#skijoring — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #skijoring, aggregated by home.social.
-
A bit of skijoring ASMR: here we're crossing the bridge just below Willow Falls, still running high from spring meltoff prior to the blizzard.
-
A bit of skijoring ASMR: here we're crossing the bridge just below Willow Falls, still running high from spring meltoff prior to the blizzard.
-
The Ides of March 2026 blizzard was a Goldilocks blizzard for us in the Twin Cities region: about a foot of snow, more or less. A good workout to clear, and enough to provide a nice base for skiing over formerly bare ground.
Over in the UP of Michigan they got up to 52"/132cm of snow! Yikes!
Yesterday we swung over to Willow River State Park in Wisconsin to enjoy it on our Hok (backcountry) skis. The SW trails in the park had been groomed (not the best for the Hoks) but the rest was untouched except by some hearty hikers.
We did the 6 mile loop around Little Falls Lake. Skiing was better than all of our recent Gunflint vacation except for that first day on the freshly groomed Banadad!
-
The Ides of March 2026 blizzard was a Goldilocks blizzard for us in the Twin Cities region: about a foot of snow, more or less. A good workout to clear, and enough to provide a nice base for skiing over formerly bare ground.
Over in the UP of Michigan they got up to 52"/132cm of snow! Yikes!
Yesterday we swung over to Willow River State Park in Wisconsin to enjoy it on our Hok (backcountry) skis. The SW trails in the park had been groomed (not the best for the Hoks) but the rest was untouched except by some hearty hikers.
We did the 6 mile loop around Little Falls Lake. Skiing was better than all of our recent Gunflint vacation except for that first day on the freshly groomed Banadad!
-
I finally splurged on a joring kit for Moxxi! It was tough to find a harness that was appropriate for a dog with such a long spine but thankfully there is a shop that specializes in dog sports not too far from home! They recommended this one from Non-Stop Dogwear.
As you can see, Moxxi already did a whole lot of nothing with it.
-
I finally splurged on a joring kit for Moxxi! It was tough to find a harness that was appropriate for a dog with such a long spine but thankfully there is a shop that specializes in dog sports not too far from home! They recommended this one from Non-Stop Dogwear.
As you can see, Moxxi already did a whole lot of nothing with it.
-
Day #7, Last day of skijoring 😢
We started out hoping to do one last X-C ski on the groomed E end of the Banadad Trail, but the stick and twig situation was as bad as it had been at George Washington Pines the day before. We gave up after half a km.
Stopped at the cabin to pick up the Hok skis en route to the "Moose Trail" (as it's known in Gaia and other online map apps), or Forest road 1335 (according to the locals). This was a gamble because it's not groomed so could be a deep slog.
To get there, you first follow 1/2 mile of snowmobile trail. It had just been groomed that morning and we were the first on it! It's a little TOO flat for our short, wide backcountry skis, but we made quick work of this stretch...
-
Day #7, Last day of skijoring 😢
We started out hoping to do one last X-C ski on the groomed E end of the Banadad Trail, but the stick and twig situation was as bad as it had been at George Washington Pines the day before. We gave up after half a km.
Stopped at the cabin to pick up the Hok skis en route to the "Moose Trail" (as it's known in Gaia and other online map apps), or Forest road 1335 (according to the locals). This was a gamble because it's not groomed so could be a deep slog.
To get there, you first follow 1/2 mile of snowmobile trail. It had just been groomed that morning and we were the first on it! It's a little TOO flat for our short, wide backcountry skis, but we made quick work of this stretch...
-
Belated video from George Washington Pines yesterday: Tonttu's full run on Jeff's Insta360
-
Belated video from George Washington Pines yesterday: Tonttu's full run on Jeff's Insta360
-
Day #6, X-C Skiing George Washington Pines
This is the most dog-friendly and popular trail in the region groomed for skiing... but it's also multi-use, so there's a LOT of foot traffic. This shot is from the beginning of the 2 mile loop. Can you find the ski tracks?
The high winds a couple days before scattered twigs and needles all over the trail too! As well as some larger branches.
-
Day #6, X-C Skiing George Washington Pines
This is the most dog-friendly and popular trail in the region groomed for skiing... but it's also multi-use, so there's a LOT of foot traffic. This shot is from the beginning of the 2 mile loop. Can you find the ski tracks?
The high winds a couple days before scattered twigs and needles all over the trail too! As well as some larger branches.
-
The deep snow has gotten a little firmer, but now has a thin icy crust, so not fun for huskies to break trail on. We took turns laying trail for them to follow. With a bit of trial and error, we managed a lead arrangement that allowed Zeena and Tonttu their own space on the trail without crowding each other out.
While listed as a "road" (even with a stop sign at the bottom!), it's difficult to see more than ORVs making their way up this path in the summer....
-
The deep snow has gotten a little firmer, but now has a thin icy crust, so not fun for huskies to break trail on. We took turns laying trail for them to follow. With a bit of trial and error, we managed a lead arrangement that allowed Zeena and Tonttu their own space on the trail without crowding each other out.
While listed as a "road" (even with a stop sign at the bottom!), it's difficult to see more than ORVs making their way up this path in the summer....
-
One more photo from yesterday: Jeff was about to snap a shot of Zeena and Tonttu leading Dale down his track, when suddenly Tonttu lunged at a Ruffed Grouse who was hiding along the trail.
(We didn't realize there WAS anything off the trail until the grouse got nervous and burst out of the snow deeper into the trees.)
Dale is dual wielding tiaks so Jeff can keep his hands free for trail clearing activities.
-
One more photo from yesterday: Jeff was about to snap a shot of Zeena and Tonttu leading Dale down his track, when suddenly Tonttu lunged at a Ruffed Grouse who was hiding along the trail.
(We didn't realize there WAS anything off the trail until the grouse got nervous and burst out of the snow deeper into the trees.)
Dale is dual wielding tiaks so Jeff can keep his hands free for trail clearing activities.
-
Day #2, Nordic/X-C skiing on the East end of the Banadad Trail.
This is a 27km groomed track through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildterness, running parallel to the Gunflint Trail.
To say it's "dog-friendly" would be generous: dogs are allowed, though locals aren't exactly happy about it. There are literally 100s of km of dog-free skiing trails in the state but skiers want to claim these 27km for their own too. 🙄
Anyhow...
The tracks were freshly groomed: we were the first on the trail, human or otherwise! We skied 4.3 mi / 7 km out, and then the same back. It was enough for today! Even the huskies were lagging on the downhills.
Now many photos taken, but this one has some nice lighting! Hopefully we'll get some fun videos up later.
-
Day #2, Nordic/X-C skiing on the East end of the Banadad Trail.
This is a 27km groomed track through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildterness, running parallel to the Gunflint Trail.
To say it's "dog-friendly" would be generous: dogs are allowed, though locals aren't exactly happy about it. There are literally 100s of km of dog-free skiing trails in the state but skiers want to claim these 27km for their own too. 🙄
Anyhow...
The tracks were freshly groomed: we were the first on the trail, human or otherwise! We skied 4.3 mi / 7 km out, and then the same back. It was enough for today! Even the huskies were lagging on the downhills.
Now many photos taken, but this one has some nice lighting! Hopefully we'll get some fun videos up later.
-
One of the hazards of skiing on lakes is slush! It's very disconcerting when you first encounter it because it makes you wonder whether there's any ice at all under the snow!
The problem is that light, fluffy snow has mass, and also insulating properties! So, when you get a lot of snow on the ice, its weight presses the ice down, forcing water up through cracks, and then it stays liquid under the snow.
And if your skis break through the snow layer, and touch the slush, ice rapidly forms on the bottom of the skis. Not good! That's a lot more weight and friction to carry along.
Here's some Insta360 video Jeff captured in a drifty area on the backside of an island. Tonttu was regularly getting into the slush here, getting his paws wet. 😞 🐺 Fortunately we were on the final stretch back to the cabin.
-
One of the hazards of skiing on lakes is slush! It's very disconcerting when you first encounter it because it makes you wonder whether there's any ice at all under the snow!
The problem is that light, fluffy snow has mass, and also insulating properties! So, when you get a lot of snow on the ice, its weight presses the ice down, forcing water up through cracks, and then it stays liquid under the snow.
And if your skis break through the snow layer, and touch the slush, ice rapidly forms on the bottom of the skis. Not good! That's a lot more weight and friction to carry along.
Here's some Insta360 video Jeff captured in a drifty area on the backside of an island. Tonttu was regularly getting into the slush here, getting his paws wet. 😞 🐺 Fortunately we were on the final stretch back to the cabin.
-
Heavier and more spindly-legged Tonttu struggled more in the deep snow, though he did well when the hidden crust layer could support his weight. It was a lot of work! He was happy to relax whenever we stopped.
Dale and Zeena tended to lead for most of the way, while Jeff and Tonttu followed in the packed track.
Our Altai Hok skis are backcountry-style, but with permanently-attached "skins" to allow rambling through deep snow. They've been called "the gravel bikes of skis" and it's a fitting moniker! They definitely floated over the ungroomed snow better than regular X-C skis would have.
We also were trying out the Altai "Tiak" poles instead of ski poles. They work well in deep snow (but not TOO deep), and also help control your descent on downhills (not an issue here...).
-
Heavier and more spindly-legged Tonttu struggled more in the deep snow, though he did well when the hidden crust layer could support his weight. It was a lot of work! He was happy to relax whenever we stopped.
Dale and Zeena tended to lead for most of the way, while Jeff and Tonttu followed in the packed track.
Our Altai Hok skis are backcountry-style, but with permanently-attached "skins" to allow rambling through deep snow. They've been called "the gravel bikes of skis" and it's a fitting moniker! They definitely floated over the ungroomed snow better than regular X-C skis would have.
We also were trying out the Altai "Tiak" poles instead of ski poles. They work well in deep snow (but not TOO deep), and also help control your descent on downhills (not an issue here...).
-
First full day at the cabin!
We ventured out onto Poplar Lake for a bit of Hok (backcountry) "skijoring" to check out conditions on the ice. It was slow going, especially for huskies who were breaking trail.
There's at least a foot of snow on top of the ice, with a slight crust on top of that, and then another 2-3" of powder on top of that. If you're lucky, you can float on top of the crust, but sometimes (especially in drifts) you break through and have to march along, compacting snow that can't support your weight.
Zeena was the most elf-like, staying on top for much of the open, wind-swept areas, but still struggled in the drifty alcoves.
(That's the roof of our cabin poking out of the trees on the very left side of the image.)
-
First full day at the cabin!
We ventured out onto Poplar Lake for a bit of Hok (backcountry) "skijoring" to check out conditions on the ice. It was slow going, especially for huskies who were breaking trail.
There's at least a foot of snow on top of the ice, with a slight crust on top of that, and then another 2-3" of powder on top of that. If you're lucky, you can float on top of the crust, but sometimes (especially in drifts) you break through and have to march along, compacting snow that can't support your weight.
Zeena was the most elf-like, staying on top for much of the open, wind-swept areas, but still struggled in the drifty alcoves.
(That's the roof of our cabin poking out of the trees on the very left side of the image.)
-
@anne_lienchen Yes, glad you found it! The most recent video was particularly fun.
We post all of our skijoring stuff over at Paws2Trail with the #skijoring hashtag so you should be able to search & filter on just those posts!
Here's the beginning of our last vacation up here a year ago, breaking trail on wide backcountry skis following the tracks of a pack of wolves:
https://mountains.social/@Paws2Trail/113942971587629197 -
@anne_lienchen Yes, glad you found it! The most recent video was particularly fun.
We post all of our skijoring stuff over at Paws2Trail with the #skijoring hashtag so you should be able to search & filter on just those posts!
Here's the beginning of our last vacation up here a year ago, breaking trail on wide backcountry skis following the tracks of a pack of wolves:
https://mountains.social/@Paws2Trail/113942971587629197 -
Here's the full 2:30 video, too long for Mastodon, so sending you over to MakerTube.net. Hopefully this works.
There are two descents: the first has a dramatic pass by Tonttu while Zeena dawdles on the side, and then the second is where Zeena gets into bounce-and-rar mode.
Apparently these get auto-captioned?! I'll have to see if I can edit out the obvious mistakes. 😁
-
Here's the full 2:30 video, too long for Mastodon, so sending you over to MakerTube.net. Hopefully this works.
There are two descents: the first has a dramatic pass by Tonttu while Zeena dawdles on the side, and then the second is where Zeena gets into bounce-and-rar mode.
Apparently these get auto-captioned?! I'll have to see if I can edit out the obvious mistakes. 😁
-
Yay Snow! ❄️ 🐾 ⛷️
After rain and melt back to mostly bare ground, we got over half a foot of fresh snow on the west side of the Metro! Baker Park Reserve groomed their multi-use trail, so we headed out yesterday to see what it was like under more ideal conditions than last time.
It was fun! While they'd only groomed half of the loop, turning it into an out-and-back, they did get further out into the sunny open prairie than before, giving us access to more dramatic hills. Zeena and Tonttu both loved going fast and competing against each other on the descents.
On the way back, Jeff pulled out his Insta360 camera and handed it to Dale who recorded a couple of descents. This bit was the most amusing! Zeena got a little overexcited and went into play mode while we were still on the descent! Fortunately, everyone survived with only one tangled lead to sort out later.
-
Yay Snow! ❄️ 🐾 ⛷️
After rain and melt back to mostly bare ground, we got over half a foot of fresh snow on the west side of the Metro! Baker Park Reserve groomed their multi-use trail, so we headed out yesterday to see what it was like under more ideal conditions than last time.
It was fun! While they'd only groomed half of the loop, turning it into an out-and-back, they did get further out into the sunny open prairie than before, giving us access to more dramatic hills. Zeena and Tonttu both loved going fast and competing against each other on the descents.
On the way back, Jeff pulled out his Insta360 camera and handed it to Dale who recorded a couple of descents. This bit was the most amusing! Zeena got a little overexcited and went into play mode while we were still on the descent! Fortunately, everyone survived with only one tangled lead to sort out later.
-
One last day for skijoring before a long period of melting is expected! We drove to the other side of the Twin Cities metro to Baker Park Reserve, which we'd never been to before.
It has what's advertised as a 5 mile loop (The yellow rubber band along Homestead Trail on the map), of dog-allowed multi-use trail, though only 3 miles of it were packed today.
It was fine. Minimal terrain, so difficult to get any downhill speed in, but worth keeping in mind for times when our side of the metro is low on snow.
-
One last day for skijoring before a long period of melting is expected! We drove to the other side of the Twin Cities metro to Baker Park Reserve, which we'd never been to before.
It has what's advertised as a 5 mile loop (The yellow rubber band along Homestead Trail on the map), of dog-allowed multi-use trail, though only 3 miles of it were packed today.
It was fine. Minimal terrain, so difficult to get any downhill speed in, but worth keeping in mind for times when our side of the metro is low on snow.
-
With warm temps cycling in and out, we ventured out onto Jensen Lake this morning after temps dipped below freezing overnight. Just enough snow on top of the ice for our skis to get traction and glide!
We hadn't been out on a frozen lake since last winter, but Zeena immediately recognized that this is a FUN place where you get to zoom from one sniff-and-dig spot along the shore to another.
-
With warm temps cycling in and out, we ventured out onto Jensen Lake this morning after temps dipped below freezing overnight. Just enough snow on top of the ice for our skis to get traction and glide!
We hadn't been out on a frozen lake since last winter, but Zeena immediately recognized that this is a FUN place where you get to zoom from one sniff-and-dig spot along the shore to another.
-
What is "skijoring"? It's a sport in which skiers are pulled along by horses, which started as a form of winter transportation in Scandinavia. Popular Science explains more.
-
What is "skijoring"? It's a sport in which skiers are pulled along by horses, which started as a form of winter transportation in Scandinavia. Popular Science explains more.
-
The open prairie trail was solid, wind-blown ice, but at least there was snowy grass on the side with plenty of glide.
Huskies enjoyed a lot of mousing, though the only prize was one already dead and frozen that Zeena found.
The final curving descent was fast and scary! Zeena was barely able to keep ahead of the skis. But we all survived to skijor another day.
-
The open prairie trail was solid, wind-blown ice, but at least there was snowy grass on the side with plenty of glide.
Huskies enjoyed a lot of mousing, though the only prize was one already dead and frozen that Zeena found.
The final curving descent was fast and scary! Zeena was barely able to keep ahead of the skis. But we all survived to skijor another day.
-
Back on the snow today! We second-guessed our plans to go further west and instead stuck to the more local Murphy Hanrehan horse/pet trails. It was heavily trampled, but good enough to ski.
Here, Tonttu and Jeff go off-trail for a straight, if lumpy, descent against a clear sky.
-
Back on the snow today! We second-guessed our plans to go further west and instead stuck to the more local Murphy Hanrehan horse/pet trails. It was heavily trampled, but good enough to ski.
Here, Tonttu and Jeff go off-trail for a straight, if lumpy, descent against a clear sky.
-
Action shot! (Of a sort)
The trail was flat and wide, allowing us to pace/race each other side-by-side for much of the way, which we don't often get to do. There wasn't any particularly better track to follow, so we made our own.
-
Action shot! (Of a sort)
The trail was flat and wide, allowing us to pace/race each other side-by-side for much of the way, which we don't often get to do. There wasn't any particularly better track to follow, so we made our own.
-
Finally Fresh Snow!
Not much more than an inch, but it was enough to get us skiing once again on top of the icy base. We chose nearby and flat Pike Island once again to test the conditions, and were happy to find that it was surprisingly good! The snow was nice and fast and just enough to maintain control on the turns. The only annoyance was that our poles skittered on the icy base below.
Both huskies were VERY happy to be out moving at a pace faster than a hike. Plus, there were mouse noises to pounce and plenty of deer out to chase after! Both humans managed to stay upright and keep from getting hauled into the woods along the trail.
-
Finally Fresh Snow!
Not much more than an inch, but it was enough to get us skiing once again on top of the icy base. We chose nearby and flat Pike Island once again to test the conditions, and were happy to find that it was surprisingly good! The snow was nice and fast and just enough to maintain control on the turns. The only annoyance was that our poles skittered on the icy base below.
Both huskies were VERY happy to be out moving at a pace faster than a hike. Plus, there were mouse noises to pounce and plenty of deer out to chase after! Both humans managed to stay upright and keep from getting hauled into the woods along the trail.
-
Weekend things to do around Colorado Springs and beyond: PBS Kids Day, Genealogy, Skate with Olympians, Rockies Fest https://www.rawchili.com/mlb/?p=532968 #Baseball #CareAndShareFoodBank #colorado #ColoradoRockies #ColoradoRockies #EstesPark #life #MLB #PbsKids #PpldHistoryAndGeneology #rockies #RockiesPark #SkateInThePark #Skijoring
-
Wir waren heute Nachmittag wieder bisschen im #Schnee spielen. Nur der Mann und die Kleinis. Ylvi war zu Hause. Die hat heute Pause und darf morgen wieder am #Kickspark ran. Oder bei einer Vereinskollegin im Team am #Schlitten mitlaufen. Ich bin noch unentschlossen. 😅
#Winter #WinterLiebe #Hunde #Dogs #Skijoring #SkiFahren #Langlauf
-
Wir waren heute Nachmittag wieder bisschen im #Schnee spielen. Nur der Mann und die Kleinis. Ylvi war zu Hause. Die hat heute Pause und darf morgen wieder am #Kickspark ran. Oder bei einer Vereinskollegin im Team am #Schlitten mitlaufen. Ich bin noch unentschlossen. 😅
#Winter #WinterLiebe #Hunde #Dogs #Skijoring #SkiFahren #Langlauf
-
Schneetag für alle! Erst mit allen gucken, ob's für die Ski reicht, dann durfte der Mann mit Ylvi Ski-jören und ich mit Mette. Ylvi ist mir - vor allem am Anfang - einfach zu krass. Ein kurzes Stück hab ich es am Ende doch versucht. Und wenn sie langsam läuft, kommt echt Freude auf. 🥰Dann nochmal ne kleine Runde mit der Omi und jetzt wird vor dem Kamin entspannt. Winter mit Schnee ist einfach traumhaft.
#Schnee #Snow #SkiLanglauf #Skijoring #Skating #Hunde #Dogs #Sports #Winter #Zughundesport
-
Schneetag für alle! Erst mit allen gucken, ob's für die Ski reicht, dann durfte der Mann mit Ylvi Ski-jören und ich mit Mette. Ylvi ist mir - vor allem am Anfang - einfach zu krass. Ein kurzes Stück hab ich es am Ende doch versucht. Und wenn sie langsam läuft, kommt echt Freude auf. 🥰Dann nochmal ne kleine Runde mit der Omi und jetzt wird vor dem Kamin entspannt. Winter mit Schnee ist einfach traumhaft.
#Schnee #Snow #SkiLanglauf #Skijoring #Skating #Hunde #Dogs #Sports #Winter #Zughundesport
-
And one last downhill, this one nice and straight, not quite as steep as the first, but a good fast clip for all of us!
Now everyone's happily snoozing.
🧵 3/3
-
And one last downhill, this one nice and straight, not quite as steep as the first, but a good fast clip for all of us!
Now everyone's happily snoozing.
🧵 3/3
-
Another hill, not quite so steep, but with a few bends in it. Managed to stay on my skis despite the turns and hitting one soft spot.
Tonttu and Zeena were working much better together here.
🧵 2/3
-
Another hill, not quite so steep, but with a few bends in it. Managed to stay on my skis despite the turns and hitting one soft spot.
Tonttu and Zeena were working much better together here.
🧵 2/3
-
Woohoo! Finally some fast skijoring on X-C skis!
Back at the UMore Lone Rock Trail, this time the 4.3 mi middle loop. Still not groomed, but a few prior skiers set tracks and there was just enough snow to float over even the thinnest wind-blown spots.
Here's our first descent straight enough for me to attempt hand-held video.* Zeena was ALL IN and I got some great video of her keeping just ahead of me. Tonttu, however, balked at the start, got slightly tangled in his line and just managed to keep up with the rest of us.
🧵 1/3
* Yes, I need to get a head or chest mounted camera for these types of excursions. Especially for the times when I fall. 😂
-
Zorro's foster family picked him up yesterday, so we're back to a family of four.
With fresh snow on the ground, we headed out to check out skijoring conditions at UMore's east end of the Lone Rock Trail. The trail hasn't been groomed, so the wide Hok skis were good for shuffling over the uneven, trampled ground under the fresh snow. (Of course, the huskies would have preferred the fast XC skis on the downhills!)
As for the last photo here: for years, the park website has read, "Trails are one-way for skiers; follow blue diamond markers," which makes the diamond markers amusing to encounter in the wild.
-
Back on the skis!
Snow's back! Just enough for decent skiing. Dale took the more experienced huskies on his faster XC skis while Jeff wrangled Zorro on his bush-whacking Hok skis.
Here's part of the return leg where Zeena and Tonttu realized that they were catching up with the missing members of their pack. They put on a great burst of speed at the start, then seemed to think, "OK, that's close enough" before closing the gap.
-
Temps will drop and winds rise this weekend, giving us forecast windchills in the -20F / -30C range, so we got out for a quick loop around Pike Island after dropping off at the airport who we'd been picking up the last time we went skijoring here!
Less deer excitement than last time, but good exercise and fresh air for all (aside form the occasional whiffs of de-icing fluid).
