We like to go cross-country skiing

and take 14 month-old lab, about every other day.

He likes to follow the prior days trail, 'cause it's firm enough he does not sink.

But, just about every 75 feet or so, he suddenly jumps into the soft snow

to check the smells around a tree 

or just sniff what other animals might have been around.

Then slowly trudges through the deep snow

till he returns to the packed-down trail

and runs ahead to take the lead.

(PS Pardon the color-tinged snow. 
But there's no way we're going to carry anything heavier than a simple cell phone 
to take pictures of a running dog.)