Yay Snow

 Jack and Rudy showing what they think about waiting for me to get my skis on to start this morning's skijor run:

"Dude, you are slow so we roll!!!!" demonstrate the snow rolling goofs.

Notice the blur blocking Jack's head. We embarked on this morning's run amidst steady snowfall with a forecast for it to increase in intensity and wind! This was not a forecast that Nancy and retired Zorro wanted to wait in for us at the trailhead :)  So, Nancy & Zorro stayed home while the kids (Jack & Rudy) and I headed out into the developing storm. Well, since I did not have Nancy's help to get us started, Jack & Rudy showed what they thought of my slow preparation by rolling snow angels while I got all my equipment on. Goofy kids.

Well, the forecast was completely accurate. The snow (and wind) kept increasing in intensity our entire outing. I'd wipe the camera clear only to have it covered and blurred by snow in under a minute. Here is seconds after wiping the camera clear once:

A glimpse of Jack & Rudy as there are snow spots below Rudy,
above Jack and across the top of the video view.

Here is what a "cleared to blurred" video looks like. Come along as I just wiped the camera clear as we are galloping along and the camera becomes blurred again in 30 seconds.

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

We were on the trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center most of the outing. These trails had been groomed Thursday evening. So, we found ourselves in a few inches of fresh snow over a groomed trail most of the day. But, we did dip off the main trail twice to get some aerobic trail breaking fun in the deep side trails:

Nice clear shot of breaking trail as I just wiped the camera clear
as we ventured off track. Wheeee!

Did I mention the forecast was for increasing snow and wind? Well, here you go with a shot of dumping and blowing snow all around us:

Skijoring in a whiteout! Wow!

The last 1/3 of our outing looked like the photo above - skijoring in a blinding whiteout! If you can see the trail, then your eyes are better than mine! I could barely see Jack & Rudy. Luckily I know this network of trails, as do Jack & Rudy, so we just glided blindly by memory back to the trailhead. 

Yay for Snow! But, what an interesting day!!! 9.8 miles traveled with 1000 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 21 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 7 days on the trails covering 46.8 miles with 4500 feet of elevation climbed.

Dive

 Happy & frisky huskies at our turnaround point on Boreas Pass this morning!

Frisky kids playing in the deeper snow off the side of the trail.
Yes, the big hole front/left of Jack is where he just rolled a snow angel :)

The forecast last night was for a dusting or inch of new snow. We woke to 3 inches at home and rushed to get on Boreas Pass before others (the pass is still open to 4WD vehicles until late Nov). We were delighted to find ourselves laying fresh tracks up Boreas in 3-5 inches of new snow! Wheeee!

New snow all to ourselves as we lay fresh tracks up Boreas!

Along the way and the silly kids got distracted by rodents under the snow. Rudy took the opportunity to do his first Rodent Dive of the 2020/2021 season (if you recall last season, Rudy was really perfecting rodent dives as the season progressed :)

The snow was not deep enough for Rudy's patented high arching
swan dives; but it was still a rodent dive! Incoming!

Luckily neither one came up with a rodent in their mouths! 

Once we turned around, we had the fresh snow to ourselves partway down until we encountered a truck coming up the trail. Oh well, the truck tracks made for a fast track to try and fit in. Here we go cruising along Boreas. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

A little further along and we get a nice view of the snow covered ski runs of Breckenridge Ski Resort across the valley:

The morning clouds starting to clear as the ski runs come into view
across the valley from us.

Finally, as is now our traditional parting shot of this year: rejoining elder Zorro for group 'end of run' treats:

"Ready!" says super focused Zorro.
"Me next!" adds happy Jack.
"Waiting my turn!" says patient Rudy!

A great morning laying fresh tracks up Boreas Pass with Rudy's first rodent dive of the season for added entertainment: 8.5 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 6 days on the trails covering 37 miles with 3500 feet of elevation climbed.

Boreas Summit

 Beautiful bluebird morning skijor Boreas Pass at & above treeline!

Cruising the trail above treeline with awesome views on  a
beautiful bluebird morning!

We returned to Boreas Pass once again this morning knowing the trail would still be in excellent condition as it was very cold all day yesterday and we had some light new snow later in the day. While we were still below treeline, we found some elk tracks to energize Jack & Rudy towing me up the pass (as if they need extra energy :)

I thought this shot would be more clear. Oh well, there ARE elk
tracks going up the trail in front of Jack & Rudy. Add a little elk
juice to the skijor engine and it's extra ZOOM :)

How did we know they were elk tracks? Well, eventually the tracks left the trail and we were able to inspect them very closely:

"Yep - elk tracks and they left the trail RIGHT HERE!" declare
the track inspecting hunters 

While the elk tracks were great entertainment, the highlight of the day was reaching the summit of Boreas Pass. This was Rudy's first ever skijor to the top of Boreas! It was only Jack's second as he did it with Zorro 2 years ago before Rudy was old enough to come along. What to do at the top of the pass? Well, frolic around the pass marker. The summit of Boreas Pass is on the Continental Divide; so cool that snow on the left of the sign flows to the Pacific Ocean while snow on the right flows to the Atlantic:

"Yum, the Atlantic snow tastes good!" says snow rolling & eating Rudy.
"Back feet in the Pacific, front feet in the Atlantic!" demonstrates talented Jack.

We turned around from the summit sign to get ready to skijor back down and Jack snapped to attention. I followed his gaze to discover a moose standing in the distant clearing in front of us! He was clear as day to Jack and I (we could even make out the antler basket). Rudy's nose was going as he clearly smelled moose in the vicinity. But, young Rudy's "moose direction" skills still need improvement. Jack is laser focused on the direction of moose as soon as he picks up the scent:

The red arrow shows the moose, or just follow Jack's gaze!
"Where, where? I smell it; but where???" says amateur Rudy.

Rudy eventually followed Jack's lead and saw the moose in the clearing too (I was trying to get my phone out to take a zoomed pic, so my arms were blocking the video). Once Rudy saw him, he let out one of his moose screams and the moose took off into the cover of trees.

Done playing around at the summit and time to head back down. Here we go for a fun "skijor minute" as we begin our descent from the Boreas Pass Summit:

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Finally, back to meet up with Zorro and Nancy to end the outing. You might wonder if Zorro is enjoying his new life in retirement. Well, what do you think:

"Yea, retirement is FUN!" says super happy Zorro.

Done rejoicing with Zorro and time for the 'end of run' treats:

"Ready!!!!" exclaims the super focused trio.

A glorious morning for young Rudy's first trip to the Boreas Pass Summit: 8.7 miles traveled with 800 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2020/2021 Season to Date: 5 days on the trails covering 28.5 miles with 2700 feet of elevation climbed.

Pray for Snow!