Wuzzam was game for a good day in Mohawk Trail State Forest, and he encouraged me with a quote of wisdom right off the bat...

"...kids are learning to appreciate math instead of learning how to do math".

That made me laugh, and feel a little bad about things too.

As for the good day, I had a plan for about a half-marathon distance with plenty of climbing.  I also planned on showing Wuzzam some special places he hasn't experienced before.

We parked at Zoar Gap, and made our way through the Elder's Grove and it's abundance of tall white pine (I believe at least 25 of tree-men-dous heights).  These include the following in excess of 150' tall:

Saheda (171.4')

Tecumseh (166.8')

Osceola (160.5')

Sacajawea (159.2')

Sitting Bull (152.9')

Crazy Horse (150.2')

Wuzzam chased a porcupine up a tree, and having felt the power of the earth through the Elder's Grove, we passed through the 1930's stand of Red Pine, and along lower Stafford Meadow and the Deerfield River on the Mahican-Mohawk Trail.  We caught sight of the Cold River prior to it's confluence with the Deerfield, and climbed Little Thumper Mountain, then took the new cut off to the official Thumper Mountain and the "Gateway".

Rambled through the Campground Road to the Indian Trail up to the saddle between Clark and Todd Mountains.  Wuzzam asked if the climb was as tough as Blackhead in the Catskills, which was a strange questions as he has finished Escarpment about ten or so times, with the most recent being within the last couple years.  I on the other hand finished Escarpment four times, and not since '97 or so.  I had to tell my friend that I had no memory of that climb up Blackhead.

On the old Clark Todd Ridge, and back on the Mahican- Mohawk, we dropped off just prior to Clark's summit and stuck to the old path to South County Road.  I had a reason for this...   I was thinking about getting off trail and taking the location of the old road to Manning Brook Burial Ground, known officially as Gillett Cemetery, on the old Wheeler Road I believe.  Found it easier than I thought it would be, and we spent time reading the epitaphs and exploring cellar holes.  Very difficult to understand that there was a community living deep in these woods during the mid-1850's.

After the graves, we were back on the Mahican-Mohawk to reach Clark's summit, and then re-trace our steps on the old ridge-top trail to the four-way intersection.  Found the energy to continue east to Todd Mountain's summit, and then back and down the long steep drop to the shores of the Deerfield River.  One more time through the Elder's Grove, and we were complete with 12.5-miles and a serious amount of total climb!

Wuzzam in lower Stafford Meadow pointing to Todd Mountain

Mahican-Mohawk Trail

The "Gateway" on Thumper Mountain

Wuzzam going through the "Gateway"

Summit of Thumper Mountain

Wuzzam pointing from Thumper

Mountain Laurel is blooming at Mohawk

Clark-Todd Ridge with views south

Gillett Cemetery along Manning Brook

Gillett Cemetery along Manning Brook

Gillett Cemetery along Manning Brook

Marker for "Freelove Rose" Gillett

White Pine along the Mahican-Mohawk Trail toward Clark Mountain

View south from the Indian Lookout on Todd Mountain

View south from the Indian Lookout on Todd Mountain

Saheda in the back, Chief Joseph & Sacajawea foreground

Penwood today to see if I could catch the Mountain Laurel in bloom, as last year I totally missed it.  Took an alternative path I had remembered from years ago to the east, and for the last 5-miles stuck to the Blue Blazed Metacomet (or New England Trail) Trail.  Acutally,  that is somewhat true, as for the last couple tenths I moved off the Metacomet to explore a bike path.

I caught the bloom, but it looks like it might still be one-to-two weeks out.  I plan  on revisiting if the schedule allows.  Tired legs but rambled through for 6.3-miles.

Mountain Laurel in bloom along the Metacomet Trail

Mountain Laurel in bloom along the Metacomet Trail

Mountain Laurel in bloom along the Metacomet Trail

Back to Cowles to run the "inside loops" somewhat hard.  After yesterday's jog, I thought one loop inside would be right at 3-miles.  I am not sure if I am wrong or not, but I ran fairly hard, and I ended with 2.6-miles on the gps.

But, I might not be wrong at all, either.  The "inside loops" turn back on themselves regularly, for the duration of the paths.  It is so extreme, that at times the gps actually tracks over itself.  I know from experience that under these conditions, a older gps is going to be 10% to 30% off.  The unit I use is newer, with much better accuracy, but the twist and turns are going to be an issue on a trail network like this.

The deciding factor for me is that running slightly hard had me finishing in 40:30, which is much too slow for my effort today.  I am not sure what the distance really is, and wont unless I wheel it or have someone with a mountain bike measure the route for me, but I am going to call this a 3-miler for reference sake.  Next time I ramble through this maze, I will attempt to break 40-minutes!

Visited Cowles Park for the 1st time this year (I believe).  There appears to be a trail I had not noticed during prior visits, just north of the parking area.  Total for the day, 3.9-miles.

3-miles along the Metacomet, from Phelps Road south.  Wonderful night, just about perfect.

Suffield Land Conservancy trail-head sign for "The Spencer Woods"

Not far from the trail-head, the hugging trees

Close up of the hugging trees

Continuing to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.

May's High Points:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• Pine Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Indian Council Caves, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Monks Mound, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville, IL
• Trillium Hill, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT
• North Peak, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT

April's High Points:

• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bartlett Tower Hill, Tariffville, CT
• Pinnacle, Penwood State Forest, Bloomfield, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• Hart's Pond Hill, Agawam, MA

March's High Points:

• Hatchet Hill, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT

February's High Points:

• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Goat Rock and Lookout Point, Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge, Suffield, CT
• Hill 880', Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• West Ridge, DAR State Forest, Goshen, MA
• Walnut Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Merritts Hill, Williamsburg, MA

January's High Points:

• "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

K2 joined me along the Tunxis Trail this morning, we would work our way from Ratlum Road to Route 219 and back, a distance of 7.8-miles round trip.  

I suggest tackling  this section from the south and heading north to start.  There is fairly significant elevation change during this 4-mile stretch, and I've found it beneficial to take the easier north to south direction for the finish.

Mountain Laurel was in bloom, there isn't a ton of it flowering but those that did were impressive.  The trail is in decent shape, a few wet areas, but all-in-all one of my favorite sections of trail in Connecticut.

Top of Ratlum with Sign-In Log

View of Barkhamsted Reservoir

Mountain Laurel along the path

Additionally, this day has found me completing two marathons in my past.  In 2001, I completed my 23rd marathon at Nipmuck, in 4:27:17.  This was a 35th place, and my 5th completed Nipmuck.

Then, on this day in 2012, Wuzzam, Tippi and I completed a Tunxis Marathon in 6:26:10.  This was my 45th Marathon, and Tippi's 16th.

Seeing as I am feeling well, and the day was free, a trip to Hawley/Dubuque to continue building distance training seemed to be a good idea.  Wuzzam was in, so I had a partner.

We hoped to complete something in the 12 to 16 mile range, and be under 4-hours.  We accomplished those goals with a big loop broken into three small loops, if that makes any sense.  I didn't realize the route involved three smaller loops until I looked at the map afterward.

We caught some neat things on our adventure...  we passed by the Balanced Rock off the Bog Trail without checking it out this time, but later on through the woods another was spotted!

Camp Rock Trail was in fantastic shape, and from Gould Meadow we navigated some of the Gould Trail south, and it is filling in nicely from the logging done there years ago.  There are some very tall white pine at the southern end.

Hunt and Hallockville Roads have been repaired through the forest.  I like what I see, and I hope it ends up being a "good thing".

By the end, we tackled 14-miles in a bit over 3:30 running time.  Cool day, no humidity, mosquitoes were brutal whenever we stopped.

New sign at the Fire Department / Kiln Parking area

Growing out of the "Notch"

Wuzzam at the "Notch"

Aunt Charity's Chair

I thought this was a balanced or perched rock

Perched Boulder just south of prior formation

Perched Boulder

Perched Boulder

Perched Boulder

Perched Boulder

Camp Rock

Camp Rock

Ring Trail at Beaver Pond

Bent Tree Limb along Snowshoe Trail

Twisted Beach at Snowshoe Trailhead

Another really decent day, and after physical therapy I drove to Tunxis State Forest to check on a side-trail I had viewed on my May 29th run.

After a short path to a view of Emmons Pond, I climbed from Hurricane Brook Road east to Pell Road.  These are ATV / Snowmobile trails most likely, and can be advantageous for my circled world theory.

I jogged north to the trail head I used on May 29th, which dropped down to the Hurricane Brook Shelter along the Tunxis Trail proper.  Having made that connection, I began back, but ventured off Pell Road into the woods on an old path.  It re-connected further south along Pell, but there is a trail heading east at the height of land.  An exploration for another day!

3-miles in virtual slow motion, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Emmon Pond

Emmon Pond

Emmon Pond

Large Rock Formation off Sidetrail to Pell

I made it out as the sun was setting for 3-miles along Main Street.

And, two throwbacks today...

On this day in 1998, I completed the my 4th Nipmuck marathon in 4:28:33, a 41st placement.  This was my 18th finished marathon.

Also on this day, in 2009, I completed my 7th Nipmuck Marathon in 4:37:03 (a fantastic 19th place).  This was my 40th marathon overall.

A great marathon day in my history!

Music 2018...

Effort #24, The Modern Lovers "Roadrunner".  Another cover by the Primatives in 1984, the full band version (Farmer, Aldo, Lee, DL & Skippy) live on Burlingame.

Third times a charm on this one, as I've recently posted two other versions.  This one starts off sounding like "Sister Ray", but at about the 1:20 mark Lee drives this thing into overdrive.  Her drumming was incredible, and we kept up the pace.  I especially like Aldo yelling "Ok... you sing it Eddie" toward the ending.

"... Got the Power Got the AM."

On this day in 2010, I ran the Nipmuck Marathon for the 8th time.  It was my 44th marathon completed, with a time of 5:07:28.  This was good for 34th place overall.