{"id":793556,"date":"2019-03-01T20:08:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-02T03:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/summit-county-family-non-skiing-ranch-hand-find-passion-for-skijoring-at-ute-pass-ranch\/"},"modified":"2019-03-02T17:54:12","modified_gmt":"2019-03-03T00:54:12","slug":"summit-county-family-non-skiing-ranch-hand-find-passion-for-skijoring-at-ute-pass-ranch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/summit-county-family-non-skiing-ranch-hand-find-passion-for-skijoring-at-ute-pass-ranch\/","title":{"rendered":"Summit County family, non-skiing ranch hand find passion for skijoring at Ute Pass ranch"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-362084-385\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" alt=\"AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-1.jpg\" alt=\"Summit County brothers Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello pose for a photograph inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch as seen on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The brothers were at the ranch to prep for the weekend's 71st annual skijoring event in Leadville.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Summit County brothers Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello pose for a photograph inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch as seen on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The brothers were at the ranch to prep for the weekend&#8217;s 71st annual skijoring event in Leadville.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-2.jpg\" alt=\"Summit County brothers Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello pose for a photograph inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch as seen on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The brothers were at the ranch to prep for the weekend's 71st annual skijoring event in Leadville.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Summit County brothers Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello pose for a photograph inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch as seen on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The brothers were at the ranch to prep for the weekend&#8217;s 71st annual skijoring event in Leadville.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-3.jpg\" alt=\"The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of Vinny (skiing) and AJ Pestello (horseback) practice for the upcoming weekend's 71st annual skijoring event in Leadville on the jumps they built themselves at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne, on Wednesday, Feb. 27.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of Vinny (skiing) and AJ Pestello (horseback) practice for the upcoming weekend&#8217;s 71st annual skijoring event in Leadville on the jumps they built themselves at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne, on Wednesday, Feb. 27.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-4.jpg\" alt=\"Summit County skijoring competitors, Al Mikkelsen (left) AJ Pestello (horseback) and Vinny Pestello walk down the driveway at Pass Creek Ranch, where Mikkelsen is the caretaker, near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne, on Wednesday Feb. 27.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Summit County skijoring competitors, Al Mikkelsen (left) AJ Pestello (horseback) and Vinny Pestello walk down the driveway at Pass Creek Ranch, where Mikkelsen is the caretaker, near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne, on Wednesday Feb. 27.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-5.jpg\" alt=\"The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of Vinny, right, and AJ Pestello, gear up to practice at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of Vinny, right, and AJ Pestello, gear up to practice at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-6.jpg\" alt=\"Vinny Pestello of Breckenridge prepares to don his ski boots to practice skijoring at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Vinny Pestello of Breckenridge prepares to don his ski boots to practice skijoring at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-7.jpg\" alt=\"The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of AJ, left, and Vinny Pestello gear up to practice at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of AJ, left, and Vinny Pestello gear up to practice at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-8.jpg\" alt=\"The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of AJ, left, and Vinny Pestello gear up to practice at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of AJ, left, and Vinny Pestello gear up to practice at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne on Wednesday, Feb. 27.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-9.jpg\" alt=\"Summit County skijoring horseback rider and Pass Creek Ranch caretaker Al Mikkelsen, as seen inside one of the ranch's barns on Wednesday, Feb. 27, near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Summit County skijoring horseback rider and Pass Creek Ranch caretaker Al Mikkelsen, as seen inside one of the ranch&#8217;s barns on Wednesday, Feb. 27, near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-10.jpg\" alt=\"The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello are see on Wednesday, Feb. 27, inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne. The brothers prepared for the upcoming weekend's 71st annual Leadville skijoring event at the ranch, which is taken care of by their good friend Al Mikkelsen.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>The Summit County brotherly skijoring duo of Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello are see on Wednesday, Feb. 27, inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass north of Silverthorne. The brothers prepared for the upcoming weekend&#8217;s 71st annual Leadville skijoring event at the ranch, which is taken care of by their good friend Al Mikkelsen.<\/strong><br \/>\nHugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Tony Pestello called out to his son AJ\u2019s snow-soaked German wirehair pointer, as the sound of a galloping horse and slushy ski turns grew louder and louder with each split second.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWeezy, Weezy!\u201d Pestello said. \u201cGet, get over here!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Forgive Weezy, for the grizzled ranch pooch was having the time of his life alongside a border collie named Baby, as they ran ahead of, behind and next to a speedy horse named Skip. Weezy and Skip\u2019s dog run for the day was a snow-covered driveway about two football fields long at Pass Creek Ranch, just north of Ute Pass in northern Summit County\u2019s wide-open country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Weezy, the Pestellos and their friend Al Mikkelsen, the ranch\u2019s caretaker, were here on this bluebird Wednesday in the shadow of Ute Peak to get in some practice three days ahead of the 71st annual Running of Leadville Skijoring event. It\u2019s an annual event that pairs horses, riders and skiers to manage what is a dastardly inter-species race course down Leadville\u2019s historic Main Street.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">This strip of driveway at Pass Creek Ranch is the closest thing you\u2019ll find to an ideal practice venue for Leadville. In the weeks prior, Mikkelsen, the Pestellos and some other ski and ranch friends used shovels to build a few jumps they hoped would mimic what AJ, 26, and his younger brother Vinny, 24, will see at this weekend\u2019s skijoring event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The venue also mimics the closest thing to skijoring the Pestello brothers ever experienced before they tried out the sport for the first time in 2017. Scouring their memories back to more than a decade prior, the Pestello brothers found fun in a way Summit County\u2019s most daring teenagers sometimes do. At their then-home in the Farmers Korner neighborhood near the high school, they\u2019d build a jump that would launch them over a 40-foot gap, from one side of their driveway to the other. And, to do so, they\u2019d be towed behind a snowmobile or car.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere were too many different times to remember, really,\u201d Vinny said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">These days, it\u2019s a different kind of horse power that the Pestello brothers are using to satiate their need for speed. This weekend will be their third winter competing at the annual Leadville skijoring event, where they each will ski behind one of Mikkelsen\u2019s horses, Skip and Frank. The accomplished horseman AJ, who lives on a ranch property just north of Summit County within view of Green Mountain Reservoir, will also don his cowboy boots and ride a horse, towing a still-to-be-determined skier behind him. And their father Tony will place bets on his sons and others at the event\u2019s annual Calcutta auction, which raises money for charity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For the brothers, skijoring is a best-of-both-worlds competition that pairs their childhood passion for skiing with the horseman\u2019s life AJ has fallen in love with since his high school graduation. As kids, AJ was more of the freestyle skier while Vinny dabbled in more traditional downhill racing after the Pestellos moved to Summit County from Minnesota in their pre-teen years. They each competed for Team Summit before transitioning, like so many local kids do, into more casual and adventurous free riding around the resorts and backcountry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p>It was right around that time when Tony brought them to their first skijoring event in Minturn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI think AJ said to me, \u2018There\u2019s no way we are going to go to another skijoring event and not be signed up,\u2019\u201d Vinny said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But life got in the way for both brothers, as it would be just about a decade later when they tried skijoring for the first time. During that span in between, AJ and Vinny both got more accustomed to horses while working carriage and stable jobs in the Breckenridge area. AJ then became even more of a well-rounded horseman, attending an agricultural college in Nebraska.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">During that time AJ grew close with Jorge, a 9-year-old, 1,000-pound, 15-and-a-half-hands tall gelding paint quarter horse that is still by his side to this day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In fact, despite his lack of speed, Jorge in some ways is the ideal horse to run at the Leadville event. He has a life\u2019s worth of what AJ calls \u201cranch horse versatility,\u201d or the ability to calmly undertake such tasks as roping and controlling a cow to going over a trail course. Jorge is also desensitized to the kinds of things that may make most horses skittish, such as a plastic bag flying up in front of his face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat\u2019s a huge component in my opinion,\u201d AJ said, \u201cbecause we\u2019ll get up to the start gate, and you\u2019ll get some horses who are barrel racers and they\u2019re not quite desensitized to all of those aspects of ropes and rings and skis and people. Because these horses start to learn, \u2018When I get here, I\u2019ve got to run my guts out.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">With that wisdom, when the Pestellos and Mikkelsen practiced out at Pass Creek Ranch the past couple of weekends, AJ made it a point to ease the horses into what they may see in Leadville. So he\u2019ll strap on his powder skis and walk with a certain gait to demonstratively slap the skis on the ground. The idea is to get certain horses, particularly Mikkelsen\u2019s Skip and Frank, used to the kind of unnatural commotion they\u2019ll experience when hundreds of screaming fans create an energy-filled racing snow tunnel in Leadville.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Which brings us to Mikkelsen. A lifetime horseman dating back to his upbringing in Michigan, the ranch\u2019s caretaker said he got hooked \u201cbig time\u201d on skijoring last year when the Pestellos invited him out. If you can believe it, Mikkelsen is a 17-year resident of Summit County who has never once strapped into skis. But skijoring? Now that, that\u2019s something worth trying for the bull rider.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cToo many people on the mountain,\u201d Mikkelsen says while leading Skip out from one of the ranch\u2019s barns. \u201cBut what they are doing on a closed course? That\u2019s pretty cool for me. Anything with horses I\u2019m drawn to. This is one of them things, you don\u2019t even hear about it back home in Michigan. I didn\u2019t even know about it out here. It\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Come the weekend, the Pass Creek Ranch crew is hopeful all of their preparation will pay off. If they are to win, it may just come aboard Skip. He\u2019s \u201ca getter,\u201d as Mikkelsen will tell you. He enjoys doing what Mikkelsen asks of him and with a smile on his face to boot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Skiers, though, skiers are much different for a horse than a calf, Mikkelsen said. So the key for Mikkelsen and the Pestellos this weekend, as they chase a skijoring title, will be making sure a zippy horse like Skip is used to the skier being pulled behind him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Because, if not, all Calcutta bets may just be off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s something because, this guy,\u201d Mikkelsen said looking into Skip\u2019s eyes, \u201che\u2019s trained that when I latch onto a calf, he turns and stands and keeps that rope tight. But he\u2019s not wanting to rip that calf\u2019s head off. And now I\u2019m asking him to turn and rip his head off, you know? That\u2019s been something learning wise, for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/SkiJoring-SDN-030219-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/summit-county-family-non-skiing-ranch-hand-find-passion-for-skijoring-at-ute-pass-ranch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AJ Pestello lugs his skis over his shoulder while riding his trusty horse Jorge during skijoring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Pass Creek Ranch near Ute Pass, north of Silverthorne. Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com Summit County brothers Vinny (left) and AJ Pestello pose for a photograph inside a barn at Pass Creek Ranch as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-793556","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-13 21:23:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=793556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793556\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=793556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=793556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}