Metacomet Trail with Tippi, once again, from Route 20 north.

Metacomet Trail run with Tippi, Phelps Road south.

Running on some of Ashfield Trails, as well as old snowmobile routes with Tippi.

Did some GPS work at Farmer Tom's "Home Trails" with Tippi.

Running along Ashfield Trails on the Two-Bridges Trail, with Tippi.

More Dubuque with Tips, Hawley.

Return to Hawley for a run in Dubuque with Tippi.

DAR and Ashfield Trails with Tippi.

More DAR State Forest work with Tippi.

DAR State Forest with Tippi.

Exploring Ashfield Trails with Tippi.

Running in the Tunxis State Forest with Tippi.  Route 20 to Roberts Brook and back.

Exploring the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest, Goshen, Massachusetts with Tips.

Metacomet Trail Run with Tips, from Route 20.

Metacomet Trail run from Phelps Road with Tippi.

Running through Tunxis State Forest from Ratlum Road to Indian Council Caves, with Tippi.

Running in Catamount State Forest with Tippi.

A visit to East Granby Farms to explore some of the trails on the eastside of the Metacomet Ridge, with Tips.

Metacomet Trail Run from Phelps Road in West Suffield, with Tippi.

Metacomet Trail Ridge and East Granby Farms Trails with Tippi.

Another quick speed workout in Tunxis with Tippi.

My Pop and I got out early with Tippi to mark the Savoy Mtn 11 & 22 mile trail race.  We finished around 5:30 for 11-miles.

Another trip to Tunxis State Forest, this time to run harder than normal.  Set up something a bit over 6-miles to attempt to blow the system out.  Tippi hung in really well.

Running with Tippi in the Tunxis State Forest.

Running in Holcomb Farm and McLean Refuge, out to the Pine Cone with Tippi.

Tunxis Trail, Ratlum Road section out-and-back for 6+ miles with Tippi.

Bringing July to and end with a nice long run in McLean.

Combo from our Tunxis routes this summer south of Route 44.

Making the connection from Windsor's Notchview Reservation to Windsor Jambs Camping area via Windsor State Forest.

Ashfield Trails with Tippi, exploring the new-ish trails.

Brand new area to explore today with Tippi.  Our most extreme southern section of the Tunxis.

Combo map of the Tunxis and Granville explorations from the month.

Running in Mohawk Trail State Forest into Savoy Mountain State Forest, including the ridge over Clark and Todd Mountains.

Great day to see the Berkshire Natural Resource Council's "Hoosac Range Trail" from the Kiosk on Route 2/Mohawk Trail to Spruce Hill.

Granville State Forest to make the connection to Tunxis via North Hollow and the Hubbard River Trail.

Continued with the Tunxis area, this time into Granville State Forest area at North Hollow.

Tunxis Trail south of Route 44, which has never been a common destination for us (Tippi and I).

Long Run out in Hawley at Dubuque State Forest.

I attended a short performance by Keith Wood / Hush Arbors at a Hadley bookstore in the late afternoon.

Black Angels at Pearl Street, Northampton with DL.  Awesome show! 

Shenipsit State Forest for a bit of adventure with Tippi.

4th Annual Sunset 5km Snowshoe Race
March 19th, 2011  -  Catamount Ski Area  -  Hillsdale, NY

Wrap up to the 2011 season, I managed 5th of 17 racers.

A compo map of the March 4th & March 12th snowshoe adventure runs in Williamsburg, DAR, and Conway State Forest.

Out to Tunxis in deteriorating conditions (snow wise).  Tippi and I managed 2-miles.

Got out with Tippi to ramble on from DAR State Forest along Rogers Brook to meet up with the Williamsburg Woodland Trails from the March 4th adventure.  Roughly a 7-mile run.

Sunrise Park Snowshoe with Tippi, 4-miles.

14th Annual Hawley Kiln "Notch" 4.6-Mile Snowshoe Race
March 5th, 2011 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

Another organizing effort, this time for a Notch version.  75 finishers in the race, I brought up the rear once again.  Ended, as usual, at South Face Farm Sugarhouse to semi-close out the season.

7.8-miles along Williamsburg Woodland Trails with Tippi, into Conway State Forest.  A highlight of the journey today was the headwaters of Nichols Brook, at the small pond west of Briar Hill Road.

Hawley Kiln marking with Tippi prior to Saturday's race.

One quick trip around the Stony Brook loop with Tippi, 1.5-miles.

Moody Spring 5.7-Mile Snowshoe Race
February 27th, 2011 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

I directed another event in Hawley, with 58 finishers.  I went out early to mark and track, and finished in 51st.

Once back home, I took Tippi to Stony Brook for a 3-mile snowshoe run.

1st Northeast Snowshoe Federation Snowshoe Championship
 Northfield Mountain Visitor Center
February 26th, 2011 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

Good friend DD organized this, an attempt at bringing New England and the Northeast together for something big and annual.  I finished 77th, just behind my Pop, out of 85.

Moody Spring course marking with Tippi, measured out at 5.8-miles.

4-mile Sunrise Park snowshoe with Tippi.

Hallockville Pond "Orchard" 3.7-Mile Snowshoe Race
February 20th, 2011 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

I directed another event in Hawley, going out early to mark and track, and finished 78th of 84.

2nd Annual The Immortal "Moby Dick" Busa
7.3-Mile Snowshoe Race - February 19th, 2011
Mount Greylock State Reservation - Lanesborough, MA

I organized and directed this one.  Additionally, I managed a 39th of 60 for the race; I went out early with Tippi.  Did the cooking outside in huge wind at the finish line as well.

4-mile snowshoe run with Tippi from Sunrise Park.

Marking the Moby Dick Race Course with Tippi;  roughly 7-miles (give or take).

4-mile snowshoe run at Sunrise for Tippi and I.

Another Sunrise Park Snowshoe with Tippi, 4-miles.

8th Annual Camp Saratoga ~5-Mile Snowshoe Race

February 12th, 2011 - Wilton Wildlife Preserve - Wilton, NY

The Camp Saratoga 5-Mile Snowshoe Race at Wilton Wildlife Preserve was held by my very good friends JC & LC.  

I ended up 36th out of 163 finishers.

4-miles from Sunrise Park up to the Metacomet with Tippi.

Attended a concert at the Flywheel Arts Collective in Easthampton, MA.

Rubber Leather

Tony the Bookie

Hush Arbors

Jason Ajemian 

I can't recall the order of the performance, other than Hush Arbors was headlining and went on at the end.

Sunrise Park Snowshoe with Tippi, 4-miles.

Stony Brook with Tippi, one loop for 1.5-miles.

12th Annual Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race

February 6th, 2011 - Saratoga Springs, NY

The twelth Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race at Spa Park in Saratoga Springs, New York directed by my friends Laura and Jeff.  I finished 21st of 202 racers!

9th Northfield Mountain 5-Mile Snowshoe Race
Northfield Mountain Visitor Center
February 5th, 2011 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

Good friend DD organized again, and I assisted him at the finish line.

Back to Connecticut, and a trip to Sunrise Park with Tippi to get in 4-miles of snowshoeing.

Sunrise Park to the Metacomet Ridge snowshoeing with Tippi, 4-miles.

Sunrise Park Snowshoe with Tippi, 2-miles due to a huge snowfall.

Stony Brook Park with K2 and Tippi for a 3-mile snowshoe adventure.

8th Annual Curly's Record Run 4-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 30th, 2011 - Pittsfield State Forest - Pittsfield, MA

Great day, 29th of 117 finishers.

Back at home, I revisted Sunrise Park with K2 and Tippi to get another 4-miles of snowshoeing in.

Sidehiller 5-Mile Snowshoe Race
U.S.S.S.A. Qualifier - Sandwich FairGrounds
January 29th, 2011 - Center Sandwich, NH

108 racers completed this season's Sidehiller event.

Fourth straight day at Sunrise Park to enjoy the Metacomet Ridge snowshoeing with Tippi, 4-miles.

Third consecutive day of Sunrise Park to the Metacomet Ridge snowshoeing with Tippi, 4-miles.

Second consecutive day at Sunrise Park to the Metacomet Ridge snowshoeing with Tippi, 4-miles.

Sunrise Park to the Metacomet Ridge snowshoeing with Tippi, 4-miles.

Stony Brook Park with Tippi for 3-miles of snowshoeing.

Berkshire Natural Resource Council Presents...
2nd Constitution Hill 5.8 Km Snowshoe Race
January 23rd, 2011 - Constitution Hill - Lanesborough, MA

I finished 10th out of 63 in this one.

Felt good enough to take Tippi back to Sunrise Park once back home for an additional 4-miles.

3rd Annual Hoot, Toot & Whistle 5km Snowshoe Race
January 22nd, 2011 - Catamount Ski Trail - Readsboro, VT

96 finishers for this one, I unfortunately missed out.

Reason for missing out was a trip to with my Pop to pick up at the butcher.

Once back home, I took Tippi out to Sunrise Park for 3.8-miles of snowshoeing.

Once again, right after work to Sunrise with Tippi.  4-miles this time around.

Took Tippi to Sunrise Park after work to snowshoe for 2.7-miles.

Another day enjoying the ridge with Tippi, along the Metacomet for 7-miles this time.

7th Annual Brave the Blizzard 3.9-Mile Snowshoe  Race
Guilderland Elementary School
January 16th, 2011 - Guilderland, NY

Snow once again in Guilderland!  I didn't make the event, but 207 finishers did!  This is a new record for snowshoers at a WMAC Dion Series Race!  The previous high was Saratoga Spa Winterfest with 196 to the finish line in 2009.

Closer to home, the Old Goat and I rambled along the Metacomet for 4-miles, with Tippi romping along as well.

12th Annual Greylock Glen Snowshoe Race
January 15th, 2011 - Adams,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties at another Greylock Glen Snowshoe Race at the Mount Greylock State Reservation, in the Adams Glen...

78 total finishers, with a 78th for me as I counted my flagging/marking time from early in the morning.  I wrote a bit about this one as follows:

"... We had our first Greylock Glen Snowshoe Race in ‘99. It was unofficial, as many of them were back then. We have held snowshoe races in the Glen each year since.

This one was special for me, because PH came out to visit us for a while. PH, my dad and I have spent hundreds of hours in the Glen and on Greylock together through the years. although PH isn’t able to get out as he once did, but there wouldn’t be Greylock Snowshoe Races if it weren’t for him.

He directed all the early events here, and the current course is what he had come up with a few years back after the beaver had taken over the north side.  I want to thank everyone for participating; I am honored to have shared this day with all of you, your spirit made it worthy!"

Once it was over, Tippi and I had 6.5-miles of snowshoeing on our legs.

A visit to Adams, including 4-miles in Greylock Glen marking and flagging for tomorrow's race.  Enjoyable day for Tips and I.

Metacomet Trail via Sunrise Park with Tippi for 4-miles.

3rd Annual Turner Trail Snowshoe Race
January 8th, 2011 - Pittsfield State Forest - Pittsfield, MA

Missed another, 62 finishers.

4th Annual Massachusetts State Championship
2010 Mass State Championship
(make up from March 2010 & December 2010)
North Pond / South Pond 3.0-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 2nd, 2011 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties.

Long story behind this one, my friend LC said it best in an article about the event...  Here is how the story unravels:

"... the Massachusetts State Snowshoe Championship, originally scheduled for March 2010 in Northfield, was postponed to December because of lack of snow cover.

December fared no better, with December 25 being the only day that showed promise. Needless to say, Santa holds exclusive rights, so the 2010 date stealthily tiptoed across the border to January 2, 2011, hoping no one would notice. Hardly anyone did.

A fireworks meltdown over the New Year’s holiday left our race director (incidentally from CT and standing in for official MA representative DD) hunkered down with his email list. “Here is what I suggest,” he cautiously typed, “– stay home and skip the race if you have any doubts or want to avoid potentially poor snowshoe conditions. Truthfully, most of you should avoid our race tomorrow. Do something else…”

Well, conditions were as advertised.  The snow was minimal and roots were showing for much of it.

I managed 25th of 25 participants, using my time from marking the course early on.

Out to Savoy Mountain State Forest to mark the upcoming snowshoe event.  I managed 3.5-miles of snowshoeing.