How Hot

How hot was it today? So hot that even Zorro rolled a snow angel to cool off!

Zorro rolling a rare snow angel to cool off at our high point of the outing.

It was in the upper 20s when we started our outing and upper 30s when we finished. That is "hot enough" for Zorro to declare snow angels in order. Max, of course, never misses a chance to roll a snow angel:

Rolling a snow angel while also tasting the snow - talented! :-)

It was an interesting route today connecting Indiana Creek to Boreas Pass. The route up Indiana Creek was a narrow, single file trail rising up around 1400 feet over 4 miles:

Max running lead on the "single file" trail up & out of Indiana Creek.

Gotta share the load - Zorro taking lead for a while as we are still climbing up
the narrow trail.

You will notice from the photos, that the guy in front during "single file skijoring" is doing a lot of work - both leading the pack and hauling the human! The guy in second slot has a loose gangline as he is "resting" while jogging along in this position. The reason to keep alternating lead...

Once we connected onto Boreas, it was the complete opposite of the route up. Boreas was a wide open super-packed trail. It was so packed in areas that it was closer to ice than a ski trail. Try putting yourself on skis on ice while connected to two Siberian engines - stopping is not always an easy or readily accomplished act!

Ice or trail? It is a fine line... 2 sprinting Siberians and 1 silly human wondering if
stopping is really a possibility :-)

Happy Huskies arriving (quickly) at the trailhead
after a "casual" 10 mile outing.

Today was day 6 of our "mini Iditarod" covering 10.1 miles with 1400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

Our total stats after 6 Iditarod days: 62.1 miles and 7150 feet of elevation climbed.

The GPS summary of the day's outing.

Huh

Another great day logging almost 12 miles skijoring in & around the trails by Good Times, with a great "huh?" moment from Max when I suggested ending the day :-)

Laying fresh tracks in 1-2 inches of snow on one of the lesser used trails in the area.

The following 2 photos are a classic from Max & Zorro...

We had been skijoring for about 9.5 miles nonstop when we took a quick break at this point
in the trail before heading back.
"I am having a GREAT time!" expresses happy face Max.
"Just getting warmed up, ready for more." declares Zorro.

Now, in between the previous shot and the next shot, I said, "Ok, let's head back." I use this command when we are on the approach to our finishing point but still too far away to use the "almost done" command. 99% of the time Max & Zorro take "let's head back" as a cue that we are in the final stretch of the outing and no need to conserve yourself. So, we were just over 9.5 miles into our outing today when I suggested "let's head back" to declare we where on the final 2 mile stretch - the photo below is the reaction my "let's head back" got today...

"Huh? No way, I misunderstood you! Why would we head back already?" says a puzzled Max.
"Poppycock! I see perfect trails we have not been on just behind you! Pure poppycock!"
 expresses a solemn Zorro determined to get on the trail behind me and continue on.
I wonder if we would ever "head back" if I left it up to Max & Zorro :-)

Other than my outrageous suggestion to "head back", it was a fast & fun outing today:

Laying fresh tracks and hauling me up a shallow incline - whee!

About a 1/2 mile from returning to the trailhead, Max & Zorro letting it all out as clearly
we got no exercise during the last 11 miles.

This was day 5 of our "mini Iditarod" covering 11.6 miles with 1400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 19 MPH (it sure felt faster than 19, but that's what the GPS recorded...)

Our total stats after 5 Iditarod days: 52 miles and 5750 feet of elevation climbed.

The GPS summary of today's outing.

Another Bluebird Day

It snowed all day Monday which led to an absolutely beautiful bluebird day today!

Pretty, pretty day with fresh snow all around us.

We have had 3 "11 mile outings" in a row, so today was a quick 7 mile light run. The Siberians were not impressed with that 7 mile decision. "What is wrong with 11 miles every day?!?" questioned Max & Zorro :-)

The views were stunning all day - both the "bluebird views" and the "pretty sled dogs" in front of me.

Laying fresh tracks as we approach Sally Barber Mine. Blue skies as far as the eye can see!

A fun sprint into a left, then a little lift into a right and finally full throttle on a

wide open straightaway - whee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Taking in the pretty day at our turnaround point.

This was day 4 of our "mini Iditarod" - a short day covering 6.9 miles with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

Our total stats after 4 Iditarod days: 40.4 miles and 4350 feet of elevation climbed.

A "short, but fast" outing for day 4 of our mini Iditarod.