Endless Tracks

We found a set of snowmobile tracks to follow for miles & miles & miles at Harrison Creek atop Rabbit Ears Pass this morning.  Zoom!

A pair of snowmobile tracks making for an endless skijor
with Jack & Rudy this morning!

We were on the same trail this morning as yesterday. But, yesterday we were first tracks on the trail laying fresh tracks and breaking trail for an aerobic workout. This morning, though, we found a set of snowmobile tracks on the same trail. So, we switched from yesterday's "trail setting aerobics" to an endless marathon following the set tracks today.

Nice shot of flying Jack & Rudy with some nice views of the rest
of Colorado below at to our right.

There are still early season hazards sprinkled throughout the terrain. But, Jack & Rudy are perfect at navigating around hazards. I rarely have to say anything as they automagically pick the right path to avoid hazards.

Yikes, look at that early season puddle hazard!
Yay for Jack & Rudy automatically drifting far left to avoid the hazard
and keep the human on skis moving along!

Today's video highlight? Well, a fun glimpse into our endless skijor following this pair of snowmobile tracks for miles and miles. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We did stop twice today. Once was to turnaround...

"Turnaround = roll around!" demonstrates the silly kids.
Nice face full of snow Jack!

Our second stop? Well, moose tracks!!!!!

"Must pause to inspect the forest for moose!" declares Jack &  Rudy
pausing to glare into the trees where a moose had crossed and exited
the trail recently.

What a fun outing this morning, just ask Jack & Rudy!

"Fun, fun, fun!" says the happy kids.
"How about those treats?" suggests focused Zorro.

A nice, long outing following snowmobile tracks all morning long: 10.6 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 9 days on the trails covering 65.7 miles with 6400 feet of elevation climbed.

Front

Fun "shot from the front" of happy Jack & Rudy towing to the finish of today's skijor!

"Whee!!! Hi mom! Hi Zorro!" says the happy kids.
Nancy & Zorro are, of course, just off trail getting this fun finish shot.

We headed to Rabbit Ears Pass today to enjoy the new snow that fell Wed & Thu this week. After doing a little warmup lap around a meadow, we saw some backcountry skiers heading out the main trail. Jack & Rudy love to play "chase, catch & pass" with anything in front of them on the trails, skiers included :)

"Hi! Bye! Coming through!" declares Jack & Rudy powering on by
the skiers that were out in front of us.

Once past the skiers, we were first on the trail in a beautiful 5-8 inches of new snow for our "out direction" on the trail.

Fresh tracks! Wheeee!

We did an "out & back" on the Harrison Creek trail. So, you know what that means! We were able scrunch together, shoulder to shoulder, and make use of our out track on the way back.

Zooming along in the track we set on the way out.

Today's video highlight: if your volume is up high enough, you can hear Rudy and Jack talking & complaining about how slow I am at our turnaround on the trail this morning. Then, once I'm aligned, OFF we GOOO! Yes, that is quiet Jack also talking & complaining about my slowness along with always talkative Rudy :)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Besides wonderful fresh snow, what else could be a highlight of the outing? Well, fresh smelling moose tracks of course!

"Beep, beep - our sensors say the moose went this way!" says Jack & Rudy
standing in a set of moose tracks leading off into the forest. No, we did NOT
follow the tracks into the forest :)

Finally, our end of run celebration with elder, retired Zorro. Isn't Rudy a crack up in this photo.

"Hey, Rudy, you have snow between your eyes!"
"I know, isn't it GREAT!" says happy Rudy.

It was a bit chilly with a strong blowing wind today, so the wimpy human cut our run short: 5.4 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 18 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 8 days on the trails covering 55.1 miles with 5500 feet of elevation climbed.

Just Enough

Jack & Rudy in a nice "sprint tuck" as we open up the skijoring throttle on Boreas Pass this morning.

Zoom, zoom, zoom!

There were reports from the ski resort of upwards of 6 inches of new snow overnight. We knew this new snow would be at higher elevations, so we headed back to our "early season go to" of Boreas Pass to seek out the new snow. Well, we did not find 5-6 inches of new snow! Instead we found trace amounts to about 2 inches at the deepest. Bummer. But, the ground was frozen under the light layer of new snow. We can skijor uphill with a trace of new snow over frozen ground; but it is not safe to come downhill on such thin conditions. 

Off we go up Boreas Pass with only a trace of snow over
frozen ground (note the exposed ground ahead and to the left of Rudy).

With such thin conditions, Nancy & Zorro gave us a 30 minute head start and then started driving up Boreas until they ran into us. I was expecting that we'd be going up all morning without enough snow anywhere to come down. But, woo hoo - look at the first picture above and the one below. We actually did find two stretches of REALLY nice conditions. After going up of these stretches, we turned and sprinted back down for a nice speed burst before turning and coming back to continue up Boreas. These two stretches were very nice though!

Woo Hoo - the Hover Huskies catching air on one of our two
"pedal to the metal" stretches along Boreas Pass.

Come along for a quick video highlight of one of the two perfect stretches. Jack & Rudy had a great time towing me up Boreas; but they really enjoyed the two "pedal to the metal" sections where we had just enough cover to uncork the skijoring engine.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Eventually, we met up with Nancy & Zorro. Sweet Z is always so happy to meet back up with us!

"Hi dad! Glad you came back!" says happy Zorro.

What are Jack & Rudy doing in the prior photo? Well, I've learned that sometimes it's best NOT to ask what the two crazy kids are up to! Whatever weirdos, I'm focusing on happy Zorro :)

Back to the Jeep with Zorro, well you know what that means - end of run treats!

"Just making sure you remember ME FIRST!" says Zorro leaning
hard into my arm & chest :)
"Fun day, fun day!" declares the happy kids.

Enough new snow to skijor up Boreas and just enough cover to turn around and open up the throttle on a couple of downhill grades: 5.8 miles traveled with 650 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 19 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 7 days on the trails covering 49.7 miles with 4900 feet of elevation climbed.