26 MPH

We achieved our top speed of the season skijoring this morning - the GPS registered us going exactly 26 MPH! Zoom!

Jack & Rudy flying along the stretch of trail where they went
26 MPH.

Jack & Rudy regularly hit 24 MPH as their top speed on our outings when the conditions are great. But, then, a few times a season they'll hit 25 MPH and 1-2 times a season we will exceed an impressive 26 MPH as our top speed. If you think skijoring sounds like a wild ride, try it at 26 MPH :)

We actually started this morning's skijor in the backcountry and passed through the Dry Gulch Ghost Town along the way:

Skijoring the backcountry through an old mining ghost town.

After some fun backcountry touring, we dropped onto the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We did two laps around the upper Preston Loop and found ourselves first tracks on the fresh groom for lap one and second tracks (to ourselves) on lap two. Along the way around the loop, though, the kids got distracted by a very fresh smelling trough of moose tracks leading off trail:

"Sniff, sniff - these are fresh!" says the moose inspectors sniffing the
moose tracks in the deep trough made by the moose's legs.

Aside from one moose trough distraction (they only hopped in the trough on the first lap and then went on by the second lap), we were flying around the freshly groomed Preston Loop. It is usually January or February when we top 26 MPH as the snow & trail conditions are usually fantastic during those two months. Well, come along for a minute of fast skijoring as the GPS registered us going 26 MPH during this stretch of trail. Zoom!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

After our two laps around the Preston Loop, it was time to get on the main trail to finish the outing. We often encounter other skiers on this trail as it is the main path out from the trailhead parking lot:

"Coming through, made you smile!" goes Jack & Rudy who love flying
by oncoming skiers and making them smile.

Almost 11 miles later and we arrived at the trailhead with smiles all around:

"Whee, what a fun day!" says the happy kids.

Speed and distance - what a way to earn your end of run treats!

"These are going to taste good today!" declares the happy kids.

A great day on perfect conditions: 10.7 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 26 MPH!!!

2023/2024 Season to Date: 67 days on the trails covering 566.5 miles with 55,200 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Mid April Freshies

Laying fresh tracks in mid April! Yay!!!!

Can you just feel the power Jack & Rudy are putting forward with their
shoulders into their harnesses in this shot? Wheeee!

Gold Run Nordic Center may be closed for the season (closed on April 3); but the trails are still there :)

With a few inches of new snow this morning, we decided to go lay fresh tracks on the Gold Run trails. Of course, they are not grooming the trails any longer; but there is a good base (at higher elevations) that had been packed by groomers all season long. So, add a little fresh snow for safety (over otherwise icy terrain) and it's a go for us on the trails of Gold Run!

Here's a great shot of the fast running fun kids:

Fresh tracks flying!

Look closely in the prior photo and you can see some ski tracks above Jack's head on what would be a parallel trail to our right. Was someone else out on the trails with us this morning?

Nope! Here we are skijoring that "parallel trail to the right" in the prior photo
before doing the trail to the left.

Yep, we had the morning's new snow all to ourselves on the upper trails of Gold Run. What fun! I guess everyone else thinks the season is over or something :)

Ready for some real talent? How about giving each other a "back foot high five" while rolling snow angels? Impressive!!!

"Cheers bro! We love new snow!" demonstrates the snow rolling sillies giving
each other a "back foot high five" while rolling snow angels. Talented!

Today's video highlight is, of course, us laying fresh tracks along a wonderful stretch of trail. Come along and watch the fun!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Eventually we turned down to the lower elevation terrain to get to the trailhead. The trail was a little tracked up down there, but that did not deter the happy, happy sled dogs!

All smiles as we arrive at the trailhead to end the day.

Fresh tracks in mid April, what a way to earn end of run treats!

"We had a blast! Love new snow!" declares the happy kids.

What wonderful conditions for mid April! 7.4 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 134 days on the trails covering 1191.8 miles with 107,900 feet of elevation climbed.

Second Tracks

Beautiful morning to lay fresh tracks up a gentle rise in the trail!

Whee we go laying fresh tracks as I ride the Siberian Tow Rope!
Those are fox tracks to the left of Jack; but not very fresh/recent as neither
kid showed much interest in them.

We were on the upper trails of Gold Run Nordic Center this morning. But, the nordic center closed for the season on Monday; so no more grooming of these trails and we'll need fresh snow (as we had today) to use them for the rest of the season. 

Anyway, we were first on the morning's fresh snow until we rounded a corner and found evidence of moose:

"Whoa, what a deep moose trough!" states Rudy inspecting the deep trough
leading into (or out of) the forest.
"Sniff, sniff - moose came OUT of the forest here, it did not leave to go
into the forest!" declares track inspecting Jack.

So, which was it? Did the moose leave and to into the forest here or come out of the forest and onto the trail? Well, it turns out Jack was right, the moose came out of the forest here and sauntered along the trail we were about to embark on. As we started along this trail, moose tracks were very evident going the same direction as us for a while.

Big two-toed moose print in the lower left corner of this photo and then
a line of moose tracks going along the left side of the trail. Rude moose
didn't know you are not supposed to step in the classic ski track :)

So, it turns out we were second tracks to a moose for part of this morning's outing, Luckily, we never encountered the moose itself. Come along and watch today's clip as there are moose tracks along the trail during this entire video clip. The tracks are mostly to the left of Jack and are most visible around 10 seconds, 30 seconds and 55 seconds into the clip (but, they are there the entire clip). You better believe I was on high alert as we rounded every corner!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Eventually the tracks left the trail and back into the forest, yay! Once clear of moose, it was time to really floor it again :)

Cool shot of the flying kids as we are rounding a gentle left in the trail.
Zoom!

Finally, onto the main trail taking us back to the trailhead. This stretch of trail is very sun exposed and always the first to melt out every Spring. This may have been our last skijor along this stretch for the season :(

Catching air on what might be our last run along this particular trail.

Back to the trailhead to climb snow walls for end of run treats. What are Jack & Rudy going to do when the snow walls melt?!?!?!?

"Coming up for end of run treats!" declares the happy, wall climbing kids.

A peaceful morning laying fresh tracks most of the outing with a short stint of "second tracks to a moose" but luckily no actual moose encounter! 8.4 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 127 days on the trails covering 1132.9 miles with 102,700 feet of elevation climbed.