Lets Go

Today's skijor outing had "equipment issues" at the start which lead to classic "we have no patience, let's go" from Max & Zorro.

"Booooooring, boooring, can we go yet?" asks yawning with impatience Zorro.
"Can we go YET?!?" says wooing Max.

I was having a problem with one of my ski bindings as it had frozen into the closed position before I could get my boot attached for the day. Temperatures at the trailhead were single digits and the binding must have gotten wet and then quickly frozen while I was getting my other equipment ready.

Max & Zorro are typically pretty patient at the trailhead waiting for the musher to get ready. But, patience has a limit and they always let me know when I have gone beyond their limit! After giving me the "yawn & woo" treatment above, Max took it one step further as you see below:

"You're killing us! LET'S GO!" says Max the bucking bronco showing his impatience and
testing if Nancy can really hold him back while I try to get my ski bindings working.
Nice work by Nancy to keep hold of the wild beast :)

Once we finally got started, it was a great day on the trails at Rabbit Ears Pass. We did the same route as yesterday with two modifications. First, we carved the trail in the fresh snow yesterday, so we got to re-use our tracks again today. Second, the temperatures remained in the teens and single digits for the entire evening, night and early morning; so all the mud & puddles from yesterday were frozen ground and ice today - yay!

Zoom, zoom - following the track we set yesterday!

With the improved conditions over yesterday, though, that meant we out-skied our set track and had a couple miles of laying fresh tracks too - wheeee!

Further than we made it yesterday - fresh snow for all!

We did hit one hidden puddle which caused me to stop and clean my skis before continuing. Everyone ready to go again?

"Yep, glad you are back on track!" says happy little Zorro.
"I cannot believe this guy, will we make any progress today?!?" says the 'still impatient with
my behaviors of the day' Max

Quick pause to check the GPS before restarting once more. Everyone ready?

"Yep and I am so happy we finally covered some serious terrain!" expresses happy Max.
"Asked & answered - will you just get going!" states Zorro.

Nice October conditions leading to a 8.9 mile outing with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2014/2015 Season to Date: 6 days on the trails covering 43.7 miles with 5050 feet of elevation climbed.

October Freshies

A great October day laying fresh tracks on Rabbit Ears Pass!

Breaking trail and laying fresh tracks in 5-7 inches of fresh October powder - wheeee!

A storm blew into Colorado Sunday night into Monday morning and we decided to check the snow accumulation at Rabbit Ears Pass. Great decision as we spent the day laying fresh tracks in 2-8 inches of snow all day long!

Another beautiful stretch untouched, fresh snow. You can see the "snow troughs" behind
Max & Zorro showing the tracks they are laying in 4-5 inches of snow.

Before you get too impressed by the first two pictures above, remember that it is still October. That means that "early season conditions" are to be expected at all times. Today's primary obstacles were puddles not yet frozen and covered in snow (as they will be in November). See for yourself:

"Eek! Look at the puddle danger!" exclaims water averse Zorro taking the high road far to the
left to make sure he does not touch any water. "It's just a little water bro," says go-with-the-flow
and power through puddles Max.

The biggest problem with "puddle obstacles" is that it creates wet & heavy snow near any puddle which causes skis to become sticky and hard to glide (you have to lift up/down like snowshoes instead of typical gliding on skis). Oh well, it is better than no snow at all!

Time to turnaround, everyone having fun?

"Great day!" says happy little Zorro.
"Yes, but I think we should keep going!" says 'less than impressed' with the turnaround
command Max.

Quick stop to scrape mud & heavy snow off my skis. Everyone ready to go again?

"Absolutely, glad you fixed those silly skis!" says happy Max.
"Going...." demonstrates 'all business' Zorro.

A great day laying fresh tracks albeit somewhat slowed by sticky snow around the many puddle obstacles: 7.2 miles with 750 feet of elevation climbed.

2014/2015 Season to Date: 5 days on the trails covering 34.8 miles with 4150 feet of elevation climbed.

Just Enough Snow

Just enough snow to take the sled for a spin on Vail Pass this morning.

Talking to my pals at our turnaround point of the day...
"Enough snow for me to have a GREAT time!" expresses happy Max.
"I see more snow, let's go!" says Zorro surveying our surroundings.

We got a dusting of new snow at home Tuesday night; but awoke to see more than a dusting on the traffic cams at Vail Pass. So, we all piled into the Jeep quickly and headed up to Vail Pass to make use of the snow. Unfortunately there was only 2-4 inches of new snow and Vail Pass is still open to cars. This meant we had to use the sled instead of skis for our quick morning run. Oh well, the sled on snow is better than no snow!

Our "start point" near the top of Shrine Pass at Vail Pass.
Enough snow for the sled; but not enough for the skis (especially with the tire tracks).
Off we go - wheeee!

A great shaded (and, thus, snow covered & frozen) straightaway to uncork the Siberians.

Still shaded & frozen, but you can see the trucks have been cutting down to dirt in many places. Boo!

And the occasional "UGH!" as the vehicles have destroyed the snow and brought dirt
and mud to the surface!

Our funny encounter of the day... As we were sledding up Lime Creek, Max & Zorro's "wildlife sensors" started firing and you could tell they had the scent of fresh deer or elk. At about the same time, a hunter was coming down the road in his truck (it is "hunting season" on Vail Pass until mid November). I stopped the sled and pulled Max & Zorro off to the shoulder to let the truck pass and the 2 of them happily oriented themselves in the direction of the fresh deer or elk scent. As the hunter passed, we have the following exchange: "Nice dogs, you seen any deer or elk tracks this morning?" ask the hunter. "Thanks and no I have not; but there MUST be deer or elk nearby or these two [pointing at Max & Zorro] would not be this animated." I responded. "Hmmmmm..." he pondered and then put his truck in park, took out his rifle and headed down into the trees in the direction Max & Zorro were intensely pointed and watching. As I started to get Max & Zorro re-oriented back on the trail, I heard two gunshots. Guess the hunter had success, thanks to the fine wildlife tracking and pointing skills of Max & Zorro. What talented sled dogs :)

A nice day (for October) to get the sled out on the trails for a 6.9 mile run with 550 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2014/2015 Season to Date: 4 days on the trails covering 27.6 miles with 3400 feet of elevation climbed.