3rd Annual Moby Dick Marathons
February 9th, 1997 - Lanesborough, Massachusetts

The 3rd Moby Dick Marathons were held.  This time I managed the 16-mile version on snowshoes, finishing in 2:57:33.

The "Up" was with Old Goat, GH Bear, and the young Gulliver.

The "Down" was with Old Goat and my Pop, who joined us in the last couple miles.

3 Visits to Bird Sanctuary with DL & Dusty through week. 

1 hike on the Metacomet from Phelps north as well.

2 Visits to Bird Sanctuary and 1 visit to Stony Brook Park with DL & Dusty through week. 

1 hike on the Metacomet from Route 20 north for 4-miles total with Dusty.

1 hike in Sunrise Park with DL and Dusty.

A return to Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, to explore Moody Spring area over 14-miles of snowshoeing.  Finished in 4:23:38.

4 Visits to Bird Sanctuary with DL & Dusty through week. 

1 hike on the Metacomet to Copper / Peak Mtn as well.

Granville State Forest with GH, the Bandit and Old Goat.  

We covered roughly 12-miles on a lot of ice, in 2:15:20.

Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, Massachusetts for 8-miles of snowshoeing, completed in 2:22:57.

A visit with the folks with a hike / run up to High Bridge (6-miles in 1:36:35). 

Hike with Dusty in Granville State Forest, 2:22:36 time on feet.

We covered "Halfway Brook", "Hubbard River Trail",  "Wood Trail" and back.

4 Visits to Bird Sanctuary and 1 visit to Stony Brook Park with DL & Dusty through week. 

1 hike on the Metacomet from Phelps north as well.

Lost Mountain Exploration

GH & Old Goat joined me on a trek towards "Lost Mountain", or Mount Riga, in Salisbury, CT.

We climbed up the Undermountain Trail to Riga Junction, and out to cross the road and climb Round and Frissel.  Then back.  Slippery and snow covered.  Great day, no Lost Mountain found though...

59:38 /    59:38

43:24 / 1:43:03

31:30 / 2:14:34

45:06 / 2:59:40

1st Grupa Dupa 50Km

January 4, 1997 - West Hartford, Connecticut

I completed my 14th marathon today, the "Grupa Dupa" at Talcott Mountain State Park, home of the Hueblin Tower.  Tony W and Janice K did a great job as organizers of this "Fat Ass 50" type of event.

We completed multiple loops up and around the tower, with a final distance right around 50km.  My time ended up a pretty quick 5:11:13.

Highlander Route (1 lowlander and 3 highlanders).

1:15:10 / 

1:25:27 / 2:40:37

1:51:02 / 4:31:40 (long rest (16 minutes))

   39:32 / 5:11:13

3 Visits to Bird Sanctuary and 1 visit to Stony Brook Park with DL & Dusty through week. 

New Years Eve Dinner with RunSteveo and family. 

Totals for 1996 -

Run -  1368 Miles

Dusty - 380 Miles

Visited the Lewis Hill Bird Sanctuary several times this month with Dusty and DL.

And when we weren't visiting the Bird Sanctuary, we were visiting Stony Brook Park.

We even had a few visits to the Metacomet Trail this month as well!