Lane Change

Fresh powder in the backcountry this morning! Yay for Snow!!!

The fun kids blasting through some nice powder.

Technically, we only got about 1-2 inches of fresh snow overnight. But, it was also VERY windy. As a result, we encountered many deep, wind blown snowdrifts to blast through in the backcountry this morning. Come along for today's video highlight to see what I mean.

I really love the start of this video. Jack starts on the right of the team but then decides he wants to change lanes. Watch as he perfectly backs off, dips under the gangline and then thrusts forward to be back even with Rudy (but on the left side now) - TALENTED!!!! I love watching these occasional lane changes at high speeds from these talented kids! Then, after the lane change, watch as we gallop along while blasting through the occasional wind drift. Talented again - whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course, blasting through wind drifts is quite aerobic and warrants rolling snow angels to cool off when the opportunity arose:

"Aaaaah - rolling to cool the jet!" goes the snow rolling sillies.
I Love the snow Rudy has generated all around his head by dipping it in the
snow before flipping it up. Can't you just see the expression of bliss on
his happy, snow covered face!

Then, after blasting through wind drifts and rolling snow angels, it was time to floor it on the trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. The kids know what to do with a groomed nordic trail - zoom!

Catching air on the groomie zoomie!

It turns out we were FIRST tracks on the freshly groomed trail! It's hard to see that in the prior photo, but we were first tracks. As if often the case, if we are first tracks, then there is a groomer not far ahead of us to chase and catch. Jack & Rudy love catching up with the groomer!

"Caught it, caught it! We caught the groomer!" says the speedy kids.

As I've described and shown many times in the past, the groomer drivers know us from years of skijoring these trails and, eventually, they will pull over and wave us on to pass. But, we have to wait until the trail is wide enough to do so safely. As you see in the prior photo, the trail was exactly "one groomer wide" between trees when we caught the groomer. As a result, we had to slow down and trot behind for a bit before the trees thinned and the groomer paused to wave us on, so the video is pretty boring to watch until we can pass. As usual, as we passed, I gave the driver a wave & smile and he gave an enthusiastic wave & smile back.

While the wind gave us some nice drifts to blast through, it was also still blowing while we were out. Temperatures were near 10 (F) when we started with the wind chill being well below zero, probably approaching -10 (F). As a result, the wimpy human cut today's outing a little short to save himself. But, still a fun time had by all:

The freezing human handing out end of run treats to the perfectly
comfortable Siberian Huskies! :)

A fun albeit temperature shortened skijor: 4 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 50 days on the trails covering 304.4 miles with 32,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Catch and Pass the Groomer

Zipping along in the morning's fresh snow in the backcountry. Wheeee!

Having a blast with my hover husky pals.

We started this morning's outing in the backcountry with a light layer of new snow and active snowfall coming down around us. After doing a few backcountry laps, we dropped onto the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Despite heavy falling snow by the time we got on the nordic trails, I could see fresh groomer corduroy lines on the trail. This meant the groomer had been here just minutes before us. I looked to my pals and said, "Oh boy, I bet we can play catch & pass the groomer! You guys ready?"

"READY!!!!!" declares happy, snow covered Jack.
"WOOOO!! ME TOOOO!!!!!!" belts wooing Rudy.

So, then it began.... First we flew:

"Where's the groomer? Floor it!" goes Jack & Rudy.
Notice some of the groomer corduroy you can make out in the bottom
center of this photo. The groomer must be near!!!

Then we caught the groomer!

"You cannot outrun us! Whee!" says the fast & fun kids who LOVE
catching a groomer in front of us.

Finally, we passed the groomer!

Coming on through!
Jack likes to pass right by the groomer while Rudy likes to swing a little
further away from the big machine.

We know the groomer drivers from years of skijoring these trails. When they see us come up behind them, they will always slide right or left when the trail is wide enough and stop to let us pass. We swing to the wide side and trot on by. I always smile and wave to the driver who is always smiling and waving back.

So, let's put it all together in today's video highlight: 1) flying... 2) catching... 3) patiently trotting behind... 4) passing... and FINALLY, 5) flooring it again once past the groomer. Wheeee! We love this fun game. Oh, and notice the nice, heavy snow falling throughout this video. Yay for Snow!!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun day, right guys?

"Yes, we LOVE catch & pass the groomer!" says the happy & focused kids.

Today's tally: 5.2 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 37 days on the trails covering 236.3 miles with 26,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Final Gold Run

Rudy had a lot to say at our turnaround point of the outing this morning :)

"Woo! Woo! Did you hear me, I said WOOOO?" sings wooing Rudy.
"Does he ever NOT have something to say?" asks mellow & quiet Jack.

Today was our last skijor at Gold Run Nordic Center for this season as they close tomorrow. I swear Jack & Rudy got the memo, as they were tearing it up sprinting around the nordic trails today!

We started on the upper Preston Loop. There was a light layer of new snow on a day old groomed trail. Since this trail gets light usage, a dusting of snow over a day old groom is quite perfect conditions. See for yourself:

I told you, the kids were tearing it up all day long!
They are FLYING in this photo!

We then transitioned onto the main (and very heavily used) trail. I was originally fearing the condition since this trail gets a lot of traffic and the upper loop had not been groomed yet. But, what did we find? Well, low & behold, a freshly groomed lower trail. We were shocked and ecstatic to be first tracks on the fresh groom!

The hover huskies catching air being first tracks on a fresh groom!

Once I saw that we were first tracks, I immediately thought, "Could it be? Could it be? Could we get to play our favorite game at nordic centers: Catch and Pass the Groomer?" Well, sure enough, Jack & Rudy slung me around a few bends in the trail until finally it was Catch the Groomer!

We did it! We caught the groomer! Jack & Rudy love doing this.

As I've described many times before, the groomer drivers know us and will stop to wave us on by when the trail gets wide enough to do so safely. So, we hung behind the groomer for a few moments until the trail widened and the driver stopped and waved us on. Oh boy: Pass the Groomer!

Passing on by! What fun for our final skijor at Gold Run this season!

Now let's put it all together in today's video highlight: 1) flying along being first tracks on the fresh groom; 2) catch the groomer! 3) wait, wait; 4) pass the groomer! 5) FLOOR IT once safely on by. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

What a wonderful outing for our last skijor at Gold Run Nordic Center this season, right guys:

"We LOVE Catch and Pass the Groomer!" says the happy kids.

Today's tally: 6.6 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 88 days on the trails covering 682.9 miles with 65,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Pass the Groomer

We started this morning's skijor laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow in the Dry Gulch backcountry. Fun!

Zipping along laying fresh tracks.

Then, as we love to do, we dropped out of the backcountry and onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. When we got on the upper loop at the nordic center, we found a dusting of new snow over a day old grooming. Not a problem, this upper loop does not get a lot of traffic (being very far from any trailhead), so a dusting over a day old groom was just perfect!

Zipping along with a dusting of new snow for safety over a day old groomed
trail. Safety dust :)

After flying around the upper loop, we paused to catch our breaths before transitioning to the main trail. Well, ok, I paused to catch my breath. Jack & Rudy paused to roll snow angels to cool their jets!

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

Then the day turned absolutely perfect (although it was darned near perfect before this point) as we found ourselves being first tracks on the freshly groomed main trail!

Whee - first tracks on a fresh groom!

Then the question became, just how far in front of us was the groomer and would we catch it? The answer was: not too far and yes, we caught it!

We love to chase and catch a groomer in front of us!

Once we catch the groomer, it is always time to pass. The groomer drivers know us from years of skijoring these trails. When they notice us in their rearview mirror, they will stop (when the trail is wide enough) and wave us on by. Jack has no problem gently passing right next to the groomer snowcat. Rudy, on the other hand, likes to put a little space between himself and the snowcat. Usually the passing lane to get by is wide enough that Rudy just stays on the outside of Jack and that is enough space for him. But, today the passing lane was quite narrow. What did Rudy do? Well, he hopped off trail into the deep side snow to pass as his preferred distance. Funny kid.

Jack cruising right on by the snowcat.
Rudy hopping off trail to pass at his preferred separation.

So, let's put it all together into a video now. Come along as 1) we are zooming on the groomie zoomie; 2) we catch the groomer and slow down; 3) the groomer slides slightly right, stops and waves us on by; 4) silly Rudy hops off trail to pass while mellow Jack walks on by; and 5) back on the trail in front of the groomer and Jack & Rudy floor it again. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun day, right guys?

"YES! We love to chase, catch and pass the groomer!!!" says the happy kids.

Today's tally: 8.3 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 80 days on the trails covering 627.5 miles with 59,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Comedy, Go, Catch

Fun "shot from the front" of the happy kids towing me to the finish of today's excellent skijor outing!

Wheeee! Smiles all around!

Notice anything special about the prior photo? Well, Jack & Rudy are first tracks on the groomed corduroy! Sure, there are a couple of snowshoe tracks to our left, but we are first tracks on the center of the freshly groomed trail!

We spent most of today's outing at Gold Run Nordic Center (with a little bit of the outing on backcountry side trails). At one point along the nordic center trails, the groomer does a little cul-de-sac turnaround. This is at the highest elevation point of our outing. So, I typically pause at the top of this cul-de-sac for two reasons: 1) to let the goofballs roll snow angels to cool off after towing me up; and 2) for me to get ready for the Jack & Rudy missile to LAUNCH me back down the trail! So, here we are at the top of the cul-de-sac:

Cooling our jets, rub a dub dub!

Now for today's "comedy, go & catch" video clip. The clip starts just after Jack & Rudy had got up from their snow angels. Jack & Rudy had turned around to GO but I have us paused while I adjust some equipment before restarting. So, if your volume is up, you'll hear Rudy protesting (by wooing) about how long I am taking. Then, as I rotate around you'll see what Jack is doing with my extended pause: rolling snow angels as he always does (once I re-paused us, he stopped, dropped and rolled AGAIN). 

Next, all it takes is one "Ok, here we go Jack." from me and he pops up from his snow angel and launches down the trail. Now watch the fun as we top 24 MPH in what I knew was a chase. "What chase?" you ask, well about 1m 8s into the clip and you can start to see groomer lights ahead of us until we finally catch the groomer and have to slow down. Jack & Rudy love playing catch the groomer!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

For the curious, we know the groomer drivers from skijoring these trails for years. When the trail eventually gets wide enough for us to pass, the driver will pause and wave us on by. On today's encounter, the trail was not wide enough yet for us to safely pass. So, I'd slow Jack & Rudy for a bit to give the groomer a little head start and then we'd catch right back up again. Slow, Run, Catch - repeat, repeat, repeat :)

Catching the groomer again after slowing to give it a head start.

As I said, eventually the trail gets wide enough for us to pass. The driver always stops and we safely trot on by. The driver and I always exchange smiles and waves as we pass!

Wide enough to pass - here we come!

For us to have encountered the groomer where we did, meant it had already groomed the main trail at Gold Run. So, once we passed, we connected onto the freshly groom main trail around a couple of corners. Well, Jack & Rudy know what to do with a fresh groomie zoomie:

Zoom go the hover huskies. Wheeee!

Finally, a really nice high snow wall to climb today for end of run treats!

"That was so FUN!" says the 'catch the groomer' pair.
Sorry my head is unseeable in the bright sun, but we are here
for Jack & Rudy's happy faces anyway :)

A fast, fun and short day playing catch the groomer at Gold Run Nordic Center: 5.4 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 31 days on the trails covering 234.9 miles with 22,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Catch and Pass

Starting today's skijor laying fresh tracks early in the morning in the backcountry!

Whee - zipping along laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow.

Our plan today was to skijor around the backcountry for a bit and then drop onto the wide trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. As we transitioned onto the nordic trails, we were thrilled to see they had just been groomed and we were first tracks on the trail!

Jack & Rudy know what to do with a fresh groom - ZOOM!

We had not seen the actual groomer yet when we first got on the trail, so we did not know how long ago it had been here or how far ahead of us it was. Well, Jack & Rudy put the pedal to the medal and soon after we came around a bend in the trail to catch up to the groomer!

"The groomer! The groomer! We love playing catch the groomer!' declares
fun Jack & Rudy flying to catch the groomer in front of us.

We know this groomer driver from years of skijoring these trails. When the trail is safe and wide enough, he'll stop to let us pass. He'll wave with his hand and make a beep from the groomer when it is time for us to pass. Well, if you look at the prior photo, where we first encountered the groomer, the trail is exactly "one groomer wide" with no shoulder for us to pass. Not a problem, we just continued slowly behind the groomer waiting for a passing zone. Jack & Rudy were NOT a big fan of this slow follow as they kept glancing back at me, kept switching sides (hoping the switch would let us speed up :) and Rudy even tossed out a gentle woo. It turns out that it took us upwards of two minutes following the groomer until it was finally safe to pass. This was probably Jack & Rudy's longest "slow ride behind a groomer" of their lives! Anyway, eventually the trail widened, as I knew it would, and the groomer stopped, waved and beeped telling us time to pass. You didn't need to tell Jack & Rudy more than once that it was time to pass :)

Smart kids seeing the passing lane is to the right of the groomer
(I said nothing, just let them do the thinking and get it right).

Finally, once in front of the groomer and the kids were thrilled to FLOOR it again!

"Ah, past the groomer - floor it!" says the speed demons.

Ok, now let's put that whole story together in a video. Come along as we start out flying along the freshly groomed trail. Then, about 30 seconds into the clip and we catch the groomer. I then slowed us to follow for the next two minutes or so. I have cut the "two minute follow" out of the video and it restarts with us still behind the groomer but almost at our passing point. A few seconds later and the groomer stops, the driver waves us on and turns on his beeper to let us know. Smart Jack & Rudy dip to the right, pass on by and then get back on the trail to floor it. We love playing catch and pass the groomer!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead for some well earned end of run treats for my great partners:

"That was fun!" declares happy Jack.
"I can taste the treats in anticipation!" slurps silly Rudy.

Nice day: some backcountry, some nordic groom and a fun catch & pass the groomer episode: 9.2 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 58 days on the trails covering 495.3 miles with 47,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Catch & Pass

Fun shot of the whole team as Jack & Rudy fly on by Nancy on the side of the trail as they tow me to the finish of this morning's skijor.

Whee - the whole team flying on by :)

This morning was quite the contrast between two passes on the same trail. We started by doing and out/back on the main trail at Gold Run Nordic Center. With no recent snow, the groomer had not been on this trail for several days. As a result, the terrain was slick and fast packed from days of use:

Fast packed and slick (even ice in areas) trail. Caution :)

We then left this nordic trail to go play on some backcountry side trails. As we were on these side trails, I thought I heard the groomer out on the nordic trail. Sure enough, after returning from our backcountry tour, we found the nordic trail freshly groomed. What a difference between our first pass and second pass on this same trail!!!!

Yep - it got groomed in between our two passes on this trail.
From slick & fast packed to groomed and soft. Sweet!

I had a feeling we'd catch the groomer along the way and, yes we did! We know the groomer drivers from years of skijoring these trails. When they see us coming from behind, they will stop when the trail gets wide enough for us to safely pass. The drivers always smile & wave at us and I always wave back. Jack & Rudy are just as friendly and they typically flash the drivers their pretty faces as they go on by too :)

"Hi dude  - thanks for the groom!" says Jack & Rudy flashing the groomer
driver an approving glance as we pass on by.

Ok, so now let's put together the video of this whole fun interaction. We start out the clip flying along the wonderful, freshly groomed trail. Then we catch the groomer and slow to a trot behind him. Shortly after the trail widens and the driver stops to let us pass on by. So fun to watch Jack & Rudy giving the driver approving glances as we pass. Finally, once in front of the groomer it is time to floor it again. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Along this route, we get to a turnaround point named Jumbo Overlook. Some pause to take in the nice views at the overlook. Some pause to read the historical marker (describing the 1800s mining history of this location). Some pause to "stop, drop and roll" paying no attention to the views or history :)

"We'd rather stop, drop & roll than take in views or history!" declares
the snow rolling goofballs.

Finally, back to the trailhead with a nice snow wall to climb for end of run treats:

"Ready!" declares the happy, happy kids.

A fun outing going from slick & fast packed to soft & groomed on the same trail!!! 8.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 38 days on the trails covering 316.4 miles with 30,200 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.

Groomer Fun

Fun "shot from the front" of happy Jack & Rudy towing me on by Nancy to conclude this morning's skijor outing. 

"Hi mom, we had a BLAST today!" says the happy kids.

Today started as a very challenging skijor outing for me. We have had daily temperatures well above freezing and nights below freezing. Well, that means the trails are getting wet in the daytime and then refreezing into ice overnight! We started the outing in the backcountry on what turned out to be icy and very scary terrain. Lucky for me, Jack & Rudy know to go slow on slick trails. So, we took the shortest path possible out of the backcountry and onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center.

But, much to my dismay, the groomer had not been out on the trails yet this morning. While it did groom the trails yesterday morning, the same thing had happened to the groomed terrain: melting to wet/water the previous day and refreezing into ice overnight!

On what is usually a wonderful groomed nordic trail.
All the shininess you see in this photo is ICE! Yikes.

The nordic trail was still usable, just very slick. But, our plan was to do the upper loop of Gold Run twice. The prior photo is our first pass on the upper loop. When we completed the loop, we were THRILLED to see the groomer had started up the loop during our first pass. Oh boy!

Same location as the previous photo.
No shininess, lots of fresh corduroy! Yay!

Now, the groomer had started the upper loop some time ahead of our second pass. It will do the full loop and then return to the clubhouse along the main trail. So, that meant there was a groomer somewhere ahead of us. Jack & Rudy love to play "chase & catch" the groomer. So, after flying around the upper loop once more (now freshly groomed), we started back towards the trailhead. As we came around a corner, there was the groomer! Yay, we caught the groomer!

"We caught it! We caught it! Whee!" goes the fun kids.

I've mentioned in the past, that the groomer driver knows us from years being on these trails. When the trail is wide enough and safe, he will stop and let Jack, Rudy and I pass on by. Jack & Rudy are, of course, much faster than a groomer :)

Perfect kids passing on by at a safe distance and gentle speed. Good boys!

Now let's put it all together into a fun video of today's "pass the groomer". We start out the clip stopped as we had just caught the groomer and are giving it a head start. Then I see the groomer stop and I know the driver is waiting to let us pass on by. So we start and gently pass the groomer and then TAKE OFF on the trail in front of him (the groomer was returning to the clubhouse, so the trail was groomed in front of him too from his first pass). Oh, and a little fun flying by an oncoming skier after we pass the groomer. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the end of the outing. The kids love flashing their happy faces to Nancy on the side of the trail; but they also love flying on by her to complete the outing :)

"Bye mom - see you at the trailhead!" goes the fast running kids.
The trailhead is at the fence you see ahead and to the left.

From what started as an icy, cautious day to what turned into a fast groomie zoomie! 8.9 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 25 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 110 days on the trails covering 975.9 miles with 89,500 feet of elevation climbed.