Downed Tree Obstacles

Fun Jack & Rudy running on by two skiers with their smart phones out to record the impressive sled dogs towing the crazy human on skis along the trail :)

"Coming through! Glad you are enjoying the show!" says Jack & Rudy to the
skiers who pulled out their phones to video us as we approached and glided on by.

But, wait, what is that ahead of us across the trail? Is that a tree? Well, YES it is. For context: Wednesday night, all of Thursday and into Friday morning was RIDICULOUSLY windy here in Breckenridge. Power was out for roughly 24 hours, trees were blown down all over the place and the top wind gust was recorded at 113 MPH!!!!! So, that meant we had a lot of downed trees to navigate amidst on this morning's skijor outing. Come along and see...

We had small trees across the trail that I could ski over cautiously. Jack & Rudy would hop over then wait for me on my verbal command and then take off once I was over and gave a verbal release.

Yes, I can ski over a tree this size if going slowly. But, Jack & Rudy listen
and obey perfectly so these small trees were all passable.

We had to slow so I could duck or crouch under downed trees shorter than me across the trail. Again, Jack & Rudy could fit just fine, but they listen perfectly to me to slow while I crouch or duck to try and glide through.

Approaching two trees hanging across the trail. Jack & Rudy could trot
through just fine but I had to crouch to fit. A few steps after this photo and
the camera was pointing down to the ground while I crouched.

We also had to navigate through narrow openings to fit past down trees too tall to ski over but with just enough room to squeak around.

Can't ski over this one, so slow a bit and drift to the right to squeeze through
the narrow opening my skis will slide through.

Now let's put it all together in today's video highlight. Come along as this clip starts rounding a corner into one of our favorite fast straightaways. But, then, as we pass the two skiers taking videos of us on their phones, we come across one small downed tree. Watch as Jack & Rudy hop over then gently wait me to ski over. Next we have to slow while I crouch under a tree across the trail. Then we have to swing right to go around another downed tree. Finally, we come to a stop where the trail is impassible (and you'll see a trail worker with a chainsaw out working to clear the downed trees).

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

I stopped the video as we got to what looked impassible at first sight. We paused and talked to the trail worker who was clearing this large collection of trees with a chainsaw. Then, we saw that we could step up and off trail to ski around this big obstacle too. Despite all the downed tree obstacles we encountered this morning, I was surprisingly able to keep my skis on the entire way and navigate over, under and around every obstacle. Jack & Rudy are such great listening pals!!!

Back to the trailhead for end of run treats. Despite a ton of tree obstacles, who had a fun time today?

"We did! We did! Obstacles are fun too! We love to skijor!" says the happy,
happy kids atop a small snow wall to receive their treats.

A short, but very entertaining and technical outing amidst trees, trees, everywhere: 4.1 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH (we never had a stretch open long enough to top this speed).

2025/2026 Season to Date: 13 days on the trails covering 78.2 miles with 9400 feet of elevation climbed.

Rec Path Fun

Cloudy day but great conditions!

Jack & Rudy starting off our skijor from Breckenridge to Frisco, via
the Blue River Recreation Path, with gusto. Wheeee!

Notice that bridge to the far right of the previous photo? Well, this pedestrian bridge always slows Jack & Rudy down as it is a bit rickety and makes more noise the faster you cross it. The result? Well, both automatically slow to a gentle trot to cross the bridge and then floor it once back on firm & stable ground. Come along for the video show as we start out very gently completing the bridge crossing and then take off once over. Smart & fun skijor partners!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As the prior photos imply, we skijored from Breckenridge to Frisco via the Blue River Recreation Path yesterday morning. This route provides so many opportunities for Jack & Rudy to "entertain the crowds" along the way. Such fun for the flirts :)

We often are parallel to Highway 9 and get to entertain the oncoming cars!

Zooming along as a group of oncoming cars gets to see the impressive sled dogs!

We even get close enough a few times for me to see the smiles & cameras/phones in the cars approaching us. I'd love to video this from the highway myself!!!

The closest the rec path gets to the highway - smiles in the cars and video
cameras out in all the passenger seats!

Along the way, we pass multiple intermediate trailheads for those who want to do less than the entire distance from Breckenridge to Frisco. Jack & Rudy have no need for intermediate points :)

"Pfft, who would start here? We wouldn't even break a sweat!" says Jack & Rudy
flying on by this silly intermediate trailhead :)

As I've shown in the past, once we enter the Frisco Adventure Park, it is time to fly on by the "distracting stables" - give the horses & mules a glance guys and then go on by!

Looking, but going! Good on by a very distracting stables!!!

Everybody gets 3 pieces of pork for 'end of run' treats. Retired Zorro's 3 are a fraction of the size of hard working Jack & Rudy's (kids need the calories, Z does not); but that's ok, he enjoys treats of any size. He we are in between treat number 1 & 2...

"Keep them coming!" says focused Zorro.
"Yum, that first one was DELICIOUS!" declares slurping Jack.
"Hi Mom! Yum, yum!" adds cute Rudy flashing Nancy a smile.

Another fun romp from Breck to Frisco: 8.7 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 83 days on the trails covering 681.1 miles with 63,900 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Compliment

First tracks on the newly groomed speed track atop Rabbit Ears Pass. Wheeee!

First tracks on the groomie zoomie!

What a difference a day can make. Yesterday we skijored the meadows of Spring Crust around Walton Peak as the set trails were really beat up and icy. Well, 24 hrs later and the groomer had come out to smooth over the main snowmobile trails. So, today found Jack, Rudy and I being first tracks on the newly groomed speed track!

Flying along the groomie zoomie!

Come along for some video fun from the morning as we are skijoring along gently rolling terrain. Love gliding behind these two!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We did an "out & back" on the groomed track. So, we eventually had to turnaround. We stepped off track to turnaround and, well, I stopped to turn my skis around. Stopped...

"You stop & turn; we stop, drop & roll!" demonstrates the snow rolling goofs.

Funny interaction we had with some skiers on the way back. We encountered them as we were flying around a bend in the trail. They had a tiny loose dog with them, so I instructed Jack & Rudy to stop. The group then wanted to talk about skijoring.

If you have ever cross country skied, then you know you have to fan your skis out to propel yourself uphill and to go fast on flat stretches. Well, apparently this group had been discussing for miles how there could be a parallel set of cross country ski tracks going uphill. "What kind of machine was making these parallel uphill tracks?" they told me they'd been wondering. I laughed, pointed at Jack & Rudy and replied, "It's all them, they are a powerful machine!" The skiers also laughed and said, "At least we know the machine was sled dogs, makes sense now! Your parallel uphill tracks were quite impressive." 

"Is that really a dog?" asks Jack & Rudy looking at the tiny
thing on the other side of the skiers stopping to admire
the impressive sled dogs.

What a nice compliment from this group of skiers about Jack & Rudy's ability to propel me uphill with parallel ski tracks. Right guys?

"Piece of cake. All in a day's work!" adds the happy kids.

Back to the trailhead to relive the outing with elder Zorro who also impressed many a curious onlooker during his skijoring career!

"Remember, me first!" Zorro nudges me.
"Glad we were able to put on a show!" adds happy Jack & Rudy.

A fast & fun groomie zoomie day: 9.4 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 131 days on the trails covering 1072.0 miles with 89,800 feet of elevation climbed.

Deep and Fresh

Such happy faces as we cruise through the morning's fresh snow to end the day's skijor!

Smiles all around - wheeee!

Zorro came with us for an entire long run yesterday and we plan a similar outing with him tomorrow, so we gave him most of today off while I took the youngsters out for nice run before joining Zorro to end the day.

Our plan was to skijor the backcountry trails near Gold Run Nordic Center until we dropped onto the nordic trails to do some fast nordic skijoring until we met Zorro to complete the morning.

We started on one of the backcountry access trails and found a set of ski tracks already on the trail to start the outing. We quickly caught the couple who had made the new tracks and entertained them while passing on by.

Smiles from the onlookers as the second skier is also taking a video of
the impressive sled dogs towing me on by.

The tracks made by this couple ended pretty early into the run and we found ourselves in a ton of new snow all to ourselves! We ended up breaking trail for almost 2 miles in what was at least 15 inches of powder at our deepest points!

Jack & Rudy the "snorkeling snowplows" breaking trail in 15+ inches of powder!

The reward for 2 miles of breaking trail? Well, dropping onto the fast groomed trails of the nordic center. To our surprise & delight, we found 2-3 inches of fresh snow atop the groomed trails too! This lead to 6+ miles of laying fresh tracks on the nordic center trails. Such a treat to be on the new snow before everyone else!

Flying along the fast nordic trails with 2-3 inches of new snow all to ourselves!

Come along for the video counterpart of the prior photo. The new snow and laying fresh tracks are easier to see in the video than the prior photo. It was also actively snowing all morning long, so you'll notice a "snow spot" on the camera as the video starts. Eventually this flake will melt and disappear; but most of today's video footage had off & on snow spots blurring part of the field of view.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Breaking trail for 2ish miles and then laying fresh tracks for 6+ miles is quite a workout. We needed to stop and cool our jets midway through the 6 mile sprint :)

"So glad you taught me about snow angels!" says rolling Rudy to Jack.
"Yep, I am the snow angel MASTER!" responds rolling Jack.

Finally, as the first photo shows, we met up with Zorro to add him in for a short run to the finish. It was the same theme with Zorro in team: laying fresh tracks in 2-3 inches of new & untouched snow!

Wheeee - freshies with Zeeee!

A trail breaking & fresh tracks workout for Jack & Rudy with an entertaining wind sprint to the end with Zorro: 8.4 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 77 days on the trails covering 528.9 miles with 49,600 feet of elevation climbed.

Flirting

Look - Zorro & Jack have fused bodies and become a two-headed sled dog!!!

Seriously - where is Jack's body? He and Zorro have fused into a two-headed sled dog!
But, all smiles so I guess they are ok fusing into one :)

We had a very flirtatious day on the trails this morning. Zorro, Jack & Rudy love to entertain the curious onlookers!

We started the day without Zorro to give Jack & Rudy a long run and Zorro some rest. So, the day started with Jack & Rudy entertaining the crowds on the Sally Barber Mine Trail. We encountered two different groups of 4+ people and put smiles on all the faces we passed :)

"Hi, bye, coming through! Made you smile!" says the entertaining pair cruising on by this group.

After filling the Sally Barber crowds with smiles, it was time to entertain the crowds in French Gulch. We did an out & back in the gulch and had 4 encounters with sets of 1-2 people to entertain. Look at Jack & Rudy (especially Rudy) flirting with this snowboarder we encountered:

"Hi, bye - you look like you could use our assistance!" says the happy & flirtatious pair.

On the way back in French Gulch, we met up with Zorro and added him to the team to continue entertaining all the people on the trail:

"Hi! I'm such a flirt!" says flirting Rudy.
"Hi, bye - made you smile!" says forward focused Zorro & Jack.

Today's video highlight goes along with the prior photo. Come along as we start out cruising along the French Gulch Trail as we pass Nancy on the side of the trail. No need to pause for mom as we cruise on by :) Then, Jack decides to change lanes and give Zorro the packed middle and finally we encounter, entertain and pass on by two skiers on the trail.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Oh yeah, did I mention we did an out & back on the French Gulch leg? This, of course, meant a stop to turnaround and thus a snow angel from Jack. Rudy, on the other hand, was practicing his newly refined "moose sensing" nose to check for moose in the area.

"Stopped... Rolling!" demonstrates goofy Jack.
"Sniff, sniff - I love my recently maturing moose detecting nose!" says Rudy taking
in the air in hopes to get the scent of moose.

A fun day of flirting with my flirtatious duo and then trio: 8.8 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 68 days on the trails covering 473.0 miles with 44,800 feet of elevation climbed.

Vacation Albums

One of Max & Zorro's favorite "happenings" on the trails - Getting in so many people's Vacation Albums!

When we are near any busy trailheads, the excitement and interest of the onlookers is always so impressive. We are almost guaranteed to have a least one person pull out a camera and take shots or videos of us skijoring on the trails. Occasionally we will stop and discuss skijoring with interested groups; but, typically, we fly by the crowds and hear the gasps of "Oh My God" or "That is so cool" or "I want to try that" or other excited remarks from the onlookers.

With my new GoPro, I can now get shots of the crowd taking shots of us as we cruise by. Some fun shots from yesterday's outing:

Trotting by a group of 3 onlookers. The lady to the right has her video
camera out recording the event. The comment from the pair on the left,
"Oh My God - look at them go!" :-)

Fast approaching another pair of curious onlookers. I had to include this clip with fully
airborne Zorro sprinting down the trail!

Flying past the same two from the previous clip. You can see the iPhone in the lady's right hand
recording the sprinting machines. The comment I heard as I whizzed by, "I have never seen
anything so cool!"

Yesterday's outing found us on Shrine Pass Rd and Lime Creek Rd in the Vail Pass Recreation Area. Max & Zorro were in "mid season form" today even though this was only our 6th outing of the season. We covered more territory on Vail Pass than we ever have in the same amount of time! We were trucking. I can hardly wait to see what "mid season form" will really be this year! A few more shots from the outing...

What a fun shot of the happy huskies! We are at our "break point" and about to get our
hot dog treats before starting back. Such good boys focusing on my every word!

A nice clip of us Max & Zorro towing me along at a nice 11-12 MPH pace.
Sorry the video is a little grainy, I'm still learning how to crop high quality
clips out of my longer GoPro videos...
[see the video on youtube if it is not loading below]

Vital Stats of Yesterday's Outing: 9.6 miles with 1400 feet of elevation gain. Top speed of 17 MPH - the terrain is still "too shallow" in snow for me to really uncork the pair and let them hit their desired top speed (too shallow meaning too dangerous to catch an exposed rock if going 20-26 MPH!)