Annual K94K

This morning was the "LAPS Canine 4K" run in Frisco, CO. This is an annual event where you get to run a 4K with your canine partners. A great time had by all....

"Go!" and we are off. Here we are at the beginning of the race starting off in a close second
to the guy who won the overall race.

The race progressed exactly the same as it does every year... We shoot out of the gate and are in first or second place by the first corner. Max & Zorro are so ready to GOOOO and we hear gasps from the crowd as they see the two huskies launching their human along. Then, as we get about 1/3 of the way into the race, the "slow human" factor comes into play and we get passed by some real runners. It is always funny to watch these runners pass us with their dogs in tow (either at their side or behind them) whereas Max & Zorro are taut leash in front of me the whole race!

We always finish in the top 10; but never first overall as I am just too slow (ask Max & Zorro)!

Hauling the slow human across the finish line as we finish about 6th overall for this year's race.

My excuse? Hey, I'm old! We did get first place in my age group (40-49)...

Zorro sporting our ribbon for first in my age group.
"We would have won overall if he wasn't so slow!" declares Zorro.

A little cool down after running the race and it was time for Max to go to work. He is a registered Therapy Dog and he helps recruit new therapy dogs at the Summit Therapy Animals table at the event. He is quite the draw as people have just witnessed this "monster husky" launch me through the air for 4K and then he is a model therapy dog 30-45 minutes later!

"I run fast, I work hard, I love life!" declares sweet Max.

We always say that once the K9-4K race is over that we are done with our commitments for summer. Ok, ready for snow ... bring it on!!!

Pray for Snow.

Season in Review

It is July, so no skijoring to report for the month...

So, what to do while we wait for snow to return? Well, aside from "hiking the mountains" during the summer, we can relive the 2014/2015 skijoring season by making our Season in Review video highlight reel.

Here you go - 5 minutes of our 1324.9 miles of skijoring sync'd to Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' with Disaster" (a perfect song for what skijoring is all about :-)

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Waiting for snow to return in October. Pray for Snow...

Season Finale

All good things come to an end.

Today brought an end to our 2014/2015 Skijor Season.

Another season surpassing 1300 miles of skijoring - woo hoo!

Tally for the season: 1324.9 miles traveled with 139,000 feet of elevation climbed and a
top speed of 26 MPH.
"And we LOVED every inch of every outing!" declare the happy husky pair.

We returned to Buffalo Pass this morning as it is typically the last trail to keep alive in June. Unfortunately we had warm temperatures last week and then rain the last few days. Nothing destroys a snowpack like horrible, ugly rain! Here is what we found...

On the top of Buffalo Pass and still white as far as the eye can see!

How could this be the season finale, you ask? Well, as nice as that last photo looks, very little of the terrain was actually this nice. We parked the jeep where the snow got too deep to continue driving and started skijoring; yet, within a 1/4 of a mile, the snow was gone again and we had to hike over dirt for a ways before putting the skis back on. Once restarted, though, the trail continued in & out of narrow snow (with exposed dirt on the sides) to occasional wide snow most of the way up the pass. As shown above, the top was wonderful; but it is shrinking so fast that it is time to declare the skijor season over. Here is what I mean:

Less than 1/4 mile from the start and we had to take the skis off and hike over the terrain for a ways.
"I see why this may be the last run, let's make it a good one!" states agreeable Max.
"But, but, but..." says 'Zorro in denial'.

Back to one last fun picture from the top of the pass...

"One of our favorite activities: hunt & jog!" declare Max & Zorro jogging while watching a group
of squirrels playing in the snow and trees to our right.

Our final outing of the 2014/2015 Season: 6.4 miles with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 17 MPH.

2014/2015 Season Summary: 155 days on the trails traveling 1324.9 miles with 139,000 feet of elevation climbed.