Dion Snowshoe Demo Day @ Savoy Mountain State Forest

December 21st, 2003 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Organized and Directed a 4-mile snowshoe demo for the Dion Snowshoe Company, circling North Pond, South Pond, and Tyler Swamp.  25 people as well as 1 dog completed the romp.

Mt Washington State Forest Marathon - October 2003

 Riga Plateau, South Taconic & Appalachian Trails, MA, NY & CT

Sometime in October of 2002 - 2003, Tippi completed her first "Marathon" along the Mt Riga Plateau; it would also be my 26th.  We had the "Bandit" along for the adventure. 

Our time was recorded as 5:38:00 over 24.7-miles.  I recall the end of the run taking forever once we descended Frissell and headed back to Mt. Washington State Forest Headquarters, as we might have diverted from the most direct track.

Maybe on top of Alander?

Intersection prior to Brace.

   
I believe this is the top of Brace Mountain.

The Bandit climbing Round Mountain.

The Bandit at the peak of Round Mountain.

The Bandit climbing Mt Frissell.

The Bandit climbing Frissell.

At the Tri-State Marker (NY, MA, CT).

1st Crescent Moon (Merrimack River) Snowshoe Race

March 15th, 2003 - Andover, MA

DD directed an event along the Merrimack River, with a plan of adding to the series beginning next season;  4 finishers in the initial running.

1st Covered Bridge Snowshoe Races
March 15th, 2003 - Greylock Glen - Adams, MA

PH and I were on a roll, so we organized another unplanned event, this time in the Glen using the Gould Covered Bridge as part of the route.

Eight folks in the 3.5-mile option, and fifteen folks completed the 8-miler.  PH finished first for the second week in a row!

Five others did portions of the route on snowshoes, one with a dog.

And,  the same three dogs that climbed Moby Dick last week completed this one as well, Sierra, Summitt and Tippi.

1st Moby Dick Snowshoe Races - March 8th, 2003
Mount Greylock State Reservation - Lanesborough, MA

PH and I were leaned on to keep the season going, even with "fun run" status events.  We managed to get people onto Greylock, to Jones Nose and back to the Lanesborough Visitor Center, for 9-miles or 2.5-mile runs.

5 completed the 2.5-miler, 13 people and 3 dogs completed the 8-miler, and 2 participated in something closer to 16-miles.

3rd Moody Spring Snowshoe Races
March 1st, 2003 - Dubuque State Forest - West Hawley, MA

The 3rd Moody Spring Snowshoe Races took place under my direction, with both 6 & 9 Mile Versions for the 77 participants (53 for 9-miles & 24 for 6-miles).  9 others went out on the course to do a little or a lot.

As is our tradition, we ended up at South Face Farm Sugarhouse to wrap up our season.

Moody Spring Snowshoe Race Marking
February 28th, 2003, Dubuque State Forest, West Hawley, MA

PH, Tippi and I spent 3:40:05 breaking trail and covering the Moody Spring Snowshoe Course with Arrows and Ribbons for the event tomorrow.

6th Annual Hawley Kiln Snowshoe Races
February 15th, 2003 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

Another organizing effort, this time for 73 finishers in the 7-Mile Kiln Klassic and another 26 in the "Notch" 4.5-Miler.

1st Annual Camp Saratoga ~5-Mile Snowshoe Race

February 8th, 2003 - Wilton Wildlife Preserve - Wilton, NY

The initial Camp Saratoga 5-Mile Snowshoe Race at Wilton Wildlife Preserve was held today on an outstanding course.  I ended up 11th out of 69 finishers.  This event was organized by my very good friends, JC & LC.

4th Annual Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race

February 2nd, 2003 - Saratoga Springs, NY

The fourth Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race at Spa Park in Saratoga Springs, New York found me finishing in 15th place (same position as last season) out of 144 participants.  This event was organized by my very good friends, JC & LC, and was a by far the largest snowshoe event any of us had ever been a part of.

1st Annual Northfield Mountain 7.25-km Snowshoe Race

February 1st, 2003 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

Not only was this part of the WMAC Dion Series, it was a USSSA National Qualifier Event for the United States Snowshoeing Association National Championship.

I managed to finish in 26th position, with a total of 78 participants.  Very tough field of competitors.

1st Annual Curly's Record Run 3.5-Mile Snowshoe Race

January 26th, 2003 - Pittsfield State Forest - Pittsfield, MA

The first ever Curly's Record Run was held in Pittsfield State Forest today, organized by my good friends the Herder's, Voll's, and Birkby's.

I finished in 9th position, with a total of 97 participants.  

4th Annual Greylock Glen 5km Snowshoe Race

January 18th, 2003 - Adams,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties with PH at the fourth Greylock Glen Snowshoe Race at the Mount Greylock State Reservation, in the Adams Glen...

This was a cold one, even for the Glen.  -28 degrees.  My Pop and I got there really early with PH, to set up the tarps and cooking equipment, get the registration going inside the gazebo.

It was darn cold.  No race for me today, I would do the race-timing instead.  Regardless of my issues, 82 people finished the event, and 2 additional swept the course for us.  Outstanding day!

6th Annual South Pond Shuffle 4-Mile Snowshoe Race

January 11th, 2003 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties at the sixth South Pond Shuffle Snowshoe Race at Savoy Mountain State Forest...  once again part of the WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series!

The event had 92 starters and 90 finishers, circling North Pond, South Pond, and Tyler Swamp.

1st Annual Saratoga Biathlon 5km Snowshoe Race

January 4th, 2003 - Day, NY

The 2003 WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series continued with the initial Saratoga Biathlon 5km Snowshoe Race in Day, New York.

Unfortunately, a real blizzard stopped most of us in our driveways, and only 14 brave explorers made the event on this day.