"Amazing - just AMAZING!" exclaims ecstatic Zorro.
"Perfect for snow angels!" adds the goof twins :)
26th of June or 177th of January? You tell me...
Looks like the 177th day of January not the
26th day of June!
We returned to Buffalo Pass this morning to continue our
incredible endless June of 2019. Sadly, things are finally
starting to melt everywhere except the top of the pass.
How's the following for some narrow & sketchy conditions?
It might not look pretty, but, heh, the skis and
Rudy are still gliding on snow!
Interesting changing of the guard in the prior photo. In Zorro's
first 9 seasons skijoring he was always the one to keep toes
on snow at all cost and keep the skijor going. But, at 11 years
old, it appears as Zorro has handed the torch to Rudy and young
Rudy is assigned the job of trotting with me in the soft and
slushy shoulders.
Despite deteriorating approaches to the top of the pass, near and
at the top was still incredible this morning. Wheeee!
Just beautiful up high on this January 177th.
Today's video highlight is full of dips. We start in a gentle trot and
then I almost lose it in a large dip. Then Jack takes a dip to the right
to grab a mouthful of snow before rejoining the team to cruise along
(think of a marathon runner taking a dip to the side to get a shot
of water :) Lots of dips, but lots of fun!
A quick break in the action along the way. Everybody having a
good time?
"Yes! Is it really the end of June?!?" reply happy Zorro and Jack.
"Sniff, sniff, do I sense moose in the area?" suggests Rudy.
Despite Rudy's speculation, we did not find any moose (or elk, deer
or other delicacy that is tickling his nose :)
Remember that it really is late June, not mid January. That means even
Zorro will join in on the snow angels antics now and then to cool off.
"Ahhhhh!" says Zorro.
"I'll roll angels with ANYONE!" adds Jack.
"Now let me get this straight - *I* am the goofy young one?" asks mellow Rudy.
Here is an amazing stat: it is June 26th and today was youngest Rudy's first 10+ mile skijor. I never dreamed he would hit 10 miles this year since he was not mature enough to consider it until June. Well, welcome the record June in the Colorado High Country giving Rudy his first 10+ mile skijor: 10.1 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 16 MPH.
2018/2019 Season to Date: 136 days on the trails covering 803.3 miles with 75,150 feet of elevation climbed.
Are we done for the season yet? Of course not! I think we will get one more outing, probably on July 1st. Stay tuned...
Following snowcat tracks atop Rabbit Ears
Pass in Summer!
The calendar may say it is Summer but the mountains
have declared Winter is still here!
Today was our first ever skijor in summer. Sure we have had lots
of June skijors; but today was our first ever when the calendar
says "summer" instead of "spring".
It started snowing in the Colorado High Country on Saturday and
continued on and off through Sunday. Upwards of 12 inches of
snow fell on top of Rabbit Ears Pass so we headed back to
Rabbit Ears this morning for our first ever Summer Jor.
As you can see in the first photo above, we found some really
nice conditions and even found a snowcat track to follow
out and back. But, it was really summer at Rabbit Ears just
a few days ago and, as a result, we did encounter the occasional
treacherous stretches.
Yikes! Just enough ice in the cat track to
continue going.
For the majority of the day, though, we were on a snowcat track
that felt like the middle of winter!
Perfect cat track again - wheeee!
Despite lots of stretches of great snow from the weekend storm, summer is fighting hard to break through!
"Egad, now what?!?" asks Rudy.
"Oh boy!" adds Jack.
"This is a 'skis off' patch!" declares veteran Zorro.
People often ask if I fall when skijoring. Well, yes, but not very often
and typically in the sketchy conditions of the shoulders of the
season (October and May/June) when my skis catch something hidden
under the snow. So, here is a rare "wipeout shot" but notice how
nice, polite and patient my three partners are! The youngsters have certainly learned from Zorro this season that preserving the human is a good thing!
"You ok back there?" asks the happy & polite trio.
Notice the sideways skis and chunk of loose ice bottom/center that
gave way and caused my spill.
Today's video highlight is a first for young and maturing Rudy.
I have documented Jack's skill at changing lanes while skijoring
(often at high speeds). Zorro is also a skilled lane changer.
But come along for Rudy's first time changing lanes at moderate
speed. Sure we are not going as fast as we have when Jack or Zorro change lanes; but you have to start somewhere :) What a skilled and mature sled dog he has become this season!
End of day's fun run, time for a group celebration :)
Happy boys all circling and focusing on the musher.
Our first ever skijor in summer!!!! Temperatures are supposed to
rise quickly this week so this was our last run at Rabbit Ears.
Are we done for the season? Heck no - Buffalo Pass still has
enough snow to keep us going. Stay tuned for MORE...
Yay for Summer Jor: 5.9 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation
climbed and a modest top speed of 15 MPH (too may obstacles to
open the throttle more than this).
2018/2019 Season to Date: 135 days on the trails covering 793.2 miles with 74,150 feet of elevation climbed.
Look at all the snow still on the trails near
the top of Buffalo Pass. Wow!
"Wow indeed! Can we skijor ALL summer?" asks
the super happy trio at
our turnaround near the top
of Buffalo Pass.
If you weren't impressed by the prior photo, how about this one:
opening up the skijoring engine on June 19th! Wheeee!
June 19th - Wow!
If you look closely at the previous photo, you can see some of
the slush bombs coming off Zorro, Jack and Rudy's feet. You can
also see their footprints showing the snow was a bit soft; but it was still plenty
firm enough to open up and run up/down Buffalo Pass this morning!
Come along and watch an excerpt from this morning's outing. You
can see the softness slowing us a bit; but it was still firm
enough to go, go, go! Is it really June 19th?
Given warming June temperatures, you knew what would happen at
our turnaround point of the morning :)
"Goofballs!" states happy Zorro.
"Rolling, cooling, aaahhh!" adds the goofballs.
Today was our latest ever skijor outing and I had my skis on the
entire outing! Typically in June we will hit stretches of dirt or
mud and have to take the skis off and hike over. But not today,
our latest skijor ever and the skis never came off! There were
a few patches that will be dirt/mud soon, but not yet today - yay!
"You kids do not know how incredible this June has been!"
Zorro is telling the youngsters
as we see a bit of exposed road for one
of only a few times all morning!
It really is June, so even Zorro rolled a snow angel to cool off. But, Zorro waited until the outing was OVER before rolling to cool. The goofball twins rolled snow angels before, during and after the morning outing :)
"My turn. Ahhhh and YUM!" says snow rolling and eating Zorro.
The happy trio congregating around me for end of run treats:
"We had so much fun! Now hand them out!" declares the happy & focused trio.
A beautiful run up/down Buffalo Pass this morning: 6.6 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 16 MPH.
Are we done for the season yet? Most likely not; but things really are melting, so we'll see. Stay tuned...
2018/2019 Season to Date: 134 days on the trails covering 787.3 miles with 73,450 feet of elevation climbed
