Rec Path

The happy sled dogs flashing their beautiful smiles for the camera as we concluded this morning's fun skijor outing:

"Hi Mom! We had a BLAST today!" says the happy kids flashing their
smiles to Nancy with the camera on the side of the trail.

Today was our first outing this season skijoring the Blue River Recreation Path from Breckenridge to Frisco (the next town north of Breckenridge). The kids were juiced to GO this morning as we hadn't skijored the rec path yet this season. See what I mean:

Catching air at the start of the day's outing. Wheeee!

Come along for the video evidence of Jack & Rudy "shot out of a cannon" to start today's outing. The clip starts with us stopped as I am completing getting my gear in order. Then I give the "ok" and like a cannon shot we go. We slow slightly to cross a bridge over the Blue River and then boom again once we are off the bridge and back on solid ground. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

This route is fun as it mirrors both the Blue River and Highway 9 which go from Breckenridge to Frisco. Many times the rec path is close enough to the highway that we gets approving honks and even people rolling down their windows to holler in approval. Jack & Rudy love putting on a show for the highway riders!

Whee - flying along as you can cars on Highway 9 to our right.

Along the way, we have to a few side streets intersection the rec path from Highway 9. Each such road crossing has me taking off my skis, crossing the exposed road and then putting the skis back on. I'm pretty fast at getting the skis off; but I'm slower in getting them back on. Well, Jack & Rudy make full use of every pause to re-attach the skis: Stop, Drop and Roll!!!

The funny kids rolling snow angels while I put my skis back on after crossing
the road leading into the Breckenridge Building Center.
They never miss a chance to Stop, Drop and Roll :)

Eventually we get to the Adventure Park at the south end of Frisco. As we enter the park, we pass by a (very distracting :) stable. Jack & Rudy do run on by the stable; but it also gets their FULL attention, especially Jack!

4 horses in view to our right. Jack is FULLY aware of the cluster of horses.
Rudy gave a slight glance to the horses; but Jack is always the most distracted
by them :)

Finally, down to the trailhead parking lot and even lower elevation Frisco (lower than Breckenridge) has snow walls to climb for end of run treats:

"Such a fun day! We love running the rec path!" says the happy & focused kids.

What a fun way to travel from Breckenridge to Frisco: 8.4 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 63 days on the trails covering 481.7 miles with 45,500 feet of elevation climbed.

Breck to Frisco

Starting our outing today on the Blue River Recreation Path as we skijored from Breckenridge, CO to Frisco, CO. Wheeee!

Catching air to start the day. Powerful and fast kids!!!!

If you look closely at the prior photo, you can see the following: 1) a bridge ahead of us where we will cross over the Blue River running between Breckenridge and Frisco; and 2) just above the bridge is a semi truck on Highway 9 that also runs between Breckenridge and Frisco.

Once we crossed that upcoming bridge in the prior photo, the rec path then mirrors both Highway 9 and the Blue River going from Breck to Frisco. Along the way we get many opportunities to skijor close enough to Highway 9 that cars notice us and honk and holler/cheer at the crazy sled dogs propelling the dude on skis quickly along the rec path :)

Close enough to Highway 9 to attract attentions and cheers from
cars on the highway.

We had some chores to do in Frisco this morning, so Nancy dropped us off on the rec path and drove to Frisco to do the chores. Jack, Rudy and I, on the other hand, skijored from Breckenridge to Frisco. The question was, would Nancy finish the chores before or after Jack & Rudy towed me quickly from one town to the next. Well, the rec path gets groomed a few times a week. When it is freshly groomed, we go so fast that I am sure we would have beat Nancy. But, take a look at the prior and next photo and you'll see the path was not recently groomed and a little beat up in areas. Not a problem but it did slow us a little bit.

This is about as close as we get to the highway from the rec path.
Today was our first every "approving honk" from a bus! What fun!

Along the way several roads and driveways turn from Highway 9 and cross over the rec path. At each such road crossing, I must take off my skis, cross the road and then put the skis back on. Well, I'm super fast at getting the skis off but never fast enough for Jack & Rudy to put them back on. So, we get this after each road crossing while I put my skis on:

The silly kids rolling snow angels while they wait for me to put my
skis back on after crossing the driveway from Highway 9 into the
Breckenridge Building Center.

The grooming of the rec path is done as follows: 1) the Gold Run Nordic Center (in Breckenridge) grooms about 2/3rds of the rec path from Breckenridge to Frisco; and 2) the Frisco Nordic Center grooms the last 1/3 from the handoff point from Gold Run to Frisco. While we did not get a fresh groom on the "gold run stretch" we DID get a very recent groom on the "frisco stretch" - so fun to floor it this last 1/3 of the outing. 

As we approach the finish in Frisco, we pass by a stable with lots of horses & mules nearby. This always distracts Jack & Rudy; but they simply "glance & fly by" (most of the time :)

Stables to the right while Jack & Rudy continue fast to catch air while
glancing towards the stables.

Today's video highlight goes along with the prior photo. Come along and watch as we are skijoring the recently groomed "frisco leg" of the morning. After whipping around a few fun corners, the stable will come into view to our right. If your volume is up, you'll hear me giving Jack & Rudy a little verbal encouragement to keep running on by the stable. Well, as you'll see in the video: success - speeding by the stable with only the slightest of glances at all the horses! Good boys!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Jack & Rudy really enjoy this sprint from Breckenridge to Frisco - see for yourselves:

"We had a BLAST!" says the happy, happy kids awaiting end of run treats
from atop a little snow wall.

If you're curious: Nancy beat us to the meeting point today - primarily due to the somewhat choppy and beat up trail conditions the first 2/3rds of the outing. We'll race again and I know we can beat her if the conditions permit :)  8.4 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 82 days on the trails covering 686.4 miles with 65,800 feet of elevation climbed.

Special Ride

This morning's skijor started before sunrise by the dim light of dawn.

Barely enough dawn light to get out on the trails; but we did it!

Why such an early start? I had an all day seminar to attend in Frisco (the town just north of Breckenridge). Originally I thought we would not skijor this morning due to my early commitment. But, I was out running the snowblower 2 days ago just before 7am and I noticed, "Hey, sunrise is 7:20ish but there is enough light just before 7:00 to skijor by the light of dawn." Well, it just so happens that there is the Blue River Recreation Path going from Breckenridge to Frisco which is a cross country ski trail in winter. So, Jack, Rudy and I got out before sunrise to skijor me to Frisco for my seminar (Nancy, then drove to Frisco to bring Jack & Rudy home). What a genius plan!

Imagine my delight during every break in the seminar to say to other attendees, "Guess how I got here today?" Puzzled, all would say, "Uh, how?" to which I'd respond "By skijoring; Jack & Rudy towed me from Breckenridge to here for this meeting!" That answer would get wide-eyed and stunned responses from everyone I said it to. What a fun and special ride to my seminar!!!!

Anyway, back to skijoring. The rec path from Breckenridge to Frisco mirrors both Highway 9 and the Blue River (thus its name). At various points we swing close enough to Highway 9 for cars driving to Breckenridge to see us. We always get approving honks and cheers from any open windows as the oncomers see me zipping along under Jack & Rudy power!

Right around sunrise at this point as we swing close enough to Highway 9
to our right to entertain the highway travelers.

Along the way, the recreation path has 4 different road crossings where I must remove my skis, walk across the road and then put the skis back on. Well, I'm pretty fast at popping my skis off so that goes quick with Jack & Rudy barely pausing. But, on the other side of the road, I am much slower and putting my skis down and stepping into the bindings. I'm actually quite fast at this by "skier standards" but am also quite slow by "Siberian Husky standards" - just ask Jack & Rudy.

"If you are going to be that 'slow', we are going to roll snow angels
to entertain ourselves!" went the snow rolling goofballs at all
4 road crossings today :)

Then, as we arrive in Frisco, we always get the entertaining "fly by the stables" skijoring from Jack & Rudy. The horses are distracting to them but not as distracting as moose or elk which bring them to a standstill :)

"Look at all the horses! But not a moose, keep going!" demonstrates
the distracted but not stopping fun kids.

Today's video highlight? How about going back to the beginning. Come along as we start this morning's skijor by the dim light of dawn and take off along the rec path to deliver me to my seminar in Frisco! Such fun!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, in Frisco to hand Jack & Rudy off to Nancy but we must share end of run treats first!

"Thanks for letting us be your delivery vehicle this morning!" says the
happy kids awaiting end of run treats.

What a fun ride to work today: 8.2 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 66 days on the trails covering 555.8 miles with 54,200 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Recpath

Cruising along the Blue River Recreation Path connecting Breckenridge to Frisco this morning!

Providing great entertainment for the cars on Highway 9
between Breckenridge & Frisco.

Jack & Rudy love skijoring the recpath from Breckenridge to Frisco. The path mirrors the Blue River along the way and also mirrors Highway 9 going from Breckenridge to Frisco. We often get honks, waves and cheers from the cars seeing the powerful sled dogs towing me along. It was windy & snowy this morning, so the car windows were up; but we did get two "honks & waves" from two vehicles. Fun!

Jack was REALLY ready to go this morning. He loves this route! Rudy was ready too, just not as READY as Jack. Come along and watch the start to this morning's outing as Jack practically shoots out of a cannon to start the day. Whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Along with entertaining the cars on Highway 9, we get a bunch of other fun activities along the way. We have three bridge crossings as the recpath moves from one side of the Blue River to the other.

Jack & Rudy keeping stride as we cross over the Blue River.

The recpath intersects 3 roads along the way. The roads are plowed, of course, so I have to take my skis off to cross each time. Skis on/off requires stopping obviously. So, we get the usual from Jack & Rudy at each stop :)

Stop, drop and roll while I put my skis back on!

Then, as we get to the edge of Frisco, we pass by a VERY distracting stables. Jack & Rudy run on by, but not without paying close attention to the horses :)

"Hey, I'm still running!" demonstrates talented Jack inspecting the 
horses as he keeps going.

Finally, we get to enjoy end of run treats in the parking lot of the Frisco Nordic Center.

"You have our complete attention!" declares my cute partners.

Fun day skijoring from Breckenridge to Frisco: 8.7 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 61 days on the trails covering 526.5 miles with 46,400 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Trail Food

Laying fresh tracks along the Blue River Recreation Path from Breckenridge to Frisco as we entertain the cars on Highway 9 along the way :)

Jack & Rudy cruising along the rec path.
Me waving at cars honking & cheering :)

Skijoring from Breckenridge to Frisco along the rec path is always very fun as Jack & Rudy have lots of opportunities to floor it and entertain the crowds we see along the way. 

Today, though, had an extra treat along the way: fresh frozen deer leg (with some meat still intact)!!!

"Yum, yum!" says Rudy taking a taste of deer of the leg we found in the snow.
"Rolling in deer juice while nibbling on the leg is the best!" adds goofy Jack.

Whenever I encounter animal parts on the trail, I will toss them off trail to be nice to others. Jack & Rudy are always perplexed at my decision to "lift & toss" the animal parts. They start out convinced I am lifting it for them and then are dismayed when I toss the piece of carcass off the trail. See for yourself:

"Yum! Thanks for picking it up!" declares deer tasting Jack.
"Nice! Bring it a little closer please!" adds 'ready to chomp' Rudy.

After getting some pretty astonished looks when I tossed the leg off trail, it was time to restart skijoring again. Nothing like a wide open perfect trail to refocus speedy Jack & Rudy back to skijoring instead of snacking on trail food :)

Zipping along laying fresh tracks as we skijor along the shores
of Lake Dillon.

But then, just as we are over the "trail treats", we encounter the stables as we transition from the recreation path and into the trails of the Frisco Adventure Park. More trail food?

"Those burros & horses look yummy too!" suggests Jack.
"Na, too far away, let's keep going!" adds 'less distracted' Rudy.

And here we go, skijoring along the rec path and into the adventure park and then on by the (very distracting) stables. Good 'on by' Jack & Rudy! Come along and watch the fun:

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Another fun, fun day to report to our favorite retired mentor, Zorro:

"You have my full attention!" says focused Zorro.
"King of the Mountain!" declares silly Jack.
"Chilling back here; how about more deer meat?" asks Rudy.

Our usual "Breckenridge to Frisco" fun on the rec path but with a little added deer meat treat along the way: 8.3 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 77 days on the trails covering 629.5 miles with 59,050 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Breck to Frisco

The Blue River Recreation Path from Breckenridge to Frisco was in PERFECT condition this morning!

What a fun run! Wheeee!

Jack & Rudy flying along the groomed rec path as we entertain cars
on Highway 9 to our right.

The rec path from Breckenridge to Frisco is a very entertaining skijor for us. We only get to do it a few times a year as the path is very sun exposed and our destination of Frisco, CO is a few hundred feet lower in elevation than Breckenridge. As a result, the path can melt quickly from sun and has less snow coverage down in Frisco than Breckenridge. But, when the path has good coverage, it is a very fun skijor for all of us. 

The path parallels both the Blue River and Highway 9 from Breckenridge to Frisco. A few times we are close enough to the highway to really entertain the cars coming by. We always get approving honks and cheers from open windows as people see us flying along the rec path. I'd LOVE to see this myself from a car driving by :)

The fast kids putting on a show for the cars on Highway 9 as we cruise
along at around 20 MPH ourselves. Wheeee!

There are a handful of "danger crossings" along the way as a few side streets cross over the rec path from Highway 9.  We have to slow and cross some of these very carefully (with me on skis) while a few others require me to take my skis on/off. Well, the on/off crossings mean I stop and, of course, my stopping leads to a 'stop, drop and roll' from the snow angel addicts:

You stopped, we roll!
You can see the road I need to cross in front of us before the
rec path starts again.,

Eventually, the rec path takes us into the town of Frisco. As we transition into Frisco, we go right by the stables at the Frisco Adventure Park. This always fascinates Jack & Rudy and takes all their self control to run on by. What good boys!

Look at that "stables distraction" to our right! But, also look at perfect
Jack & Rudy cruising on by!

Today's video highlight is a cool clip of Jack & Rudy towing me on the recreation path through the Frisco Adventure Park with the stables that we have to run on by. You'll see Jack back off the gangline a bit once he gets a whiff of the stables. But, then he quickly catches back up with the team as we zip on by the stables (with some verbal encouragement from me to ignore the stables and keep going forward :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Such a fun ride behind the Jack & Rudy tow rope from Breckenridge to Frisco. Remember this great time Zorro?

"You bet, I loved running the rec path back in my younger years too!" says focused Zorro.
"We had a blast!!!" adds happy & focused Jack & Rudy.

Whee - what a fast & fun ride: 8.5 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 58 days on the trails covering 462.2 miles with 43,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Smudge

Laying fresh tracks as we entertain the cars on Highway 9 watching us skijor the Blue River Recreation Path from Breckenridge to Frisco.

Zipping along and providing a nice show for the
cars on Highway 9 to our right.

Unfortunately, most of today's skijor footage is blurred by a big smudge on the camera. It turns out a ball of slush came off Jack or Rudy's feet, hit the camera, and became a blurry spot the rest of the outing. I did not know this had happened until after we got home and I looked at the video footage.

A big smudge on the camera from slush flying off the
feet of the kids in front of me :)

Despite the ugly smudge on the camera, I still wanted to show the nice teamwork from Jack & Rudy. Come watch as we come upon one of the road crossings we encounter on the route from Breckenridge to Frisco. All it takes is a little "Easy, easy" request from me and Jack & Rudy slow to cross the frozen road slowly and gently. Then, once back a solid trail and OFF we go again! Great teamwork preserving the human on the road crossing! These two really understand trail conditions and will slow to keep me safe and upright on sketchy terrain!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We do have to stop a few times along the way to navigate over exposed ground. Well, you know what Jack & Rudy do at any "stop" on the trail :)

Stopping is roll around time!

As we near the end of the outing, we pass by a stable in Frisco. The horses certainly get Jack & Rudy's attention, but not enough of a distraction to stop.

Checking out all the horses as we fly on by the stables!
Good boys!

At least Nancy's camera did not have a big smudge, so we get a nice & clear 'end of run' shot with Zorro.

"I see the bag of treats!" says focused Zorro.
"Fun day - sorry we pelted the camera with slush!" adds Jack & Rudy.

A fun skijor from Breckenridge to Frisco along the Blue River Recreation Path: 8.3 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 112 days on the trails covering 915.8 miles with 78,250 feet of elevation climbed.

To Frisco

Two very happy and satisfied sled dogs after we skijored from Breckenridge to Frisco:

"Beautiful morning, great day! What fun we had!" declares the happy and
satisfied Jack & Rudy.

This morning's skijor took us on the Blue River Recreation Path that connects Breckenridge to Frisco. The rec path is a pretty flat trail with a few uphill sections and a gentle downgrade towards Frisco. There are lots of entertaining tidbits along the way. Come along for the ride:

We start the outing paralleling the Blue River and Highway 9 between Breckenridge and Frisco. We often get approving honks and cheers from open windows of cars on Highway 9.

Jack & Rudy putting on quite the show for all the cars on Highway 9 to our right.

Come and watch the fun for this stretch of the outing. How cool would it be to be driving along Highway 9 and get to witness these 2 impressive sled dogs towing the human along?

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Eventually we drift away from Highway 9 and cruise behind Summit High School:

Summit High ball field to our right with the high school itself a bit ahead
and to our right.

After cruising by the high school, we drift back towards Highway 9 and eventually pass under it. Once on the right of Highway 9, we find ourselves trotting along the shores of Lake Dillon:

Frozen and snow covered Lake Dillon to our right.

After following the shores of Lake Dillon, we once again drift back towards Highway 9 until we get to the outskirts of Frisco. Once in Frisco, we conclude the outing skijoring through the trails of the Frisco Adventure Park. Along the way, we get to zoom by the stables and take in all the horses and mules to our right:

Still going fast, but you see how focused Jack & Rudy are on the animals in the
stables too! "Fascinating, but not a moose, so no reason to stop!" declares the
duo flying on by the stables :)

Finally, we get to tell elder Zorro all about the fun day as we share group 'end of run' treats!

"So much fun today; but you have our FULL attention!" says the focused trio.

A beautiful morning for an entertaining skijor from Breckenridge to Frisco: 8.3 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 55 days on the trails covering 432.3 miles with 38,100 feet of elevation climbed.