Perfect Listening

Nice shot of Jack & Rudy "catching air" on this morning's skijor!

All 8 feet off the ground as the kids are in a fast "sprint tuck" cruising
along the perfect trail.

We returned to the trails on Peak 7 this morning after yesterday's very entertaining outing. We only had time for a short run this morning and knew the conditions would have deteriorated some since yesterday; but we were willing to try and get a quick early sunrise skijor. There is a large loop that will become part of Breckenridge Nordic Center once there is enough snow to groom. Yesterday we did an out/back on the upper 2/3 of the loop and today we did an out/back on the lower 1/3 of the loop. We were happily surprised to find we out-skied all existing tracks on the lower loop and were able to lay fresh tracks for a nice stretch of the outing!

Fresh tracks - wheeee! Fresh snow all to ourselves.

On today's lower loop, we pass by some of the nordic center warming huts. Jack & Rudy have two uses for the warming huts.

Use #1: A warming hut is a "cooling destination" for Siberian Huskies :) 

"Ah, yes, rolling snow angels to cool off at the warming hut!" demonstrates
the silly kids who almost always stop, drop & roll at this hut!

Use #2: an object to "fly on by" on the trails. If not stopping to roll, Jack & Rudy use the huts are targets to fly by.

Not rolling, so we must be flying :)

Today's video highlight is a great example of perfect Jack & Rudy listening to me on the trails. Come along as we are flying along a nice stretch of trail. Then, about 30ish seconds into this clip and we approach a very thin layer of snow over lots of rocks (some exposed). A simple "easy, easy" from me and Jack & Rudy slow to walk over the thin snow & rocks (thus keeping the human upright). Finally, I exit the danger zone and a simple "Ok" from me and Jack & Rudy take off again. Incredible listening and teamwork to keep the human on skis upright through a danger zone!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

So proud to return to the trailhead and tell elder/mentor Zorro about the kids' incredible listening skills on the trails this morning!

"Really? They listened?!?!" asks stunned Zorro :)
"Yep, all ears over here!' adds Jack & Rudy.

A short but very fun run this morning: 5.1 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 12 days on the trails covering 84.5 miles with 8300 feet of elevation climbed.

Dive

Jack & Rudy's first "rodent dives" of the 2021/2022 season :)

"Rodents under the snow off trail! Incoming!" demonstrates the
rodent diving duo.

If you have followed along the last couple of seasons, you recall that Rudy is known for his high arching (fox like) rodent dives off trail into deep snow. Well, the snowpack is not too deep yet, so you'll notice Rudy is simply arching, not high arching, in this morning's rodent dive. Jack is doing his usual "rodent lunge" as his dives are much lower and closer to the ground. A little more snow and a little more practice and I know Rudy will be back to his patented, high arching dives!

Today's outing took us to the upper elevation trails on Peak 7 of the 10 Mile Range. The trails we were on will become groomed as part of Breckenridge Nordic Center once there is enough snow to use a groomer. But, in the meantime, it was just Jack, Rudy & I laying fresh tracks on the summer service road that is not yet nordic groomed. We were thrilled to find ourselves laying fresh tracks in 1-3 inches of new snow all morning!

Laying fresh tracks as we head out and up the snow covered service road.

We did an "out & back" skijor today. With a wide trail, we were able to hug the right side of the trail both directions and, thus, find ourselves laying fresh tracks out & back. Wheeee!

Laying fresh tracks on the right side of the trail as your see our
"fresh out tracks" to the left of the trail.

Come along for a "video minute" glimpse into the morning's fun. There was just enough snow to let Jack & Rudy open the throttle for multiple long stretches this morning. Fun!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Fun, fun outing, right guys?

"Oh yes!!!!" declares super happy Rudy.
"Yes, yes, having a blast, here I come!" adds happy Jack.

The prior photo was taken at our turnaround point on the trail. Yes, you guessed it, Jack & Rudy have just finished rolling "turnaround snow angels" before flashing me these happy faces. Notice the big snow angel Jack rolled just in front of him (he is coming up from his roll in the photo :)

Back to the trailhead for end of run treats with elder Zorro. How tight can we get as a "treat awaiting trio"?

Pretty tight! All eyes on me!

A fun romp on the snow covered service roads on Peak 7 this morning: 6.9 miles traveled with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2021/2022 Season to Date: 11 days on the trails covering 79.4 miles with 7800 feet of elevation climbed.

Ears

The ears, the ears - the Rabbit Ears dead ahead :)

Cruising along the trail as "the ears" come into view.
The two rocks atop the peak (Rabbit Ears Peak) ahead and slightly
to the left of Rudy are "the ears" for which Rabbit Ears Pass is named.

Yesterday was a very fun morning galloping around Rabbit Ears Pass following snowmobile tracks up, down and around the terrain. Here's a fun photo for you... Look to the bottom center of this photo and to the right of my left ski. Is that a "two toed print" and, if so, why have Jack & Rudy run on by such a treat?

Look at that nice two toed print in the bottom center of this photo!

Okay, don't worry, Jack & Rudy have NOT lost their sense and drive for wildlife. We had just come up this section of trail and thoroughly inspected (i.e., sniffed) these prints to establish two things: (1) not very fresh as the kids gave them a little sniff but did not snap to attention as they do with fresh smelling tracks; (2) it's only an elk, not a moose (a moose print would be at least twice the size of this) - yawn, just a silly little elk :) Just kidding, Jack & Rudy would have been VERY excited if this elk track was fresh. Elk tastes (and smells) almost as good as moose!

Here we go for today's video fun. Come along for a glimpse into yesterday morning's gallop atop Rabbit Ears Pass. Pay close attention and you'll see Rabbit Ears Peak (and, thus, the ears) come in & out of view in front of us. Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Quick pause early in the day's outing at the official forest service marker of Rabbit Ears Pass:

"Interesting, doesn't smell like rabbits!" declares sign inspecting
Jack & Rudy.

Another quick pause while the human gets his bearings for our location & time on trail to decide what direction to go next. Well, I stopped, so.... oh those silly kids:

"You stop, we roll around! Wheeee!" declares the always snow rolling
twins.

Despite the beautiful snow photos/videos above, the truth is the entrances to the backcountry are still very thin and 1-3 warm days away from being unusable! Boo!

Exposed ground to the left but thin cover for my skis to ride to the right.
Jack & Rudy are in a snowmobile track as the shoulder I am skiing was
to punchy for them to run. What thin cover!!!

Back to the trailhead to practice "full attention" with Zorro as we await end of run treats:

"Yes, you have our FULL attention!" declares the focused trio.

A nice romp around Rabbit Ears yesterday morning covering 6.8 miles with 700 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH. 

But, we are still waiting for winter (i.e., "the snow") to truly take hold this season. In the meantime we are living storm to storm with too much melting in between storms. Pray for Snow!

2021/2022 Season to Date: 10 days on the trails covering 72.5 miles with 7100 feet of elevation climbed.