Since yesterday's skijor went pretty well I thought I'd try it again on slightly trickier terrain at the Pilchuck Tree Farm. The forecast called for warming (read: melting) temperatures and rain later in the afternoon; I was motivated to get going. And Jodee seemed excited when I got out my pack and her harness and jurry-rigged leashes so I guess yesterday at Northern State went well for both of us. The tree farm terrain is only trickier than Northern State in that the tree farm is roads and trails with some elevation gain, while Northern State is more or less a flat field with an upper field. I decided not to think about the eventual descent down the tree farm roads.
This morning was decidedly warmer than yesterday so I was glad to see the temperature at our house when I left was still 34F. That gave me hope that the temperature would be around freezing at the tree farm. No such luck but for a while I was optimistic. The snow had definitely settled and was still settling even though there had been some accumulation between this morning and the last time I was there. Also evident were vehicle tracks, probably anauthorized vehicle since a very sturdy gate blocks the way for other motorized users. I hoped that the vehicle meant that some of the blow-down had been cleared. Well, no such luck again but the vehicle did carve a path around an entire tree that crossed the road. At one point the vehicle tracks stopped and snowshoe tracks began. It was nice to follow a path even though I was still breaking trail through rather heavy, wet snow.
Jodee seemed mostly content going forward in a straight line but would occasionally veer off to investigate an interesting smell for at least as far as her two-leash lengths would allow. At one point the snowshoe track went right at a fork. I wasn't entirely sure about that route plus it was downhill and I wasn't ready to deal with downhill on skinny skis attached to a strong dog. So we went left on an unbroken trail through the forest that I was more familiar with. The snow was heavy and deeper, which slowed Jodee down although she will pull if she feels any resistance. Eventually I learned to capitalize on that trait and was even glad that I've never successfully taught her to heel properly.
We came back out the forest road and joined the snowshoe track further ahead. This track confirmed where I suspected the snowshoe track would come out when it went right and we went left. Up the road, the forest canopy opens where a swath had been logged some years ago. The snow was very heavy and sticky and glommed on to the bottom of my skis. Jodee was tiring and I developed a strange gait where I'd lift my ski and whack it with the opposite pole every few strides. It was noisy and tiring. My goal was now reduced to getting to the three-way junction just ahead instead of going all the way to the monument. Although, thinking back, the canopy closes after that junction and the snow might've been skiable again. Wish I would've thought about that then. Oh well, we'd been out for nearly two hours by then.
At the junction both Jodee and I had a snack then turned around. Well, I turned around. It took a long time to convince Jodee that we were going back the way we came. Maybe I should've listened to her. Sometimes her opinions make sense. I did get her turned around and whee what fun it was to ski back in our track! She really got into the spirit of it and pulled in front just like she was trained to do it. I can't think of much for fun a dog and her person can have together than swooshing down a trail like that.
Eventually we got to the obstacles where I needed her to slow down. Ha! I figured out I could hold her back and actually brace against her by putting my poles in my right hand and holding the leash with my left. Then I'd tell her to go forward and off she'd go again. At least until she found something interesting to sniff. Then I'd shout and wave my poles to get her going again before I collided with her. For the most part we got it figured out and had a great time. The ski back was about half the length of time going up, not surprising. Here are a few pictures.