It was a few weeks late celebrating the Old Goat's 65th birthday, but Wuzzam and I joined him for a "not quite" celibacy run for 2020 in his honor today at the Holyoke Range.

We headed east from the Notch Visitor Center on the Metacomet - Monadnock Trail (now known also as the NET, or New England Trail).  Completed the demanding steps over Norwottuck, Rattlesnack Knob and Long Mountain, until Harris Mountain Road.  From there, we returned staying "lower" on the North Harris Trail and Robert Frost Trail as much as we could.

Completed the 10.2-miles and 2697' of ascent with two really good, and old (the Old Goat and I go back over 25-years, and Wuzzam and I have enjoyed each other's company for just under 25-years) friends.

Off Norwottuck

Old Goat looking off Norwottuck

Entry to the Horse Caves

Wuzzam and the Old Goat at Horse Caves

More Horse Caves

Horse Caves

 

Horse Caves

Horse Caves

Horse Caves

Off Rattlesnack Knob looking at Long Mountain

Off Long Mountain looking west towards Rattlesnake Knob

Rambled around Cowles Park Ridge Loop for 3.5-miles in 39:20.

"High Points" along the trails I've visited during May 2020.

• Town Hill, Mattatuck Trail
• Ratlum Peak, Tunxis Trail, Tunxis State Forest
• Stony Hill, McLean Game Refuge
• Nick's Hill, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, CT
• Hurricane Brook Hill, Tunxis State Forest
• Trillum Hill, Tunxis Trail, Tunxis State Forest
• Pine Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Tunxis State Forest
• Indian Council Caves, Tunxis Trail, Tunxis State Forest

3.5-mile run along the Metacomet Trail, from Phelps Road north.

Also, this day has found me completing two marathons in my past.  

In 2001, I completed my 25th 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 47th Marathon, and Tippi's 16th.

It would be a great day to finish off the final mile of Connecticut's Mohawk Trail, which I had mostly explored in detail last summer.  All I missed was the segment from Route 7 up to Bread Loaf Mountain.

View south from Broad Loaf Mountain (Silver Hill)

The climb up Broad Loaf was decently tough, and the network of stonewalls at the lower portion certainly were impressive.  Although the signage at the start mentioned 6/10 of a mile to the Appalachian Trail intersection, I (and my gps) measured a couple of tenths more.

Next up was crossing Hatch Brook on the AT, which was a really nice easy section.  The brook was a bit dry today, but I really enjoyed the large slabs the flow did cascade down.

Hatch Brook Cascade

At 2-miles from my start, I intersected the Pine Knob Loop, and chose the counter-clockwise direction.  Fairly soon, I had a nice view of Hatch Brook Falls, albeit during a low-flow condition.  

Hatch Brook Falls on the Pine Knob Loop

The Pine Knob Loop is one of the nicest paths I've been on, nothing but admiration for this section of Connecticut Blue Blaze Trail.  Once at the "bottom", I began climbing back up and there is an incredible opening back south, as well as a more rewarding opening to the Housatonic Valley View.

View back towards Bread Loaf Mtn

Housatonic Valley View off the Pine Knob

Housatonic Valley View off the Pine Knob

 

I rambled on to meet back up with the Appalachian Trail, headed back to the Mohawk intersection, and decided to stick to the A.T. to Route 4, and use the road back to the car.  It gave me a chance to complete the short section from Route 4 up to the Mohawk Intersection.

View off the AT / Housatonic Valley

Guinea Brook Crossing

Once ended, I had 6.6-miles on my legs, and I would say "hilly" miles at that.

I saw five thru-hikers on the AT today

Music 2020...

Effort #24,  "Amazing Grace Chords"...  recorded by the Rev King, early in 2018, as my partner in the Road Warriors for Christ.

Out to the Metacomet with K2 today, running from Phelps Road south to Peak Mtn, and back.  Completed the ridge run with 7.9-miles.

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 20th 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 42nd marathon overall.

A great marathon day in my history!

Early morning "humid" run after a brief stop at work to adjust the "on-call" alarm rotation.  Hit the Metacomet from Route 20 to the Ravine at 2.9-miles, and turned around for a total trip distance of 5.8-miles.

Also on this day in 2010, I ran the Nipmuck Marathon for the 8th time.  It was my 46th marathon completed, with a time of 5:07:28.  This was good for 34th place overall.

5.5-mile run into work early morning.

Old accomplishments ~~

On this day in 1994 I completed my 3rd marathon - Nipmuck.  It was my first Nipmuck Marathon completed, and my time was 4:02:00, good enough for 23rd place.

Also, on this day in 2005, I completed my 27th marathon - also Nipmuck, with a time of 4:48:13.  This was good for 29th place.

Mather Loop before work...  5.2-miles.

Music 2020...

Effort #23,  "Belonging II"...  recorded on Evil's front porch while waiting for the drums to arrive.  Part of the End of Chemo Sessions, August 30th, 2019.

3-mile run along Main Street at 6:00 p.m., more or less.

From the archives department...  I completed my 11th marathon on this day in 1996 at Nipmuck.  I ran a 3:56:50 in the race, which was good for 15th place.

Old News Department...

On this day in 1997 I completed my 15th marathon - Nipmuck.  It was the 3rd time I completed Nipmuck, and my time was 4:31:44, good enough for 42nd place.

Also, on this day in 2013, I completed my 51st marathon - Hawley Berkshire East.  I had Wuzzam with me for this one, which was a real beast.  We had a total time on feet of 7:45:15, which was the longest either of have ever been on our feet moving through the forest.  It was most likely more than a marathon distance.  By several miles...  (or more).

Completed the Mattatuck Trail today, with the final 7.7-miles. 

I parked on Hardscrabble Road, and ran south to the southern terminus at Valley Road, in Warren.  This is a very nice section / trail.

Starting point on Hardscrabble Road 

High Point along today's route

Brook leading into the Shepaug Reservoir

Brook leading into the Shepaug Reservoir

Back where I started

5.3-mile run along the Tunxis from Ski Sundown area, with K2.

Also, on this day in 2009, Wuzzam and I completed a McClean Reservation Marathon in roughly five hours.   This was my 41st marathon completed.  I recall it being a fairly easy day for us.