Hover

Our first "hover husky trio" shot. Impressive guys!  :)

The airborne "hover husky trio" flying along the fast trail. Impressive synchronization!!!

We started the day on a well traveled side trail that had a dusting of new snow for us to lay fresh tracks. Rudy's first time on this fast & fun trail.

A tight 3-pack of sprinting sled dogs laying fresh tracks. Wheeee!

The day's goal was to eventually connect onto the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. I have been waiting for these trails to be open for the season as they are PERFECT training trails for young Rudy. It is pretty much flat or downhill the entire time with only 2 little uphill lifts. The trails have lots of sun exposure and are lower in elevation than our typical trails; thus the reason it took until December for them to be ready to run.

It was worth the wait, as I was right that these are perfect trails to train Rudy (and even Jack) how to really uncork the skijoring engine. Proof? Well, we hit a top speed of 20 MPH today on these trails. This was both Jack & Rudy's first 20 MPH skijor. Wow. I knew it would come to Jack soon, but 20 MPH already for Rudy? This kid is a sled dog machine!

Back when Rudy was only 6 months old, I took him for a short jog/run by himself. When I was done, I told Nancy, "My goodness, this kid has a stride like I've never seen before. He is beyond impressive and will be a monster on the trails!" Well, I was right, Rudy is impressively smooth at his young age. Imagine as he continues to mature!

Come along for today's fast & fun video clip as we are flying along the groomed trails at Gold Run Nordic Center. Zorro has topped 24 MPH by himself on this trail before and Max & Zorro had topped 27 MPH. So, I expect us to keep setting speed records for Jack & Rudy on this terrain as the 2 continue to grow and mature. Zoom!

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We are still taking lots of breaks when young Rudy is with. You know what that means?

"Stopped.... Rolling..." demonstrates silly Jack.
"He's a goof! Are you sure I am the young one?" asks Rudy.
"Why stopped, look at the fresh snow in front of us!" declares Zorro.

Done with the day's short & easy run - how's everyone feeling?

"We are VERY proud of ourselves!" say the fast & furious trio :)

Our first "hover husky trio" and, impressively, our first 20+ MPH outing with the youngsters: 3.1 miles traveled and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2018/2019 Season to Date: 16 days on the trails covering 80.4 miles with 7350 feet of elevation climbed.

Side Trails

Uncorking the skijoring trio atop Rabbit Ears Pass this morning. Wheeee!

Zorro sprinting point down the center as Jack & Rudy are in sprint tucks hanging off Zorro's sides.

Today was a first for little Rudy skijoring. To date, all of his training runs had been on trails that are roads in the summer. As a result, the trails had been wide, flat under the snow and well established. Well, today Rudy got his first side trail experience. We started skijoring Rabbit Ears Pass on the established wide trail when we found a solo snowmobile track going off into the forest. I directed the trio to the right and we proceeded to run this side trail winding through the trees. Rudy was perfect, he dropped right into the snowmobile track and ran alongside Zorro & Jack!

Following a solo snowmobile track just wide enough for the trio to run side by side.

As I mentioned, we started the day on the wide & established trails. There was just enough new snow (only a 1/2 inch or so) to allow us to uncork the skijoring engine and go, go, go. Come along and watch the fun:

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One of two breaks at the Rabbit Ears Pass marker...

"Listening... I'm such a lead dog!" declares Zorro with all attention on me.
"We stopped, I'm rolling!" demonstrates silly, albeit consistent, Jack.
"I don't think we need so many breaks anymore!" announces yawning Rudy trying to
let me know we can stop taking so many training breaks on our runs :)

End of the outing, time for the end of run pork treats:

"Still focused on you!" declares Zorro.
"<smack> I can taste them already!" demonstrates Jack.
"Hehe, I had a blast today!!!!" says happy Rudy.

Another fun short & easy training run with Rudy but adding "narrow side trails" to his growing bag of tricks: 3.2 miles traveled with 250 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 16 MPH.

2018/2019 Season to Date: 15 days on the trails covering 77.3 miles with 7250 feet of elevation climbed.

Fresh and First

Taking a break in deep powder as we scan the forest for moose.

Come out, come out wherever you are!!!

The meadow in front of us is a known moose habitat and Zorro & Jack KNOW it!!!
"We smell you, where are you?!?!?!" ask the moose scanning pair.

It was a great day of skijoring as we were laying fresh tracks in 2-4 inches of snow on backcountry trails and setting first tracks on perfect terrain in the groomed country. Beautiful mix of perfect conditions all day long!

We had 2-4 inches of new snow overnight, so we started the day laying fresh tracks in the new snow:

Zorro kicking up powder all around him while Jack is gliding through too! Fun!

After laying fresh tracks in the backcountry, we connected with the groomed trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. We were first tracks on the newly groomed trail - zoom!

Flying Siberians along the freshly groomed trail!

Back to the start of the day - come along and watch as Zorro & Jack are galloping through 2-4 inches of new snow as I glide behind. Love laying fresh tracks!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Of course Jack rolled snow angels during our quick midpoint break.

"You are silly, silly, silly!" comments Zorro.
"But... You LOVE skijoring with meeeeeee!" adds Jack mid snow angel.
"Ok, I do, but you are still SILLY!" replies Zorro :)

Finally, a rare "puppy moment" from wily old Zorro. Jack dove off trail to hunt for rodents in the deep snow. Typically Zorro will simply roll his eyes at such "puppy behavior"; but today the rodents must have been 'fresh' as Zorro quickly leapt over Jack to dunk for rodents too!

Headless rodent hunters :)

Fresh tracks, first tracks and comedy in between: 9.2 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 19 MPH.

2018/2019 Season to Date: 14 days on the trails covering 74.1 miles with 7000 feet of elevation climbed.