26 MPH

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

"Oh, the BEST time!" exclaims happy Jack.
"Yes, yes, I'm having a BLAST!" adds happy Rudy.

Today's skijor outing started with a postcard view of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley from us:

Beautiful shot of the ski resort across the valley as Jack & Rudy zip along.

The outing then changed to a postcard view of fast & impressive Jack & Rudy:

Max speed reported by the GPS on today's outing: 26.0 MPH!!!!!

We usually top 26 MPH skijoring 1-3 times a season. Typically this happens in January or February when the conditions are best. Before today, though, our top speed of the season had been 24 MPH (multiple times). I thought maybe that was going to be our season's top speed once we got into March. Then today came along with a perfect trifecta: 1) great snowpack on the mostly shaded upper loop at Gold Run Nordic Center; 2) no significant new snow in the last few days to slow us down; and 3) the groomer had run on the trail moments before us and we were first tracks on the fresh groom! I could feel the speed behind Jack & Rudy and fully expected this outcome - max speed: 26 MPH!

Come along and watch the fun as we topped 26 MPH along the way in today's clip. Unfortunately the incredible sprint ends when we encounter a loose dog, with no responsible human in sight, in the trail and have to stop for everyone's safety. Oh well, it was an incredible speed sprint before that! :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Eventually a human showed up to collect the loose dog (so much for the "sight control" rule at the nordic center). No big deal, Jack, Rudy and I happily got past fluffy and then it was time to floor it again:

Catching air on the groomie zoomie! Wheeee!

Of course, going this fast means you really need to roll in the snow to cool your jets during any pause in the outing. Jack apparently needed to "cool his brain" today too, haha!!!

Jack looking like his is about to transition into a headstand in the snow.
With Jack, it would not have surprised me if he really did a headstand!!!
Rudy, on the other hand, it gently cooling himself in the snow.

Just when I thought we were going to top out at 24 MPH this season, my pals turned it up a notch and showed me!!!!

"If I lick your hand, will the end of run treats come out faster?" asks silly Jack.
"Can't believe you doubted our top speed of the season!" adds cute Rudy.

Zoom: 8.3 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH!

2024/2025 Season to Date: 74 days on the trails covering 576.1 miles with 54,300 feet of elevation climbed.

26 MPH

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!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

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.

 

Another 26 MPH Day

Our second time this season topping 26 MPH skijoring. Zoom!

Cool shot of cannonball Jack and missile Rudy FLYING along the trail.
I've overlaid the top speed from the GPS here. 26.1 MPH - Zoom!

With a light layer of new snow, we started the day laying fresh tracks on backcountry trails. Whenever there is fresh snow this time of year (Spring), we must use it! The trails melt and ice up within hours on warm spring days. So, fresh snow this morning meant starting on fun backcountry trails:

Laying fresh tracks in an inch or so of new snow on backcountry trails.

Eventually we dropped out of the backcountry and onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We were THRILLED to see the upper nordic loop freshly groomed and we were first tracks on the trail!

Come along for today's video highlight as the GPS registered our top speed at 26.1 MPH in this stretch of trail. The kids were in a fast mood today!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

I am convinced that Jack & Rudy can feel the freshness of a groomed trail. Why? Well, today they were in extra overdrive. They always run fast on groomie zoomie, but they were at another level today. The two of them LOVE to play "catch the groomer" out on the trails. I am convinced they knew the trail was very recently groomed and, thus, there was a groomer ahead of us to catch. Sure enough, a couple of corners from the prior video clip and.... We caught the groomer!

"Whee! The groomer! We caught the groomer!" says fast running Jack
and Rudy hurrying to flirt with the groomer driver.

Once the driver saw us in his rearview mirror, he paused when he got to a safe section to less us pass on by. He always waves and smiles and I wave and smile back. Jack & Rudy love passing on by :)

When you catch the groomer, you then get to pass the groomer!

Done playing catch & pass the groomer, let's go find mom at the trailhead for one of our other favoritate activities: run on by mom with her camera on the side of the trail :)

"Hi mom, bye mom!" says the happy kids flying on by Nancy.

26 MPH, catch & pass the groomer and fresh tracks on backcountry trails. What a day!

"I think we earned those end of run treats!" declares the happy kids.

A zooming day! 10.3 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 114 days on the trails covering 1011.8 miles with 91,900 feet of elevation climbed.

26 MPH

The GPS registered our top speed at 26.4 MPH this morning! Zoom!

This is what Jack & Rudy look like going 26 MPH :)

Going back to Max & Zorro and now Jack & Rudy, our top speed every season is typically 26 MPH with two seasons hitting 27 MPH as the top speed (once for Max & Zorro and once for Jack & Rudy). Well, today was our first 26 MPH outing of the season. We've been hitting 24-25 MPH regularly on groomed trails so I knew it was only a matter of time before we topped 26. Whee and zoom!

We started the day zipping along groomed side trails:

Running fast on a mini groomer trail (a snowmobile groomer).

Jack & Rudy were in a speed groove most of the outing. Here they are whipping me around a corner on another mini groomer trail.

I'm in a ski tuck trying to keep upright with the speedsters!

Then it was time to get on the wide groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We were first tracks on the freshly groomed trail and Jack & Rudy literally took off. Come along for the video clip where we topped 26 MPH. Hang on human!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The sun was behind clouds for most of the morning. But, as we were on the final leg of the outing, the sun poked out between the clouds to give us a nice hover husky shot:

Jack & Rudy catching air as the sun delivers cool shadows to
capture the moment.

No reason to slow down all morning long...

Still trucking as we pass by Nancy a few yards from the end of
the outing.

What did Jack & Rudy think of today's fast, fast outing? 

"Gotta roll snow angels to cool my jets!" demonstrates silly Jack.
"WOO - all in a day's work!" belts wooing Rudy.

A zippy, fun day on groomed trails: 8.5 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 60 days on the trails covering 517.8 miles with 46,100 feet of elevation climbed.

Ho Hum, 26

Another day, another 26 MPH top speed skijoring :)

Zooming on the PERFECT groomie zoomie nordic trail!

Now that Jack & Rudy have topped 27 MPH for their top speed of the season, we can say, "Ho Hum, another 26 MPH day," when we top 26 MPH. In most seasons, 26 MPH sets or matches our top speed of the year. But, with 27 MPH under our belts for this season, it was "Ho Hum, another 26 MPH" for today :)

We spent the day alternating between single track side trails and wide nordic trails on & near Gold Run Nordic Center. If it seems like we've been skijoring Gold Run a lot lately, well that is because this nordic center closes at the end of March. So, we have to get in our turns on Gold Run before the end of this month. These are also some of Jack & Rudy's favorite trails, so time to pack it all in for March!

The single track side trails were a nice "2 Siberian wide" so we could open the throttle on the light layer of fresh snow. Wheeee!

Laying fresh tracks on a single track near Gold Run Nordic Center.

We dipped in & out of the nordic center 4 times. Each "dip in" put us on super fast groomed nordic trails. Each "dip out" found us laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow on single track trails. The "dip ins" were lightning fast :)

Flying along the groomie zoomie nordic trail!

The "dip outs" were by no means slow, just not nordic fast :)

Side trail but still running fast!

I went back & forth on what video highlight to use for today. One choice was zooming topping 26 MPH while the other choice shows great teamwork. Since we've declared 26 MPH a "ho hum", that convinced me to use the teamwork clip instead :)

Here we go for some nice teamwork. Remember that Jack & Rudy's preferred mode is "zooming"... Now come along as we start this clip in a gentle jog as we are approaching a narrow gate ahead. Once to the gate, Jack & Rudy slow perfectly and move through the narrow opening. Then, the great kids keep it slow while I get through the opening and finally it is ZOOM as we are free of obstacles and floor it. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Smiles, smiles, smiles all around as we celebrate yet another great skijor with retired mentor Zorro:

"We ALL had such fun today!" says the happy trio!

A fun zooming day: 9.6 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a "ho hum" top speed of 26 MPH :)

2021/2022 Season to Date: 103 days on the trails covering 865.4 miles with 81,500 feet of elevation climbed.

26 MPH

Topping 26 MPH skijoring behind Jack & Rudy this morning! Zoom!

The speedy kids catching air on the fast, fast groomie zoomie trail.
The top speed registered on the GPS in the upper left - 26.4 MPH. Zoom!

We started the morning on side trails near Gold Run Nordic Center and did some touring on these lesser used trails as a warmup before dropping into the nordic center:

Getting in our "warmup laps" on the fast packed, although somewhat narrow,
side trails. Wheeee!

Eventually, we dropped into the nordic center and were thrilled to find a freshly groomed trail with no existing tracks! "Woo hoo!" we thought, "wonder if we'll catch the groomer out on the trails?" Sure enough, after doing a little speeding on the fresh groom, we caught the groomer from behind (Jack & Rudy are faster than a groomer :)

"Hey - the groomer! Here we come pal!" says the groomer followers.

We followed the groomer for a short distance before coming to a fork in the trail. The groomer went right so Jack, Rudy and I went left. Our left took us into a large loop and we knew if we did the loop then we'd get back to the same point, after giving the groomer a 20 minute head start, and have the fresh groomie zoomie to sprint along in our second pass on this section of trail. Our plan was perfect:

Second pass on this stretch of trail after giving the groomer a chance
to run along the trail between our 1st and 2nd pass. Zoom!

Jack & Rudy (as well as Zorro, Jack & Rudy and Max & Zorro before that) tend to top 26 MPH skijoring a few times each season. Max & Zorro even hit 27 MPH once! Anyway, we've been flirting with 26 this season as the kids topped 25 MPH twice and 24 MPH 6 times. I knew it was only a matter of time before the conditions were perfect for us to top 26. Well, today was the day! I actually think we topped 26 twice today on two different sections of freshly groomed trail. The first speed segment goes along with the prior photo and the second speed segment goes with the first photo above. One segment was in the morning shade and the other was in the sun. So, we'll use the sun segment to highlight today as it is prettier :)

So, here we go! Come along for the video of the speedy kids topping 26 MPH on the perfect trail in the pretty morning sun. Zoom and wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

What a glorious fast & fun day, right guys?

"All in a day's work! Happy to provide the speed entertainment!" says
the proud & happy kids at a turnaround point on the trail.

Zoom, zoom, let's go tell retired mentor Zorro all about it!

"Ah, I remember the speed days myself!" says super focused Zorro.
"Piece of cake on a groomie zoomie!" adds satisfied Jack & Rudy.
Note, Jack is not really this much shorter than Rudy; Rudy is sitting
on a snow hump to look very tall next to Jack :)

Speeding on the groomie zoomies today! 10.4 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 63 days on the trails covering 509.3 miles with 47,900 feet of elevation climbed.

Views

 Nothing says happiness like a Siberian Husky with a face full of snow!!!

"Aaahhh, pure pleasure!" says Rudy with a face full of snow.
"I agree, let me dunk my head in the snow next!" adds approving Jack.

It was a day full of great views from the upper elevation trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center. There was a cool layer of clouds being illuminated by the morning sun with the snow capped mountains highlighted in every direction. Here's a fun wide angle shot of the clouds, sun and peaks:

Jack & Rudy zipping along with a nice view of snow capped peaks
to our right.

At one point we get to a stretch with awesome endless views of the Rocky Mountains:

Jack & Rudy still zipping along the trail as a stunning panorama of
the rockies unfolds to our right.

Onward we continue as we are now flying by the Hallelujah Warming Hut with more snow capped peaks in the background:

Zoom, zoom (that was Jack & Rudy's theme all day).

Trail conditions were absolutely perfect this morning with a light layer of new snow atop groomed terrain. With temperatures below 10 F, Jack & Rudy were ready to go on forever. Come along and watch a minute of our endless galloping fun. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

At one point, I paused the team momentarily to decide whether we should go right or left at a fork in the trails. Well, I stopped... :)

"You stop, we 'stop, drop and roll'!" declares the snow rolling goofs.

Even back at the trailhead for 'end of run' treats with Zorro and the mountains were still provided cool views:

Full attention from the trio but notice the profile of another peak
in the upper left of this shot.

We only had time for a short outing, but Jack & Rudy sure made use of all the time we had out on the trails! 7.9 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 88 days on the trails covering 711.6 miles with 62,400 feet of elevation climbed.

26 MPH

Our annual tradition: topping 26 MPH skijoring! Zoom!

Zooming Jack & Rudy as the GPS clocked us at 26.3 MPH. Wow!

As I said, it has become an annual tradition. We typically top 26 MPH skijoring once or at most twice a season. Today was the day Jack & Rudy topped 26 MPH for the 2020/2021 skijor season. We had hit 25 MPH once before this season and had hit 23 and 24 MPH regularly. I kept waiting for the 26 MPH BOOM to happen and this morning was it. Look at that beautiful trail in the photo above. We were first on the freshly groomed trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center and temperatures were just under 10 F. What happens with a perfect trail and wonderful temperatures for Jack and Rudy? Well, 26 MPH!!!

When we got to the trailhead, I was thrilled and astonished to see we were first on the groomed trail especially given that it is a holiday Monday! Jack & Rudy saw the fresh groomie zoomie and decided to do some serious pre-workout stretches to get ready to zoom! Of course, their stretches are, as with everything they do, quite comical:

"Rolling snow angels gets all your muscles and joints ready to go!"
demonstrates the pre-run rolling goofballs.

How about a video clip of our 26 MPH sprint. Here we go flying along the highest elevation trail at Breckenridge Nordic Center. Great high elevation views and astonishingly fast Jack & Rudy :) If your volume is up high, you'll hear a boom at about 35-36 seconds into the video and see Jack & Rudy glance right. It was just one of the "avalanche booms" from the nearby ski resort (they use dynamite for avalanche mitigation). You'll note that Jack & Rudy are quite used to the avalanche booms as it only gets a quick glance in the boom direction from them and they do not even break stride.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

It wasn't just the high elevation trail, we were first on the freshly groomed trail at mid-elevation too:

The hover huskies laying first tracks at mid-mountain.

In fact, it wasn't just high and mid mountain, we were first tracks on all the low elevation trails we traversed too! What an incredible way to spend what we expected to be a busy holiday Monday on the trails!

Whipping around the corners at low-mountain as we are still
first tracks on the groomie zoomie! Wheeee!

Zorro isn't going to believe we were first tracks low, mid and high on a holiday Monday!

"Really? Cool! You three sure hit the jackpot today!" surmises elder Zorro.
"We did, we did hit the jackpot!" declares the happy kids.

A fast, first tracks day all over Breckenridge Nordic Center: 10.2 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 85 days on the trails covering 688.2 miles with 60,000 feet of elevation climbed.

26 MPH

Look what we did today - topping 26 MPH skijoring!!!

Flying Zorro, Rudy and Jack as we top 26 MPH on the beautiful
groomed trail at Gold Run Nordic Center! Zoom!

Today was young Jack & Rudy's fastest ever skijor. Their first time topping 26 MPH! Their previous top speed was 24.8 MPH. I thought the kids might hit 26 MPH this season now that they are full grown and in their prime. Well, today was the day!

But, look at that photo above. Here's what really surprised me - Zorro was with!!!!! Yes, 11.5 year old Zorro topped 26 MPH this morning - wow! I expected Jack & Rudy's record speed to happen when Zorro was not with this season. Boy was I happily wrong! Zorro has topped 26 MPH 12 times before in his skijor career (and even topped 27 MPH once). But the last time Zorro hit 26 MPH was with Max in February 2017. Since then, Zorro & I skijored solo (hitting 24 MPH) and then we were training young & growing Jack & Rudy. I knew by the time Jack & Rudy were mature enough to top 26 MPH that Zorro would be over 11.5 years old and I figured he would not have that speed burst still in his engine. I am thrilled to be WRONG and Zorro still has an incredible burst when he's feeling it! Woo Hoo Zorro!

What is funny is that we took the day off yesterday. I think my partners were determined to show me today that a "day off" is a silly thing to do :)  Anyway, we went to the fast trails at Gold Run Nordic Center and were thrilled to be first tracks on the freshly groomed trail!

Freshly groomed for us to lay first tracks! Perfect for topping 26 MPH!

My pals were zipping around the trails all morning long - all that saved up energy from a silly day off yesterday. Our route took us out & back on the Peabody and Preston trails at Gold Run. Even though all three were juiced to run all morning, the kids HAD to get in one comedy act at our turnaround. The 2 year olds cannot go an entire outing without at least one comical interlude:

"Kids - it's FRESHLY groomed - get up and let's ZOOM!" says excited to go Zorro.
"But we are turning around - that means roll snow angels first!" responds Rudy.
"Ah, rub a dub dub!" adds silly Jack.

What does 26 MPH skijoring look like from behind? Well, come along and watch :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

All smiles as we complete the fast & fun day on the groomie zoomie trails:

"Whee - that was FUN!" says the happy trio towing me to the finish.

I would say today's 'end of run' treats were VERY well earned by my speedy trio:

"Ye of little faith - I still got it!' says focused Zorro.
"That was FAST and FUN!" adds happy Jack & Rudy.

I thought the highlight of this morning's outing was going to be that we surpassed 500 miles for the season, putting Jack & Rudy well on track for their first 1000+ mile season.

Well, I was wrong, the highlight was Jack & Rudy's first 26 MPH skijor and Zorro's first 26 MPH since we were with Max back in February 2017 - wow! 6.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 73 days on the trails covering 503.4 miles with 47,600 feet of elevation climbed.