Lane Change

Fresh powder in the backcountry this morning! Yay for Snow!!!

The fun kids blasting through some nice powder.

Technically, we only got about 1-2 inches of fresh snow overnight. But, it was also VERY windy. As a result, we encountered many deep, wind blown snowdrifts to blast through in the backcountry this morning. Come along for today's video highlight to see what I mean.

I really love the start of this video. Jack starts on the right of the team but then decides he wants to change lanes. Watch as he perfectly backs off, dips under the gangline and then thrusts forward to be back even with Rudy (but on the left side now) - TALENTED!!!! I love watching these occasional lane changes at high speeds from these talented kids! Then, after the lane change, watch as we gallop along while blasting through the occasional wind drift. Talented again - whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course, blasting through wind drifts is quite aerobic and warrants rolling snow angels to cool off when the opportunity arose:

"Aaaaah - rolling to cool the jet!" goes the snow rolling sillies.
I Love the snow Rudy has generated all around his head by dipping it in the
snow before flipping it up. Can't you just see the expression of bliss on
his happy, snow covered face!

Then, after blasting through wind drifts and rolling snow angels, it was time to floor it on the trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. The kids know what to do with a groomed nordic trail - zoom!

Catching air on the groomie zoomie!

It turns out we were FIRST tracks on the freshly groomed trail! It's hard to see that in the prior photo, but we were first tracks. As if often the case, if we are first tracks, then there is a groomer not far ahead of us to chase and catch. Jack & Rudy love catching up with the groomer!

"Caught it, caught it! We caught the groomer!" says the speedy kids.

As I've described and shown many times in the past, the groomer drivers know us from years of skijoring these trails and, eventually, they will pull over and wave us on to pass. But, we have to wait until the trail is wide enough to do so safely. As you see in the prior photo, the trail was exactly "one groomer wide" between trees when we caught the groomer. As a result, we had to slow down and trot behind for a bit before the trees thinned and the groomer paused to wave us on, so the video is pretty boring to watch until we can pass. As usual, as we passed, I gave the driver a wave & smile and he gave an enthusiastic wave & smile back.

While the wind gave us some nice drifts to blast through, it was also still blowing while we were out. Temperatures were near 10 (F) when we started with the wind chill being well below zero, probably approaching -10 (F). As a result, the wimpy human cut today's outing a little short to save himself. But, still a fun time had by all:

The freezing human handing out end of run treats to the perfectly
comfortable Siberian Huskies! :)

A fun albeit temperature shortened skijor: 4 miles traveled with 300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2025/2026 Season to Date: 50 days on the trails covering 304.4 miles with 32,200 feet of elevation climbed.

Fresh Tracks

Who was enjoying the wonderful fresh snow this morning?

"I am! I am!" exclaims happy Jack.
"You know if you ask I'll respond in song!" woos silly Rudy.

Today was a surprising and absolutely amazing day of laying fresh tracks in new snow.

We started in the Dry Gulch backcountry and, no surprise here, we were first laying fresh tracks in 4-6 inches of new snow. But, to our surprise and pleasure, we came across the occasional wind blown drift providing us upwards of 10 inches of snow (or more) to blast through for short distances. What fun!

Jack & Rudy blasting through one of the short-lived, but many, wind blown
drifts of fresh powder!

Now come along for the video counterpart to the prior photo. As you'll see, most of the outing was spent laying fresh tracks in 4-6 inches of snow. But, the occasional wind drift provided some nice powder caches to blast through. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We then dropped onto the trails of Gold Run Nordic Center to extend the day. Well, it was "surprising and amazing" as there was 2-3 inches of untouched, fresh snow over the otherwise groomed and packed upper nordic loop:

Jack & Rudy literally FLYING as we are laying fresh tracks on the
upper loop at Gold Run! What a treat.

Next it became "shocking and amazing" as we transitioned onto the popular and well-used main trail at the nordic center. What did we find? Well, once again, 2-3 inches of untouched, fresh snow over the nordic trail. We were laying fresh tracks on the busy main trail almost the entire distance! It wasn't until the last 1/2 mile or so that we finally encountered other tracks and people. I don't think we've ever been able to lay fresh tracks on this busy trail for almost the entire distance! Shocking!

Laying fresh tracks on the popular & (usually) busy main trail.
Shocking and amazing :)

We did have one turnaround point during the outing. Jack & Rudy were running hard in the fresh snow all morning long; so I fully expected dual snow angels from them to roll in the fresh snow to cool off. Yep:

"Ah, rub a dub dub!" goes the snow rolling sillies.

Laying fresh tracks in the backcountry and then almost the entire distance at the nordic center! Could it get any more surprising and amazing than today?

"No, you cannot top today's amazing outing!" states the happy & proud
kids awaiting their end of run treats.

Today's fresh tracks tally: 9.2 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2024/2025 Season to Date: 82 days on the trails covering 646.3 miles with 61,600 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Variety

A "different focus" from all at 'end of run' treats time :)

"Focused on your hands for treat time!" says Zorro.
"Focused on your head for treat time!' adds Jack.
"Focused on the treat bag, looks like enough!" contributes Rudy.

Today is my birthday and the whole crew (Zorro, Jack & Rudy) treated me to a very fun birthday bash. Come along for the highlights.

We found a cool stretch of trail with a high snow wall to our right and set tracks along each side of the trail. Zoom!

Cool shot of the snow wall next to Jack as we cruise along.

It was very windy yesterday, so we encountered long stretches of wind drifted deep snow to plow through!

Look at those deep snow holes behind powder hopping Jack & Rudy!

But, for every wind drifted stretch, there was a wind barren stretch (the snow had to blow from somewhere into the drifts :) Jack & Rudy took the barren stretches to open the throttle while I rode as far to the left as possible for my skis to be in a safe amount of snow!

The kids sprinting along a wind barren stretch.
Nice view of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley from us.
Just enough snow far to the left for me to stay upright on skis!

Of course, at turnaround time, Jack & Rudy showed me how much fun it would be to roll snow angels on your birthday :)

"Come on dad - join us!" says the snow rolling goofs.

Finally, for a real birthday treat, I got to ski slowly alongside retired Zorro to celebrate the end of another fun birthday bash. It was a real treat to finish next to special Zorro for a present - I sure miss the retired old man out on the trails! Thanks Zorro!

My present from Zorro!

A fun birthday skijor this morning across a wide variety of wind driven conditions! 7.3 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 45 days on the trails covering 353.8 miles with 33,900 feet of elevation climbed.