Is it even a dog? Not interested.

Can you just feel the power behind the impressive sled dogs in this photo. Wheeee!

Flooring it up a slight rise in the trail as I glide behind powerful Jack & Rudy!

We started today's outing in the backcountry; but with recent warm days, cool nights and no new snow, the backcountry trails are getting a bit slick and icy. So, we dropped onto the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center after a short trot through the backcountry. The nordic trails were PERFECT. As you see above, Jack & Rudy were flooring it once we got onto safe terrain. All that speed, though, means you really need to roll snow angels to cool off during any pause in the outing :)

"Rub a dub dub, cooling our jets!" says the snow rolling sillies.
Talented Rudy is rolling AND eating snowcones at the same time :)

We love running into the groomers out on the trails. The drivers know us from years of skijoring and we typically have fun passing interactions with them. But, today, we came upon the groomer rounding a corner and did not have a chance to safely pass. So, my pals and I stepped off trail to let the groomer come on by as we all watched approvingly and waved (ok, I waved, not Jack & Rudy :)

"Hey dude! Thanks for the groom, we are going to zoom!" says
approving Jack & Rudy watching the groomer come on by.

Sure enough, behind the groomer is a freshly groomed trail. Jack & Rudy know what to do with a fresh groom: Groomie Zoomie!!!!

Catching air on the fresh groom. Wheeee!

We continued flying along the fresh groom until we started encountering other people coming up the trail. But, no need to slow down for oncoming traffic - fly on by!

"Coming through! Hi, bye, made you smile!" says Jack & Rudy to the
oncoming skier. The kids love entertaining the oncoming crowds
and flying on by.

Finally, let's get to my favorite part of this morning's outing. We start today's video highlight with a nice clip of Jack & Rudy towing me to the finish of this morning's awesome skijor outing. As we arrive at the trailhead, there is a little loose snack dog meandering about. Watch Jack & Rudy's great "not interested" reaction to the barking snack dog. "If you aren't working, pulling a human or pulling a sled, are you even a dog? Not interested!" is the reaction the pest gets from Jack & Rudy. Classic! Love it!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Everybody knows working dogs get "end of run treats" :)

"You have our full attention! Was that barking thing even a dog?" says
my wonderfully focused partners.

Beautiful outing once we got onto the great nordic trails: 9.3 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 65 days on the trails covering 500.3 miles with 47,600 feet of elevation climbed.

What

Nice trifecta in this beautiful photo: great views, freshly groomed trail and flying Zorro.

Perfect :)

First tracks on the freshly groomed nordic trails high up on Peak 7 of the Breckenridge
Nordic Center. 

Today's video clip has all kinds of interesting action. We start with Zorro and I flying around the freshly groomed terrain as we wind through curves leading to the trailhead to complete our run.

Next, as we approach the trailhead, I start slowing before the last curve so I can scan the terrain through the trees. Why scan? Well, this trailhead is known for having loose and often ill-behaved dogs. We put up with this annoying trailhead because the rest of the terrain is so fun; we just slow down, scan for bad dogs and avoid them when they are there. Anyway, all I saw was a single person walking down the trail with no bad dogs in sight. But, still, as we complete the turn to begin the final straightaway, I snowplow to rescan once more for bad dogs (the bad ones are typically lurking in the trees and will jump you). No dogs in sight so I let Zorro restart. But, as we approach, I suddenly notice the person on the trail is carrying a dog. Carrying?!?! What the **** is that? Anyway, no interest in finding out what the deal is with this large purse dog; so Zorro and I get under control and then fly by.

Finally, we come upon little Jack and Nancy waiting for us at the trailhead. "Hi Jackie!" we say as we continue by to finish at the trailhead gate.

So, here we go: fly then pause, scan, assess then fly again. Wheeee! Zorro is so good at listening to ignore and go on by!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

I love this clip of Zorro as we fly by the lady and the large purse dog:

"What the hell is that?!?! Keep it away from me!!!!" declares Zorro looking at the weird
purse dog and leaning right to make sure it stays away :)

Seriously, carrying a dog that large??? Note that the lady did not pick up the dog because she saw us coming, she had been carrying it since I could see the trailhead approach from before the last curve in the trail. Thus the label of the "largest purse dog".

At the trailhead to rejoin with little Jack. Look who has learned to look at the musher (and not the treat hand) at the end of the run!!!! Good boy, make eye contact and you get lots of accolades (and end of run pork treats too)!

"Hi!!!! I learned that 'eye contact' is good!!!" says happy little puppy Jack.

Fun shot of Zorro paused with me at one of the warming huts on the nordic center trails:

"No really - 'warming hut' - what the **** is that?!?!?!" smirks silly Zorro who has never been
cold in his life.

A fun, fun day on fast & freshly groomed nordic trails: 9.1 fast miles traveled with 750 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2017/2018 Season to Date: 28 days on the trails covering 202.8 miles with 17,400 feet of elevation climbed.

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