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!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

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.

 

Instigator

Oh Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

"I've got you PINNED! Play with me!" announces instigator Rudy to Jack.
"Stop bugging me you little twerp!" responds mellow Jack.

Yes, Rudy the Instigator was up to his usual antics on the trail today. While Jack will occasionally start the unauthorized game of tag & wrestle on the trail, it is Rudy who starts probably 90% of all such episodes. Sure, Jack usually falls for it and responds back - how could you ignore the little pest?!?!?

Rudy's shenanigans aside, it was a wonderful fast day to skijor the wide trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Come along for the fun - here we go!

Great shot of super aerodynamic Jack as we are flying along this stretch of trail. It is usually Rudy who has his ears pinned against his head for aerodynamics; but Jack knows the drill too :)

"Ears tucked, no slowing me now!" demonstrates Jack!

Then it was time to fly along open straightaways:

Flying Rudy next to outstretched Jack. Fast!

But, then I paused to check our time out on the trails. It was only a momentary pause, but a pause is a pause, just ask Jack & Rudy!

"Stop, drop & roll!" goes the snow rolling goofs taking an opportunity
to roll and cool their jets during my momentary pause.

Ok, pause from the human over, time to resume the theme of the day:

Zoom - and there is Rudy with his usual aerodynamic ear tuck :)

Speaking of "fast & fun"- come along for today's video highlight. Watch as we are really flying along this stretch of trail. Look closely and you can see very light active snowfall. Sure it's only a few scattered flakes; but all snow is good snow!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, back to the trailhead to share end of run treats from atop a nice snow wall:

"Ready!" says Jack focused on the treat bag in my right hand.
"Instigator? Huh, I have no idea WHAT you are taking about!" suggests mellow Rudy (haha).

Today's skijor tally: 8.8 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH (it felt even faster to me, but that is what the GPS reported).

2024/2025 Season to Date: 45 days on the trails covering 332.0 miles with 30,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Keystone Again

Another fun, fun day skijoring Keystone Gulch Road, right guys?

"Yes!!!!!" agrees the happy, happy kids.

We skijored Keystone Gulch Road recently and, in that post, I was describing how rare it is for us to be over in Keystone to skijor. Well, here we are two weeks later and on Keystone Gulch again! It just happened that we had to be on the other side of the county for a second time this month. Well, when chores dictate, we'll use Keystone Gulch Road whenever we have to be that way. I cannot imagine another outing on Keystone Gulch this season; but I also never imagined two such outings in the same season! Come along for the photo & video highlights.

The lower portion of Keystone Gulch Road doubles as a service road for Keystone Ski Resort. As a result, you get a nice wide trail with plenty of snowmobile tracks to soften the terrain for fast going. When Jack & Rudy really get going, they become so aerodynamic. Check out the aerodynamics with their ears in this cool shot:

All four ears tucked in tightly to avoid any drag! Smart & fast guys!

Eventually this path transitions from a "snowmobile used service road" to an actual ski run on Keystone Ski Resort to connect the base of two lifts. This section of the trail is groomed daily for ski resort operations. Well, Jack & Rudy know what to do with a groomed zoom track:

Zooming along the fast & wide sprint track.

Come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo. Here we go, go, go! Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Despite fast going in the prior video clip, you'll notice Jack's ears are not as aerodynamic tucked in as the prior photo. Rudy, on the other hand, is the aerodynamic speed master and has his ears tucked in tightly for most of the video. What was keeping Jack from tucking his ears? Well, sometimes you want to listen in on the activities going on around you. In this case, we were skijoring in between the base of two lifts and Jack seemed to have his ears up to listen to the nearby people and lift operations. Nosey kid :) But, he was right to be nosey:

"Hey, a ski lift! Look at those silly people riding up. Why not ride up
behind a sled dog instead?" asks curious & nosey Jack & Rudy.

Yet another fun, fun day to go report to retired mentor Zorro. I have 'end of run' treats in my hand, everybody ready?

"Check! Me first!" says cute, focused Zorro.
"I see them, I seem them!" adds locked in Jack.
"Where, where? I'm over here!" declares Rudy.

A beautiful day for a nice long skijor out & back on Keystone Gulch Road: 11.9 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 75 days on the trails covering 612.8 miles with 58,050 feet of elevation climbed.

Open, Woo

Fun guys, Jack & Rudy, cresting at Sally Barber Mine on this morning's skijor!

"Hi mine, bye mine. Zoom on by we go!" says fast running Jack & Rudy.

You'll have to excuse the "dark lighting" in today's photos as we were out at sunrise to get in today's fun run and the mountains around us were blocking the rising sun all outing long.

Anyway, lighting aside, we had a great romp up, down and around Sally Barber Mine today. It was a short outing as we had other appointments; but Jack & Rudy made the most of the quick run:

Flying Jack with Zippy Rudy zooming along the nice semi-packed trail.

The following photo cracks me up as it showcases so much of Rudy's personality. First of all, Rudy loves going fast and is very aerodynamic in his sprints. You'll see his ears tucked in tight and tail tucked nicely behind his body for perfect aerodynamics when he's going fast. But, Rudy is also very nosy and curious. The result? Well, Rudy just can't help but keep his outside ear (right in this case) up to listen for activity in the surrounding forest while running. So here you have it - a very aerodynamic Rudy with one (right) ear up for curious nosiness as well. Talented :)

99% Aerodynamic Rudy with 1% "curious nosy ear" :)

For today's video highlight you get some excitement from me! We start winding along the Sally Barber Mine Trail and then come around a corner to a wide open straightaway. You can hear me say "Wide Open, Woo!" in excitement to see the straightaway free of any distractions (annoying loose dogs or scary loose moose) as Jack & Rudy understand my excitement and floor it. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, checking in with my favorite retired sled dog, Zorro, as we celebrate the end of another fun run:

"Glad you came back!" says sweet Zorro.
"We always bring him back!" adds mature Jack & Rudy.

A fun & fast 5.2 miles traveled this morning with 500 feet of elevation climbed and an impressive top speed of 23 MPH. We have no commitments tomorrow, so come back for a long & post sunrise skijor report :)

2021/2022 Season to Date: 34 days on the trails covering 263.5 miles with 24,500 feet of elevation climbed.