Monroe / Dunbar Brook Part IV

I thought that I would go back for a final reflection of my Monroe State Forest trip of October 10th, 2017.  One thing that is available within the forest are three overnight shelters.

The Ridge Shelter is located after the steep climb up the Smith Hollow Trail, after leaving the Dunbar Brook Trail.  The Smith Hollow Shelter is further along on the Smith Hollow Trail after leaving Raycroft Extension Road.  The final is the Dunbar Brook Shelter which is on the north side of Dunbar Brook.  All three shelters look to be in nice condition and the outhouses were still intact during my visit.

Ridge Shelter

Smith Hollow Shelter

A stonewall near Smith Hollow Shelter

Dunbar Brook Shelter

Also, along River Road, in Florida, just prior to the Picnic Area adjacent to the start of the Dunbar Brook Trailhead (and parking area), is the Legate Cemetery.  The oldest recorded interment is 1838, that of Jane Maria Legate.

There is data available at Legate Cemetery

I've passed and visited this graveyard many times through the years, and on the 10th I spent a little time within it between the Monroe run and the Waterfall hike.  For those who are interested in old graveyards, this is another worth spending time in.

 

 

Monroe / Dunbar Brook Part III

Going back once more to my trip to Monroe State Forest on October 10th, 2017, I left out the end of my trip.  After leaving the forest and my 12.7-mile run, I drove back along River Road to the Eastern Portal of the Hoosac Tunnel, in Florida, Massachusetts.

There exist some wonderful information about the tunnel, available here: Hoosac Tunnel.

Behind the Tunnel, roughly 1/2-mile west, is the convergence of Cascade Brook and it's tributary.  Each forms an impressive waterfall, Cascade Brook (on the right when facing) at 40', and the Tributary (on the left) at 80'.  You'll see the falls along Cascade Brook first, and you have to climb up onto the shelf to see the Tributary Falls, as it is somewhat hidden during the approach.

The trail in is very scenic, with a few spots where the drop off is severe.  Along the 1/2-mile hike in, there are a few smaller 10' or so falls to enjoy.  For a 1-mile total hike, the pay-off of the twin falls really delivers.  My goal will be to visit this spot next spring, when the water is really rushing down the mountain.

Eastern Portal of the Hoosac Tunnel

One of the smaller falls on the hike

Cascade Falls

Cascade Falls

Cascade Falls

Tributary Falls

Tributary Falls

 Cascade Falls

Original Opening for the Eastern Portal

Original Opening for the Eastern Portal

Visited Sunrise Park today, it's been awhile.  Completed 3.3-miles with some monkeying around north of the pond, and a turnaround point at the sign-in log along the Metacomet.

Sunrise Park, deck on White's Pond

Sunrise Park, beach area

Looking west across White's Pond

Towards West Suffield Quarry / Manitook Mountain

With a trip planned for Adams to celebrate several birthdays with my folks, I had the early morning to hop on the Metacomet at Route 57 in Southwick/Agawam.  I enjoyed the cool day (low to mid 40's) and blue sky.  Visited the quarry, the views, and the fire-tower along Provin Mountain for a total of 3.8-miles.

Inside the quarry looking North

Looking southwest from the ridge

 

Fire-Tower at Provin Mountain (location of old Channel 22)

On top of the Northside of quarry looking South

On top of the Southside of the quarry looking North

Week Two of our Master Naturalists Level II training at Goodwin State Forest.  Today's class covered Swamps, Bogs, and Wetlands.  I was especially interested in the soils and indicator plants for wetland designation.

After class, I took a run through some more of the trails Goodwin offers.  I took a short run in to join up with my end point along the Natchaug Trail from last Saturday, and continued on from there.  I was fortunate to see a nice single-track trail that is not on the official Connecticut DEEP trail layer data, and I explored and enjoyed it.  There were two others that I did not have time to explore.  I ended up with 3.8-miles for the day.

Black Spruce Pond

 Black Spruce Pond (geese in middle left)

Stonewall prior to White Pine stand eastside of Nutmeg Lane

Stonewall prior to White Pine stand eastside of Nutmeg Lane

White Pine stand eastside of Nutmeg Lane

3-mile run along the Metacomet Trail, from Phelps Road north.  I haven't run on this side of Mountain Road since September 8th, and today I noticed some new signage has been installed!

And...  From a ways-back...  fifteen years ago today, October 20th, 2002.  Harrison Keach Memorial Spring in Dubuque State Forest, Hawley, Massachusetts.  JC and his walking-stick.

This was/is a good source of water for the South Hawley Cemetery across the Hallockville Road, and we had spent a a decent amount of time cleaning it all out that day.  The last time I visited Keach Spring, which may have been a decade ago, there was a large downed tree right across the location.  It was very difficult to make out the water source.  I should return soon.

Today is my Pop's Birthday;  here he is with his Oliver tractor with Mt Greylock in the background, from 2006.

Also, I managed 3.6-miles in Cowles Park just before dark.  This is an incredibly popular spot for mountain bike activity, and the lot was full of cars.

Music 2017...

Effort #30, Door to Door...

More Road Warriors for Christ.  We only played during '88 while in Fort Worth, Texas. This is another original of mine, with the Reverend listening and being supportive as I played.  Same pattern of looking up from the bottom, with Redemption always in mind.

On this day in 2002, I enjoyed the Monroe Loop with Tippi.  Photographs show top of Spruce and Dunbar Brook near the Bridge at Raycroft Road.

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

Also on this day in 1992, I completed my first marathon, Bay State, in Lowell, Massachusetts.  I ran 3:35:00 and my parents drove out to watch me finish.

3.6-mile run along the Metacomet Trail from Phelps Road, Suffield.

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Tippi (August 2000 - October 17, 2016)

One year ago today we said goodbye to Tippi.  She was a rescue we were blessed with for over 16-years. She was my trail partner for somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 miles (we didn't keep track), traveling together in the car all over Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Western Massachusetts to run in the woods we both loved so much.  Together we finished 17 marathons.  She could run all day, season didn't really matter.

Often, as DL and I drive home from Adams back to Connecticut, she will ask as we pass large forested areas "... did you and Tippi ever run through there?"  The answer is almost always "Yes".  We connected huge tracts of land in northwestern Massachusetts.

I continue to think about Tippi everyday. Often on a hike or run, I come to a spot in the forest that helps me feel her presence.  The recent photograph below is one of those spots/times, along the Spruce Mountain Trail in Monroe, where my old dog's spirit overwhelmed me.

We love you Tippi, rest easy girl.

Tippi, August 2000 - October 17th, 2016.

Picked up DL at the train station after work, from her return from Chicago.  It is really nice to have her back!

Old News...  Sometime in October of 2002 - 2003, Tippi completed her first "Marathon" along the Mt Riga Plateau; it would also be my 24th.  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.

 Intersection prior to Brace.