow in the backcountry this morning! Whee!

Beautiful conditions, beautiful skijor partners!

After a few days off (my fault :), Jack & Rudy were ready to floor it this morning. They had the "pedal to the metal" pretty much all morning long!

Flying!!!

We found ourselves starting in the backcountry and then eventually dropping onto the trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Along the way, we had two turnaround points of the outing. At the first turnaround, Jack & Rudy turned quickly and then had to wait for the slow human to cycle around on skis. That brings us to today's video highlight. Watch Jack is patiently sitting and Rudy patiently standing as they wait for my turnaround. But, then watch as soon as I say "Ok," (my release command for them to go) and the kids virtually shoot out of a cannon to launch me down the trail with them. Such power & speed in this fun video clip. BOOM!

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As I mentioned, we had two turnaround events during the outing. On the second turn, Jack & Rudy were back to "normal form" rolling snow angels while I turned around.

There we go, this is the usual turnaround event.
Stop, drop and roll while I turn around :)

Then, to our surprise & delight, we found ourselves being first tracks on the freshly groomed main trail at Gold Run Nordic Center. Jack & Rudy know what to do with a fresh groomie zoomie trail:

The hover huskies catching air on the groomie zoomie trail!

The final treat of the day was, of course, climbing a snow wall to receive end of run treats:

Such fun partners! Such happy kids!!!!

A nice zippy morning covering 6.1 miles with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 31 days on the trails covering 194.9 miles with 21,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Fresh

It was a beautiful morning to enjoy a light layer of fresh snow all over the trails this morning!

Laying fresh tracks in the backcountry on a 1/2 inch or so of new snow!

Everywhere we went this morning was fresh, fresh, fresh snow fun!

Come along for today's video highlight as we are zipping along laying fresh tracks in the backcountry. Watch as Jack & Rudy really kick it into overdrive near the end of this clip. Zoom!

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After laying fresh tracks in the backcountry, it was time to inspect fresh moose tracks crossing the trail and leading into the forest!

"Sniff, sniff, these are VERY FRESH!" says moose inspector Jack.
"It went *that way*, we should too!" suggest Rudy lifting his head to 
scan for the moose itself.

After thoroughly inspecting the moose tracks and scanning the forest, it was back to fresh tracks. This time we were first on the new snow on the upper most trail at Gold Run Nordic Center:

Laying fresh tracks in about an inch or so of new snow at our high point.

After zipping around the upper loop at the nordic center, it was time to cool off in the fresh snow before connecting onto the main trail:

"Rub a dub dub, fresh snow makes for the best snow angels!" says the silly kids.

Then, to our surprise, we were still FIRST tracks on the main trail leading back to the trailhead. This is a rare treat on the popular trail!

So fun to be first on the new snow on this popular trail!

Even when we finally ran into another skier, the trail was still plenty wide for us to lay fresh tracks along one side while the skier took the other side. Wheeee!

"Zooming through! Made you smile!" says always entertaining Jack & Rudy.

Finally, there was fresh snow to sit atop to accept end of run treats:

Cooling our buns in the fresh snow awaiting end of run treats.

Fresh snow all day, YAY! What a wonderful outing: 8.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 29 days on the trails covering 184.0 miles with 20,600 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Fast Packed

The fun kids catching air along a stretch of trail before the morning sun has fully risen:

The photo is a bit dark as we are shaded from the morning sun by a large
mountain behind us; but the kids are "catching air in the dim light" :)

Our outing this morning took us to the wide trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. I was hoping they might have been groomed yesterday or today; but no such luck. As a result, the trails were pretty hard and fast packed! That's not really an issue (except to my sore knees :) but it does cause Jack & Rudy to drift a bit further apart than they will run on less slick trails;

Jack the cannonball and Rudy the missile taking full advantage of
the wide but very hard & fast packed trail.

As they hear my skis scraping and grinding behind them on such hard terrain, they tend to separate like this as you need to give the human some avenue of safety when he cannot stop quickly. Nice guys:

The smart kids separating again to give me a clear avenue down
the slick middle of the trail!

But, even though Jack & Rudy may run a little more separated and out of sync on such fast packed trails, the end result is still the same. Come along and see for yourselves - wheeee! Oh, and note the narrow & thin snow coverage at around 25 seconds into this clip. This section of trail is very sun exposed all day and, at this point, the trail gets very narrow and thin. I simply call out an "easy, easy" to my pals to slow a bit through the narrow patch and then call out "ok" once past it and the smart guys floor it again.

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Then, just to make sure I was paying attention, the comedians decided to roll separate snow angels today as well - running far apart lead to rolling snow angels far apart :)

"Rub a dub dub!" goes rolling Rudy at our turnaround point.
"I don't think I need to roll here." adds Jack.

But, don't worry, Jack was still Jack. The 8 year old has rolled at least one snow angel on EVERY skijor outing of his life (and usually many more than one). So, a few steps turning around from the prior photo and there is reliable snow rolling Jack:

"My turn! Aaaahhh!" goes always rolling Jack.
"Tasty snow too!" adds snowcone snacking Rudy.

Finally, back to the trailhead and who is ready for end of run treats?

"I see them! I see them! READY!" says Jack focused on the goody bag in my hand.
"Ready too, I'll wait patiently right here!" adds Rudy (patient & Rudy, hahaha).

Beautiful morning on hard & fast packed nordic trails: 7.2 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 28 days on the trails covering 175.6 miles with 19,900 feet of elevation climbed.