So Much Fun, So Little Time

A total of 13 outdoor savy soles plus Mike, our driver made the drive to Gold Run Nordic Center at Breckenridge.  Of the group, only one downhiller was dropped off at Copper Mtn. Resort.

The day began as reported.  Sunny, flurries, little to no wind, high of 26 degrees.  The elements of a great day had been booked for us.  Based on the responses from those who spent the day at Gold Run, it can't get much better. 

Snowshoers heading for Gold Run Trail.

On trail close to mid-morning, groups of two, and three made their way to one of a number of trails including Buffalo Flats, Bronco Dave, and Dyer Straights, for Xcountry.  Those on snowshoes tried the likes of The Colonel, Jumbo, or Up and Over.

Can Spring be far off?

One look at the trail map and I was pumped to try the likes of Gold Run, Jessie's, and the Hoo-Doo-Voo-Doo.  With names like that, who wouldn't want to find out what back country challenges were waiting.

Light snow was falling since we drove down Main Street in Frisco, an hour ago.  Flurries would continue throughout the day making it one of the more memorable outings of the year. 

Ingrid, Betty, and Norma on the knarly Jessie's Trail.  A roller-coaster of sorts.

We started on Up and Over, a 2.5 kilometer trail considered by seasoned shoers as easy.  Trail was well worn, as it meandered through meadows with a few short ups and downs thrown in.  Next, was Jessie's, a 2 kilometer roller-coaster type path in the trees.  Ups were a bit longer, plus a few spots of wwooooaaahh nellie.  That is snowshoe talk for my right shoe just slid out on that traverse.

Up and down, slippin and slidin on Jessie's Trail

Next junction was the beginning of the 5 kilometer Hoo-Doo-Voo-Doo.  This loop, also in the dense trees will throw everything one can imagine at you.  Exposed roots and rock, downed trees, leaning trees, short and steep ups and downs, and a few OMG moments.  This trail has an added subtle challenge. Much of the first part of the loop is a long but gradual up.

We were at our highest elevation of the day.  It was close to noon, time for lunch.  Ingrid and Betty were ahead and found a spot to get the taste buds activated.  I found a large spruce with dense branches.  A good spot to set up a mini kitchen.  In minutes water boiled then chicken noodle soup to coat and warm the belly.

Simply dig a step in the snow and set up the stove.  Hot soup warms the belly and the fingers.

Through the trees I hear, "How soon till you are ready?"  "I'm having soup, will be finished in five." I respond.  Minutes later, we are again on the Voo-Doo Loop.

Two Xcountry skiers and a pooch having the time of his life.

Snowshoes in powder 8" to 12" deep, on an up or traverse can be tricky.  Today, a few places were in fact, tricky.  Poles are a shoer's best friend.  Today, fully-extended poles in deep powder could not touch the bottom.  That was the case again and again on the Voo-Doo Loop.

Ingrid, on the Hoo-Doo-Voo-Doo, moves into thick forest.

Plus a "Special moment" when a fellow-shoer either looses his/her balance or gets a shoe caught in a submerged branch.  It all happened today.  The good thing is, they all combine to enhance the great memory of the experience.  Nobody was hurt.

Ingrid and Betty, two who normally take on the more difficult challenges.  Yes, those smiles are genuine.

 Back at the Nordic Center, everyone was working on returning some feeling back in their fingers and toes.  We asked for thoughts of the days' experience.  No surprise, there was no shortage of kudos.  It didn't seem to matter if one had spent the day on Xcountry skiis or snowshoes.

Ingrid has made it over the downed tree while Betty prepares for her first step.

 We heard, awesome, invigorating, beautiful, crisp, and pristine, to describe the experience.  Others said, comfy cold, challenging, wonderful back country, and great off trail experience.

To bad we must go back.

 Maybe the one comment most will remember to describe the day is "Champagne powder." 

Shoes and poles at rest.

 Proof that everyone had an exceptional day outdoors is barely a word could be heard between any two people on the ride back to Mally Rec. Center in Englewood.  Me, well, I was cutting z's big time in the back row.

Total estimated distance = 11.5 kilometers or 7.1 miles