PMIACW

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Back to exploring the Mohawk Trail in Connecticut, this time with Wuzzam present as well.

Last venture out, I ended at Lake Road, so that would be our starting point today, with an idea to run out to Yelping Hill Road, a distance of 4-miles one-way.

It was a really beautiful morning, clear skies, no humidity, and about 64-degrees at the 9:00 a.m. start.

The run was rolling, with no real long climbs or descents, with about 7 - 7.5 of the 8.2 total miles good footed running. The other bit was either very rocky trail, a section that had been clear cut and had begun to grow up with briars and a loss of trail, and encroachment by beaver activity at a pond three-quarters of a mile or so from Yelping Hill.

Excellent run with numerous stonewalls to wonder at. Very nice brook running fairly strong despite it being late in the year and many small tributaries dried up. Additionally, a small branch of the previously mentioned brook went by a dark, hemlock forested area that I felt a spiritual awareness present. It was obviously a very special spot, as Wuzzam felt it as well.

Early sign along the Trail

Wonderful flowing brook

Wuzzam at Brook, with large stonewall on the rise behind

Pond, with active beaver

Stonewall stairs

More stonewall

Wuzzam at another step in a stonewall crossing

Additional stonewall, the area is full of examples

Another stonewall

Mr Wuzzam displaying the height of the stonework

Signage on the way back

Signage with trail present

Also, from the way-back machine...

Two old marathons completed on this day, the first in 2008 and the second in 2014.

In 2008, Curly's Marathon was held in Pittsfield State Forest, and it was a beautiful day to run. I recall wearing old shoes rather than a new pair I had just purchased, and it was a bad decision. The pain in my feet and lower legs was incredible for the last 6 or 8 miles, and I was lucky to finish in 5:54:36. This was my 38th completed marathon. My dad ran the Half-Marathon option as well.

In 2014, Wuzzam and I conquered Dunbar-Whitcomb-Jambs in 6:21:34. This expanded from an old run the Bandit and I did, from Whitcomb Summit to Windsor Jambs. This time, we began at Dunbar Brook in Monroe State Forest, and ventured out a new snowmobile trail to the windmills to Whitcomb Summit, over Crum Hill, over Flat Rock Hill and the old Viewing Platform for the Hoosac Tunnel, crossed the Cold River on an obscure grown in path, past Savoy Mountain State Forest at North Pond, past Bog Pond, over Lewis Hill and Borden Mountain, through Windsor Bush into Windsor State Forest and the Jambs. Outstanding day with outstanding sunny weather. This was my 52nd completed marathon.