1300 Miles

Look at what Jack & Rudy accomplished this morning!

"And we thoroughly enjoyed EVERY single mile!!!" says the happy
and proud kids.

Yes, this is the fun kids' third straight season with over 1300 miles of skijoring! The 6 year olds actually have 5 straight seasons with over 1200 miles of skijoring; but it is just the last 3 that have surpassed 1300 as well. Quite the accomplishment for my young pals!

To top if off, guess what we got condition-wise to surpass 1300 miles this morning? Well, we found ourselves laying fresh tracks in 3-5 inches of fluffy new snow atop Vail Pass! I knew we were supposed to get a dusting of snow overnight, but I never expected it would turn into 3-5 inches of very light & fluffy snow. What a treat for late May!

We started the day weaving through some trees to enjoy the fresh snow. It takes a lot of confidence in your partners to go "tree skijoring" as you are winding through trees by voice commands. But, I totally trust Jack & Rudy!

Whee - laying fresh tracks weaving through the trees!

Eventually the trees thinned and we got to the vast open meadows atop Vail Pass. Conditions were mid Winter PERFECT at this elevation. Just look at this beautiful photo:

Is it May 22 or January 22?
The power twins blasting through upwards of 5 inches of fresh & fluffy snow.

We skijored up one side of a large ravine to then come back down the other side. So, we were laying fresh tracks ALL day long! The mountain views on the way back are quite stunning!

Still laying fresh tracks with cool mountain views ahead of us.
The "cuts" you see in the trees directly above Rudy are the ski runs
of Copper Mountain Ski Resort.

With such awesome views in the prior photo, we'll use that for today's video highlight. Come along and watch fun as we had an amazing fresh tracks skijor this May 22nd!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

You know what else fresh & fluffy snow is good for? Well, rolling snow angels with gusto, of course :)

Stop, drop and roll goes the silly kids at one pause during the outing.

What a beautiful way to surpass 1300 miles, right guys?

"Oh that was FUN! Glad summer only lasted 3 days!" says the happy kids
thrilled to be back on snow after 3 LONG days off :)

Today's fresh tracks fun: 8.4 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 154 days on the trails covering 1301.2 miles with 129,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Flirts

Can't you just feel the power behind strong Jack & Rudy in this photo?

The power twins putting all their strength into their shoulders to
launch me along. Wheeee!

We returned to Vail Pass again this morning. As with two days ago, we got out on the terrain before 7am in hopes that the Spring Crust was still firm early in the morning. Well, as you see in the photo above - success! The early morning crust was perfect again today as we were able to abandon set trails and skijor any and every direction we chose. 

Along the way and... It's a bird, it's a plane, it's super Jack & Rudy:

The power kids literally flying along. Beautiful airborne shot of Jack
and nice power shot of Rudy (looks at his shadow to see he is all four
feet off the ground too).

One of the fun attractions at Vail Pass is the backcountry huts where groups snowshoe and/or ski to and stay overnight. But, since we have to get out early in May for the crust, it is hit or miss whether any of the overnighters are up when we cruise by early in the morning. Well, today was "hut success" as we encountered quite a few overnighters up & about early. Jack & Rudy LOVE to flirt with the crowds and the crowds love to meet them too!

It started off with two kids - one for each :)

The flirts, Jack & Rudy, each taking one kid to play with!

Then the crowd grew. So many people to flirt with. What to do? Well, Jack will take multiple kids at once and Rudy will entertain the entire group singing his beautiful woos :)

"I'll take as many kids as want to touch me!" says cool Jack.
"I'll WOOOOO to entertain EVERYONE at once!" belts singing Rudy.

Once done flirting at the huts, it was time to head back to the trailhead. We had power and flying Jack & Rudy in the photos above, so let's add a hover husky to complete the day's action:

The hover huskies catching air with pretty Rocky Mountain views in front
of us.

Today's video highlight contains the previous hover husky shot. Come along and watch the kids having a blast flying along the perfect crust. Top speed in this clip? 22 MPH - wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the parking lot and the sillies found one of their tallest snow walls of the season to climb. I had to climb partway up too in order to get to their height!

"Treats taste better atop snow walls!" declares the funny kids.

Another wonderful Vail Pass crust morning with some great flirting along the way: 9.3 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 151 days on the trails covering 1275.7 miles with 126,800 feet of elevation climbed.

Early for Crust

We started this morning's skijor before 7am. Why? Well, the early bird gets the firm Spring Crust still available early in the day atop Vail Pass!

Beautiful, firm and endless Spring Crust atop Vail Pass as far as the eye
can see! Wheeee!

After an initial climb from the trailhead parking lot, we were treated to the endless Spring Crust and wove our way every which way atop Vail Pass this morning. While most of the top is wide open with very few trees, there is one half mile cool corridor through dense trees on each side of you. I love flying along this corridor behind Jack & Rudy. It was so much fun, we did it twice as we could turn right at the end of the corridor and come back up the other side of the trees until we got to the top of the corridor again.

Second pass through the fun tree corridor as you see my ski tracks from the
first pass under and next to Rudy.

Today we got a trifecta of entertainment from Rudy and a double feature from Jack. 

First item: with warm May temperatures, the kids are always ready to roll snow angels to cool off during any pause along the way:

Rub a dub dub, rolling to cool their jets :)

Second item (for Rudy), repeat for always rolling Jack: woos and angels at another short pause during the outing:

"Turnaround, roll around!" goes always rolling Jack.
"Turnaround, woos abound!" sings wooing Rudy.

If you look at the sky in the previous photos, you see it was a pretty overcast morning with lots of cloud coverage. But, for the last 10 minutes or so of the outing, the clouds parted and we got some great footage in the sun. This brings a conclusion to Rudy's trifecta and Jack's double feature:

The hover huskies catching air with cool lighting and shadows from the sun.
Rudy's trifecta: rolling, wooing, hovering.
Jack's double feature: rolling, hovering. Fun kids!

Today's video highlight will go along with the prior photo as it is always so much fun to watch Jack & Rudy run in the sun. Come along and watch the fun!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead and the creative kids were able to find a snow wall to climb for end of run treats! This trailhead parking lot gets plowed all winter so the snow walls last pretty long into the Spring melt:

"Ready!!!" says my focused and happy pals perched up on a wall for
end of run treats.

A wonderful Spring Crust early morning atop Vail Pass: 9.2 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 150 days on the trails covering 1266.4 miles with 125,800 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Return

We had so much fun skijoring the Spring Crust at Vail Pass yesterday that we returned to do it again today!

Jack & Rudy flying along the endless and wonderfully firm Spring Crust
atop Vail Pass!

The only difference between yesterday and today was today was heavily overcast skies whereas yesterday was a bright & sunny bluebird day. So, yesterday had lots of cool shadow effects in the photos while today was virtually shadowless; but the photos are still cool :)

We spent most of the day on the endless crust as you saw in the first photo. But, at our highest point of the outing, we turn towards the backcountry huts which are situated amidst some somewhat dense trees. But, the trees are sparse enough that you can weave through the trees continuing on the firm crust. I really enjoy this slalom through the trees behind Jack & Rudy!

Swooshing through the trees - wheeee!

With the overcast skies, it did not feel as warm as yesterday despite the actual temperature being slightly warmer. The sun at 11,000 feet above sea level adds significant "feel heat" that does not happen with thick clouds. As a result, Rudy took the chance to give us a song instead of rolling snow angels at one turnaround point of the outing:

"WOOOOOOOOO!" sings beautiful voice Rudy.
Jack, of course, ALWAYS rolls snow angels regardless of the weather
or temperatures :)

But, it is still May, so the temperatures were near to slightly above freezing. That did not go unnoticed by Rudy at our next turnaround point of the day!

"Turnaround! Roll around!' goes the snow rolling sillies.
Which legs are Jack's and which are Rudy's? Hard to tell :)

The majority of the day, though, was spent flying along the wonderful and endless Spring Crust:

Ears pinned back - nice aerodynamics from the fast running sled dogs!

Now come along for a minute of what it is like to abandon set trails and glide anywhere you want atop the firm Spring Crust. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Once back to the trailhead and the smart kids made a beeline for the same high snow wall they found to climb yesterday. They do not forget anything!

Perched high up for treats yet again!

Another fun day atop Vail Pass: 8.2 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 144 days on the trails covering 1226.3 miles with 121,600 feet of elevation climbed.

Vail Pass

Look who was very excited to be back on snow after a couple of days off:

"We are THRILLED!!!!!" states the super happy kids.

As we enter May, we have to start getting creative with our skijor outings. This time of year you will typically find us skijoring high mountain passes or high peaks. Well, today was Vail Pass and the conditions were perfect once we got up in elevation a bit:

Beautiful morning, beautiful Spring Crust, beautiful sled dogs :)

Now come along and witness the great conditions for yourself. Sure there were a few snowmobile tracks and ski tracks to cross. But notice now my pals know to cross these as close to perpendicular as you can. The smart kids know my skis have to be close to perpendicular for me to cross the frozen tracks safely. Smart and great partners!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

After an initial climb from the trailhead, we come upon the Shrine Huts - a series of backcountry huts that people rent by the night for a getaway into the backcountry (you have to ski or snowshoe to the huts as snowmobiles are not allowed). Sometimes we encounter some of the overnighters up mulling about in the morning. It is always fun to flirt with the hut occupants. But, today we were out pretty early as I wanted to be done before the temperatures got too warm and the Spring Crust softened. So, today we were going by the huts before 8am, so nobody was out & about for Jack & Rudy to flirt with. Oh well, we did see a handful of people waving at us from inside one of the huts.

Having fun jogging by one of the huts; but unfortunately we were too early
for anyone to be out & about yet.

After some fun cruising around all the huts, it was time to head back towards the trailhead. My timing was perfect for the Spring Crust as it held firm our entire outing and we were able to abandon set trails and go any direction we wanted. Fun!

Whee - what a perfect Spring Crust!

With warm May days, you know what we were going to get from Jack & Rudy at any pause or turnaround point.

"Stop, drop and ROLL!" goes the silly kids cooling their jets rolling on the snow.
Note the markers to the right: past the markers are the huts and the markers
designate the boundary for snowmobiles as they are not allowed to cross
and get to close to the huts.

Finally, back to the trailhead parking lot and the silly kids found one of their tallest snow walls of the season to climb for end of run treats. I had to climb partway myself just to get to their level :)

"We LOVE snow walls! Now how about those end of run treats?" asks the
snow climbing acrobats.

Gorgeous bluebird morning with a perfect Spring Crust on Vail Pass: 8.8 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 143 days on the trails covering 1218.1 miles with 120,700 feet of elevation climbed.

Warm

Still going on the Spring Crust at Vail Pass in May! Yay!

Fun shot of the fast running kids on an awesome stretch of spring crust.

It was unseasonably warm at Vail Pass this morning with temperatures right at freezing when we started the outing and rising as we went along. Of course, warm temperatures gets comical antics from the silly kids:

"So hot, must roll snow angels to cool off!" declares rolling Rudy.
"No, must roll snow angels AND eat snow cones!" adds goofy Jack :)

Unfortunately, the warm temperatures also had a negative effect. When we started the outing, the crust was firm and solid enough to support us. But, I did not think the crust was going to remain firm for long. So, I turned us around sooner that we typically do on runs at Vail Pass to get back while it was still firm. Well, it turns out I was too late. About 1/2 way back to the trailhead and Jack & Rudy started punching through the crust if running fast. So, I had to slow them to a gentle trot for the remaining of the outing so they would not punch deep into the snow from the force of running fast. The smart kids understood immediately why I slowed them down and they remained in a gentle trot the rest of the way.

Slowed to a gentle trot as you see footprints breaking through the crust
behind Jack & Rudy. At a gentle trot, they only left shallow prints in the
crust; but if we sped up, they would punch through deep.

But, as you see in the first photo above and one below, we did have a lot of fun on a firm crust before the last 25% of the outing. Wheeee!

Catching air going fast while the crust was still firm!

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo - a crust just barely firm enough to open up the skijoring throttle. Zoom!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Back to the trailhead a little behind schedule due to slowing down; but all outings earn end of run treats regardless of conditions and circumstances :)

"It was still toes on snow in May so we loved it!" declares the happy kids.

A quick outing racing the rising temperatures on Vail Pass this morning: 6.4 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 148 days on the trails covering 1308.5 miles with 119,800 feet of elevation climbed.

Perfect Crust

Who is having a GREAT time this morning?

"I am! I am!" exclaims happy Jack.
"Wooooo, I approoooove!" belts wooing Rudy.

The Spring Crust was PERFECT this morning at Vail Pass. I was a little worried it would not be firm enough to support us due to the overcast skies and humidity in the air. But, the temperatures were well below freezing and the crust was absolutely perfect. 

When there is a firm crust, we abandon set trails and skijor every which way across vast meadows. Such a fun time of year:

Perfect crust as far as the eye can see!

A little further along and the kids switched positions; but same results!

Vast, endless crust - wheeee!

At one point we were cruising along when the kids suddenly stopped on a dime and started furiously digging into the crust for rodents under the snow. The rodents must have been very loud for Jack & Rudy to snap to a "stop & dig" in unison!

"Pesky rodents! We smell & hear you, where are you?!?" asks the rodent
digging twins. Nice teamwork although they failed to catch any rodents :)

Near the end of the outing, the sun finally broke through the thick clouds. I love shots of Jack & Rudy flying along the crust when we have sun and shadows:

Catching air in the sun along the firm spring crust

Today's video highlight goes along with the prior photo. Come along for part of today's endless skijor in the sun on the firm & vast crust at Vail Pass!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Another great skijor and, yep, another snow wall for the kids to climb for end of run treats:

"You have our full attention!" declares the happy, happy kids.

A beautiful morning as we were able to abandon set trails and use the firm crust the entire outing! 9 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 143 days on the trails covering 1268.5 miles with 116,500 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Z Memories

Snow angels with a view from the comedians, Jack & Rudy, this morning :)

I guess I was the only one awestruck by the views from here :)

Our initial plan this morning was to skijor the spring crust to the backcountry huts on Shrine Pass above Vail Pass this morning. This initial plan was a great success:

Trotting by one of the backcountry huts.
Despite how nice the huts look from the outside, they have no water or
electricity and only fire for heat inside. Thus a backcountry hut.

Our main goal of the day was to get to the huts to sprinkle some of Zorro's ashes. Zorro LOVED skijoring to the huts all his life. He always had so much fun flirting with the overnighters in the huts who would often come out to see the crazy guy on skis with the pretty sled dogs. Jack, Rudy and I skijored around this particular hut and then paused to sprinkle Zorro. As expected, the event got woos for Rudy and smiles from Jack - that's how they interacted with Zorro :)

Sorry, I didn't realize that Jack was not completely on camera until I got home.
Anyway, Zorro's ashes coming out of the bag in the upper right of this photo
while Rudy sings a tribute and Jack flashes his beautiful smile in honor
of wonderful Zorro.

Skijor up the spring crust to the huts, success. Sprinkle wonderful Z's ashes, success. Our final plan was to then skijor back down the crust which is usually very solid this time of year.

Looking good to begin with.

Unfortunately the crust was not nearly as solid as we had hoped. It was nice at our highest point of elevation (see the photo above); but started getting soft within a few hundred feet of our planned descent. Once Jack & Rudy started punching through the crust, it was time to abandon this plan as that is dangerous to their feet, ankles, hips and shoulders. 

What to do? Well we gently trotted over to the main snowmobile trail that goes nearby the huts. The snowmobile trail is well packed from a season of grooming and snowmobiles. Yet, grooming operations are winding down at Vail Pass and with warm days and ongoing snowmobile traffic, the trail was pretty beat up. But, better to put wear & tear on my knees than Jack & Rudy's hips & shoulders :)

But, we did find this "minute of nice trail" where the right shoulder had not seen too much snowmobile use. Come along and watch this rare stretch of nice trail we had on the way down. Hey, a minute of nice is better than none at all :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Nice shot of airborne Jack & Rudy clipped from the prior video:

Boy do my knees wish the whole trail down was as nice as this stretch!

Back to the trailhead and there is still enough of a snow wall in the parking lot for Jack & Rudy to climb for end of run treats. I think Zorro would have really gotten a kick out of the kids new "climb snow walls for treats" this season. I'm sure Zorro would have said, "What a great idea!" and joined in!

"Don't overuse those knees, we'll come to you!" says the polite kids.

Not the best outing due to a punchy crust and rough snowmobile trail; but a great outing to spread a little of Zorro on one of his favorite skijor trails: 8.4 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 19 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 137 days on the trails covering 1216.0 miles with 111,200 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Fresh to Cat Tracks

What a beautiful "just after sunrise" shot of Jack & Rudy at Vail Pass this morning!

Catching air as we lay fresh tracks in an inch or so of fresh snow! 
What a great shot! :)

We skijored Wilder Gulch at Vail Pass this morning. As you see above, we started the day laying fresh tracks in a light layer of fresh snow. But, Vail Pass is very popular for both snowmobiles and snowcats that transport skiers to backcountry powder caches. Partway into our skijor to and up Ptarmigan Peak, we came across a snowcat transporting skiers to Ptarmigan Peak as well. We paused to let the snowcat go in front of us. I love this particular snowcat as it always cracks me up when we meet it...

"Cool paint job!" says impressed Jack.
I love this Scooby Doo themed snowcat!
Rudy was impressed too, he's just at my side watching the cat so not
in view of the camera.

But, letting the snowcat pass means Jack & Rudy get to play chase. They want to catch anything in front of them and they were very impatient waiting for me to give them "the release" so we could start the chase :)

"You don't pass us and get away with it!" declares the 'must catch anything
in front of us' brothers.

The final climb on Ptarmigan Peak to what is known as Ptarmigan Pass is very steep. As a result, the snowcat eventually outran us on steep, steep terrain. Today's "view shot" is us starting back down Ptarmigan after a very aerobic climb. Jack & Rudy really took off to enjoy the fast down after their hard work climb :)

Pretty views, zooming kids. Wheeee!

Once we turned around, we got to enjoy the fresh & soft snowcat tracks to run in. A couple of snowmobiles had also come up the same way. So today's video highlight is having a great time skijoring in soft/fresh snowmobile and snowcat tracks in Wilder Gulch. Come along and watch Jack & Rudy having a great time running and towing me in the soft tracks. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The turnaround guarantee: Jack will roll snow angels. The turnaround question of the day, will Rudy woo or roll angels? Angels won today!

"Ah, rub a dub dub!" goes the silly snow rolling kids.
The Scooby snowcat had turned right to Ptarmigan Peak while we continued
straight for a little ways longer. Thus, the kids got to roll snow angels in fresh
snow instead of in snowcat tracks (as they would prefer :)

The other guarantee of the day at Vail Pass? Well Jack & Rudy will climb the snow wall in the parking lot to get end of run treats from me in a standing position. This is their new trick this season. Silly kids :)

Nice that I can stand and hand out treats (instead of kneeling) as Jack & Rudy
prop themselves on a high snow wall.

A really beautiful morning with tons of fun action for Jack & Rudy: 9.6 miles traveled with 1200 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 116 days on the trails covering 1028.8 miles and 93,700 feet of elevation climbed.