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!!!

Angels and Ears

Angels with "the ears" in the background at Rabbit Ears Pass yesterday morning:

The silly kids doing "their thing" rolling snow angels to cool off at our
turnaround point of the day. But, we also have Rabbit Ears Peak centered
in this photo with "the ears" (the two rocks atop the peak for which Rabbit
Ears Pass is named). Nice postcard photo :)

I was secretly hoping for our first "Spring Crust" skijor of the season yesterday morning. But, unfortunately, the crust was not firm enough yet to support Jack & Rudy running as they would punch through. So, we quickly abandoned the attempt to skijor the crust and returned to established (i.e., well packed) snowmobile trails. Not to fear, a great time was still had by all!

It was "packing it in tight" to catch air on the nice shoulder of an established trail:

The "tightly packed" Jack & Rudy skijor engine. Whee!

Then it was catching air to cruise along established trails along the shores of Dumont Lake:

Whee!

Finally, it was catching air to complete the day's fun outing:

Still catching air as we are arriving at the trailhead to complete
the day's outing.

Now come along for today's "fun to the finish" skijor as we are flying towards the trailhead until I call out a "left" and we turn to slow to the finish. What fun and perfect skijor partners!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As usual, look who is perched atop a snow wall and ready for end of run treats!

"You have our FULL attention!" says the focused, fun kids.

A short outing but still a great time had by all: 4.7 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 52 days on the trails covering 316.2 miles with 33,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Surprise

There was a lot to be excited about on this morning's skijor, right guys?

"Yes! My head is covered in snow and I love it!" declares happy Jack.
"WOO! I LOVE SNOW! WOOOOO!" belts singing Rudy.

The excitement? Well, the forecast last night was "a slight chance of a dusting of snow" overnight. But, the reality was 3-5 inches of fresh powder! We love surprise powder days!

With the surprise new snow, we headed to the backcountry at Dry Gulch to enjoy the powder:

POW - the fun kids blasting through 5 inches (or more) of snow at this
point in the backcountry. Wheeee!

While fresh snow is great for powder blasting, it is also great for rolling snow angels with gusto!

The funny kids launching snow all around themselves as they
roll with vigor!

Then, as we like to do in this location, it was time to floor it on the trails at Gold Run Nordic Center after our aerobic romp through the backcountry powder. The groomer had been out on the trails recently, but there was also a fresh layer of new snow atop the groomie zoomie nordic trail. The kids were having a blast!

The fun kids catching air on the groomie zoomie with cool snow poofs
coming off their feet from the light layer of new snow atop the groom.

Today's video highlight? Well, it HAS to be blasting through the surprise powder. Come along for the fun! Note near the end of the video where I almost wipe out as my ski cut through the fresh snow to hit what was exposed ground just yesterday. But, I'm still standing!!!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

What a surprise! What a treat! Who had fun?

"We had a BLAST!" says the ecstatic kids atop a nice snow wall
to receive end of run treats.

What a fun "surprise powder" day this morning: 4.6 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 49 days on the trails covering 300.4 miles with 31,900 feet of elevation climbed.

Perfect Day

It was a perfect day to catch some air flying along snowmobile trails around Walton Peak at Rabbit Ears Pass. Wheeee!

The hover huskies doing their thing!

With such great conditions, Jack & Rudy were in a real groove going uphill, downhill and cruising along endless sections of flat trail:

Peacefully gliding along a great flat section of trail. Whee!

The downhill sections are, of course, Jack & Rudy's favorite where they can uncork the skijoring engine and go, go, go!

Making full use of the wide trail as the kids kick into into overdrive
on a downhill pitch of trail. Zoom!

Now come along for today's video highlight. Watch as we are peacefully gliding along a nice flat section of trail until we make a slight right and FLOOR it as we transition to a downhill grade. Fun kids!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course, all that flying around means you REALLY need to roll snow angels to cool your jets at any and all turnaround points of the outing!

"Ah, rub a dub dub, cooling our jets!" goes the funny snow rolling kids.

To complete the day, Jack & Rudy found a snow wall taller than me to scale for treats! I had to coax them back down a little to get to my head level to receive treats :)

"We love climbing snow walls! We LOVE end of run treats!" declares
the kids atop a very tall snow wall!

A perfect day for a 7.7 mile skijor with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 47 days on the trails covering 291.4 miles with 31,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Front

Great "shot from the front" of a happy skijor trio finishing this morning's awesome run!

Whee!

We had a light layer of new snow overnight (1-2 inches). But, any amount of new snow makes narrow side trails safe to skijor with my pals. It's such an experience to be tugged & towed through narrow, tree lined trails!

This is only safe with some amount of new snow to both slow Jack & Rudy
down and give me some braking control with my skis. 
But, we love winding through the trees when we can!

After the narrow, side trail treat, it was onto the more established (thus wider) backcountry trails. Once again, what a perfect layer of light new snow to safely uncork the Jack & Rudy skijoring engine:

Love all the snow flying up around them as we romp through the
fresh snow.

I'll take the prior photo as the lead in to today's video highlight. Come along to watch us laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow in the backcountry. Such a fun morning!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Our next leg was to drop onto the trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. But, this transition comes with a turnaround point, so you know what that means!

"Turnaround, roll around!" goes the comical snow rolling kids.

Snow angels completed and now time for the nordic center. No groomer had been out on the trails since yesterday and only a few skiers had been out before us. So, it was a light layer of slightly used fresh snow over a "yesterday groomed" fast trail. Jack & Rudy knew what to do with these nice conditions:

The hover husking flooring it to catch air along the nordic trail. Zoom!

As I said, a very entertaining outing, right guys?

"Yes, we LOVED it all!" says the happy kids patiently awaiting their
end of run treats.

A nice combination of single track, backcountry and nordic trails to yield 6.2 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 43 days on the trails covering 268.6 miles with 29,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Frisky

Jack & Rudy were a bit frisky & playful with happiness to be back at Rabbit Ears Pass this morning!

Uh-oh, unauthorized game of tag & tackle about to break out on the
trail from the frisky & giddy kids.

We have not skijoring Rabbit Ears since May of 2025! With a slow start to the season in Colorado this year, we missed our typical October and November skijors atop Rabbit Ears Pass. As you see in the photo above, the kids were thrilled to be back at Rabbit Ears and the conditions did not let us down!

It was zooming due South for a while:

The kids catching air as we skijor towards Walton Peak at Rabbit Ears Pass.

Then it was time to turnaround and come back the same path we took out. Did I say turnaround?

Yep - turnaround, roll around from the snow rolling sillies.
Where does Rudy end and Jack start? It's hard to tell amidst this
comical conjoined snow angel :)

Then it was zooming due North on the way back. Whee!

The hover huskies at it again. Impressive kids.

Now come along for a glimpse into the great conditions. Jack & Rudy were in a real running groove this morning!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, back to the parking lot and the kids found a great snow wall to climb for end of run treats!

Scaling a snow wall to accept end of run treats from me in a standing
position. How polite :)

A fun return to Rabbit Ears Pass this morning: 8.1 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 40 days on the trails covering 253.2 miles with 27,600 feet of elevation climbed.

 

24 MPH Day

Aerodynamics at their best:

All four ears across Jack & Rudy tucked tightly against their
heads to achieve maximum aerodynamics. Impressive!

We had a fast & fun day on the upper elevation trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning. Jack & Rudy kept flooring with maximum aerodynamics on the groomie zoomie straightaways:

The aerodynamic hover huskies in perfect form. Impressive again :)

What happens when you keep achieving maximum aerodynamics? Well, the GPS clocked us topping 24 MPH skijoring is that happens! Come along for today's fun clip were we topped 24 MPH somewhere along the first half of this clip (before we come to the tight right in the trail where the camera dips as I struggle to keep upright and corner with the speed demons :) Whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Sometimes, though, you need you ears up to hear upcoming "treats" along the trail:

Ears up as we round a corner with a little squirrel in the trail.
The black dot up and to the left of Rudy is a little black squirrel.
Squirrels are quite small at 10,000+ feet elevation in Breckenridge.
But, all squirrels are potential "trail food". Unfortunately for Jack & Rudy,
it scampered off trail before they got to it.

With all that fast aerodynamic running this morning, rolling snow angels to cool off was definitely needed at our turnaround point of the outing:

"Rub a dub dub!" goes snow rolling Jack.
"Aaahhh, I LOVE snow!" adds happy Rudy who is just completing his roll.

Finally, the ears are ALWAYS up for full attention to get end of run treats!!!

"You have our FULL attention! Ready!" says the happy & focused kids.

A zippy day on fast nordic trails: 7.4 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 35 days on the trails covering 225.7 miles with 25,1000 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Zoom

What 24 MPH skijoring often looks like:

The kids catching air on a recently groomed nordic speedway!

What is slightly unusual about the prior photo? Well, you cannot see much in front of Jack & Rudy as I'm in a tight ski tuck myself trying to keep pace & upright with the speed demons! Talk about working the human's legs!!!!

When I'm not in a tight ski tuck to save my life, I am able to rock back a bit and enjoy the scenery:

Ah, just a mild 20-22 MPH so I can rock back and take it all in.
Jack & Rudy catching air again as we round a slight left in the trail.

When we get on open straightaways, I can really rock back and relax:

The fun kids still catching air as I'm able to rock back and catch my breath!

When off trail antics break out, then I'm really able to stand upright and watch the comedians:

"Rodents under the snow! Must dig!" says rodent lunging Jack.
You can see Jack's first dunk into the snow behind him.
"What? Rodents? INCOMING!" adds the always high arching, rodent
diving Rudy.

It really was a beautiful morning to glide along behind the power kids. We were second on the freshly groomed trail as only 1 skate skier had been out before us. Come along and see the wonderful & peaceful morning for yourselves:

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Such fun, right guys?

"Zoom, that was FUN!" says the proud speed demons awaiting end 
of run treats atop a snow wall.

Today's groomie zoomie: 7.4 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 33 days on the trails covering 210.7 miles with 23,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Nordic Fun

Who was having a great time out of the trails this morning?

"We were! We were! We had a BLAST!" says the happy, happy sled dogs.

It was a day of fast skijoring zooming around the trail at Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning. The kids were in a real fast mood!

It was zooming along in the early morning shade:

Cannonball Jack and Rudy the Missile with fun snow poofs behind their feet!

It was catching air as it got lighter as the morning unfolded:

Whee - the hover huskies at it again :)

It was flying by the silly warming huts, zoom;

"Who needs a warming hut? Floor it!" says the 'never cold' Siberian Huskies.

There was one interruption, though, you CANNOT ignore pesky rodents under the snow off trail!

"Dunk! I sense rodents!" declares rodent lunging & dunking Jack.
"Really? Well, then, INCOMING!" adds high arching rodent diving Rudy.

But, aside from the rodent dunking/diving distraction, it was zooming all day. Come along for today's video highlight as Jack & Rudy tow me around some fun corners as we complete the morning's fast and fun outing. Hang on human! Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun day, right guys?

"Oh yeah, we love nordic zooming days!" says the happy kids awaiting
end of run treats.

Today's tally: 8.4 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 32 days on the trails covering 203.3 miles with 22,500 feet of elevation climbed.

BOOM

Laying fresh tracks in a light layer of new snow in the backcountry this morning! Whee!

Beautiful conditions, beautiful skijor partners!

After a few days off (my fault :), Jack & Rudy were ready to floor it this morning. They had the "pedal to the metal" pretty much all morning long!

Flying!!!

We found ourselves starting in the backcountry and then eventually dropping onto the trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Along the way, we had two turnaround points of the outing. At the first turnaround, Jack & Rudy turned quickly and then had to wait for the slow human to cycle around on skis. That brings us to today's video highlight. Watch Jack is patiently sitting and Rudy patiently standing as they wait for my turnaround. But, then watch as soon as I say "Ok," (my release command for them to go) and the kids virtually shoot out of a cannon to launch me down the trail with them. Such power & speed in this fun video clip. BOOM!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As I mentioned, we had two turnaround events during the outing. On the second turn, Jack & Rudy were back to "normal form" rolling snow angels while I turned around.

There we go, this is the usual turnaround event.
Stop, drop and roll while I turn around :)

Then, to our surprise & delight, we found ourselves being first tracks on the freshly groomed main trail at Gold Run Nordic Center. Jack & Rudy know what to do with a fresh groomie zoomie trail:

The hover huskies catching air on the groomie zoomie trail!

The final treat of the day was, of course, climbing a snow wall to receive end of run treats:

Such fun partners! Such happy kids!!!!

A nice zippy morning covering 6.1 miles with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 31 days on the trails covering 194.9 miles with 21,400 feet of elevation climbed.