PMIACW

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Wuzzam was game for a good day in Mohawk Trail State Forest, and he encouraged me with a quote of wisdom right off the bat...

"...kids are learning to appreciate math instead of learning how to do math".

That made me laugh, and feel a little bad about things too.

As for the good day, I had a plan for about a half-marathon distance with plenty of climbing. I also planned on showing Wuzzam some special places he hasn't experienced before.

We parked at Zoar Gap, and made our way through the Elder's Grove and it's abundance of tall white pine (I believe at least 25 of tree-men-dous heights). These include the following in excess of 150' tall:

Saheda (171.4')

Tecumseh (166.8')

Osceola (160.5')

Sacajawea (159.2')

Sitting Bull (152.9')

Crazy Horse (150.2')

Wuzzam chased a porcupine up a tree, and having felt the power of the earth through the Elder's Grove, we passed through the 1930's stand of Red Pine, and along lower Stafford Meadow and the Deerfield River on the Mahican-Mohawk Trail. We caught sight of the Cold River prior to it's confluence with the Deerfield, and climbed Little Thumper Mountain, then took the new cut off to the official Thumper Mountain and the "Gateway".

Rambled through the Campground Road to the Indian Trail up to the saddle between Clark and Todd Mountains. Wuzzam asked if the climb was as tough as Blackhead in the Catskills, which was a strange questions as he has finished Escarpment about ten or so times, with the most recent being within the last couple years. I on the other hand finished Escarpment four times, and not since '97 or so. I had to tell my friend that I had no memory of that climb up Blackhead.

On the old Clark Todd Ridge, and back on the Mahican- Mohawk, we dropped off just prior to Clark's summit and stuck to the old path to South County Road. I had a reason for this... I was thinking about getting off trail and taking the location of the old road to Manning Brook Burial Ground, known officially as Gillett Cemetery, on the old Wheeler Road I believe. Found it easier than I thought it would be, and we spent time reading the epitaphs and exploring cellar holes. Very difficult to understand that there was a community living deep in these woods during the mid-1850's.

After the graves, we were back on the Mahican-Mohawk to reach Clark's summit, and then re-trace our steps on the old ridge-top trail to the four-way intersection. Found the energy to continue east to Todd Mountain's summit, and then back and down the long steep drop to the shores of the Deerfield River. One more time through the Elder's Grove, and we were complete with 12.5-miles and a serious amount of total climb!