Can you identify all the things "wrong" with the following photo?
"Um, we are stopped! That is wrong!" suggests Zorro :)
No, Zorro, being stopped may seem wrong but that is not what I mean. A couple of times a season we end up on the wrong trail for the current conditions and this morning was one such day. Our intent was to skijor "out & back" on Boreas Pass Trail. I fully expected a somewhat narrow set track as only skiers and snowshoers can use Boreas Pass. But, I also expected some nice soft powder next to the set track. Well, I was wrong...
Here's what is wrong with the prior photo. First, the "set trail" is only 2 Siberians wide. Second, the snow out of the track was hard and punchy (as you can see from Zorro's feet). So, here's the problem: only 2 of the 3 can fit in the set track while the snow "out of track" is so punchy that it is not possible to use.
The solution to today's "wrong conditions for 3 sled dogs"? Well, the solution was Polite Rudy. Ok, now that you read that and fell out of your chair in astonishment or laughter, I am SERIOUS. Polite Rudy saved the day. He willingly took the backseat to Zorro & Jack (and then to Jack) all day to allow us to fit in the conditions that were available. Yay Rudy!!!!
We did an initial out & back with Zorro. Here we are coming back to the trailhead to hand Zorro off to Nancy. Can you find Polite Rudy?
"We can fit - wheeee!' says happy Zorro & Jack in front.
"I'm back here - having fun too!" declares polite Rudy taking the backseat.
A little closer to Nancy and you can make out more of polite & happy Rudy in the back. I know, I know - Polite Rudy!!!!! If you told me I'd have a blog titled "Polite Rudy" before he was 5 years old, I would have fallen out my own chair laughing. But, here we are with maturing Rudy approaching 2.5 years old and he gets the "polite" accolades of the day!
Happy blacks in front.
Polite Rudy in back!
After dropping Zorro, the kids and I went back up Boreas for another "out & back". I was really hoping the conditions would get nicer as we went higher. I expected the shoulder snow to transform from punchy to soft - but that never happened. All that happened was the set trail kept getting narrower and narrower and Polite Rudy continued to save the day!
Only "1 wide" higher up with very punchy snow out of track.
Polite Rudy saves the day again and lets Jack lead so we can keep going.
Despite choosing the wrong trail for today's conditions, we all still had fun and we all still earned our 'end of run' treats for hauling the human around. So, we conclude today's entry with yet another shot of that young & mature Polite Rudy!!!
"Ready for treats!" declares focused Zorro & Jack.
"Chilling in the back - I'm POLITE RUDY!!!!" says the patient young red boy!
A wrong choice of trail, but all snow is fun snow: 5.2 miles traveled with 400 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of16 MPH.
2019/2020 Season to Date: 151 days on the trails covering 1031.9 miles with 93,900 feet of elevation climbed.
Snow rolling Jack at our second turnaround event of the morning.
The first turnaround happened with Zorro and Jack stayed upright that time!
"Oh come on - you can't expect me to remain upright through TWO turnarounds!"
demonstrates silly snow rolling Jack.
"Look at me - mature Rudy!!!!" says smiling Rudy turning without
rolling TWICE today!
This morning was one of the rarest of treats. A skijor on Baldy Mountain in mid April! Some background first: Baldy is an extremely steep network of trails with extremely rocky and uneven terrain under the snow. We regularly skijor Baldy in the middle of winter when the snowpack is deep. But, we also ONLY skijor Baldy after 5+ inches of new snow - the terrain is way too steep for me to skijor behind my power three (or even two) without fresh snow to slow them down.
Now, come April, we need a lot of factors to come together to be able to skijor Baldy. First, it must have remained below freezing for multiple days (to firm up the spring dirt/mud below the snow). Check, it has been below freezing for three days straight. Second, it must have snowed multiple times in the preceding days to replenish the snowpack. Check, it has snowed almost daily for 7 days straight. Third, it must have snowed 5+ inches the night/morning before we go out on Baldy. Check, we had at least 6 inches of new snow at home, so more on Baldy! With these three factors in place, it was time to get out on for a rare April skijor on Baldy.
Today, we had a fourth factor. We were not first on the trail and multiple skiers had packed it before us. Normally I do not care if the trail has been packed as Jack & Rudy love to break trail. But, for "almost 12 years old" Zorro to come along, we need at least one packed single track on the trail. Check, some powder hounds had been out before us. I thought Zorro's days of skijoring Baldy were behind him as usually the snow is too deep when we go out early. With the set single track, though, we were able to let Zorro ride the middle with Jack & Rudy flirting in the powder on the sides.
Woo Hoo - an April skijor on Baldy!
Woo Hoo - a Baldy skijor with elder Zorro!!!!!
Come along for the fun ride as Zorro is cruising in the set track with his polite brothers dipping into the soft side powder. What a treat to skijor Baldy in April AND with Zorro!!!!
Zorro came with for the first 1/3 of the outing as we went up/down Baldy. Here we are back to the trailhead and keeping our distance as we wait for all the other powder hounds who got out early to get on Baldy.
"Look at all the people who need our help going up!" says Zorro & Jack.
"Hey sir, you could use my help!" says Rudy to the skier passing by.
Once the traffic cleared at the trailhead, we handed Zorro off to Nancy and the kids, Jack & Rudy, and I went back out & up & back further on Baldy.
Both Jack & Rudy were in "2 year old" moods this morning. Their comical sideline antics were in rare form. Every once in a while I get reminded that they are really only 2 years old :)
Rudy back to an expert rodent swan dive for the second day in a row.
"Hey, little bro - what do you have over there?" asks Jack peeking back
to diving Rudy.
Did Jack need an answer from Rudy? Ha, no - you trust any rodent dive from your brother as a valid and necessary off trail surge :)
"I'm coming, I'm coning - INCOMING!" demonstrates low diving Jack.
As you see, Jack has his own low-angle rodent dives as
opposed to Rudy's high arching swan dives.
Despite the first picture above and the prior two, guess what? We really did do some skijoring on Baldy after we dropped Zorro!
OMG - the kids are upright, on trail and going forward!!!!!
One of the rarest of treats - a mid April skijor on Baldy with an unexpected addition of elder Zorro for the first 1/3 of the outing! 6.3 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.
2019/2020 Season to Date: 150 days on the trails covering 1026.7 miles with 93,500 feet of elevation climbed.
A beautiful Rodent Dive from Rudy this morning (with a nice Rodent Dunk from Jack too :)
"Dunk, where are the rodents?!?" asks rodent dunking Jack.
"INCOMING! Diving for rodents!" demonstrates Rudy with a beautiful swan dive off trail.
I was thinking to myself the other day that we have not had a good rodent dive from Rudy in quite a while. He had patented these as his signature antic for a while in the middle of this season. But then he stopped for a while. Maybe it was that the snow was too deep for a while for him or Jack to sense rodents under the snow? Well, with melting snowpack in April.... He's Back!!!! Rodent Diving Rudy was back to his signature form this morning :)
We started the day with the full team, Zorro, Jack & Rudy and did an out & back on the busy side of the Sally Barber Mine Trail. There was lots of fresh snow from overnight snowfall but also a handful of existing tracks as we were on the popular side of the trail:
Zipping along in the fresh snow with just a few tracks out before us.
We went partway up the trail towards the mine before turning around to give Zorro a shorter outing this morning before taking the kids out for more. Time to turnaround and all smiles:
"Having a BLAST!" exclaims the happy kids.
"Yes, yes, but let's get going, I'm on a short outing today!" says happy but
ready to restart Zorro :)
After our short out & back to start with Zorro, we dropped him off with Nancy and then the kids, Jack & Rudy, and I went back out & up to the mine. Nice shot of the Sally Barber Mine (to me, at least :)
The historic Sally Barber Mine.
"Whatever, let's go down the other side!" says the less than interested kids.
Ok, and down we went. After coming up the busy side of the mine trail, the kids & I went down the less popular, backside of the mine. We found ourselves laying fresh tracks in 3+ inches of powder the entire way! Woo Hoo!
Fresh tracks for the kids - wheeee!
Today's video highlight showcases great teamwork once again. We are on the backside of the mine trail and approaching a rise in the trail. I cannot see over the rise until we get atop it. So, watch as my perfect pals are trotting gently while towing me until we get over the rise. Why the cautious approach? Well, here's short list of things we've encountered on the other side of this rise in the past: moose, loose dogs, groups of (trail wide) people, groups of kids sledding across the trail. You do not want to be flying over the rise and encounter any of these obstacles! But, once atop the rise, I see all is clear and give the kids the release to "GO" and off we GO!!!! Wheeee!
Here's a fun set of contrasting photos to end today's venture.
First, look at how BIG Rudy looks in the following photo. He looks like a MONSTER compared to Zorro and Jack. Rudy is bigger than both, but not this much bigger :)
Zorro & Jack low to the ground with Rudy off the ground making him
look like a monster compared to Zorro & Jack :)
Also, notice the flapping "Jordan like" tongue from Rudy. This, along with
rodent dives, are his two patented traits :)
Ok, from MONSTER Rudy to cute little Rudy. Look how SMALL he looks in the following shot from our 'end of run' treats get together. BIG Rudy and SMALL Rudy all in one outing!
Cute little, bitty Rudy awaiting his turn for end of run treats.
A nice out & back with Zorro and then a fun up, over and fresh tracks down with just Jack & Rudy: 6.8 miles traveled with 600 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.
2019/2020 Season to Date: 149 days on the trails covering 1020.4 miles with 92,600 feet of elevation climbed.
