Packed Powder

Nice "360 views" from high up on fun packed powder trails this morning!

Great views all around us, great trail in front of us, great
partners propelling me along :)

We went to the upper trails of Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning expecting to find a freshly groomed track (they try to groom every Monday morning after busy weekends). But, we got out on the trails before the groomer had a chance to get out. As a result, it was quite an interesting contrast in trail conditions. 

When we got far away from the trailhead, it was basically packed powder conditions as you see in the prior photo. Only a few other skiers had made it out this far to provide a little bit of packed tracks in otherwise soft powder. Then, for a complete 180, when we were near the trailhead, the trail was completely packed from side to side from all the heavy weekend usage!

Fully packed, side to side, closer to the trailhead.

We spent about 2/3 of the outing on the lesser used "packed powder" conditions and the remaining 1/3 closer to civilization on packed trails. While it all was fun, all three of us enjoyed the packed powder stretches the best. It was packed enough for Jack & Rudy to really fly while being powder enough for me to have some control of the skis. Wheeee!

Jack & Rudy flying in the shoulder powder as I ride one ski 'in track'
and the other ski 'in powder'.

Come along for a fun ride behind Jack & Rudy in beautiful packed powder conditions. Oh, if your volume is up, you can hear Rudy "trash talking" briefly about 40s into the clip. What was Rudy talking about? Well, I've learned that is often a pointless question to ask - Rudy talks when Rudy wants to talk :) Seriously, I think it was just a minor burst of "this is fun, come on Jack!" from the silly & talkative redhead.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

The following is a funny shot once given full context. We paused briefly at the Hallelujah Warming Hut to note the trail conditions. The trail before and at the hut was packed from heavy usage. The trail after the hut was the packed powder you see in most of the photos and video herein. So, the hut was the marker of the transition from packed to packed powder. Well, that seems like a worthy transition to stop and admire by rolling snow angels, right?

"Ah, love the 'warming' hut!" demonstrates the snow rolling goofs.

Finally, as is the tradition with retired mentor Zorro this season: end of run treats for all after a beautiful and fun morning!

"Ready!" declares focused Zorro.
"Fun day!" adds the giddy kids.

A fun morning on mostly packed powder with a bit of fast packed trail near the trailhead: 8.8 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 52 days on the trails covering 412.6 miles with 39,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Sun

Beautiful bluebird morning to pause and take in some views!

Ok, beautiful morning for ME to pause and take in the views :)
Jack, of course, used the pause to roll snow angels!
Rudy used the pause to eat snowcones!
I guess I'm the only one into the pretty views!

It had been snowing for the last 10 days straight with virtually no visit from the sun the entire time as it was hidden behind constant storm clouds. No complaint here as we REALLY needed this 10 day super storm to bring all our winter trails into use. We had plenty of sun during the dry November and early December. But, today, the sun made a comeback for a beautiful bluebird morning on the trails.

With all the recent snow, Gold Run Nordic Center is FINALLY in GREAT shape. Despite the sun, it was very cold this morning (-8F when we woke up). As a result, we were first out on the freshly groomed nordic track for an incredibly fast & fun morning.

I love the following shot: Jack & Rudy flying along the freshly groomed track with "snow poofs" flying up from their feet as they zoom along.

First tracks, fresh tracks, snow poofs. Wheeee!

Besides snow poofs, what else to do on a freshly groomed sprint track? Well, hover over the trail of course :)

Jack & Rudy catching air as they hover over the trail.
The cool snow poofs behind them are still there!

Eventually it warmed up enough for humans to make it out on the trail. What to do with oncoming humans? Well, floor it past them and put smiles on their faces!!!

Literally flying by the curious & smiling skier coming up the trail.

Put it all together and here's what you get... Jack & Rudy zooming along the fresh groomie, then Jack & Rudy slowing every so slightly to pass on by the oncoming skiers and then zoom again. Love the tail end of this clip as I have to put myself in a very tight tuck to whip around a corner with Jack & Rudy. Jack & Rudy going out of view as the camera points down is me in a tight speed tuck. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Oh Zorro, you should have seen the perfect groomie zoomie today! 

"I see perfect 'end of run' treats!" says treat inspecting Zorro.
"Flying, we were flying!" adds proud Jack & Rudy :)

Today was zoom day: 7.8 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 51 days on the trails covering 403.8 miles with 38,100 feet of elevation climbed.

Laps

Nice shot of historic Iowa Mill on Baldy Mountain!

"Stopped for views? Well, then, I'm rolling snow angels!" demonstrates silly Jack.
"Does he ever skip a 'stop, drop & roll' opportunity?" asks Rudy :)

The temperature when we started our outing was 8F, the temperature when we ended was 4F. Our route took us up Baldy Mountain, so our low temperature of the morning was somewhere well below 4F. Did that make a difference to Jack? Ha! Look at the prior photo of the goof rolling in the snow in temperatures below 4! Did it make a difference to me? Well, yes!!! There was also a breeze, so no way was I taking us above treeline and into wind chills far below zero (probably approaching -20F). The outcome? We did three laps around Iowa Mill on Baldy Mountain to stay below treeline our entire outing.

Lap 1: zooming along behind fast running Jack & Rudy:

Zooming on Lap #1.

Lap 2: the kids switched positions at our turnaround but same result :)

Zooming on Lap #2.

By our third lap around Iowa Mill, other skiers had finally started appearing on the trail. So, lap 3 involved flirting and putting smiles on the faces of all we encountered!

Lap #3: entertaining the crowds - smiles all around watching Jack & Rudy
propel me along the trail.

Today's video highlight? Well, how about a minute of fast packed action during lap #2. Come along for the fun. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Three laps + entertaining the crowds - that's a way to earn your end of run treats:

"Been there, done that. How about those treats?" asks focused Zorro.
"Great day! Wonderful temperatures!" adds giddy Jack.
"I could stay out all day long!" says silly Rudy.

Fun laps keeping the human below treeline this morning: 7.1 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 50 days on the trails covering 396.0 miles with 37,600 feet of elevation climbed.