I started thinking about the Mohawk Marathon post a few days ago (we completed it on August 15th, 2014), and some of the prep work that went into it.  I noticed in my files a August 18th, 2013 date for Savoy Mountain and the Cold River.

I recall that the point of this run was to basically see how well the old trail existed leading from New State / Savoy Road down to the Cold River, and then up to South County Road.  Secondly, to also verify that the old snowmobile trail was still  passable from South County Road to Route 2.

These two routes and I go way back... I know I explored them in the early 1990's alone with my dog Dusty.  Getting to the late '90's, the Bandit joined me often enough through the Cold River Sections.  I also remember an account of a run from Whitcomb Summit to Spruce Hill during the 2000 trail running season, where we crossed the Cold River as well at this location.

At some point toward the middle to late 2000's, I just never got back out to this trail.  Other areas occupied my mind, and although I wouldn't say it was forgotten, it did drift out of range for me.

I also see in my files that I had explored this area in July of 2012 as well, with Tippi.  It is an important area of interest, these Cold River Crossings.  I feel a spiritual connection to the river, and the locations.

On this run in 2013 I remember finding the trail at least a remnant of what once was.  I recall hanging a few ribbons here and there, especially through the small bit of land between Tower Brook and the Cold River.  I figured this old path would tie in a nice Florida and Savoy section of a Mohawk Trail Marathon for the following year.  The path was still visible if I looked hard enough, albeit very grown in and thick with underbrush.

Little did I realize on this day in 2013 that we would use this northern Cold River crossing not once, but twice, for our Marathons in 2014.  On August 15th we completed the Mohawk Trail Marathon, and on September 7th we were successful with Dunbar-Whitcomb-Jambs.

It was meaningful to rediscover the old files for this exploration, brought back some wonderful memories and enhanced my hobby of "looking back" to see forward.

"Tom Wessels: Reading the Forested Landscape, Part 2", another fantastic video from the New England Forests channel.  I've been fortunate to have been out on a few hikes with the filmmaker.

"Tom Wessels: Reading the Forested Landscape, Part 1", another fantastic video from the New England Forests channel.  I've been fortunate to have been out on a few hikes with the filmmaker.

On this day in 2014, Wuzzam and I ran the Mahican Mohawk Marathon in 6:43:30.  We began and ended at Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont, along the bank of the Cold River.  Our turn-around or midpoint was roughly at North Pond at Savoy Mountain State Forest in Savoy / Florida.

This was my 51st completed marathon.  Map of our route is included...

Running through Stafford Meadow

 

Red Pine Plantation, set in 1930's..

Up through the Red Pine.

Wuzzam at the first crossing of the Cold River.

Bog Pond, a long-time favorite area of ours..

Burnett Homestead Cemetery in Florida..

Second crossing of the Cold River.

Still enjoying a look back at the archives of  Black Lizard / Vintage Crime...  completed Chester Himes "A Rage in Harlem", originally published 1957 (and alternately titled "For Love of Imabelle" and "The Five Cornered Square").

This marked the first appearance of Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones as Detectives.

Music 2018...

Effort #33, "I Want You"...  Trio version of the Primitives in 1984...

Sore left hip, 1.8-mile walk along Main Street in the light afternoon rain.

On the drive to visit the folks, I stopped off in Williamsburg to hike the Petticoat Hill Reservation and Locke's Loop Trail.

The hip is still tender, so I wanted to see how walking felt.  Uphill is great, downhill not so great.

The property is really nice, and through a little research I see that there is a spur that may lead toward another Williamsburg Woodland Trail Property (Big View).  I believe I snowshoed through this area a decade or so ago, I plan on looking for old coordinates.

The Trustee's of the Reservations Kiosk for Petticoat Hill

Petticoat Hill Entry

Petticoat Hill Marker

Trail through stonewall

Connector Trail along stonewall

Locke's Loop Trail

Black Birch along the trail

Signage at Trailhead

Archives Department...  Also on this day in 2005, I completed my 28th marathon in Dubuque State Forest.  Referred to the Hallockville Pond Marathon, I enjoyed the company of Wuzzam and Tippi, with Old Farmer Tom meeting up with us on the Notch Trail by bike.

This was Tippi's 4th completed marathon.  Our time ended up at 5:21:16.

PT on the left hip today, managed a trip to Robinson State Park in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts to explore a bit.  The hip felt very stiff for the first couple miles, and I alternated run/walk for a total of 3.2-miles.

Another interesting Megalithomania UK / Jim Vieira video...  "Megaliths, Stonework and Giants from Ancient New England".

Enjoying the Black Lizard / Vintage Crime series once again...  completed James Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice", originally published 1934.

Music 2018...

Effort #32, "WIld Thing / Louie Louie"...  Long ago and far away, the Primitives in 1984... Adams.

An additional read from the archives of  Black Lizard / Vintage Crime...  completed Jim Thompson's "Nothing More than Murder", originally published 1949.

Still hitting ninety on the thermometer, with a very small drop in humidity.  I completed a 4.8-mile loop in Mclean right at mid-day.  Too hot, too humid, and too buggy to call it fantastic...  but it was better than not getting out at all.

North end of Spring Pond, looking south

White Pine envelope the entirety of Spring Pond

There are a few White Pine in the Spring Pond area that reach 140'

Rain most of the morning, with the sun coming out in the afternoon.  I visited the Metacomet from Route 20 in Granby, heading north.  The humidity was brutal, as were the gnats.  

Enjoyed a quiet 4-miles along the trail.

Looking slightly northwest off Copper/Peak Mtn

Looking more west off Copper/Peak Mtn

Looking slightly southwest off Copper/Peak Mtn