Skijor the Ski Resort

Smiles all around as we complete our Skijor of Breckenridge Ski Resort this morning!

Wheeee!

It has become an annual tradition for us, when Breckenridge Ski Resort closes Peak 9, we go out and skijor the ski resort. Technically, the ski resort is still open as they attempt to stay open as far into May as the snowpack allows. But, come mid-April, the crowds start to shrink and the resort begins to shutdown some of the ski runs to match the need. The first to close are usually the runs on Peaks 9 and 10 (while they keep the runs on Peaks 6, 7 & 8 open). Once they close Peak 9, it is time for us to get out and skijor up and down downhill ski runs.

We never know what we are going to find, condition-wise, when we head out to Peak 9. Sometimes we find a groomed trail (as they groom for maintenance and other operations) and sometimes we find ungroomed slick terrain. This morning we found a groomed trail; but it quickly turned towards Peak 8 (which is still open), so we could not follow that trail. Instead we cruised around ungroomed trails on Peak 9 for a while. A bit slick, but still fun:

A bit slick, so polite Jack & Rudy are keeping speeds to a minimum.

Then, partway through the outing and look what we ran into coming up the trail!!!!

A groomer! A groomer! Yay!
"Cool!" says fascinated Rudy.
"Thanks dude, now the human will let us GO fast!" adds Jack.
The groomer driver smiled and waved to us as he passed by.

Alrighty - a groomed trail. Jack and Rudy know what to do with that!!!!

Zoom! Thanks Mr. Groomer!

It was zooming the rest of the day on this freshly groomed trail. Here we are near the end of the outing cruising by Beaver Run Resort.

Groomie Zoomie!

Now come along for a fun "skijor to the finish" on the great groomed trail we came upon. If you are wondering about Jack & Rudy at about 20 seconds into the clip (as they slow a bit looking around). Well, there was a bunch of employees to our left doing "shutdown work" and nosy Jack & Rudy wanted to see what was going on. Once past the employees, we pick up the pace again. Nosy kids!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

How fun, let's go have end of run treats in front of the ski resort trail map:

"Ready!" says the happy, happy kids.
Nice shot of the trail map behind Jack & Rudy.

Remember ski resorts are designed for downhill skiing. So our "skijor the ski resort" outings are typically short in distance but large in elevation. Today: 6.3 miles traveled with 1300 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 25 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 136 days on the trails covering 1207.6 miles with 110,300 feet of elevation climbed.

 

Huts

Beautiful shot from one of our favorite "view stretches" of trail at Breckenridge Nordic Center this morning.

The views to the right are simply stunning from this stretch of trail.
Oh, nice view of Jack & Rudy catching a little air in the morning's fresh
snow too :)

This morning found us enjoying a light layer of new snow on the trails at Breckenridge Nordic Center. Along the way, we pass by 2 warming huts where you can stop, go inside and warm up. Hmm, what do Jack & Rudy think of stopping to warm up? 

"We are speeding up if you are even thinking of stopping! What on earth is
a warming hut for?!?!?!" declares the kids flying by the Hallelujah Hut.

Further along and here comes another warming hut. Any need to stop?

"We are ALREADY warm! Speeding up!" declares the speed demons as we
fly by the Kathy's Viewpoint warming hut.

Ok, put the following two photos to their video counterpart. Come along and watch what Jack & Rudy think of a warming hut - something to zoom on by, twice :) Wheeee!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

So, no need for those silly warming huts, anything that we do need to stop for?

"YES! Roll snow angels to cool off!!!!!" go Jack & Rudy.
Yep, the Siberian Husky version of warming hut :)

At our highest elevation point of the outing, we found a wonderful stretch of trail with a couple inches of fresh snow all to ourselves!

Fun snow poofs coming up from Jack & Rudy as we enjoy the best snow
of our outing at the highest elevation.

Back to the trailhead and, despite recent melting, the kids are still able to find snow walls to climb for end of run treats. I don't know what we'll do when these walls finally melt and I have to kneel down again :)

In close for the treats!

Gorgeous morning! 9.5 miles traveled with 1100 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 23 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 135 days on the trails covering 1201.3 miles with 109,000 feet of elevation climbed.

Yep, surpassing 1200 miles for the season! Yay! Do I see 1300 (or more) in our future. Most likely, stay tuned....

Mid April Freshies

Laying fresh tracks in mid April! Yay!!!!

Can you just feel the power Jack & Rudy are putting forward with their
shoulders into their harnesses in this shot? Wheeee!

Gold Run Nordic Center may be closed for the season (closed on April 3); but the trails are still there :)

With a few inches of new snow this morning, we decided to go lay fresh tracks on the Gold Run trails. Of course, they are not grooming the trails any longer; but there is a good base (at higher elevations) that had been packed by groomers all season long. So, add a little fresh snow for safety (over otherwise icy terrain) and it's a go for us on the trails of Gold Run!

Here's a great shot of the fast running fun kids:

Fresh tracks flying!

Look closely in the prior photo and you can see some ski tracks above Jack's head on what would be a parallel trail to our right. Was someone else out on the trails with us this morning?

Nope! Here we are skijoring that "parallel trail to the right" in the prior photo
before doing the trail to the left.

Yep, we had the morning's new snow all to ourselves on the upper trails of Gold Run. What fun! I guess everyone else thinks the season is over or something :)

Ready for some real talent? How about giving each other a "back foot high five" while rolling snow angels? Impressive!!!

"Cheers bro! We love new snow!" demonstrates the snow rolling sillies giving
each other a "back foot high five" while rolling snow angels. Talented!

Today's video highlight is, of course, us laying fresh tracks along a wonderful stretch of trail. Come along and watch the fun!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

Eventually we turned down to the lower elevation terrain to get to the trailhead. The trail was a little tracked up down there, but that did not deter the happy, happy sled dogs!

All smiles as we arrive at the trailhead to end the day.

Fresh tracks in mid April, what a way to earn end of run treats!

"We had a blast! Love new snow!" declares the happy kids.

What wonderful conditions for mid April! 7.4 miles traveled with 500 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 20 MPH.

2022/2023 Season to Date: 134 days on the trails covering 1191.8 miles with 107,900 feet of elevation climbed.