1st Massebesic 5km Snowshoe Race
January 29th, 2005 - Auburn, NH

A new event in our series, I managed a difficult 17th out of 47 racers.

3rd Annual Curly's Record Run 4.0-Mile Snowshoe Race

January 23rd, 2005 - Pittsfield,  Massachusetts

46 snowshoer's showed up to race in Pittsfield State Forest honoring Curly during the aftermath of a fairly severe blizzard in the northeast.  K2 and I missed the race due to heading into work to shovel things out.

6th Annual Greylock Glen 5km Snowshoe Race

January 15th, 2005 - Adams,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties with PH at the sixth Greylock Glen Snowshoe Race at the Mount Greylock State Reservation, in the Adams Glen...  for the race I managed a 17th out of 65 total finishers.

3rd Merrimack River 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race

January 2nd, 2005 - Andover, MA

DD directed another Merrimack River event for the third year, with 21 finishers this time-around.

Tippi and I enjoyed a run from Greylock Glen up the mountain to Mt. Greylock's summit.  

Greylock Covered Bridge

Pecks Brook

Tippi crossing through a stonewall

 Greylock Glen

Greylock Glen

Pecks Falls

Pecks Falls

Tannery Falls 8-Mile Snowshoe Fun Run
March 23rd, 2004 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

A small group of snowshoers met in Savoy to search for the Dunham Burial Lot, Tannery Falls, Balanced Rock, Ross Brook Trail and Lewis Hill.

K2 and Kenny with Tippi, Sierra and Summit

Our first sightseeing stop was the Dunham Burial Lot, the final resting place for members of a Shaker Community that thrived in Savoy during the early 1800’s. The burial ground was established in 1818 and is referred to as the “Dunham Burial Ground” as many of those buried here are from the Dunham Family.

The Silverback and PH at the Dunham Lot

The Savoy Shaker Community numbered eighty members from 1817 to 1821. In 1820, a severe drought devastated the farm crops and during that time a plague of locusts hit the area doing even more damage. In the fall of 1821, a decision was made to disperse the community to other Shaker Villages, namely in New Lebanon and Watervliet.

The Silverback and PH at the Dunham Lot

We ended up visiting a total of three cemeteries within the state forest on this day, all swallowed up by snow and a bit hidden from view. We didn’t have enough in us to visit the most infamous lot in Savoy, though, Tower Cemetery. That trip and the sad story behind it will be saved for another time.

Silverback and PH at Parker Brook Falls

The first 3.5-miles are downhill. When we finally hit bottom it was at Tannery Falls, originally called “High Falls” on early maps of Savoy. The falls drops 85’ and was a solid chunk of ice. I have also seen reference to this area as “Twin Falls”.

Silverback and PH above Tannery Falls

Tannery Falls is so named due to a full operations tannery thriving here from 1841 to about 1860. A community rose up around the tannery, mostly Maynards and Meachams. The area was often called “Meacham Village” or “Maynardville.” After the tannery closed a saw mill operated at this location until 1870.

Silverback with me and Tips at the bottom of Tannery Falls

A terrible fire at the tannery sometime after 1912 destroyed everything. The tannery and all the houses burned to the ground, and the land was given to the state in the 1930’s.

BH rambling along

After the falls, we shuffled toward the Ross Brook Trail, which is a beauty. The snow was about a foot deep and pure powder for this section of our day. After the Ross Brook we visited Balanced Rock, and then climbed back up toward Adams Road in a light snowfall. What a way to end the last snowshoe trip of the year.

Silverback and I at the Balanced Rock

Coffee in the General Store ended the day. We even were able to sit at the comfortable table reserved for locals. The owner of the Savoy General Store is a Thiel, and her family owned the Thiel-Farm which is now part of the Greylock Glen. What a day!

The entire gang at the finish

2nd Merrimack River Snowshoe Race

March 20th, 2004 - Andover, MA

DD directed an event along the Merrimack River for the second year, 4 finishers again.

7th Annual South Pond Shuffle Snowshoe Race
"Moby Dick Busa" version - 5KM
March 14th, 2004 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties at the seventh South Pond Shuffle Snowshoe Race at Savoy Mountain State Forest...  once again part of the WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series!  We moved the Moby Dick to the South Pond spot to simplify and for conditions.

I rolled in 5th of 53 finishers.

4th "Non" Moody Spring Snowshoe Races
aka "the Basin Brook Version"
March 6th, 2004 - Dubuque State Forest - West Hawley, MA

I oganized the 4th Moody Spring Snowshoe Race, with an abbreviated 6-Mile Versions for the 49 participants.  I managed a 5th place position, and we just beat the rain before heading off for our tradition, ending up at South Face Farm Sugarhouse to wrap up our season.

2nd Covered Bridge Snowshoe Races
February 28th, 2004 - Greylock Glen - Adams, MA

PH and I continued organizing events at the Glen, using the Gould Covered Bridge as part of the route.

We had an 8-Mile "Covered Bridge" event, and a 3.5-Mile "Hoxie_Thunderbolt" option.  Everyone took off together on the Hoxie-T Bolt section, and when back at the Gazebo you could continue with the Covered Bridge Race or stop with a Hoxie-Thunderbolt finish.

Interestingly, when my Pop got the gazebo, and was asked if he was continuing, he turned the question around and asked "how many have stopped?"  When told none, he said "I'm done".  It would be his first and only snowshoe overall race win!

I managed to finish 5th out of 36 finishers in the long race, and we had 29 complete the short version.

Additionally, two course markers completed the route on the previous Monday.

7th Annual Hawley Kiln Snowshoe Races
February 21st, 2004 - Dubuque State Forest - Hawley, MA

Another organizing effort, this time for 51 finishers in the 7-Mile Kiln Klassic and another 27 in the "Notch" 4.5-Miler.

2nd Annual Camp Saratoga ~5-Mile Snowshoe Race

February 14th, 2004 - Wilton Wildlife Preserve - Wilton, NY

The 2nd Annual Camp Saratoga 5-Mile Snowshoe Race at Wilton Wildlife Preserve was held on Valentine's Day.  I ended up 9th out of 98 finishers.  This event was organized by my very good friends, JC & LC.

2nd Annual Northfield Mountain 7.25-km Snowshoe Race

February 7th, 2004 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

Good friend DD organized this wonderful event into not only part of the WMAC Dion Series, but also a USSSA National Qualifier Event for the United States Snowshoeing Association National Championship, for the second consecutive year.

I managed to finish in 29th position, with a total of 79 participants.  Once again, a very tough field of competitors.

5th Annual Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race

February 1st, 2004 - Saratoga Springs, NY

The fifth Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race at Spa Park in Saratoga Springs, New York had me finishing 15th out of 150 total snowshoe racers.  This was the 3rd year in a row where I came in 15th place!  This event was organized by my very good friends, JC & LC.

2nd Annual Curly's Record Run 4.0-Mile Snowshoe Race

January 25th, 2004 - Pittsfield,  Massachusetts

Another exciting race day, this time in Pittsfield State Forest honoring Curly.  Decent day with difficult competition, I finished 16th of 108.