Game On!

It was a POW, POW, Powder Day in 1-2 FEET of fresh powder on the trails this morning!

Jack & Rudy, the powder machines, plowing through upwards of
2 feet of fresh powder!

Notice anything new in the prior photo as compared to all other photos so far this season? Here's what to notice: Jack is wearing his "in season" green harness, Rudy is wearing his "in season" purple harness and I am wearing my "in season" primo skis. Every outing until this morning Jack & Rudy have been wearing their "hunting season/early conditions" orange harnesses and I have been wearing my heavily worn rock skis (always identifiable by the fun stickers I put on the ski tips to mark them as rock skis). Well, with upwards of 2 feet of snow falling in Breckenridge from Thu night to early Mon morning, it's time to say, "break out the in season gear - GAME ON!!!!!!" I love when we make this transition every winter!!!

What an incredible day it was to go from "early season conditions" to "game on"! Wow!

The powder kids plowing through again. Wheeee!

Now come along for a fun trail breaking, powder plowing video of impressive Jack & Rudy. They'd take off like this for 1-4 minutes at a time, then slow slightly and breathe deeply for 30-60 seconds and then restart the powder plowing again. All morning long, the kids were in top trail breaking form!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

With snow this deep, we did an "out & back" skijor to make use of our out track on the way back. It amazes me just how tight Jack & Rudy can get side-by-side when the conditions warrant it! Today was such a day as they magically fit in my narrow ski track to reuse all the way back!

Where does Jack end and Rudy start? Good thing they are different colors
or you'd never be able to tell!

How much fun did Jack & Rudy have? Well, let's ask Rudy:

"WOOOOO! GAME ON!!!!!!" belts powder loving Rudy.
"Hold on, rodents under the snow, I'll be with you in a moment!" adds
Jack distracted by rodents scurrying under the snow.

Oh distracted Jack, let's try that again: how much fun did Jack & Rudy have?

"Oh, a blast!!!!!! I'm back to focused Jack!" says happy & focused Jack.
"Shall I woo in approval again?" asks 'always ready to woo' Rudy :)

I love days when we can say we were seriously slowed by breaking trail in deep, deep snow: 5.8 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 16 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 25 days on the trails covering 200.8 miles with 19,400 feet of elevation climbed.

Sticky and Heavy Snow

The power kids, Jack & Rudy, leaning into their harnesses to propel me though this morning's sticky and heavy snow!

Impressive power!

Today was a very rare thing for the Colorado High Country: heavy, wet and sticky snow! Colorado ski areas are famous for their soft & fluffy snow conditions. But, it is May and most ski areas are already closed for the season. This is the time of year that a heavy/wet snow can happen and it really did last night!!! We found ourselves breaking trail in 4-7 inches of heavy & sticky snow our entire outing this morning. No complaints here, just reporting the hard workout conditions :)

Still laying fresh tracks as we did a loop trail this morning.
Look at all that snow stuck on the top of my skis. Heavy, wet and sticky!

Come along for today's "power video" as you can see the energy of Jack & Rudy propelling me through 5ish inches of heavy, wet and sticky snow. Powerful kids! You'll also see that I am in quite the "ski tuck" to help move me through the sticky snow :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Running through heavy, wet snow is quite the workout, just ask Jack & Rudy. I paused at a trail junction to assess if we could continue forward (longer outing) or turn left (shorter outing). Well, I stopped...

"What a workout! Stop, drop & roll!" goes the snow rolling sillies.

It turns out we had to turn left as the heavy snow had slowed us down. I also needed to get back to the trailhead before the "slick wax" on my skis wore off (I'd never have been able to move in the sticky snow without the wax). So, a short outing in "not your typical Colorado snow", any complaints?

"Nope! We still had a blast!" exclaims the happy kids who were still able
to find a short snow wall to climb for end of run treats.

Heavy, wet and sticky snow yielded a 5.4 mile outing with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 153 days on the trails covering 1348.8 miles with 123,100 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.

Angels with a View

Snow Angels with a View - by Jack & Rudy :)

Nice snow angels! Nice views!
Snow Angels with a View - by Jack & Rudy!

We spent this busy Saturday morning far away from town on trails you can only get to by snow machine. Either snowmobile or sled dog - one of those two types of snow machines is required to get to where we were at. I chose sled dog :)

Nice power from the sled dog snow machines as we cruise
around the backcountry following snowmobile tracks.

Along the way, we encountered many technical features on the trail for the human on skis to try and handle behind the snow machines. What a workout on the human!

Riding Jack through a tight corner in the trail.
Oh my aching legs :)

Come along for a little video glimpse into the morning work as there is a lot of fun in this minute of skijoring. We start in a gentle trot following a fresh snowmobile track. Then, we dip into a tight left whipping me around a corner in the trail. Finally, we straighten out into a fast straightaway and off Jack & Rudy go (with me hanging on behind :) The low angle of the camera is about all you need to know to realize how hard I am driving & riding the skis to keep pace with my fast & fun sled dog monsters! Oh my aching legs!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Let's give the human a breather while we inspect these fresh moose tracks a few steps off the trail!

"Fresh!!!!" declares the moose sniffing brothers.

I made it back alive! How about getting some end of run treats for all?

"Ready! Don't drop them!" says handsome Zorro.
"We kept you upright, dish them out!" states focused Jack.
"Let me know when you are finally ready!" adds mellow Rudy.

A peaceful Saturday morning to give the human a workout on technical backcountry trails: 8.7 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 79 days on the trails covering 645.8 miles with 60,600 feet of elevation climbed.

Short Run

We only had time for a short skijor this morning so Rudy took objection to my pausing and wasting time on the trails :)

"YAWN - BORING! C'mon man, let's get GOING!" declares Rudy giving me
a protest yawn for stopping :)
"I'm always polite and cooperative!" adds happy and always listening to me Jack :)

We started the morning with the youngsters, Jack & Rudy, to get some fast & quick exercise for the kids before adding elder Zorro in the team for the finish.

The best stretch of trail we found this morning was following a line of power poles. The snow was just firm enough and smooth enough to open up throttle in the power line. Wheeee!

Opening up the skijor engine as we follow the power lines overhead and
poles down the middle.

At our turnaround point of the morning, we got extra comedy from Rudy and the usual comedy from Jack. The turnaround started with Rudy's "yawn of protest" above. I then knelt down to send Nancy a text of our planned arrival. I think Jack & Rudy thought I was kneeling to roll a snow angel as they both came in close to join what they perceived to be the start of a group snow angel :)

"Sorry kids, I'm just kneeling, not laying to roll!" I said.
"Group snow roll - incoming!" declares goofy Rudy and he flopped right
at my knees to start his own angel.
"C'mon dad - you know you want to! Group roll!!!" adds goofy Jack.

Despite all the encouragement from Jack & Rudy, I did not drop all the way to the ground to roll with them. "Oh well, then let's GO instead!' suggested the kids. So, back upright and off we went:

Zipping along a fast & fun straightaway!

After giving the youngsters some quick exercise, it was time to join with elder Zorro for a group run to the finish. Wheeee!

Look at all that power from the sled dog trio!!!

A short but fun run this morning with the usual comedy antics from the kids: 4.2 miles traveled with 450 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 170 days on the trails covering 1161.3 miles with 106,550 feet of elevation climbed.

Wild Ride

Getting everyone's attention before dishing out the end of run treats this morning:

"I smell them in your hands - dish them out!" says intense Zorro.
"Ready!" adds happy Jack.
"Oh yeah, end of run treats - I'm in tune now!" says la-la-land Rudy who
is *finally* joining the group for the treats :)

We did a fast & fun sprint through the dense forest trails to start this morning with Zorro. It was a wild ride flying through the forest, whipping around corners, behind my powerful trio on fast packed trails!

Approaching a "left whip" in the trail as Zorro and Rudy are beginning their
"left lean" to whip around the bend.
Hang on human!

All smiles as we come out of another weave in the trail and find Nancy waiting on the side for us. Look at Power Rudy taking the lead as Jack is on the outside of the recent corner and Zorro is lining up to give mom a big smile.

Power Rudy in the lead!!!
Cool Jack just off the lead as he is on the outside of the recent corner.
"Hi Mom - having a blast!" adds happy Zorro.

Here we go for a glimpse of the wild ride whipping around the forest. I am flying behind the power trio trying my hardest to keep the skis in pace with their tight & fast cornering! Whew, what a workout for the human!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As you see in the video, that is where we met up with Nancy to drop elder Zorro from the team and take the kids, Jack & Rudy, out for another spin around the mountains.

The kids and I turned around and climbed uphill fast to get to some pretty views up high:

Nice views of the snow covered Rockies to our right as we
fly northbound along the upper elevation trails.

The youngsters and I did an "out and back" on the upper elevation trails. So, here's the usual turnaround of an out & back :)

"You stopped, we roll!" demonstrates the goofy snow rolling twins.
Nice dual action from Rudy as he is rolling a snow angel while eating snowcones!

Rolling snow angels done and the kids are back upright. Going south now and more nice views from way up high:

The mountain tops you see are the tops of Peaks 7, 8, 9 and 10 of
Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Pretty views up high, pretty sled dogs down the middle :)

A great fast & fun day starting with Zorro weaving through the forest and ending with Jack & Rudy sprinting up high: 9.8 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2019/2020 Season to Date: 134 days on the trails covering 912.3 miles with 83,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Nordic Freshies

Laying fresh tracks in 4-6 inches of powder atop the trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center.

Nordic Freshies :)

Beautiful "power shot" of the strong trio powering through 4+ inches of powder.
Look real close and just below the gangline and right in front of the carabiner is my buried
ski gliding in the powder. Wheeee!

It has been a delightfully snowy start to March and today was another example. There was 4-6 inches of fresh snow on the nordic center trails, it was snowing during our entire outing and it is still snowing!

Apparently the active snow scared everyone else away from the nordic center. We did not see any other tracks on the trails all day long (except our own :)

Another great shot of the trio powering me up a short & steep rise in the trail. 

Today was young Rudy's first visit to the Hallelujah Hut (one of the two warming huts on the trails at the Breckenridge Nordic Center).

"It's never been this buried in snow before!" says curious Jack who has been to this hut before,
but never this covered in snow!
"Warming hut, silly!" says Zorro.
"No, really, what's a warming hut?!?!" asks perplexed Rudy.

Of course we know Jack's idea of a "warming hut" :)

"We stopped, I'm rolling to cool my jets. Who needs to be warmed?!?!?!" says silly Jack
at our turnaround point on the trail.
"Warming? No way, I'm going to play & eat the deeper side powder!" demonstrates Zorro.
"No, really, I give up - what's a warming hut?!?!?!" adds still perplexed Rudy.

We did an "out & back" on the trail going by the Hallelujah Hut. Come along for the "back" leg as we ignore our "out tracks" to the left to use the right side of the trail to continue laying fresh tracks as we cruise by the hut. Watch as the snow gradually collects on the camera until it starts to blur. We love when the camera is blurred by active snowfall!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The end to another fun skijor day:

"Trails all to ourselves and now 'end of run pork treats' all to ourselves!" declare the happy trio.

A fun day laying "nordic freshies" all outing long: 5 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH.

2018/2019 Season to Date: 73 days on the trails covering 392.4 miles with 35,000 feet of elevation climbed.