West Suffield Mountain
Metacomet (The New England Trail)
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Friday, August 9, 2019
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
I took on a challenge that I don't ever challenge myself with... after work I drove out to Egremont, to run the Appalachian Trail from Jug End Road to Route 7 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
It is unusual for me to travel beyond my local area to a running location during the week. It makes for a lengthy day with another work day beginning early the next morning.
Everything went really well, I completed the sections for a total of 9.3-miles. There are not any big climbs through this section, it is mostly flat and through many fields and wet, swampy areas. Despite it being cool (mid 70's) it was humid, and the bugs (mosquitoes and deer flies both) were ferocious.
I had left work at 3:15 p.m., and got back home around 8:30 p.m. or so. A pretty great way to spend a Tuesday night, all in all.
View of Jug End from the east
Stonewall Passage along the AT
Stonewall Passage
Stonewall Passage with heavy fern
View of Race and Everett
Race and Everett from the AT
View of Jug End from the east
Stonewall Passage along the AT
Stonewall Passage
Stonewall Passage with heavy fern
View of Race and Everett
Race and Everett from the AT
Monday, August 5, 2019
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Drove out to Chesterfield Gorge to run along the Westfield River. It was a great idea after yesterday's climbs, the East Branch Trail does just what is named for, travels concurrent to the river on west side of the water. Yes, I believe I have this correct. East Branch must be this branch of the Westfield - not the side of the water the trail is on.
A bit of history, related to the photograph below mentioning the "bridge abutment"...
The “High Bridge” located at the Chesterfield Gorge entrance was built in the 1760’s. It served as the Boston to Albany Post Road and the path of retreat for the Redcoats after their defeat at the Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War. Floodwaters have long since swept the bridge away. All that remains is the eastern abutment.
A bit of history, related to the photograph below mentioning the "bridge abutment"...
The “High Bridge” located at the Chesterfield Gorge entrance was built in the 1760’s. It served as the Boston to Albany Post Road and the path of retreat for the Redcoats after their defeat at the Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War. Floodwaters have long since swept the bridge away. All that remains is the eastern abutment.
Minor ups and downs along the way for 9-miles of running, followed by 0.3-miles of hiking within The Trustee's of Reservations site.
TTOR Chesterfield Gorge site is adjacent to the Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest
View of the Westfield downstream from the Gorge
View of the Westfield downstream from the Gorge
Marker (with miles designated) for the East Branch Trail
View of the Westfield with huge sheets of rock remaining from years of erosion
Within the Reservation, cut chasm
Within the Reservation, cut chasm
Within the Reservation, old bridge abutment still present
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Despite a later start than I would have liked, and a bit more humidity than I would have liked as well, I drove out to Jug End Road to complete the Appalachian Trail section from Jug End to Race Brook Falls Trail.
My previous three or so trips allowed me to complete from Undermountain Road in Salisbury to the saddle between Mount Race and Mount Everett, at Race Brook Falls Trailhead. Hopefully, today would tie up this roughly 17.5-mile section with an 11-miler (out-and-back).
This section of trail is as impressive as the others along this section. The view from Jug End is spectacular, as is assorted peaks out from Bushnell and Undine. Downhill heading south off Mount Everett has some simply incredible views of Mount Race, Bear, and Lions Head far in the distance.
The initial climb from the parking area on Guilder Hollow / Jug End Road until basically the day-parking spot at Mount Everett Reservation is roughly 1530'. It is steady, and very steep in parts.
The second climb of the day was shorter, but incredibly steep from Race Brook Falls Trail heading north climbing Everett. Since my last visit here, which was a while ago, there have been wooden steps lagged into the rock to assist the climb. They work pretty darn well.
The run checked in at 11-miles, and all the downhill at the end wasn't much quicker than going uphill at the beginning. Mission complete!
Almost at the bend climbing Jug End
Looking northeast off Jug End
Looking east off Jug End
Looking northeast between Jug End and Bushnell
Looking northeast between Jug End and Bushnell
Winged company between Jug End and Bushnell
Looking northeast between Jug End and Bushnell
Cairn at one of the peaks
Looking northeast between Bushnell and Undine
Signage wasn't as prolific as I would have liked... but here is a taste
Mount Everett Summit
Signage for the old Mount Everett Fire Tower
Looking south coming down from Mount Everett
Looking south coming down from Mount Everett
Northeast from someplace around Bushnell
Looking east off Bushnell
View northeast on the return trip on top of Jug End
View northeast on the return trip on top of Jug End
On this day in 1996 I completed my 12th marathon. My route took me
along the Appalachian Trail, from Salisbury, Connecticut into
Massachusetts. My turnaround point was at the summit of Mt. Everett,
My time on the trail was roughly 6:27:53, which included a break for a
lunch at Everett.
Friday, August 2, 2019
McLean Game Refuge for 3.6-miles of decent running. Humidity is still lower than it's been, and the temperature was just in the mid eighties. All in all, a nice run.
Afterward, the Dark Heart Duo played once again... "the End of Chemo Sessions" to celebrate Evil's last infusion (a 30-month commitment).
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