Drove out to Mt Washington Reservation (at least that area), to run in along Northwest Road to join up the Appalachian Trail where I ended last weekend.

The plan was to tumble down to Sages Ravine, Climb Mt Race (one of my all-time favorite areas), and turn-a-round at the saddle between Race and Mt Everett (at the Race Brook Falls Trailhead).

The conditions were remarkable, it was only 73 degrees when I finished the run at around 1:10 p.m.  It was really sunny and bright, with big, fluffy clouds filling in around the blue.  These outstanding conditions allowed me to make it to the Race Brook Falls Trailhead at 5.5-miles in decent shape - and the run back wasn't too bad.  Well, I call it running but I averaged 3.5 mph for pace along this rocky path.

The climb out of Sages Ravine to Mt Race is about 800' I think.  There is about a quarter to a half-mile of open ledge running along the edge of Race, which is remarkable to experience.  From the edge, there are open views south and east, as well as a spot of Greylock from one point.

There were a couple of 400' climbs as well, one from the turn-a-round at Race Brook Falls Trail back to Mt Race, and the final bit from Sages Ravine back up along Northwest Road to East Street parking area.  Throughout the run, the trail dips and dives off and on repeatedly, with not a ton of flat running anywhere.

Ended the day with 11-miles and feeling pretty good.  Drove north into Adams to surprise my folks for a quick visit before making the late drive back to CT.

Looking south from the edge of Mt Race

Old news department...

On this day in 2009, Tippi and I explored the Robert Frost Trail through Sunderland and Amherst (I think).  It was a day after a really hard rain, so the brooks and streams were really roaring.  We ended up losing a bunch of time "off trail" around Eastman Brook.

We parked at Amethyst Brook and did a bit south, then north to the foot of Bull Hill.  Outstanding area that I would like to return to.

This was my 41st completed marathon and Tippi's 14th.  The run took us 6:03:58 to finish.

Rain let up and actually stopped ahead of time, so I met up with Wuzzam to run 5.7-miles in Shenipsit State Forest.

Wuzzam's told me today that he had to say goodbye to his dog Sam.  I will miss Sam, we had so many adventures to share over a ten or so year span of time.  

Sam was a few years old when Wuzzam adopted him.  I believe he was between 13 and 14 upon passing, which is long for a big lab but it is never long enough for those who love them.

Having to say farewell to Sam made me realize that he was our last surviving member of the dog pound, our four-footed friends who roamed the woods of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts with us.  I reflect with sadness but also a great deal of joy thinking of, and saying a final goodbye to:

• Sam
• Tippi
• Summer
• Liddy
• Murphy
• Dusty

Sam was my dog Tippi's best friend, and the only dog she ever gave way to.  Sam was just so big and strong, Tips realized and respected that.  What a beautiful pair of animals they were as they ran freely though the woods with us.  I will remember them splashing in the streams we came across, Tippi yapping away at Sam because he fetched the stick first (or grabbed it out of her mouth).

These animals gave us a great deal of companionship and loyalty over many years.  I'll continue to think of them each day, especially when I am in the woods.  For right now, my focus is on Sam, and how happy he was whenever we came across water, and also how I'll miss rubbing him behind the ears when we finished a long running adventure.  I will remember him that way forever.

Sam on the Nipmuck, February 2016

At Pixie Falls, with Wuzzam

Another expected warm day, with Temperatures pushing 100-degrees again.  

Enjoyed another "High Noon" set with Evil, this time the Dark Heart Duo worked on the "Heat of the Day Sessions".  We played close to 150-minutes of mostly improvisational mayhem.

Once it cooled down to 89-degrees (at 6:30 p.m.), I drove out to the Metacomet to run 3.3-miles along the ridge line.

For north central Connecticut, the call was for temperatures reaching 100-degrees today, with very high humidity.  I rose early to drive out to the western highlands, hoping to complete the summit of Bear Mountain north to Sages Ravine.

I hit the road at 7:15 a.m., with temperature recording 80-degrees and brutal humidity.  Arrived at the Under Mountain Trailhead Parking Area at 8:25 a.m., 52-miles away, holding at 81-degrees.

My plan was to head up the Under Mountain Trail to Paradise Lane Trail, take that underneath Bear Mountain to Sages Ravine area, and climb Bear Mountain from the north.  Steep, but my recollection was it being better to go up this steepness rather than down.

Once reconnected to last weeks turn-a-round point (summit of Bear), I would scoot down the Appalachian Trail to Under Mountain Trail at Riga Junction, and use Under Mountain back to the parking area.

It was very hot and humid, I took it very easy and managed 3.5-mph average for the 6.4-miles.  The climb from the start up Under Mountain and Paradise Lane ended up being 1040'.  The effort up the north face of Bear added another 560' of climb.

Once finished, I noticed that the humidity out there dropped a little, but the temperature was recording 89-degrees according to my car thermometer.

Bear Mountain from Paradise Lane Trail

Meeting up at the AT Junction at Sages Ravine

Half-Way up the north side of Bear Mt with Mt Race in distance

Half-Way up the north side of Bear Mt with Mt Everett in distance

Almost the Bear Mountain Summit from the north

Bear Mountain Monument

AT heading south off Bear, Lions Head in distance

Kiosk for the Undermountain Trailhead

Roadside Memorial on Berkshire School Road in Sheffield, MA

It was into the low 90's for my afternoon run at McLean.  I didn't see anyone else in the Refuge today, which is very unusual.  The heat and humidity were brutal.  Managed 3.7-miles of slow movement.

Early morning run in the light rain along Main Street, 4.1-miles.  In addition, I rode my bike to and from work, total of 11-miles.

Also, on this day in 2008, I completed the Hallockville Pond - Mt Institute Marathon with Wuzzam and Tippi.  The 25+ miles were completed in 5:29:07, and we ended the day with a dip in Hallockville Pond.  This was my 36th completed marathon, and Tippi's 12th.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #18 for 2019...  "The Moving Target", Ross MacDonald's 1949 introduction to Lew Archer.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime Edition Cover

Original Edition Cover

Additionally, attended a PLC & HMI (Rockwell Automation - Allen-Bradley) course in Rocky Hill.

I rode back and forth to work on the bicycle today as well for 11.0-miles.

Music 2019...

Effort #30,  "Vibe Now", second selection from the Dark Heart Duo's "Summer Solstice Session" of June 21, 2019.

Additionally, I rode back and forth to work on the bicycle today as well for 11.0-miles.

Visit with my folks today, followed by a run on Greylock using the Gould and Cheshire Harbour Trails.  Run was pretty much uphill for the first mile plus, and ended with 3.3 good miles on my legs.

Ended the visit with a solid stop with Paul H, to catch up and enjoy each others company.

The Hallowed Tree on Gould remains standing

Rose early to water the garden, and hit the road early enough (driving by 8:10 a.m.)  Out to Salisbury to run the Appalachian Trail from Route 41 (Undermountain Road I believe) to one of three destinations, depending how I, meaning my left calf and right hamstring, felt.

• The basic plan (hope) was to get to Lions Head, a one-way distance of roughly 2.7-miles (5.4 out-and-back) with a starting elevation of about 720', and a high point of 1700' on top of the Lion.

• If that felt decent, I hoped to get out to Riga Junction, where the Appalachian Trail is met by the Undermountain Trail, at something near 4.5-miles (roughly 9.0-miles round trip).

• Once at that success point, and still feeling like I had something in the tank, I would push on and up to the summit of Bear Mountain, elevation of 2320'.  The low point between Lions Head and Bear looks to be near 1560', so climbing Bear would mean another decent effort.  It would also be somewhere near 5.6-miles each way (the guide pamphlet had longer distances, I am giving my gps distances from today).

I really perspired through this effort today, but I had plenty of water / fuel, so that wasn't too big an issue.  I made it to Bear Mountain just fine, and I felt decently strong the entire trip back as well, for a total of 11.1-miles at the end.

I covered the same route with the exception of bypassing Lions Head for the short alternative route on the way back.  Temperature was mid 70's at the 9:30 a.m. start, and low 80's at the finish three-hours later.

Satisfying run, with only the steepest sections hiked/walked.

Summit Lions Head

Lions Head looking south

Lions Head looking north

Riga Junction

Climbing Bear Mountain, looking back south

Bear Mountain Summit

From the top of the rock pile on Bear, looking north

Another perspective north from Bear, Race and Everett ahead

Today's Map

A rainy, humid morning that transitioned to a warm, not as humid afternoon.  Drove out to McLean Refuge to run a short loop of 3.7-miles.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #17 for 2019...   "The Killer Inside Me", Jim Thompson's 1952 genius masterpiece.  

Early morning I rode the bike to and from physical therapy.  Despite it being only two-miles each way, and a very quick ride, I managed to get soaked on the way to treatment by a down pour that lasted only a few minutes.  What are the odds to get soaked at that short moment in time?

In the afternoon, I dropped DL off for her train to Chicago.  I'll miss her.

Bike to work and back, 11-miles for the day.