Rain all day, varying between light and hard.  Waited until dark and it let up enough for me to run "dry" along Main Street for 3-miles.

The weather report called for a warm, rainy day for the region.  K2 and I decided we would risk a drive to the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest in Goshen, Massachusetts, and hopefully beat the moisture.

We were fortunate, the rain held off, and we managed 2:20 on our snowshoe'd feet.  I ended the route with 9.6-miles along the snowmobile corridor from the Headquarters at DAR to the solar field off Route 9.  Conditions were actually excellent, but as soon as three sleds passed me by with a mile to go, I could see the base was eroding fast.

The route hasn't changed from 2008 & 2009 when Tippi and I covered a huge chunk of this area over two winters.  At least to the point I turned around (the solar panel field, which obviously wasn't present ten-years ago).  I'll need to get back soon, to see if anything has changed, and build upon the "circled world".

Crossing over the West Branch of Rogers Brook

Interesting stonewall, and what is under the snow?

Surprise of the day, a Balanced Rock

A view from above the solar panels, my turn-a-round point

Another view of the Balanced Rock

I drove to Adams to see my parents today, which ended up as a wonderful visit.  It has been a while since I brought them donuts from Mrs. Murphy's (in Southwick), so that was my first order of business.

Around the half-way point, I stopped at DAR State Forest in Goshen, to get a short 3.4-mile snowshoe jog in.  Stuck to the roads as a snowmobile had thankfully broke trail (there was an inch crust on any unbroken snow, and snowshoers know how difficult it is to get any rhythm going in those conditions).  Saw the snowmobile take a turn east off Wing Hill Road up toward West Ridge, so I followed a nice loop up and down.

Enjoyed my time with my folks (and Otis), and while on the way back home I stopped at Angelina's in downtown Adams to bring a sandwich back for DL, and then one more stop at  Perkarski's in South Deerfield for some supplies.  

Old Cellar Hole along Wing Hill Road

Bent Tree Limb

Rogers Brook

Tilton Farm Sign

Meadow at Tilton Farm, Holyoke Range viewable in the "Notch"

Dolmens and Standing Rocks, Evidence of Ancient Civilizations

Video of a Presentation on Wednesday, January 10, 2018

at the Prosser Public Library, Bloomfield, Connecticut

Woods Walker, Part II... Prosser Public Library

Dolmens and Standing Rocks, Evidence of Ancient Civilizations

Video of a Presentation on Wednesday, January 10, 2018

at the Prosser Public Library, Bloomfield, Connecticut

Woods Walker, Part I... Prosser Public Library

Received really good news from my neurosurgeon last night.  According to his reading of my MRI, everything in my brain looks great and it sounds as though I do not have to go through this procedure anytime in the near future.    

This is a wonderful relief, as all who have gone through such things know.  It has been a while (October 2015) since I had my head cracked open like Humpty-Dumpty to remove a tumor, but the memory of it all is still fairly fresh, too.  Good news from any Doctor is reason to celebrate!

And by celebrate, tonight that meant a 3-Mile run along the sidewalks on Suffield's Main Street.

Music 2018...

Effort #6, Open Up.  Originally by D.Y.S., evidently one of "Aldo's" favorite bands from the early '80's.  

This was the Primitives, Summer of '84.  Great bassline, and ends with these lyrics:

You used to talk about open minds
Was all that a lie,
Or have you just grown old?
Look like you want
But don't tell me how to live
It's you who says looks don't matter

3.4-miles on the Metacomet Trail from Rising Corner south.

"Welcome to Connecticut" sign

"Nicks Hill"

"Welcome to Massachusetts" sign

Third run in 2018 along the 7-mile Hill Street Loop;  Temperatures around 20-degrees and sunny.

Unsatisfied with ending the connection from Skyline to Minnechoag yesterday in the middle of Nowheresville, I returned today to tie it up (I was hopeful anyhow).  There was a new 4" of snow along the trails in the higher elevations, which would cause some slow going.

I decided to start at the small parking area for Goat Rock at the end of Country Club Drive near Gerrish Park.  Over Goat Rock and the Hampden Overlook to Hampden Memorial Park.  Took the road down to the VFW, where there is a bridge crossing the Scantic River which leads to the trail network around Minnechoag Mountain.

Climbed the Algonquin Trail to the top of Minnechoag, continued south down the ridge to connect with yesterday's endpoint in Nowherevilles.  Headed back and took Bob's Trail back toward the VFW, jumping two beautiful deer on the way.

Ended with 6.5-miles of slow-going running due to the ice, 4" of snow, and climbs.  I think the temperature stayed around 20-degrees more or less.  An Outstanding day!

View from Goat Rock

Balanced Rock coming down from the Hampden Overlook

View west from Minnechoag Mountain

Bent Tree at top of Minnechoag

View east along Gas Pipeline south of Minnechoag Peak

Landmark Tree, growing along ground (I recall this "wonder" from 20-years ago)

Landmark Tree

Perched Boulders just east of Landmark Tree

Landmark Tree with setting sun

Landmark Tree

Bent Tree Limb with Old Coach Trail sign

 Stone Chair opposite Garrish Park

Wuzzam and I have been exploring the Pinnacle and Bald Mountain, and last week we found our way to the Stevenson Woodlot across from old Camp Ayapo.  The Simon's Run from way-back have been on my mind, so today I went out to the Skyline Area of Somers to run the trails and see if I could find the way toward Minnechoag Mountain in Hampden.  All these areas were portions of that wonderful run from '99 and '00.

About half-way into the run I scared about twenty turkey, scattering them from their comfort. Ended the day just as it was getting dark, with 3.4-miles.  Best of all, despite wandering a little bit "off-trail", I managed to reconnect to the old path!

Area sign at the small parking spot along Stafford Road 

Large Boulder along the Skyline Trail 

 

Also, from the archives....   On this day in 1998, the 4th Annual Moby Dick Marathons were held over Greylock. I completed my 17th marathon in 6:19:40, with Johnny Bandit.  It was the second time I wore snowshoes for the 28-mile adventure.  It would be the last time I would snowshoe this distance!

I had enough time to run on the road in Suffield in the dark...  3.8-miles.

I decided to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.  During January I can't say I overwhelmed climbing hills or mountains.  One reason was the icy conditions for a bit of the month, another being the lack of available sunshine during the work week.  Regardless, I did hit a few, as listed below:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bald Mountain, Shenipsit State Forest
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest
• "Balanced Rock Hill",  Shenipsit State Forest
• "Bent Birch Hill", Shenipsit State Forest

Music 2018...

Effort #5, I Want You.  Originally by the Troggs, then the MC5,  also the Spacemen 3, and here the Dark Heart Duo...

Recorded Summer '16 at Crown Street. Jon Evil and I terrorizing the neighborhood to the best of our abilities.

Tried McLean today, thinking it would be decent.  What I found was that it was very wet, and very icy along much of it.  Managed 3.8-miles with the second-half being much slower due to the iced conditions along the forest roads.

Big Fred's Island Stone Marker at Trout Pond