Catch the Groomer

First tracks on a beautiful groomed nordic trail this morning!

Flying on the groomie zoomie!

Today we got to play one of Jack & Rudy's favorite activities on the trail: Catch the Groomer. Put a groomer in front of them and they want to catch it. We played catch the groomer all morning long today. We'd give the groomer a head start, then play catch the groomer and then turn around to give the groomer another head start and then repeat (again and again and again :)

Near the start of the outing, I heard the groomer in the distance. I know the route he travels to groom so I adjusted our route to intersect with him and let Jack & Rudy play catch the groomer.

"The groomer! The groomer! Must catch the groomer!!!" demonstrate Jack & 
Rudy flying along once they spotted the groomer ahead of us.

Groomers are pretty slow and methodical beasts, so fast Jack & Rudy always catch them if they are ahead of us on the trail. After each catch, we would either turnaround and ski the other direction to give the groomer another head start or we do a quick out & back on a side trail to give the groomer another head start.

Zipping along a side trail to give the groomer another head start
on the main trail.

Each time we'd turnaround or reconnect onto the main trail it was pedal to the metal to catch the groomer again.

"The groomer! The groomer!" go the silly kids catching the groomer once again.

Then another head start and another fun chase. Repeat, repeat, repeat - you get the idea :)

Caught him again!!!!

We know this groomer driver from years of using these trails. When the trail is safe & wide enough, he'll stop and wave us on by. So, occasionally we get to play Pass the Groomer too! We had two fun pass the groomer events this morning. Come along for a great video starting with Catch the Groomer, then Pass the Groomer and finally Floor it once we've passed on by. Fun!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun, fun day, right guys?

"Oh man, that was a BLAST today!" says the happy, focused pair.

So much fun this morning! 10.2 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 24 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 55 days on the trails covering 469.6 miles with 41,900 feet of elevation climbed.

Track Follow

Laying fresh tracks in the backcountry. Fun!

Fresh tracks fun - wheeee!

Today we went to one of the lesser known (and, thus, lesser used) network of trails hidden away in the backcountry. We started the day laying fresh tracks for a few miles as you see above. Eventually, though, we came across a solo snowmobile track deep in the backcountry. So, we hopped in this track and followed for a few more miles.

Nice shot of Jack & Rudy running in the snowmobile track while I ride
one ski "in track" (for speed) and one ski "out of track" for control.
Lean right to go faster, lean left to use the powder for control.

Suddenly for reasons know only to Rudy, the little red pest decided to stop and challenge Jack on the trail. Trust me, don't try to figure Rudy out :)

"I triple dog dare you to play with me!" asserts Rudy the pest.

Jack will often ignore the silly pest. But, every once in a while, Jack has to fire back and put the kid in his place. Apparently Jack could not ignore the "triple dog dare" from Rudy this morning...

"Jab! Take that you pest!" responds Jack with a beautiful left jab :)

Sometimes it is amazing that Jack & Rudy are both 5 years old (with Jack 5 months older) as they could not be more different in personality and demeanor :)

Back to skijoring... This snowmobile track took us on a fun downhill grade with the occasional small lift in the trail. At each lift I'd get to watch Jack & Rudy rise higher than my waist and almost as high as my shoulders a few times as they went up the lift before I got in it. 

Jack & Rudy waist high as they go up the lift in the trail before me.

Come along for a video view into the fun. Jack & Rudy running along the snowmobile track while I work the skis to keep pace (and keep upright!!!). Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun day in the backcountry, right guys?

"Yes, we had a blast!!!!" says the happy kids awaiting end of run treats
from me.

Backcountry freshies and solo snowmobile tracks to highlight the day: 8.6 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 54 days on the trails covering 459.4 miles with 41,200 feet of elevation climbed.

New Year

New year, same antics at a break on the trail :)

I paused briefly at the Hallelujah Warming Hut to check our time out
on the trails. Well, I paused... "Stop, Drop & ROLL!" demonstrates my
goofball partners.

New year, same results on fresh, untouched snow on great trails :)

Zoom! Laying fresh tracks in about an inch of fresh snow.
Nice views to our right too!

New year, same kids distracted by rodents under the snow :)

Uh, guys, look at that beautiful, untouched trail in front of us!
"Rodents... Busy... Be with you in a second!" reply my hunters
searching for rodents that clearly caught their attention under the snow.

We spent the morning cruising around the upper elevation trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center. As you see in the photo above, we were first on the trail with 1-2 inches of fresh snow. We did not see another soul the first 75% of our outing. The only tracks we came across were our own when redoing sections of trail! It wasn't until we got back near the trailhead that we encountered any tracks other than our own all morning long! Fun!

Riding along the track we set on the way out on this trail.
Oh, that is Peak 6 of Breckenridge Ski Resort in the foreground.

Come along for some video fun. Ride behind Jack & Rudy as they tow me along this high elevation trail near treeline. As I mentioned before, the tracks you see in the snow are our own "out tracks" on this same trail. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

New year, same happy kids sharing 'end of run' treats with me at the trailhead!

Such happy, fun partners!
Another nice mountain view in the background if you can take your
eyes of handsome Jack & Rudy :)

A fresh tracks morning at Breckenridge Nordic Center: 9.7 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 53 days on the trails covering 450.8 miles with 40,300 feet of elevation climbed.