Season Finale, Maybe? Probably

After nearly two weeks off, Jack & Rudy virtually shot out of a cannon on this morning's skijor outing!

BOOM! Off we go, shot out of a cannon, to start today's skijor!

Unfortunately today was probably our last skijor of the 2025/2026 season. We've had historically low snowfall & snowpack in Colorado this season with also historically warm temperatures. So, while we usually skijor well into May and, occasionally into June, we are probably done for this season. But, it is supposed to snow in our elevations in Colorado in April and May, so maybe we'll have a surprise outing after today, but I doubtful the way this year has gone. But, maybe.....

We found a great (albeit short) groomed trail to skijor this morning. The US Ski Team grooms the top of Rabbit Ears Pass to use when other, closer to town, trails melt. Typically, we find the ski team groomers on Rabbit Ears Pass in May as trails close to town are still full of snow in April. But not this year as there is no snow on the trails in town so the ski team has taken to Rabbit Ears Pass in April instead of May this year. That's how bad a snow year it has been! We were reminded of this many times on today's outing, such as the following:

Looks perfect at first glance; but look at the exposed ground to Jack's right.
This shows just how thin the snowpack is on this trail. It is one or two warm
days away from having exposed ground on the trail too!

Today's video is another example of dwindling conditions. Come along as we are on the well shaded Harrison Creek Trail which usually has snow through May and sometimes into June. But, watch closely at about 6 seconds in you'll see a ice across half the trail as this will be an exposed puddle later in the day. Then at about 18 seconds into the clip and you'll notice me slowing down as the trail is paper thin with brown ground starting to show through. Yikes! But, as you'll also see in the video, we were able to open up the throttle whenever safe. Whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We did, though, find some really nice stretches to uncork the skijoring engine. Zoom!

"Wheeeee!" says Rudy to Jack as he gives him a quick glance
as the speed demons are catching air along a perfect stretch of trail.

We went out and back on this short groomed trail. So, we had to turnaround at some point, right?

"Turnaround! Roll Around!" goes the snow rolling sillies.

The prior photo is unfortunately misleading. While it looks like we still have endless snow to enjoy, the reality is it is paper thin in most places and a few warm days away from large amounts of exposed ground.

Well, it was an interesting and strange season between my health issues and the worst Colorado snow on record; but we made the most of it, right guys?

"We still had a blast! All snow is good snow! All skijor outings
are good outings!" says the happy kids atop a nice snow wall to
receive end of run treats.

Today's tally: 4.2 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 55 days on the trails covering 332.7 miles with 34,800 feet of elevation climbed.

That's probably it for the 2025/2026 season. But, you never know, maybe we'll get one last surprise outing if it really snows at some point in April or May BEFORE all the little snowpack we have melts...

Let's hope for a better 2026/2027 season: Pray for Snow!!!

Rudy 8000

7 year old Rudy surpassed 8,000 career skijor miles yesterday morning! Impressive!

"And I've been singing for 8000 miles too!" adds proudly wooing Rudy.

Rudy's skijor career to date is the following: 1034 days on the trails covering 8000.3 miles with 742,100 feet of elevation climbed. Consider that most of this has happened since he was 1.5 years old and that is quite an impressive career he has strung together. For the curious, 5 month older Jack surpassed 8,000 career miles himself earlier this season.

Back to yesterday's outing. It was another fun tour around the top of Rabbit Ears Pass. But, the signs of summer are really starting to come through - boo!

There was lots of breakup in open meadows:

Yikes, the snow caving in to Jack's right with more exposed water
to Rudy's left.

There was lots of dirty snow in heavily wooded sections of trail:

Look at all that "tree debris" covering our otherwise beautiful white snow!

There were lots of narrow stretches with views of "no snow" at elevations below us.

Cruising along a narrow stretch with views of snow bare lower elevations
of Colorado to our right.

But, what did remain constant with the comedians was rolling snow angels to cool off at our turnaround point:

"Stop, drop and ROLL!" goes the snow rolling sillies.

Which deteriorating condition to feature in today's video highlight? How about gliding along behind Jack & Rudy in the tree debris covered snow amongst thick trees. Sure, it's not pretty snow, but it is toes on snow in mid-May, we'll take that any day!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Another constant, along with rolling snow angels, was still finding snow walls to climb for end of run treats. Despite heavy melting, the kids can still find a wall to scale!

"If there is a snow wall, we'll find it and climb it!' declares the happy
kids getting up to my level for end of run treats.

Yesterday's tally: 9 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed with a top speed of 22 MPH and passing 8,000 career skijor miles for impressive 7 year old Rudy. Yay!

2024/2025 Season to Date: 106 days on the trails covering 810.7 miles with 80,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Breck Nordic Finale

The fun kids catching air on the wild Gluteus Maximus Trail at Breckenridge Nordic Center!

Whee! It's quite the ride behind Jack & Rudy on steep and winding
Gluteus Maximus Trail!

Today was our last skijor at Breckenridge Nordic Center for this season as they close tomorrow. So, Jack & Rudy made the most of the outing. They seem to always know when it's a skijor finale of any sort and they seem to pick it up a notch! Smart kids :)

Catching air again near our highest point in elevation for the day.
What a beautiful bluebird morning!

Everywhere they took me, it was the same thing: pedal to the metal, catching air!

The hover huskies at it again :)

It was also a warm day for Jack & Rudy (above freezing the entire outing), so you know what that meant had to be done a turnaround time:

"Stop, drop and ROLL to cool our jets in the snow!" goes the snow rolling sillies.
Don't their faces look like they are in absolute heaven?

Today's video highlight is Jack & Rudy towing me to the finish of the day's outing. There are some fun hairpin curves along this stretch that are wild to take on skis at Jack & Rudy speed. As this clip is the end of our outing and our final day at the nordic center, consider it our Breck Nordic Finale Finale :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

While the snow walls to climb for end of run treats are melting and shrinking, Jack & Rudy are still experts at finding the best available wall to climb!

"Found a nice wall right here. Now how about those end of run treats?" asks
the happy kids.

Today's tally: 8 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 91 days on the trails covering 704.7 miles with 67,300 feet of elevation climbed.

Quick Run

Cruising by the historic Sallie Barber Mine, from the 1800s, on this morning's skijor!

Zipping on by - wheeee!

As I mentioned yesterday, we've had a slow start to this skijor season with yesterday being our first outing of the season and only one significant snowstorm to date (this past Sunday night). So, very few trails have enough snow to be skiable yet; but it is coming.....

Yesterday was Boreas Pass Road (one of our usual "early season" routes) and today was a quick run up & down the front side of the Sallie Barber Mine Trail. The front side is more gentle and is protected from the warm afternoon sun. The back side of this trail is very steep & rocky at the beginning, so needs more than one snowstorm to be skiable.

But, a short, quick run up and down the front side is better than nothing at all! We typically pause for a moment after the initial climb to the mine. Well, Jack & Rudy were both in midseason form on today's short pause. The patented "stop, drop & roll" snow angels from Jack and the harmonious "wooooo" from Rudy:

"Ah, stop, drop and roll!" goes snow rolling Jack.
"Woooooo!" sings melodic Rudy.

Jack & Rudy love encountering and flirting with other skiers or snowshoers on the trails. They get all giddy and fly on by, putting smiles on the oncoming faces :)

"Hi, bye! Made you smile!' says Jack & Rudy cruising on by this oncoming skier.

Today's video highlight: a fun section of the Sallie Barber Mine Trail where we lean into a tight left, then into a gentle right and finally take off on a fast straightaway. As the clip concludes, we encounter the oncoming skier pictured above. Jack & Rudy love to flirt and cruise on by oncoming traffic :) Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, back to the trailhead and "quick run" or "long run" and it's the same from my great pals: focused and smiling for end of run treats:

"We'll take any distance 'toes on snow' over dry & boring conditions!" states
the happy, happy kids.

As I write this, it is starting to snow nicely out the window. Hopefully a series of snowstorms starting last Sunday and throughout this week will open up some new and longer terrain for us to skijor! Today's quick tally: 3.9 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 2 days on the trails covering 13 miles with 1300 feet of elevation climbed.

Single Track

Cruising on by the historic Sallie Barber Mine on this morning's skijor in fresh snow.

Nice photo of the mine, nice photo of cruising on by Jack & Rudy,
nice accumulation of fresh snow this morning!

Today's outing took us up the front side of Sallie Barber, then down & back up the back side, then a little out & back on a side trail before returning back down the front side. As is usually the case with comical Jack & Rudy, we pause to roll snow angels to cool off after the initial climb to the mine:

"Rub a dub dub!" goes snow rolling Jack!
"DUNK!" goes upside down head dipping Rudy!

The front side of the Sallie Barber Mine Trail is very popular with both locals and tourists; but most stay on the front side and go up and down that part of the trail. The back side, though, is more of a local's trail and gets much less usage. Today we found the pre-existing single track on the back side of the trail to be pretty narrow. But, it was just wide enough for Jack & Rudy to fit side by side while running fast:

The pre-existing single track barely two Siberian Huskies wide :)

A video will do much more justice to showing just how narrow the single track trail actually was. The snow outside of the trail was very deep, so Jack & Rudy needed to both fit in the trail to keep pace with each other. Come along and watch as the fun kids are packed in tight while still running fast. 

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

On the way back up the back side of the mine, a rodent hunt broke out. It was pretty funny to witness. First Rudy did a dive off trail, then Jack lunged next to him and the Rudy backed up, went behind Jack and dived yet again off trail. Clearly the rodents were moving forward under the snow :)

"Dunking for pesky rodents! Where are they?" asks head dunking Jack.
"They are moving up this way!" says beautiful diving Rudy.
The big indentation in the snow next to Jack is the location of Rudy's
initial dive before he backed up, went up trail behind Jack and the did this
new dive off trail.

Despite lots of exploration under the snow, neither came up with a rodent in his mouth (although it has happened before :)

Finally, back down the popular front side of the mine which is almost always plenty wide from lots of usage to fit my two pals comfortably side by side.

Zipping down the front side. Wheeee!

Back to the trailhead and Jack & Rudy found yet another snow wall to climb to receive end of run treats:

"We'll climb up to you! How about those treats?" says the polite kids climbing
up so I don't have to kneel down :)

A fun backcountry day in fresh snow: 7.7 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 115 days on the trails covering 986.9 miles with 96,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Back at it

After a few days off skijoring for various commitments, Jack, Rudy and I were back at it this morning! Whee!

Starting out on backcountry trails in Dry Gulch.

This morning was one of those super fun "combo days" where we start the outing on narrow backcountry trails and then end the outing on wide & groomed nordic trails.

After touring around the backcountry for a bit, we dropped onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We were thrilled to find ourselves being first, second or third tracks on the fresh groom this entire leg of the outing!

Second tracks zooming in the shade.
It's hard to see, but there is one set of pre-existing tracks to our left; but
we were certainly first tracks along our side of the trail.

After a few days off, Jack & Rudy were catching air running hard all morning long. I love when we get into the sun at just the right angle to showcase the impressive hover huskies:

Jack & Rudy hovering over the trail as we speed along!
As you can see in this photo, we were third tracks on the nordic groom
for this stretch of the outing.

Today's skijor video? One of our favorite fast stretches along the Peabody Placer Trail at Gold Run Nordic Center. Come along as we start out flying along a fast straightaway in the sun. Then, it's leaning into a pretty tight left before opening back up into a fast straightaway in the shade. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course, all that zooming around means you really need to roll snow angels to cool your jets whenever the human pauses.

We just transitioned onto this trail from the right (note my ski tracks just
to the right of Rudy). I paused to see if we had time to go left (behind
us in this photo) or if we needed to turn right (straight ahead in this photo).
Well, I paused so the funny kids did their usual "stop, drop & roll" :)

This week is going to be dominated by "shorter than usual" skijors for us for various constraints; but any skijor is better than NO skijor, right guys?

"Oh yes!!!!! Full throttle toes on snow of any distance is better than none
at all!" says the happy kids awaiting end of run treats atop a snow wall.

A short, but fast & fun backcountry to nordic outing today: 5.6 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 71 days on the trails covering 601.4 miles with 58,600 feet of elevation climbed.

Like Z

What's better, moose views or mountain views? Depends on who you ask :)

Jack & Rudy being lured off trail to peak over this snow ledge in the
search for moose. Meanwhile, I paused with them to take in the pretty
mountain views.

This morning took us on a skijor on Boreas Pass. My original plan was to go 4-5 miles up Boreas and then turn around and come back down. But, we have had a lot of recent snow and, as you go up Boreas, the set trail gets thinner and thinner (due to fewer people making it so far without sled dog assistance). As we were nearing Baker's Tank (which is only 3 miles up Boreas), the set trail was becoming so narrow that Jack & Rudy could barely fit side by side:

Rubbing shoulders to fit in the narrow set trail.
The snow outside the set track was somewhat punchy, so neither kid
could run there.

By the time we reached Baker's Tank, the set trail was too narrow for Jack & Rudy to fit side by side. So, we had a choice: continue past Baker's Tank in single file skijoring or turnaround. Well, I chose turnaround with an alternate plan. Wait, did I say turnaround? Yep...

"Turnaround - roll around!" goes snow rolling Jack.
"Turnaround - woos abound!" belts wooing Rudy.
Also, a nice shot of historic Baker's Tank from when Boreas Pass was the
railroad into Breckenridge in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Now look at how nice and wide the trail was down lower as opposed to the narrow single track in the prior two photos. Oh, and nice view of the ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley from us too:

Ah, nice and wide here with pretty views.

I mentioned an "alternate plan" above, what was that plan? Well, we came back down from Baker's Tank until we got to the much wider set trail as you see in the prior photo. We then went back & forth and redid some nice stretches of trail 5 times. Of course, each redo required turning around. While most turnarounds got snow angels and/or woos from the silly kids, one did get this nice happy face shot instead:

"This has been unusual! We keep redoing stretches of trail! But,
we are still having a great time!" says the happy kids.

Now come along for one of the nice stretches that we redid twice. We start out cruising along as we approach and pass on by a snowshoer who paused, smiled and waved (I waved back). Then, if you can take your eyes off fun Jack & Rudy, look left through the bare aspen trees and you can see the ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort on the mountains across the valley from us. On first redo of this stretch of trail, we passed by and entertained two oncoming skiers. By staying well below Baker's Tank, we were near the trailhead and, thus, encountered quite a few other skiers and snowshoers on all our redos.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, back to the trailhead and this moment almost brought tears to my eyes. Our wonderful, but departed Zorro, was the smallest of all 6 Siberian Huskies we have had in our pack (you'd never know it from his skijoring passion and power; but he was on the smallest end of the breed standard). Being small, Zorro developed this habit of climbing on my leg with his front two legs to prop himself up higher for end of run treats. I always loved feeling Zorro climb up on my leg. Well, today Rudy did a Zorro-like climb on my leg for end of run treats. Of course, big Rudy does not need any propping; but the action and feeling a Zorro move on my leg was astonishing and heart-warming!

"I remember our mentor, old man Z, always did this, I'll try too!" says Rudy
who you can see has his two front paws on my leg to prop himself higher for treats.
"Silly Rudy, he's already HUGE!" adds cute Jack.

A fun outing of "lower elevation redos" on Boreas with a Z like conclusion from Rudy: 9.7 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 68 days on the trails covering 576.2 miles with 56,100 feet of elevation climbed.

Dives

Laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow atop a fast groomed nordic trail:

Jack & Rudy zipping along over a light layer of fresh snow.

This morning's outing took us to the trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. As you see above, we started the day on a light layer of new snow with light snowfall continuing to fall all morning long. Along the way, though, three interesting things happened. Here we go...

First, those pesky rodents under the snow really got Jack & Rudy's attention at one point. The kids almost did a synchronized rodent dive off the trail and into the snow; but Jack was one second behind Rudy. Here's a fun collage of the 2 seconds of action:

Incoming rodent dive from Rudy in the upper left as Jack is preparing to
follow suit. One second later and we have the lower left with Rudy about
to land his dive while Jack starts his. Finally, one more second later and
we have the right photo with both kids buried in snow after landing
their rodent dives. Silly kids!

Second, a breeze started to develop as we were on the final leg of the outing - nothing to slow Jack & Rudy down, just a bit of blowing snow from the breeze:

Zipping along with some blowing snow going across the trail
ahead of us.

Third and final "interesting thing" was the groomer came out on the main trail while we were skijoring another trail. So, we got to finish the day laying first tracks on the fresh groom as we sprinted along amidst light snowfall and a gentle breeze. Watch as this video clip ends, though, and you'll see us skijoring into a large wind gust of blowing snow!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As with yesterday, Nancy was unable to accompany us to the trail today. Yesterday was Rudy's first ever skijor without Nancy, our handler & driver, along for the trip while Jack has gone solo with myself and Zorro back when he was young. The missing handler had Rudy perplexed yesterday but the smart kid got the routine today :)

"Got it! If no mom, we load in the Jeep for end of run treats!" states happy
Rudy fully with the program after one lesson yesterday.
"As I said yesterday: I accept end of run treats from any location!" adds
cool & experienced Jack.

A wonderful outing on nordic trails: 10.1 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 64 days on the trails covering 538.4 miles with 52,800 feet of elevation climbed.

Fly

It was a beautiful morning to follow soft snowmobile tracks deep into the backcountry!

Jack & Rudy in a synchronized sprint tuck as we cruised for miles
and miles.

As I said, the snowmobile tracks were very soft (meaning they were somewhat recent) and Jack & Rudy were really enjoying putting the pedal to the metal whenever possible!

Fast flying Jack next to hovering Rudy - wheeee!

Now, how is this for an impressive shot of the speedsters?

Whee - we can FLY! What a fun shot of the flying kids.

Now come along for a video highlight summarizing the day. We start out in a gentle jog in snowmobile tracks through the trees. Then, we round a corner into a vast open meadow. Once out in the open, Jack & Rudy kick it into high gear and we really take off! Oh boy was I riding the skis hard to keep pace!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We did have a reason to stop twice during the outing. Our route was an "out and back" on the same trail, so we had a pause to turnaround at one point:

"Turnaround - Roll Around!" declares the silly snow rolling kids.

Then, at another point on our return leg, Jack found some moose tracks that were NOT there on our first pass. Jack quickly hopped off trail to inspect the tracks and Rudy was quick to follow.

"These were NOT here on our way out this trail! Very fresh!" declares
track inspecting Jack.
"Oh really! Let me see!!!!" adds Rudy joining Jack to inspect the tracks.

Despite those tracks being at most 20 minutes old, we did not see an actual moose. Darn  :)

Finally, back to the trailhead to celebrate another wonderful skijor outing by passing out end of run treats!

"Fun day! Fun day!" declares the happy kids.

A peaceful morning following soft snowmobile tracks for miles and miles: 9.2 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 39 days on the trails covering 325.6 miles with 31,100 feet of elevation climbed.

Treat!

It was -6 degrees (F) when we started this morning's skijor and only 2 degrees (F) when we finished.

What did this mean for Jack & Rudy?

"Never been so HOT! Must roll snow angels to cool off!" declares silly Rudy.
"Not just snow angels, must eat snowcones to really cool off!" goes snow 
rolling & eating Jack.

With upwards of 2 feet of snow falling Saturday night through Sunday, we heard rumors that Breckenridge Nordic Center was running their snowcat out on the trails to pack & preserve this special October dump. The nordic center is not open yet, but will be early in Nov, especially if they can pack & preserve this snow! 

So, off to the upper elevation trails of Breckenridge Nordic Center we went this morning. Oh boy were we in for a perfect treat. Part of the morning found us running in snowcat tracks:

Jack taking the right track, Rudy taking the left as they tow me along
in a perfect set of snowcat tracks.

We then found stretches where the snowcat had put down its groomer blade to smooth the trail and then a couple of inches of new snow had fallen on top of that. Fun time laying fresh tracks in this light layer of new snow!

Fresh tracks with awesome Rocky Mountain views!

Then the snowcat came out again today and put down its groomer blade again on the main trail. Oh my, it doesn't get any better than this in October! What a treat!

First tracks on a freshly groomed trail!
Love the snow poofs coming up from Jack & Rudy's feet!

Put it all together and you get this fun stretch of video footage. We start out in snowcat tracks on a side trail. Then, this trail connects to the main trail which had just been freshly groomed! Once on the groomie zoomie and Jack & Rudy know what to do with a groomed trail - ZOOM! 

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead to celebrate a super fun (albeit a bit chilly for me, not Jack & Rudy) October groomed treat skijor!

"That was FUN!!!!!" declares the super happy kids awaiting end of run treats.

Beautiful morning to skijor 8.9 miles with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2023/2023 Season to Date: 3 days on the trails covering 21.7 miles with 2400 feet of elevation climbed.