I have been very fortunate to have a dedicated human running partner for over twenty-years. Wuzzam is a great sport, and will tackle anything, anytime. We both seem to get more out of "running" than "just running". The forest, the routes, the landscape, it all has to mean something... and to us it often does.
Today, despite calls for rain and a good chance of exploring, Wuzzam joined me for a one-way re-enactment of the old "Lost in Hampden" runs by K. Simons, circa 1999 and 2000.
We would challenge nine climbs, as follows:
- Hampden Overlook
- Goat Rock
- Minnechoag Mountain
- Hill 880' (Bald Mtn, Hampden)
- Pine Mountain
- Rattlesnake Hill
- Perkins Mountain
- The Pinnacle
- Bald Mountain (Somers)
After hitting some tough climbs in the prior two-weeks at Mohawk Trail and Hawley / Dubuque, today seemed to be comfortable. We really enjoyed the trails in Hampden Memorial Park, saw the stone chair in Garrish Park, passed through the VFW and over the Scantic River, climbed the north end of Minnechoag, managed our way over and down 880' and Pine, found our way over and down the fern covered Rattlesnake HIll, visited Camp Ayapo including Hurd's Lake and Perkins, visited the Stevenson Woodlands, managed steps up to the Pinnacle through to Bald on the "Old" Shenipsit Trail, and finally down the road to Bald Mountain Pond.
A fantastic day for my friend and I. 12.3-miles.
View east from Hampden Overlook
Wuzzam at Goat Rock, Minnechoag behind
Signage for Goat Rock
Peak of Pine Mountain, looking east
Ferns on the northwest side of Rattlesnake Hill
Wuzzam on Perkins peak
Tall Stonewall north of "the Pinnacle"
Old Shenipsit Trail Marker (the new trail is further east)
On
this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I completed a Metacomet Marathon, with a time of 7:00:00. Tippi ran the first section with us, from Route 20 to Phelps Road, and back (about 10.5-miles). Weather report was that heating up was very possible - so the DL grabbed Tippi early. This was my 46th marathon completed.
Our Route for the Marathon Distance.
