All Terrain

Rodent lunges and dives from the comedians determined to catch those pesky rodents under the snow!

Jack started this episode with a quick and DEEP lunge into the snow off trail.
Rudy will never be outdone on rodent hunting. He follows any Jack lunge
with a beautiful, high arching and fox like rodent dive!

Ok, rodent diving aside, it was a beautiful morning to go out skijoring in soft & fluffy new snow. The all terrain vehicles (Jack & Rudy) towed me through just about every type of conditions this morning. Come along for the fun:

We started out breaking trail and laying fresh tracks in upwards of 6 inches of fluffy powder in the Dry Gulch backcountry:

Whee - powder blasting! 

Then, the local open space & trails department grooms some of these trails in the Dry Gulch area with a mini groomer (a snowmobile towing a groomer sled the width of the snowmobile). After blasting through powder to start the day, we found one of the side trails freshly groomed by the mini groomer. So, it was pedal to the metal on a mini groom:

Zipping through one of the many old mining day ghost towns in Dry Gulch
in a fresh mini groomer track.

Then we took a turn away from the mini groomer track to do an out & back on another side trail. We broke trail on the way out so we could fly back in our own tracks:

Flooring it as we are reusing our "out tracks" on the way back.
Pretty morning once we got into the bright sun!

Finally, Gold Run Nordic Center opened for the season this morning. So, we completed the day being first tracks on a marvelous freshly groomed nordic trail. Jack & Rudy know what to do with a nordic groom:

The speed demons catching air as they hover over the fresh
groomie zoomie trail!

So many video highlights to consider using from today's wonderful outing. How about we go with breaking trail and laying fresh tracks in the backcountry? I love riding behind the powder plows, Jack & Rudy, on skis in fresh & fluffy snow!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

What a fun day. How about we celebrate with some well-earned end of run treats?

"I agree!" states happy Jack.
"Yes and you have my FULL and UNDIVIDED attention!" adds focused Rudy.

A fun morning experiencing just about all types of terrain possible: 8.1 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 13 days on the trails covering 103.9 miles with 9500 feet of elevation climbed.

All Terrain

Fun "shot from the front" of the happy kids towing me to the finish of this morning's entertaining skijor.

"Whee! We had a blast today!" says the happy kids.

After meeting up with the groomer from Gold Run Nordic Center yesterday, we decided to go back to the same area this morning knowing we'd eventually connect onto the fast & groomed nordic terrain. But, we do not start on the nordic trails, instead we start in the backcountry and maneuver through the forest before eventually meeting up with the nordic center. As a result, it was an all terrain day for us on the trails!

We started on set backcountry trails. We actually set this track in the snow yesterday and could see that others had used it to pack it a bit more the last 24 hours.

Getting "shoulder to shoulder tight" to fit in the set backcountry trail.

Next we wanted to work our way from the backcountry towards the nordic center trails. There are lots of options to do this connection. Today we chose one of the lesser used connectors and found ourselves breaking trail in about 18 inches of powder for a short distance. Fun!

Look at the deep snow troughs behind Jack & Rudy as they power to
tow me through about 18 inches of powder!

Eventually we connected onto the nordic center trails. We were a bit surprised to see that the groomer had run as a snowcat (i.e,. groomer blades up) to pack the upper elevation trails. I'm not sure why they kept the groomer blade up for this stretch; but we have fun running in cat tracks as well!

Zipping along in snowcat tracks. Wheeee!

Finally we got onto the main nordic trail to end the outing. As expected, this stretch was groomed and fast!

Zoom! Jack & Rudy know how to make use of a groomed nordic surface!

For today's video highlight, let's return to the backcountry trails where we started the morning. Come along for a little backcountry skijor fun. Note how Jack & Rudy really kick it into another gear about 14 seconds into this clip. Zoom!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

To complete the "all terrain day", it was a nice snow wall to climb for end of run treats at the trailhead.

"Ready! Hand 'em out!" says the snow wall climbing fun guys.

A little of everything today: backcountry skijoring, breaking trail, snowcat tracks and finally a groomie zoomie to end the day: 9.1 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 30 days on the trails covering 245.5 miles with 23,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Mix

Turnaround entertainment from the comedians, Jack & Rudy :)

Jack's standard entertainment: rolling turnaround snow angels.
Rudy keeps you guessing - it's either woos or snow angels from him at
turnaround time. Today was woos :)

We had a great mix of trails on this morning's fun skijor.

We started out touring lesser known trails in the backcountry. Despite being a bit cold (it was 0 F when we started), it was a beautiful bluebird morning. This is one of our favorite trails to take in the views as we cruise around. We usually get a great shot of Breckenridge Ski Resort and today had one too:

The ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley from us
as we cruise along in a shallow layer of fresh snow.

After taking in the views, we dipped into the forest to take a fun single track to our next destination:

Laying fresh tracks in the single track trail. Wheeee!

The final destination was the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. Once Jack & Rudy get on the groomie zoomie, they know what to do :)

The hover huskies catching air on the groomie zoomie! Zoom!

I think we'll go back to the view shot for today's video highlight. Come along as we are cruising along taking in awesome bluebird morning views. After rounding a left in the trail, at about 24 seconds into the clip, you'll get the awesome view of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley. Such a stunning and peaceful trail!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Backcountry, single track and groomie zoomie all in the same outing. What fun, right guys?

"We had a blast!" declares my happy, happy partners!

Today's skijor tally: 9.7 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 68 days on the trails covering 590.9 miles with 52,800 feet of elevation climbed.

All Terrain

Check out this awesome shot of airborne Jack & Rudy on an incredible groomed trail!

The hover huskies! Wheeee!

"Where oh where is this trail?!?" you must be asking. Well, it is at the base of Walton Peak (atop Rabbit Ears Pass). Our local snowmobile club grooms these trails during the winter. As we were driving by this morning, we saw the groomed trail from the highway. We immediately u-turned to get on this fresh groom. When I saw the perfect trail, I was thinking, "Oh wow! We are going to flying today!" But, it turns out they had only brought the groomer for a little practice run. The groomed track only lasted for about 1.5 miles. But, as you see above, Jack & Rudy knew what to do with this 1.5 miles!!!

When the groomed trail ended, we were as equally surprised to find untouched trail in front of us! We all happily exited the groomed track and kept onward laying fresh tracks.

Fresh snow all to ourselves.

I knew we would eventually meet up with backcountry ski tracks since we were on popular Walton Peak. Sure enough, we spent the majority of the outing in narrow backcountry single tracks. A few times, the single track was too narrow for Jack & Rudy to fit side by side (they took turns who got to lead). But, when wide enough, it was shoulder-to-shoulder fun in the single track:

Where does Rudy end and Jack start? Good question :)

There are multiple backcountry paths to approach the top of Walton Peak. Near the top, though, all paths converge and we had a wide backcountry track for a short distance.

Backcountry, but wide from heavy traffic.

Not everyone makes it to the top of Walton Peak, but Jack & Rudy did :)

I'm paused to adjust my gear.
Jack is rolling snow angels because, well, I'm paused :)
Rudy is inspecting the communication equipment on top of Walton Peak.

So, the day went as "groom, then fresh tracks, then single tracks, then wide tracks and then single tracks again to the top of Walton Peak." We did an out & back, so that meant we got the reverse on the way back: "single, wide, single, fresh, groom". Once Jack & Rudy got back onto the 1.5 mile zoom track, they took off once again. Come along for a glimpse into the sprint to the finish on the grooomie zoomie! 

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

What a fun day doing all possible types of terrain, right guys?

"We had a blast!!!" declares the happy, happy kids.

An entertaining "all terrain" day covering 9.2 miles with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 21 days on the trails covering 163.9 miles with 13,900 feet of elevation climbed.

All Terrain

The "all terrain vehicle" (Jack & Rudy) cooling the engine at a turnaround point on the trails this morning.

"Aahh!" demonstrates the silly kids as we pause momentarily
to cool the engines before starting up again :)

All terrain vehicle? Yep, it was an all terrain morning skijoring with Jack & Rudy. 

We started the morning in a vast meadow following snowmobile tracks. In a few weeks or even days, this snow in this meadow will develop into a solid spring crust allowing us to travel any direction we want. But, for now we stuck to snowmobile tracks for most of the tour in and around this meadow:

Zipping along in the snowmobile track taking
us across the meadow. Wheeee!

Eventually, though, we had to abandon the snowmobile tracks to get to our target trail to take us towards Gold Run Nordic Center. Here is the difference this morning between running in the snowmobile track versus breaking trail to make your own track!

Powder plowing Jack & Rudy breaking trail in
over 15 inches of untouched snow! Impressive.

We only had to break trail for a short distance, but it was still an impressive plow through the deep snow by the powder kids. The result was to connect onto a moderately used backcountry trail:

Out of the deep, 15+ inches of breaking trail, and onto the
established, thus somewhat packed, backcountry trail.

Finally, the reward for all that technical work in the meadows and backcountry? Dropping onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We were second tracks on the freshly groomed trails this morning!

Catching air on the fast groomie zoomie trail!

The prior photo is cool because of the sun and shadows to showcase airborne Jack & Rudy and the nicely groomed trail. But, our favorite part of the nordic center is a bit before this photo when we are still tucked in the forest. Come along for the fast & wild skijor along our favorite section of groomed trail at Gold Run. Top speed in this clip? 25 MPH! Zoom!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Let's go tell elder Zorro about the fun all terrain day!

"I hope they listened! I taught them best I could!" Zorro tells me.
"Hey, we listened! (mostly :)!" replies happy Jack & Rudy.

A fun "all terrain day" for late March: 7.4 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 25 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 122 days on the trails covering 995.5 miles with 83,500 feet of elevation cimbed.

All Terrain

Waiting on Jack at our turnaround point this morning... :)

"You sure THIS is supposed to be one of my role models?" asks youngest Rudy
as we wait for 'roll around Jack' to upright himself so se can continue skijoring :)

We were an "all terrain vehicle" skijor team this morning. Come along for the fun.

We started on single track backcountry trails just wide enough for two sled dogs to tightly fit:

Zipping along the trail barely 2 Siberian Huskies wide.

The reward for doing that was to drop onto this: the wide "groomie zoomie" of Gold Run Nordic Center. Wheeee!

Hovering Jack next to flying Rudy as we zoom along the fast trails.

How about a video example of the reward? Come along for a fast & fun ride on the great upper elevation trails at Gold Run. Zoom!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

After some fast & fun loops at Gold Run, we had to navigate back out to find Zorro and Nancy at a lesser used trailhead. It was single file skijoring to end the day as the track was only 1 sled dog or 2 skis wide. It's funny to see big dude Rudy eclipsing skinny Jack in front. But, Jack is the natural lead dog of the two. You can barely see a bit of Jack but the fact that Rudy is airborne tells you we are going fast in this single file track!

Flying Rudy eclipsing skinny Jack on the single file trail.

To end the day, I always try to have a special, personal exchange with retired Zorro before starting the group 'end of run' treats party.

My special "old man Z" :)

A quick day with the all terrain vehicles Jack & Rudy: 6.6 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 54 days on the trails covering 424.0 miles with 37,800 feet of elevation climbed.

All Terrain

Celebrating another fun skijor with my sled dog pals :)

"I see the 'end of run' treats in your hands!" says super focused Zorro.
"I had a super fun day!" exclaims happy Jack.
"I'm the 'picture of patience' waiting my turn!' adds Rudy (haha).

We did an "all terrain" skijor with the all terrain youngsters, Jack & Rudy, before adding Zorro for a group finish for the day.

It has been a record February in Breckenridge with over 112 inches of snowfall for the month and 2 feet in just the past 2 days. What does that mean? Well, if you go to the lesser used backcountry trails you find endless powder! We started the day on one such lesser used trail and found ourselves breaking trail in up to 2 feet of powder for roughly 1 mile. What an aerobic mile!

Look at those powder plowing kids!
Love the deep snow troughs behind them as they break trail in 2 feet of snow.

After the trail breaking workout, we transitioned onto a narrow and heavily wooded trail. There were some snowshoe tracks already on the trail and the dense trees kept the trail less deep than our first leg. It was a peaceful glide weaving through the trees for about 2 miles.

So fun to weave through the forest with my pals.

Next, we exited the woods and landed on the freshly groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. Jack & Rudy floored it for about 3 miles once we got onto this wide & easy terrain.

Zoom as my partners hover over the trail topping 22 MPH.

Today's video highlight is the groomie zoomie of the prior photo. Come along as we kick it into superdrive on the fast & groomed trail!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, we met up with Nancy & Zorro and hooked the fun elder into the team for a fast group sprint to the finish.

"Hi Mom!' says Rudy flashing a smile towards Nancy on the side of the trail.
"All smiles coming through!" says connected, smiling and forward focused Zorro & Jack.

What a fun all terrain day: breaking trail, weaving through trees and zooming on groomed trails: 6.1 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 106 days on the trails covering 716.9 miles with 66,000 feet of elevation climbed.

All Terrain

It was back to "rodent dunks & dives" for Jack & Rudy's comic interlude on the trails today :)

"DUNK!" demonstrates rodent hunting Jack.
"Incoming!!!!" demonstrates rodent diving Rudy.
The goofs took yesterday off from the rodent dunk/dive antics; but returned to the fun
this morning :)

It was a day experiencing all sorts of terrain with my all terrain vehicles (Jack & Rudy).

We found ourselves laying fresh tracks in 4ish inches of untouched snow in the backcountry:

Laying freshies as the pair tows me up an untouched side trail.

We found ourselves laying fresh tracks in narrow backcountry single tracks:

Almost 2 Siberians wide. Rudy is in the single track but only Jack's left side is in track.
That's ok, powder Jack had fun dipping his right legs in the deep snow next to the track.

We opened the throttle on miles of snowmobile tracks:

Zoom - packed but not icy, perfect snowmobile track!

Eventually we dropped out of the backcountry and onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. For the second time this season Jack & Rudy topped 24 MPH. That was their fastest last year when both were new to skijoring. I expect a 25 or 26 MPH outing this season since they have hit 24 twice in early season conditions!

Groomie Zoomie! Zoooom!

Finally, we completed the day adding Zorro for a short & fast completion. The intent was to give Zorro most of the day off as he's skijored the last 4 days in a row. He was happy to sit out the long run Jack & Rudy did while joining in for a fast 1/4 mile to end the day:

Whee we go with Zorro to end the day!

But, my favorite part of the all terrain day is today's video clip. Come along as we are going at a pretty fast pace on a snowmobile trail until we approach a winter gate. Now realize two things: first, Jack & Rudy could fit under this gate (but not me) and second, this is only the second time Jack & Rudy have ever been on this section of trail. But watch as my youngsters are PERFECT! I only need to mutter a few "easy" commands for them to slow down and then an "over to the right" to get them through the opening I can fit. Finally, once past the gate, both remain patient until I pass through and give an "ok" to take off again (as they immediately do). Quite impressive for a just under 2 years old Rudy and almost 2.5 year old Jack!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Riding the "Jack & Rudy All Terrain Vehicle" through all terrains this morning before adding Zorro for a quick finish to the outing: 9.4 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 32 days on the trails covering 209.3 miles with 21,400 feet of elevation climbed.