Dive

Skijoring an uplowed road in this season's first super snowstorm.Yay for snow!!!

Cruising along the unplowed Sallie Barber Mine Road on the way to the
trailhead of the Sallie Barber Mine Trail. We love to get out before the plows
and enjoy some road skijoring :)

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo. We start the clip with Jack & Rudy calmly awaiting my release command. Then, once I say, "OK", off we go! Whee! Again, the video is a bit bouncy as I'm still using my old, cheapo video camera since my gopro died. But, a new camera with video stabilization has arrived; so our videos should start looking smooth again once I get that camera setup!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As I mentioned, we started today's outing on the road leading to the Sallie Barber Mine Trail. Once we got on the trail and started climbing in elevation, the snow got deeper and deeper. So fun:

Breaking trail at higher elevation in about 8-10 inches of powder!

Along the way, we got our first rodent dive of the season from Rudy. He does the most beautiful, high arching, fox-like rodent dives to search for rodents off trail under the snow.

First rodent dive of the season from Rudy - incoming!!!

As I've mentioned in past seasons, Jack does low angle "rodent lunges" as opposed to Rudy's high arching dives. Which is more effective, a lunge or a dive, well judge for yourself:

Looks like a lunge is just as effective as a dive to dunk deep in the off trail
snow searching for rodents :)

Neither came up with a rodent in his mouth, but it was NOT from lack of trying! Ok, rodent interlude over, time to continue skijoring. How about breaking trail to cruise on by the historic Sallie Barber Mine?

Whee - what a fun powder day!!!

Back to the main trailhead parking lot for end of run treats to finish the outing and this trailhead (versus the one we started from) has been plowed so had snow walls to climb for end of run treats!

"Ready!" says the happy kids atop a snow wall to receive their treats.

What fun powder skijor day at the Sallie Barber Mine: 5.1 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 7 days on the trails covering 36.9 miles with 4200 feet of elevation climbed.

 

April Powder

Guess who was excited to find upwards of 18 inches of powder on our trails this morning?

"We are THRILLED!" exclaims the happy kids looking back to me
when we paused briefly to catch our breaths from deep powder skijoring!

As I mentioned the other day, Breckenridge Nordic Center decided to stay open for an additional week (this week). We had a marvelous April snowstorm yesterday and went back to the nordic center to enjoy the fresh powder this morning. On Thursday, the nordic center only groomed a little over 2 miles of their upper elevation terrain. I was expecting they might do a little more today with all the fresh snow. But, alas, they did not and only groomed the same 2 miles. But, with all the fresh snow, Jack, Rudy and I did the full nordic loop on our own, breaking trail for roughly 3.5 miles! At our highest point of the trail breaking fun, we found ourselves blasting through upwards of 18 inches of fresh powder!!!

Pow, POW, POWDER day!

Nobody had been out in the deep snow before us and we were thoroughly enjoying the aerobic workout. But, we did have to stop to inspect moose tracks crossing the trail at one point. You HAVE to dip your nose in deep moose tracks, you know :)

"Sniff, sniff! MOOSE!" says the moose inspectors.

I knew we'd eventually reconnect to the groomed stretch of trail and this would be our reward for breaking trail earlier. Sure enough, Jack & Rudy knew what to do once on nordic trails :)

Zoom! Rudy the missile and cannonball Jack flooring it.

Now come watch a fun video clip of us transitioning from deep snow to snowcat tracks to a groomed sprint track with an inch or two of fresh snow on top. For context, we had just been breaking trail in upwards of 18 inches of fresh snow. But, I knew we'd eventually connect with the groomed trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center to reward our hard trail breaking work with a sprint to the finish. Fun watching Jack & Rudy transition from the deep to the snowcat tracks. They sniff a little and then it's like they said, "Hey, wait a minute, we can SPRINT on this!!!" and off we goooooo without me having to say anything :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As I said, Jack & Rudy know what to do with the nordic sprint track:

Catching air laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow over
a groomed nordic sprint track.

What a fun and aerobic day, right guys?

"Oh yes, that was FUN!" states the happy kids awaiting end of run treats.

Some aerobic trail breaking work combined with some nordic sprinting made for a 7 mile outing with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 96 days on the trails covering 735.3 miles with 71,700 feet of elevation climbed.a

Fresh and First

Look at what we found this morning in Dry Gulch!

Upwards of 10 inches of fresh powder to blast through
in the backcountry!

When we get in deep snow like this, I love watching Jack & Rudy work in slow motion. You can really get a feel for their power and strength by watching this way. So, come along for today's video highlight: a slow motion glimpse into the Jack & Rudy trail breaking duo! Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Our plan was to enjoy fresh snow in Dry Gulch and then get some speed on the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. But, within 10 yards of transitioning from backcountry to nordic terrain, this unfolded :)

"I sense rodents under the snow! Incoming!" goes beautiful rodent diving Rudy.
"What? Really?" responds Jack pausing when he noticed Rudy's actions.

Jack, of course, was quick to join the rodent hunt. You never let your brother dunk in the snow for rodents alone! Jack does what I call a "rodent lunge" versus Rudy's high arching, fox-like rodent dives. From what I've seen over the years, the dive and the lunge tend to produce the same results. But it is certainly Rudy's personality to do a dramatic dive and Jack's personality to do a mellow lunge :)

"Joining! Where are those pesky rodents?" ask lunging Jack.
"Searching, searching!" responds Rudy furiously digging in the snow.
Nobody came up with a rodent in their mouth, bummer for them :)

Now go back to Rudy's dive photo above. Notice anything special in front of Jack? Well, the nordic trail is freshly groomed and we are FIRST tracks on the fresh groom! Once the comedians recovered from their failed rodent hunt, they knew what to do with a fresh groom! Zoom!

Topping 24 MPH being first tracks on the fresh groom.
The groomie zoomie brothers!

Much to our surprise and pleasure, we were first tracks on the fresh groom the entire upper loop at the nordic center and then we were only second tracks on the lower main trail for most of the way. What fun:

On to the main trail and only 1 set of ski tracks (look in between Jack & Rudy)
and one set of dog tracks (to Rudy's left). This was just a guy skiing along with
his dog (not skijoring), we caught them just around the next corner and he was
quite jealous of the help I get while he gets nothing from his dog, haha :)

Today's parting shot? Jack & Rudy the snow angel rolling sillies at our turnaround point of the outing:

Jack quite often hops in the deeper snow off trail to roll a very deep
and energetic snow angel. Rudy is hit or miss whether he wants to
roll "in track" or "out of track" - today was rolling in track.

From trail breaking in fresh snow in the backcountry to first tracks on a fresh groom at the nordic center, a perfect day: 8.9 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 77 days on the trails covering 602.5 miles with 57,200 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.

 

Reroute

We found over 2 feet of fresh, untouched snow on this morning's skijor outing!

Jack & Rudy powering through 2 feet of powder. Impressive.

My original plan for the day was to do a one way skijor, starting from one trailhead and finishing at another. We had new snow overnight, so I was expecting to be laying fresh tracks with Jack & Rudy on my one way plan. Well, as you see above (and below), the new snow was WAY deeper than I expected. As the snow got deeper, it was clear that my one way planned route was not a good idea today:

Stalled for a moment in a ton of deep snow.

While Jack & Rudy have no problem breaking trail, I like to reward them on deep snow outings with "out & back" routes. That means they get to break trail in one direction and then reuse the track we set on the way out on the way back. It's nice to give them that reward for hard trail breaking work on the way out. So, I rerouted us a different direction to a trail that Jack & Rudy know is an "out & back" as that is the only option on this particular trail (unless you want to skijor 20+ miles one way to the next trailhead :) So, cruising we went until I announced it was time to turnaround and head back. Everybody ready?

"Not yet, need to stop, drop and ROLL an intense snow angel first!" goes silly Jack.
"Woo, you bet! Let's floor it back!" adds Rudy singing in approval.

So, then it was time to reuse the track we worked to hard to set on the way out. Whee!

Enjoying our "out track" on the return.

But, while running back in your "out track" in 1-2 feet of snow is easier (than the way out), it is by no means EASY! Come along for today's video fun to see what I mean. Watch as Jack, Rudy and I are having fun bouncing up, down, back & forth in today's ton of fresh snow. Wheeee! 

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead and my pals are very willing to accept 'end of run' treats after a deep powder workout this morning:

"Ready! You have our FULL attention!" says the focused pair.

It's always fun when you get to announced "today's skijor was slowed by 1-2 feet of powder!" - 6.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 56 days on the trails covering 422.2 miles with 40,300 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Backcountry Powder Day

Laying fresh tracks in about 2-3 inches of new snow to start today's skijor outing:

Zipping along, laying fresh tracks!

Breckenridge Ski Resort reported 8 inches of fresh snow this morning. But, we only had about 2-3 inches at our house; so I was skeptical about that report. As you see in the prior photo, we found only about 2-3 inches of new snow at the start of our outing. So, my skepticism was seeming like reality as we started the day.

But, then, the magic happened. The higher (in elevation) we went, the deeper the snow got. I found myself changing from skeptical to wondering just how much new snow we'd encounter!

Trotting by an old, abandoned mining cabin in about 5-6 inches of fresh snow
at this point.

The further we went, the deeper it got...

Busting through at least 8, maybe 10, inches of fresh snow at this point!
For the curious, those are fox or coyote tracks going down the trail in
front of Jack (most likely fox, but could be coyote).

Did I say, "The further we went, the deeper it got?"

Snorkeling through 10-12 inches of fresh powder at this point! Wow!

How about some powder blasting video fun to go along with the deep snow we found? I love doing powder clips in slow motion as is it so cool to watch the powerful sled dogs blasting through powder as they tow me along. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course, breaking trail through deep snow is a real workout. That means you MUST stop, drop and roll snow angels to cool your jets at any pause along the way :)

Stop, drop and ROLL!!!

A great day enjoying backcountry fresh powder all to ourselves, right guys?

"Oh yes, that was a FUN workout!" says the happy & focused kids.

Today's fresh tracks to trail breaking tally: 8.1 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 55 days on the trails covering 415.8 miles with 39,600 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.

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.

Firsts

Another skijor outing putting smiles on the faces on oncoming skiers as Jack & Rudy flirt and cruise on by!

"Hi! Bye! Made you smile!" says the flirting kids cruising on by.

Today's skijor outing had a lot of firsts for our 2024/2025 season. We had FIVE firsts in all!

The first first was skijoring Dry Gulch, one of my favorite trails. I was unsure if there would be enough snow to skijor this trail safely and, boy, was I (happily) wrong as there was a TON of great snow!

The second was our first time encountering moose tracks crossing the trail this season. Not much can cause Jack & Rudy to come to a halt on the trail, but moose tracks most certainly bring them to a stop. You HAVE to sniff moose tracks afterall!

"Sniff, sniff, aaaahhh, fresh moose tracks!" says the track inspectors.
The moose had come from the trees to the right, crossed the trail and exited
to the left. How do I know the direction? Well, because Jack, the expert mooser,
always points himself in the direction the moose went :)

The third was our first time laying fresh tracks this season. We found 3-5 inches of fresh, untouched snow for about the first 1/2 of the outing! This particular trail is closed to vehicles in the winter (open in the summer). But, our local open space & trails department did not put out the winter gate to block vehicles until sometime Monday. Before they officially closed it, someone had driven it. As a result, you can see the indentations of two tire tracks in the photo below. Jack took one track, Rudy the other and I glided in the deeper middle powder - fun!

First time laying fresh tracks this season - yay!

The fourth was our first time breaking trail in deep snow this season. At one point we veered away from where the vehicle had driven to enjoy a side trail. Well, this trail was UNTOUCHED!!!! We found ourselves blasting through upwards of 12 inches of fresh snow. What a fun workout!

Cool deep snow indentations behind Jack & Rudy hopping and towing me
through some nice deep powder!

Today's video highlight goes along with the first photo above. Come watch as we are skijoring along in a wonderful layer of fresh snow until we come upon an oncoming skier. So, it's move to the left, put a smile on the skier's face as she watches fun Jack & Rudy and then put the pedal to the metal a few seconds after we pass the skier. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The final and fifth first of the day: Our first time climbing a snow wall for end of run treats this season. Jack & Rudy had been climbing snow walls occasionally since skijoring with Zorro. But, last season, the silly kids took it to a new level and climbed EVERY available snow wall to get as close to eye level with me for the treat celebration. 

Climbing a snow wall leftover in the recently plowed trailhead parking lot
to get to my level for end of run treats. Fun kids.

5 season firsts in one outing, what a fun day: 6.7 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 3 days on the trails covering 19.7 miles with 1700 feet of elevation climbed.