Look at these incredible conditions we found on the upper elevation trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning!
First tracks on a recently groomed trail with a light layer of new snow on top! Absolutely perfect!!!
Even when there wasn't a light layer of new snow, there was the fresh groom. Zoom!!!!!
The fast & fun kids FLYING along the groomed trail. All the dots & haziness you see in the lower right of this photo are snow poofs flying off the kids feet. Wheeee!
With such perfect conditions, we knew we were going to run out of terrain before we ran out of planned time out on the trails. Not a problem, we simply turned and redid extended stretches of the trail three times during the outing. Temperatures were a bit on the hot side for Jack & Rudy (just below freezing at the start and just above freezing by the end), so I knew each turnaround was going to come with rolling snow angels to cool off :)
Told you so! Stop, drop and roll before restarting again.
Speaking of upper elevation, the views from this network of trails can be breathtaking at times:
Zipping along with snow capped Rocky Mountains ahead and to our right. Pretty!
Speaking of snow angels, come along for today's video highlight. We start out flying along a relatively flat stretch of trail. Then we slow a bit as the fun kids tow me up a rise in the trail. Next we floor it again down the other side of the rise. Finally, we continue off trail for a short bit before stopping so Jack & Rudy can do their favorite "stop activity" - that being to stop, drop and roll in the snow to cool off. Funny kids.
Zipping along in the untouched snow down the middle of the trail! Wheeee!
Tracks to our left, tracks to our right but a wonderful swath of untouched snow to frolic in down the center!
It was a gorgeous bluebird morning out on the trails today. Jack, Rudy and I were having a blast flying around on soft trails while taking in all the views!
Catching air amidst a cloudless blue sky with snow covered peaks all around us!
Our outing took us to the upper elevation trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center. Near our highest point of the day, the trees open up for a while and provide an absolutely stunning panorama of snow covered Rocky Mountains as far as the eye can see!
Catching air, awesome views, wheeee!
As you can see in the prior photos, we were not first out on the trails to enjoy the morning's fresh snow; but only a handful of people had been out before us. So, there was still plenty of soft, fresh snow to enjoy. Come along for today's video highlight to see for yourself. About 28 seconds into the clip is where the trees open up and the views are amazing!
Eventually we had to come back down to the trailhead. So, a little more shade and tree coverage but still the same results: Jack & Rudy catching air with a beautiful, cloudless blue sky stretching on forever.
Down lower in the shade, same results: Zoom!
With all this zooming around, the kids were really ready to roll snow angels and cool their jets at any turnaround point this morning. Funny kids.
"Stop, drop and ROLL! Aaahhh!" says the snow rolling sillies.
Now that was a fun outing, right guys?
"Oh yes, we had a BLAST!" says the happy, happy kids atop yet another snow wall to receive end of run treats.
Beautiful morning for a fast & fun outing: 10.7 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.
2023/2024 Season to Date: 101 days on the trails covering 863.8 miles with 83,700 feet of elevation climbed.
We achieved our top speed of the season skijoring this morning - the GPS registered us going exactly 26 MPH! Zoom!
Jack & Rudy flying along the stretch of trail where they went 26 MPH.
Jack & Rudy regularly hit 24 MPH as their top speed on our outings when the conditions are great. But, then, a few times a season they'll hit 25 MPH and 1-2 times a season we will exceed an impressive 26 MPH as our top speed. If you think skijoring sounds like a wild ride, try it at 26 MPH :)
We actually started this morning's skijor in the backcountry and passed through the Dry Gulch Ghost Town along the way:
Skijoring the backcountry through an old mining ghost town.
After some fun backcountry touring, we dropped onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We did two laps around the upper Preston Loop and found ourselves first tracks on the fresh groom for lap one and second tracks (to ourselves) on lap two. Along the way around the loop, though, the kids got distracted by a very fresh smelling trough of moose tracks leading off trail:
"Sniff, sniff - these are fresh!" says the moose inspectors sniffing the moose tracks in the deep trough made by the moose's legs.
Aside from one moose trough distraction (they only hopped in the trough on the first lap and then went on by the second lap), we were flying around the freshly groomed Preston Loop. It is usually January or February when we top 26 MPH as the snow & trail conditions are usually fantastic during those two months. Well, come along for a minute of fast skijoring as the GPS registered us going 26 MPH during this stretch of trail. Zoom!
After our two laps around the Preston Loop, it was time to get on the main trail to finish the outing. We often encounter other skiers on this trail as it is the main path out from the trailhead parking lot:
"Coming through, made you smile!" goes Jack & Rudy who love flying by oncoming skiers and making them smile.
Almost 11 miles later and we arrived at the trailhead with smiles all around:
"Whee, what a fun day!" says the happy kids.
Speed and distance - what a way to earn your end of run treats!
"These are going to taste good today!" declares the happy kids.
A great day on perfect conditions: 10.7 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH!!!
2023/2024 Season to Date: 67 days on the trails covering 566.5 miles with 55,200 feet of elevation climbed.
It was a perfect day on freshly groomed nordic trails to sprint and catch some air :)
Catching air as we were first tracks on the freshly groomed trail!
We got on the trails just after the groomer had started out itself. As a result, we found ourselves laying first tracks or second tracks (to ourselves) all morning long. We never actually met up with the groomer as it went a different direction than us on the large upper elevation loop at Breckenridge Nordic Center; but we knew we were just behind it as the trail was perfect and untouched! I love watching the snow poofs coming off Jack and Rudy's feet when they get on a soft & freshly groomed trail:
Catching air with snow poofs coming off the kids' feet. Wheeee!
It was an incredible zippy fast day with snow poofs galore :)
Out-stretched, fast running Jack & Rudy with more snow poofs flying off their feet.
Today's video highlight has Jack & Rudy doing their two favorite activities skijoring. We start out in a serious fast sprint along the freshly groomed and perfect trail. Then, near the end of the clip I was planning to turnaround and redo this fun section of trail; so I guide Jack & Rudy to the left and tell them to wait. Well, then we get their second favorite skijoring activity (the first was sprinting, of course) as the two stop, drop and roll snow angels to cool off while I turn my skis around. Fun & fast kids but also stop, drop & roll sillies :)
We actually had 4 turnaround points on this morning's outing as we redid several sections of perfect trail. As you saw in the previous video, it was snow angels at that turnaround point. Well, our first turnaround was also angels from Jack, of course, but woos from Rudy on this one. You never know about that comical redhead.
"You know it's rolling angels from me!" says giddy Jack (I love the look on his happy face). "WOOOO - I'll roll later!" says stop & woo Rudy at this turnaround point.
It was our longest skijor outing of the season this morning - talk about well deserved end of run treats!
"Ready to refuel!" says the happy, focused kids.
Great outing on PERFECT conditions: 11.2 miles traveled with 1200 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.
2023/2024 Season to Date: 42 days on the trails covering 352.8 miles with 33,500 feet of elevation climbed.
It was a day of absolutely stunning views from high elevation and freshly groomed nordic trails!
Flying by the Kathy's Viewpoint Warming Hut with a beautiful snow covered mountain peak in the distance.
We were first or second tracks on the freshly groomed trails all morning and every direction we turned had really beautiful mountain views!
Jack catching some serious air as we zoom along the groomie zoomie trail. Rudy is airborne too; but Jack's got some serious lift in this shot. Oh, and more views of the snow capped Rocky Mountains all around us.
Even when we were second tracks on the trail, all we had to do was move to one side to be first tracks on our side of the trail. Here are the fun kids catching some serious air again as we fly by the Hallelujah Warming Hut with more mountain peaks in the background.
Whee - one skier came up the trail to our left before us, so we'll just stay right and lay first tracks over here :)
Here we go with yet another cool mountain view shot with Jack & Rudy once again catching some air. You get the idea, it was a fast & fun outing this morning!
The zipping kids with more mountains to take in.
Now for today's video highlight. I love this stretch of trail as do Jack & Rudy. We are near our highest point of elevation of the day in this clip. While we start out amongst some dense trees, watch as the trees thin after about 20 seconds into the clip and then it is marvelous 360 degree views for the rest of the clip. Oh and notice how fast Jack & Rudy are flying today - top speed was 24 MPH.
Now for our daily "turnaround time entertainment". We know Jack ALWAYS rolls snow angels at turnaround points. Rudy is the wildcard - it's either rolling snow angels or belting out woos. Well, today Rudy decided to put them together. He first rolled a snow angel (along with Jack) and then flashed me a smile and followed with a beautiful woo from his snow angel down. Talented kid :)
"It's ALWAYS stop, drop and roll for me!" declares snow rolling Jack. "Stop, drop, roll and WOO! I've got a new combination antic!!!!" introduces rolling then wooing Rudy. Wonder if he can woo while rolling? It would not surprise me in the least if he came up with that combination at some point.
Back to the trailhead and we found a really nice snow wall to climb for end of run treats. Such talented kids!
"Love climbing snow walls for treats!" says the happy, happy kids.
What a glorious day on perfect conditions with stunning views: 10.6 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.
2023/2024 Season to Date: 37 days on the trails covering 308.0 miles with 29,500 feet of elevation climbed.
Jack & Rudy catching some serious air as they FLY along this beautiful groomed trail.
What a difference a day can make. Yesterday were were happily slowed breaking trail in deep snow on Buffalo Pass. Today were were happily sped up by a recently groomed speed track at Rabbit Ears Pass. The kids, Jack & Rudy, were having a blast plowing through powder yesterday and then they were having a blast FLYING around the groomie zoomie today. What a difference a day can make!!!
The hover huskies catching air as we start this morning's skijor.
Come along and watch the zooming fun. I couldn't decided which incredible speed clip to use with today's blog. After going back & forth on tons of great footage, I settled on the following 70 seconds of pedal to the metal behind Jack & Rudy. Wheeee!
"Hey, no stopping on the trail!" yells Rudy. "Yeah, RUDE!" adds Jack.
These are the same two moose who where blocking the trail in this EXACT same location 48 hours ago. Now here's the thing, it is rare to unheard of to encounter moose at the same place 48 hours apart. The big animals wander through large spaces to forage in the forest. They already picked the trees in this location clean 48 hours ago, so what are they doing back? So much for "unheard of"...
Today was probably the scariest moment I've ever had on skis, brought to you by these "shouldn't even be here" moose. We were skijoring along, minding our own business, when suddenly the mother moose SHOT out of the forest onto the trail in front of us. Holy smokes!
Big ass moose jumping out from the trees to cut us off. Pun intended (big ass :)
Come along for the slow motion video of this ridiculously wild moose encounter. As I said above, we are skijoring along, minding our own business, when suddenly the MOOSE pops out of the forest onto the trail and takes off in front of us. I immediately throw my body to the ground to stop everyone. My full body is the best brake I have on this skijoring machine :) My goodness, cutoff by a MOOSE! Whoa!
After collecting myself from this ridiculous cutoff, I got up to see where the moose went. Well, she ran down trail to collect her kid. So, here we were again blocked from proceeding by two moose. A lady we had passed earlier eventually caught up to us stopped for the moose. We all studied the moose trying to figure out how to get them to move.
Rudy screaming at the 2 moose as we all ponder what to do next.
This lady became our new friend for a while. As she and I were discussing the moose with Rudy screaming at them in the background, she eventually said, "I'm surprised they don't leave due to him [Rudy] screaming like that!" I agreed, but Rudy wasn't moving them.
Here's a zoomed in shot of the two trail hogs.
Mom on the right, kid on the left. Make note of that bush in front of the kid.
What did we do? Well, Jack, Rudy, myself and our new skier friend skied back up trail to give the moose time to leave. We'd ski a little ways and then one of us would ski back to see if the moose were gone. The moose were moving down trail, but VERY slowly, snacking along the way. Each time we reverified the moose were still in the way, the 4 of us would reverse and go back up trail for a bit. Along the way, Jack & Rudy decided to inspect all the places the moose had snacked. Remember the bush next to the kid in the prior photo? Well, here it is up close...
"Sniff, sniff - juvenile moose slobber on this bush!" declares Jack sniffing the bush that the kid was snacking on in the prior photo.
Not to be outdone, Rudy found where the mother shot out of the forest when cutting us off.
"Sniff, sniff - big mama slobber! Even better than kid slobber!" declares Rudy inspecting the bush the mother was apparently eating before shooting out of the forest in front of us.
Our new group of 4 tried to get past the moose 6 times, each time going a little further on the trail but still running into the moose eventually. On attempt #7, we finally got clearance! Our new friend is pointing out where the two moose are FINALLY off trail. Of course, Jack & Rudy already alerted me to their location; but still nice of her to point it out.
"Thanks for pointing, but we are already ON it!" says the moose spotters, Jack & Rudy.
Finally clear and it is back to the trailhead for some much deserved end of run treats!
Given the situation - being cutoff by a moose, Jack & Rudy were incredibly good today listening to me and turning around 6 times due to moose blocking the trail!
Yowza, what were those two moose doing in the same location 48 hours apart?!?! Unheard of!!! Anyway, 11.2 miles traveled with a top speed of 24 MPH and 800 feet of elevation climbed.
2022/2023 Season to Date: 123 days on the trails covering 1096.0 miles with 99,500 feet of elevation climbed.
Uh-oh, perfect Jack starting a play session on the trail! So much for perfect :)
"Tag, you're it!" goes Jack giving Rudy a left jab/tag. "Bring it on!" responds 'never back down' Rudy.
To be fair to Jack, Rudy had done a similar thing to him about 5 minutes earlier. But, where's my perfect Jack? I guess you have got to instigate now & then when your younger brother is a regular pest :)
Today's skijor outing at Harrison Creek occurred amidst heavy snowfall. The forecast was for a "chance of light snowfall" and the reality was 100% heavy snowfall. Unfortunately it is really hard to capture snowfall in a still photo - white on white just disappears...
One big flake in the upper left of this photo hitting the camera.
Okay, let's try again to capture some of the active snowfall:
Two large flakes to the left of Rudy, lots of white speckles (more flakes) against the trees.
Enough trying to capture a white on white still shot. Come along for today's video which truly showcases the active snowfall coming down around us. Jack & Rudy were having a blast running in the snow all morning. Then, get ready to laugh at the end of this clip. We are approaching our "turnaround point" of the morning. At the end of the clip I call out a "wait" and the "left" which the kids execute as a "stop, turn, drop and roll snow angels" as they typically do at any/all of our turnaround points :)
Fun shot from the front as happy Jack & Rudy tow me to the finish of this morning's skijor!
11 miles later and all smiles from the happy kids!
Today's outing found us going to Vail Pass and conditions could not have been any better. The trail groomer had run a few hours before we arrived and then a light layer of new snow fell on top the freshly groomed trail. Finally, nobody had been out on the trail in between the groom and the new snow. Laying fresh tracks on top of a newly groomed trail - fantastic!
Tread track from the snowcat groomer to our left. Untouched & perfect trail in front of us!
The further we went, the deeper the new snow got. Never very deep, but an inch or so of fresh snow at our highest/deepest point.
Cool footprints and snow poofs behind fast running Jack & Rudy.
With such perfect conditions, the kids were really into today's outing! Ok, they are ALWAYS into every skijor outing; but they were into running extra fast & hard today. All that work means you need to hop off trail into the deep snow to cool your jets at our turnaround midpoint of the outing:
Funny kids rolling in the deep snow off trail. Notice each is giving himself a snow facial too :)
We went out and back the same route this morning. To our pleasure and surprise, only a single snowmobile had made it out on the trails between the time we started and ended the outing. So, there was still plenty of fresh snow outside the snowmobile track to run in. Wheeee!
Snowmobile track to our left, fresh snow in front of us! Yay!
Today's video highlight goes along with the prior photo. Come along and watch us having fun skijoring the Shrine Pass Trail near the end of our outing. If you can take your eyes off Jack & Rudy, notice that despite sun & shadows it is snowing too (very lightly, but snowing). A rare occurrence: Sun Snow :)
Back to the trailhead and the kids love to climb the snow walls in the Vail Pass parking lot for end of run treats (they do this every visit to Vail Pass :)
Not often I can stand and be face to face with my fun pals :)
A really perfect outing at Vail Pass this morning: 11 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.
2022/2023 Season to Date: 99 days on the trails covering 873.0 miles with 80,300 feet of elevation climbed.
