A Cold, Clear Sunday on the Metacomet Trail.

The Spencer Woods Wildlife Preserve, Suffield, Connecticut was my destination today.  I made it to the lookout at the log-in book (thanks Dr Ed for replacing the "lost" one).  3.4 miles round trip, a bit over 58 minutes.  There are some wonderful views west on this section of the Metacomet, and a view south that allows for Heublein Tower to appear.

I am glad there is a new log-in book to sign.  I benefited from the prior sign-in books, recording 50 visits in 2011, 104 visits in 2012, about 50 in 2013 and 2014, and about 20 or so visits last year.

Running Mileage for the week, about 13.3 to start the New Year!

 Staying with it....  Part I:

McLean Game Refuge, roughly 4,400 acres in North Central Connecticut;  managed 3.4 miles in approximately 36 minutes.  Enjoyed the wide paths rather than icy single track today...  the little snow we received holds well in the bowl that is McLean.

Part II:

Followed up with a mile or so hike with my dog at Stony Brook Conservation Area, about 70 acres give or take, a mile from home.

Tippi is 15+ years old, and we have close to 20,000 miles on the trail together.  Every day is a bonus...

Feeling inspired at the start of 2016...

 

Enjoyed a New Year's Day run in North Central Connecticut. Whitaker Woods connecting to Shenipsit State Forest, roughly 90 minutes and 6.5 miles. A good start to the new year!

This is the message sent to the snowshoe group regarding my "retirement" from organizing the WMAC Dion Snowshoe Racing Series.

Happy Holidays Snowshoe People!

Normalcy was upended a bit for me this summer.  In August I had a seizure due to a mass in my brain.  It wasn’t what I thought a seizure would be like, I just couldn’t verbalize for a few hours.  This mass had been in my head for decades, and I had been having it monitored every six months with scans for the past three years.  At some point, this was going to happen.

On October 16th, I had surgery to remove the tumor.  All went fantastic, and I was released for home the next morning.  No issue with speech or with my right arm/hand due to the tumor causing pressure on the left side of my brain (the worst case scenario would have been having to relearn speech).  

My plan was:

1) survive surgery, 

2) get out of hospital as soon as possible, 

3) get home and do whatever rehab necessary.  

My tenet was patience and prayer.  I managed recovery by sleeping often and walking my 15-year old dog throughout the day.

I was able to return to work three weeks later (when the 18 staples came out of my skull).  I was released for local driving just this Wednesday.  K2 has picked me up and brought me home from work since August.  God Bless him.

I am lucky.  The tumor was between the skull and membrane, and benign.  Things are pretty much normal.  I’ve been running with Wuzzam a bundle, and can keep up with him, ok.

As for the snowshoe series;  I am not confident I can be reliable to organize it.  Last year was the 20th year of our series, and that is a long time for one person to handle the reigns.  I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I believe I’ve directed well over 50 races, and dozens of fun runs, demo days, etc over the years.  

I know for the first decade PH and I would use two weeks of vacation from work to put the events on.  Truthfully, I thought last year would be it for me anyhow, prior to the surgery.  Now, with limited driving at the moment, it is an easy decision.  As the Taoist say… "...do nothing, and everything gets done."

I am planning on racing a bit this year, and saying hello.  The snowshoe group has really made me smile for two decades, and I am blessed to count you as friends.  Not sure when winter plans on arriving, but I am certain it will soon enough.  See you in the snow…..

Surgery at Saint Francis.  16 staples and a titanium plate.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;

All the King's horses and all the King's men,

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Metacomet Trail run, Phelps Road south.

Metacomet Trail, Phelps Road to East Granby Farms.

Many miles were explored along Florida Mountain Snowmobile paths this past season.  The map below is an indication of the area Tippi and I covered together.

Metacomet out and back for 3-miles, Phelps Road north.

Short-Circuited this evening, brain tumor impeded my ability to speak, and decision make.

Ambulance crew, and Hartford Hospital staff were awesome.

Result...

• Surgery for removal of tumor now necessary.  
• No driving while on anti-seizure medication.

Prior to the malfunction, I had enjoyed a run along the Metacomet.

Metacomet from Phelps Road north.

Reed Brook Preserve trail work to the peak.

Cleaned up Information Signage

View northeast off peak 

View straight down off peak 

View northerly off peak 

View northerly off peak with storm clouds approaching

Mohawk Trail State Forest with Bob L.

Bob L

Stafford Meadow

More exploring at Reed Brook Preserve today.

Exploring Savoy Mountain State Forest, trying to locate two old points of interest:

1) The old snowmobile trail and connector from the Savoy Mtn 20-miler from Brown Road down to Center Road, which once crossing over Center Road would climb up to Tower 51 at Borden Mountain.

2) The Staples Burial Ground on "Cherry Hill Road", which I believe is the current Brown Road.

The trail was blown-out during an ice storm of a decade or so ago, and while I could see the remnants of the trail in part, I wasn't able to stick to it going "uphill".

I also couldn't seem to locate the burial ground either, which surprised me.

I did later find the cellar hold where the old trail connector arrived at Brown Road, and followed it southeast onto a driveway.  Someplace between this path, and the beginnings off Center Road, is the old actual connection path.

*****  I did locate the burial ground on May 5th, 2016.  See related post from that day within this blog for details and pictures.