Smudged

Skijor in French Gulch this morning, so you know what that means...

Paused to peer over a small snow wall to scan the gulch for the moose Jack
and Rudy clearly have caught the scent of.

French Gulch is known for its active moose population. We never skijor the gulch without Jack & Rudy pausing at least once to stare intensely into the gulch after they have caught the scent of moose in their noses. Sometimes we locate a body camouflaged amidst the trees to go along with the scent and sometimes we do not. But, I know from the intensity of Jack & Rudy's stares that the scent is strong and moose are definitely in the neighborhood. We had no sightings today, but Jack & Rudy made two "exit stage rights" as above to try and location the smelling moose!

Now, what is that down the center line of the photo above? Well, unfortunately it is a large water smudge from snow falling, melting and refreezing to the camera. It was cold this morning (temperature of 5 F at the trailhead with a stiff wind), so water spots were refreezing quickly on the camera. I did not realize that we had this large smudge down the center of the camera after the first 5 minutes of our outing (then for the rest of the day) until I got home. So, today's footage is water smudged down the middle all day long. Oh well, a great time was still had by all!

We started the day following ski tracks from two who had been out before us. We encountered the skiers on their return, so knew it was only 2 that had been out before us in the morning's fresh snow. So, we out-skied the pair and had 3-5 inches of fresh snow to ourselves for about 1/2 the outing! I mentioned it was 5 degrees (F) with a stiff wind. Do you think that had any impact on the comedians? Nope...

"Turnaround, roll around!" goes always snow rolling Jack dropping in the
snow to cool off at 5 degrees!!!
"I apprOOOOOOOve!" woos funny Rudy with the cutest little frosted beard :)

As I mentioned, we had the new snow on the trail all to ourselves for about 1/2 the outing. So, we laid fresh tracks gliding up one side of the wide trail so that we could then continue to lay fresh tracks on the other side for the return. What fun:

Laying fresh tracks down the center of the trail with our "out tracks"
to our left.

Then, the first 1/4 and last 1/4 of the outing was back on set tracks from the previous two skiers and ourselves. But, still plenty of snow to floor it!

Zipping along reusing set tracks. You can see zippy Jack while speedy
Rudy is, unfortunately, smudged out. Oops.

I typically remember to wipe the camera clear on stormy and/or cold days (when it tends to get blurred); but, alas, I forgot today. So, there is no video highlight for today as nothing came out clear for more than a few seconds at a time. No worries, though, a great time was had by all:

"You have our FULL attention!" says the handsome kids.
I love the frosted snow beards on both chins. You know the huskies
are happy when their faces are frosted!

A peaceful outing in wonderful fresh snow: 7.2 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 19 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 19 days on the trails covering 117.5 miles with 14,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Snowing

Here's what Jack & Rudy think of the "warming huts" out on the trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center :)

"Silly! We need to roll snow angels to COOL OFF! What's a warming hut?"
says the snow rolling sillies in front of one of the warming huts we pass
on the trails.

Notice the nice snowfall you can see against the hut in the prior photo. Increasing snowfall was the theme of the day!

We started amidst light snowfall laying fresh tracks on fast nordic trails:

Clear shot of Jack & Rudy leaning into a tight right on the trail.
I cannot take corners as tight as Jack & Rudy and have to swing way out
left to then glide around the corner at their speed!

Within 10 minutes or so, the snowfall started increasing:

Still pretty clear photo; but you can see active snowfall if you look very
closely (I know, "white on white" is hard to see :)

Then, within another 15 minutes or so and it was dumping! It was snowing so hard that it kept collecting on the camera leading to blurred footage:

Snow covered camera delivering blurry footage.

How hard was it snowing? Well come along for today's video to see for yourself. This clip starts with us slowed while I wipe the camera clear of snow. Once clear, I give an "Ok, here we go," to Jack & Rudy to let them know it is ok to speed up again. Speed up we do and watch how fast the camera gets covered in snow again and Jack & Rudy become blurry objects.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

No complaints here, we LOVE new snow - it is just hard to keep the camera clear to get any footage!

Finally, back to the trailhead and at least Nancy's camera was clear of snow :)

Happy kids awaiting end of run treats with visible against my coat and
Jack & Rudy's black & red fur.

Yay for fresh snow! 9.6 miles traveled with 1300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 81 days on the trails covering 637.1 miles with 60,800 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Dumping

For the third day in a row, Jack, Rudy and I found ourselves breaking trail in over a foot of fresh, new snow! Wheeee!

Look at that power as Jack & Rudy are blasting through almost 2 feet
of fresh powder at this point of the outing!

When you are skiing, snowboarding and/or snowmobiling in deep snow, it is often referred to as "snorkeling" as your head is often barely above (or below) the deep snow. Well, today we have a classic shot of Jack snorkeling as he & Rudy are breaking trail in snow about as deep as they are tall:

Love Jack's nose up in the air to keep above the "Jack deep" snow he is
blasting through. Snorkeling!!!

In addition to wonderful deep snow this morning, it was also actively DUMPING snow all outing long. The only drawback of active, heavy snowfall? Well, the camera continually collects snow and gets blurry. Both photos above are clear as I had just wiped the camera clear of snow. Most of today's footage looked like the following photo:

Jack & Rudy blurred by two things: 1) snow collecting on the camera; and
2) deep snow they are submerged in while blasting through!

How hard was is to keep the camera clear, well today's video highlight shows you. This clip starts with a blurry camera which I wipe clear after about 3 seconds. Then you get to see the beauty of Jack & Rudy romping through a foot of snow until less than 50 seconds later when the camera is blurred by snow again. Perfect day for Jack, Rudy & I; rough day for the camera :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

I did wipe the camera clear at our turnaround point of the day and, well, the kids did their turnaround usual :)

"Stop, drop & ROLL in the wonderful deep snow!" goes the snow rolling sillies.

What a wonderful snow day, right guys?

"Oh that was FUN!" says my snow covered pals awaiting end of run
treats atop a tall snow wall.

An aerobic day of breaking trail in deep snow amidst active, heavy snowfall: 4.6 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 57 days on the trails covering 426.8 miles with 40,600 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Baldy

Do you think Jack is enjoying upwards of 2 feet of fresh powder on Baldy Mountain this morning?

"I'm having a BLAST!" exclaims ecstatic Jack.
"Me too, but why are we stopped?" adds Rudy.
That is the historic Iowa Mill in the background from the Breckenridge
mining days. We are stopped as I needed to wipe frozen snow off my
sport sunglasses so I could see (Rudy didn't like that explanation :)

This was our first skijor on Baldy this 2024/2024 season. This terrain is very steep in places and extremely rocky when bare. So, we need a lot of snow to cover the rocks and then I need a lot of powder to slow Jack & Rudy down on the steep descents. Well, 2 feet of snow falling overnight made Baldy a dream skijor!

We stuck to the main trail for most of the outing. A few other powder hounds had been out on the trail before us, so we had some very soft but set tracks to run in on the main trail:

Cruising along in an existing track. As you can see, very few had been out
so the set tracks were still very soft & fluffy!

We did venture off the main trail once to go snorkeling in deep, deep powder. Wheeee!

Jack & Rudy blasting through roughly 2 feet of fresh, untouched snow
on a side trail. Powerful kids!

But, as I said, we did spend most of the outing on the main trail. Come along for today's video fun as snow is dumping all around us as we hop, skip and glide in the soft terrain. Yes, the video gets pretty blurry from snow collecting on the camera partway through this clip. I'm happy to report it was near impossible to keep the camera clear of snow for very long :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Now I get to pat myself on the back and show that I have some use (other than vetoing moose hunting) on the trails. In the prior video you see lots of existing tracks for Jack & Rudy to fit in side by side. But, occasionally there were stretches where all the previous humans had followed one another. We did an out & back on the main trail this morning. On the out direction, every time the trail condensed to a single set track, I would ski out of the track to pave they way for Jack & Rudy to fit comfortably on the way back. See, I have something to contribute!!!

Rudy in the set track from people out before us.
Jack in MY track I set on the way out so both could fit side by side on
the way back. Nice job human :)

All this fresh snow meant for some very frisky kids all morning long. Two unauthorized games of "tag & wrestle" broke out during the outing - 1 started by Rudy (that's typical) and 1 started by (usually perfect) Jack. Of course both joined in the "tag & wrestle" - it doesn't matter who starts it, both contribute :)

"Just try and touch me!" says play bowing Rudy.
"I'm going to flatten you!" responds silly Jack.

With all the new snow, the "snow walls" are starting to come together everywhere for Jack & Rudy to climb for end of run treats:

The fun kids climbing a snow wall to get even with my hands for easy
handing out of the treats.

Skijors on Baldy always trade off distance for elevation (it is very steep as I mentioned): 5.1 miles traveled with 1300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 15 days on the trails covering 115.8 miles with 11,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Let it Snow!

Nothing like rolling angels in fresh snow amidst active snowfall - see for yourself :)

"Ah, rub a dub dub!" declares the snow rolling sillies.

We are thrilled to report that we have very little usable footage from this morning's skijor outing? "Why?" you ask? Well, it was dumping snow all morning long and the camera kept getting blurred over from snow collecting on it! Yay for Snow!

I wiped the camera clear of snow multiple times all morning long. But, within seconds it would start collecting snow again and within minutes it was a total blur.

10 seconds after I cleared the camera of snow and Rudy is already in
a "snow induced blur" on the camera :)
But, look at all those wonderful snowflakes you can see in the clear
parts of this photo (especially against Jack's black fur)!

Then, 2 or so minutes after clearing the camera of snow and we got this:

Rudy in a total snow blur, Jack in a developing snow blur.
The gangline in a snow blur, etc. etc. Yay for Snow!

Now come along for a fun, albeit some what blurred, finish to today's skijor outing. You can see the wonderful active snowfall in any of the clear parts of the camera. Finally, you have to love how Jack & Rudy automatically know slow to take me through the narrow exit at the end of the clip. I do not have to say anything as they do this automagically - just a "Good boys!" from me after we get through the narrow opening. Great partners!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

At least Nancy's camera was not collecting snow, so we get a clear 'end of run' treats photo:

The brim of my hat covered in snow. A wonderful big snowflake in the
center of this photo. Tons of snowflakes all over. Yay for Snow!

Consider this: 96 hours ago (last Sunday morning), Jack, Rudy and I were moping around the house complaining about the lack of snow this season and how boring it was to go for a hike instead of a skijor in November. Then, it started snowing Sunday afternoon and has been going off & on EVERY day since! So, we have this wonderful scenario: from "no snow last Sunday morning" to Breckenridge Ski Resort opened today and Breckenridge Nordic Center opens tomorrow! What a magical 96 hours it has been. Yay for Snow, Let it Snow!

Today's outing was actually on the upper elevation trails of Breckenridge Nordic Center. While they do not officially open until tomorrow, the did groom the trails a day or so ago to pack and preserve all the wonderful new snowfall: 9.4 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 4 days on the trails covering 29.1 miles with 2700 feet of elevation climbed.

New Trail

Laying fresh tracks through a large grove of aspen tress - wheeee!

Pretty shot of the snow covered aspen grove as Jack & Rudy
tow me along.

This morning was our first ever skijor of the Spring Creek Trail in Steamboat Springs. I've known of this trail for years but never skijored it because it is usually very busy and packed. But, there was significant snow overnight and the roads were a mess this morning. I figured the wintery conditions would keep others away while Jack, Rudy and I thoroughly enjoy skijoring in harsh conditions. Well, success, we did not see another soul on our outing until we finished back at the trailhead! Yay!

I knew this trail was popular for cross country skiing. But, what I did not know until this morning is that the trail is closed for elk preservation after a few miles. Bummer...

"We'd like to go find some elk!" states the silly kids wondering if we
are going to climb around this closure gate.

This closure came along way too soon for Jack & Rudy. If we simply turned around and went back, our outing would have only been on the order of 4ish miles! So, instead, we went back & forth redoing a bunch of nice stretches of the trail. It's always fun to reuse the track you set on the way out on the way back!

Tucked tightly into the track we set on the way out during the way back.

Unfortunately for the camera, it was snowing all outing long and the snow was a little on the wet side. As a result, snow & water kept collecting on the camera and leading to blurred footage. I wiped the camera clear frequently; but it got blurry again within a minute or two. So, today's video highlight is snow blurred skijoring behind fun Jack & Rudy. Oh, the gate you see us go by in the beginning of the video is NOT the "elk closure" gate in the photo above. This gate is just to prevent people from trying to drive Spring Creek in the winter. This is a dirt road in the summer open to cars and it's amazing how many people will try to drive summer only roads in the winter and get stuck - thus the gate to keep cars out.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

New trail, same end of run treats fun from atop a nice snow wall:

"That was fun, but wish we'd found some elk!" says the happy kids.

A fun outing but a little disappointing that the "elk closure" gate was so close to the start for our typical skijor outings. Self powered humans, of course, would really enjoy this 4 mile cross country ski trail but Jack & Rudy need a lot more; thus our decision to repeat a lot of the trail along the way: 7.3 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 89 days on the trails covering 748.1 miles with 72,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Powder Day

Breaking trail in 10+ inches of fresh powder this morning! Wheeee!

The impressive powder hounds, Jack & Rudy, blasting through the
deep snow as they tow me along.

Today's outing found us skijoring out and back on Buffalo Pass Rd from the Dry Lake Trailhead. There was about 3 inches of fresh snow at the trailhead and then, as we went up in elevation, the snow kept getting deeper and deeper! It is not often we can report we were happily "slowed by deep snow" in late April! One benefit of doing an "out and back" outing is that we get to reuse our out tracks on the way back:

Gaining a little speed by reusing the track we set on the way out.

Breaking trail is a very aerobic activity. Just ask Jack & Rudy who really needed to roll snow angels to cool off at our turnaround point:

"Ah!" declares snow rolling Jack.
"Snow facial!" goes silly Rudy.

While we were slowed by deep snow up high, we were sped up by a fresh snowmobile track down low. A pair of snowmobiles came along and packed the snow near the trailhead. We followed these tracks on the way out until the snowmobiles turned and went a different direction. After the snowmobiles turned is when we found ourselves breaking trail in 10+ inches of powder for the next leg of the outing. Finally, on the return we were able to floor it again once we got back to the snowmobile tracks.

Zooming in a snowmobile track.

It was snowing steadily our entire outing. That means the camera collects snow, especially when we are going fast. Here is the camera within minutes of the prior photo:

Blurred footage from a snow covered camera.

Today's video highlight goes along with the first "breaking trail" photo above. Come along and watch the impressive kids powering through 10+ inches of powder as they tow me along. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead and, yep, the kids found a snow wall to climb for end of run treats :)

"We'll come up to your level!" states the polite kids climbing up to get treats.

It is not often we can say an April skijor outing was "slowed by deep snow": 7.4 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 139 days on the trails covering 1232.2 miles with 113,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Smudge

Laying fresh tracks as we entertain the cars on Highway 9 watching us skijor the Blue River Recreation Path from Breckenridge to Frisco.

Zipping along and providing a nice show for the
cars on Highway 9 to our right.

Unfortunately, most of today's skijor footage is blurred by a big smudge on the camera. It turns out a ball of slush came off Jack or Rudy's feet, hit the camera, and became a blurry spot the rest of the outing. I did not know this had happened until after we got home and I looked at the video footage.

A big smudge on the camera from slush flying off the
feet of the kids in front of me :)

Despite the ugly smudge on the camera, I still wanted to show the nice teamwork from Jack & Rudy. Come watch as we come upon one of the road crossings we encounter on the route from Breckenridge to Frisco. All it takes is a little "Easy, easy" request from me and Jack & Rudy slow to cross the frozen road slowly and gently. Then, once back a solid trail and OFF we go again! Great teamwork preserving the human on the road crossing! These two really understand trail conditions and will slow to keep me safe and upright on sketchy terrain!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We do have to stop a few times along the way to navigate over exposed ground. Well, you know what Jack & Rudy do at any "stop" on the trail :)

Stopping is roll around time!

As we near the end of the outing, we pass by a stable in Frisco. The horses certainly get Jack & Rudy's attention, but not enough of a distraction to stop.

Checking out all the horses as we fly on by the stables!
Good boys!

At least Nancy's camera did not have a big smudge, so we get a nice & clear 'end of run' shot with Zorro.

"I see the bag of treats!" says focused Zorro.
"Fun day - sorry we pelted the camera with slush!" adds Jack & Rudy.

A fun skijor from Breckenridge to Frisco along the Blue River Recreation Path: 8.3 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 112 days on the trails covering 915.8 miles with 78,250 feet of elevation climbed.

Yay Snow

Happy kids at our turnaround point on the trail this morning!

"Having so much fun today!" declares happy Rudy.
"Yes, yes, what a fun day!" adds happy Jack.

What is that smudge on Jack's back and in the lower center of the previous photo? Well, we are happy to report that just about all of today's footage was blurred by active snowfall collecting on the camera. I'd wipe the camera clear now & then only to have it get blurred by snow spots within seconds again. Yay for snow!

Most of the day's footage looked similar to the following: snow spots blurring the camera with flakes falling all around us.

Snow blurred in the upper left and bottom middle.
Nice big flake directly above Rudy about to land on the camera.

I'd wipe the camera clear to get a nice "active snow" shot; but then it would be blurred in areas again almost immediately.

Momentarily clear camera to see fast running Jack & Rudy
with snowfall all around us.

Come along for a "snow blurred" but fast & fun skijor amidst active snowfall on the backside of Sally Barber Mine. Wheeee! Yay for snow!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead and at least Nancy's camera was clear. Silly Rudy has started occasionally playing "king of the mountain" while I get the 'end of run' treats organized. He sits back for an elevated view into the activity and then drops down into the group as soon as the treats are really out. Funny kid.

"Front & center as always!" states focused Zorro.
"Ready!" adds happy Jack.
"Hehe, I'm 'king of the mountain' until the treats come out!" declares
silly Rudy.

A quick run this morning to enjoy the actively developing snow: 6.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH. 

It is supposed to snow all day and into the night. Come back tomorrow for what should be a fun powder day skijor outing! Yay for snow!

2020/2021 Season to Date: 99 days on the trails covering 806.5 miles with 70,100 feet of elevation climbed.

Smudge

 Fun shot of "onlooking Zorro" as happy Jack & Rudy complete today's 10 mile skijor:

"Looking good kids!" says onlooking Zorro :)

I do not have much to share from this morning's outing as I did not realize there was a smudge on the camera case until our outing was over. The smudge lead to cloudy and blurry footage of the entire outing. Normally we'd have a pretty and crystal clear photo of this section of trail:

The "cloudiness" of this photo is the smudge across the entire
front of the camera case. This is usually a point along the trail were
we get beautiful, crystal clear photos of the snow and trees.

Let's try a cloudy video instead of cloudy photos. Come along for a fun & fast stretch of trail and squint to see Jack & Rudy flying along amidst the cloudy footage:

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

At our turnaround point, we stepped off trail into the deep snow to roll, roll, roll :)

"It's crystal clear in my snow angel!" declares snow rolling Jack.
"Ahh, cooling my tummy!" adds chilling Rudy.

Finally, the 'end of run' party with Zorro:

At least Nancy's camera was clear to get the first shot above
and this one too. Such focus :)

That's all for today; the footage was just too cloudy and blurry. Oh well, a great time had by all: 9.7 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 20 days on the trails covering 150.1 miles with 13,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Yay Snow

 Jack and Rudy showing what they think about waiting for me to get my skis on to start this morning's skijor run:

"Dude, you are slow so we roll!!!!" demonstrate the snow rolling goofs.

Notice the blur blocking Jack's head. We embarked on this morning's run amidst steady snowfall with a forecast for it to increase in intensity and wind! This was not a forecast that Nancy and retired Zorro wanted to wait in for us at the trailhead :)  So, Nancy & Zorro stayed home while the kids (Jack & Rudy) and I headed out into the developing storm. Well, since I did not have Nancy's help to get us started, Jack & Rudy showed what they thought of my slow preparation by rolling snow angels while I got all my equipment on. Goofy kids.

Well, the forecast was completely accurate. The snow (and wind) kept increasing in intensity our entire outing. I'd wipe the camera clear only to have it covered and blurred by snow in under a minute. Here is seconds after wiping the camera clear once:

A glimpse of Jack & Rudy as there are snow spots below Rudy,
above Jack and across the top of the video view.

Here is what a "cleared to blurred" video looks like. Come along as I just wiped the camera clear as we are galloping along and the camera becomes blurred again in 30 seconds.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We were on the trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center most of the outing. These trails had been groomed Thursday evening. So, we found ourselves in a few inches of fresh snow over a groomed trail most of the day. But, we did dip off the main trail twice to get some aerobic trail breaking fun in the deep side trails:

Nice clear shot of breaking trail as I just wiped the camera clear
as we ventured off track. Wheeee!

Did I mention the forecast was for increasing snow and wind? Well, here you go with a shot of dumping and blowing snow all around us:

Skijoring in a whiteout! Wow!

The last 1/3 of our outing looked like the photo above - skijoring in a blinding whiteout! If you can see the trail, then your eyes are better than mine! I could barely see Jack & Rudy. Luckily I know this network of trails, as do Jack & Rudy, so we just glided blindly by memory back to the trailhead. 

Yay for Snow! But, what an interesting day!!! 9.8 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 7 days on the trails covering 46.8 miles with 4500 feet of elevation climbed.