Saturday, October 10, 2020

Back to the Appalachian Trail to tie-up last weekend's section.

Last Saturday I ended on the old forest road south of East Mountain, so I would begin to the east right at the convergence of where Route 183/57 joins Route 23 in Great Barrington and trek south to this turn-around point.  I estimated the total miles to be around 8.

What I was most interested in during this section would be Ice Gulch, a rocky crevice about at the half-way point of my run.  It didn't disappoint, as it was incredible and the hemlocks certainly made it magical.

A nice bonus throughout the adventure was the balanced, or perched, rocks I came across.  Always fascinating to stumble upon one (or more) of these.

I skirted East Mountain, stayed a bit south of Warner Mountain, and did not see the re-entry of the old forest road south of Warner, which shows up on the old topo maps in two locations.  I turned back once I hit last week's ending point, right at 4-miles.  

Finished the day with 8.1-miles, and feeling like Ice Gulch should be visited again.

In the evening, DL and I walked to the First Church of Christ's "Meeting House Hill" to watch the firework display commemorating the 350th Anniversary of Suffield.

Ice Gulch

Ice Gulch

Ice Gulch

Ice Gulch

Ice Gulch

Stone Slab adjacent to Appalachian Trail

Stone Seat

1st Balanced Rock

1st Balanced Rock

2nd Balanced Rock

2nd Balanced Rock

3rd Balanced Rock

3rd Balanced Rock

4th Balanced Rock

4th Balanced Rock

4th Balanced Rock

4th Balanced Rock

Signage at Parking Area

Friday, October 9, 2020

3.5-mile run along Main Street & Kent, prior to cooking breakfast for DL & JC.

And some old News...

DAR to Bullitt Reservation Marathon
October 9th, 2013 - Goshen & Ashfield, Massachusetts

The DAR Marathon (Daughter's of the American Revolution).

On this day in 2013, Tippi and I ran a DAR State Forest Marathon in 6:10:00.  This was my 52nd completed marathon, and Tippi's 17th.  

We began in Goshen, at the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest, and ran out to Bullitt Reservation, and back.  We enjoyed views from Chapel Ledge and Chapel Falls.

Tippi on Chapel Ledge



Tippi looking off Chapel Ledge.

Tippi on Chapel Ledge.

Chapel Falls.

Chapel Falls.

Tippi cooling off in a pool at Chapel Falls.

Course with Tippi's track as well

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #38 for 2020...

"The Burgler", more David Goodis noir, first published in 1953.

Vintage Crime / Black Lizard Cover Image

Early Lion Edition

Alternate Early Edition

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

 3.5-mile run down Main Street & Kent prior to the work-day.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

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

  • East Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Holyoke, MA
  • Snake Peak, Metacomet Trail, Holyoke, MA
  • Snake Pond Overlook, Metacomet Trail, Holyoke, MA
  • Perry's Lookout, Tunxis Trail Network, Burlington Region, CT
  • Cat Rocks, Ridge Trail, Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union, CT
  • Metacomet Ridge, Cowles Park, East Granby, CT
  • The Wall, Tunxis Trail Network, Burlington Region, CT
  • Devil's Kitchen Ravine, Tunxis Trail Network, Burlington Region, CT

Monday, October 5, 2020

Music 2020...

Effort #41,  "Night Walks"...  A beautiful, quiet song by Black Mountain. Another basement recording with me on acoustic guitar as Rapid Social Change (RSC).

Night walks with me
And moon leaves me
Just enough light to see
And the shadow
My only company
And it moves
Just like me
And it walks
Just like me


Sunday, October 4, 2020

Tunxis State Forest with K2 for a run.  Began at Route 20 and headed south, with a 90-minute deadline for the total time out.  I managed to get just past the logging before turning back, and ended with a nice enjoyable 6-miles.

For a bonus, I spent a reasonable amount of time photographing the Balanced Rock situated just up the bank from Morey Brook.

Navigating around the Morey Brook Balanced Rock, differing angles

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

The Morey Brook Balanced Rock

Saturday, October 3, 2020

I am hopeful that there will be a few occasions and opportunities to explore the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts before the year 2020 comes to an end.  Today was one such opportunity.

I drove to Sheffield, thinking I would use the A.T. Parking area on Kellog Road, but the loose stone on the steep slop was pretty washed out, and I didn't know if I would be able to drive back up out of the area...  so I ended up looking around a bit before settling in at the AT Crossing on West Road.  I had already run the AT Section crossing West Road to Route 7 last August, but it would be the best I would do today for a designated, safe, parking spot.

The section from West Road to Route 7 is nice, much of it through a swamp with built up walkways.  Crossing Route 7 gets you to the Housatonic River and a nice journey along it.  Brief road section before the start up June Mountain toward East Mountain.

Excellent views once the 1000' climb is over, basically the entirety of Race, Everett and Jug End along with the Catskills in the distance.  As added features, there were two excellent balances rocks that I noticed, and a wicked ravine / cravasse / or split between rocks with a bridge built above.

I ended the run feeling very good, with 10.5-miles and 2280' of climb and descent on my legs.

View of Everett, Race and Bear Mountains to the west

View of Everett, Race and Bear Mountains to the west

Balanced Rock

View of Everett, Race and Bear Mountains to the west

View of Everett, Race and Bear Mountains to the west

Raven or Fissure down the mountain

Another Balanced Rock

Housatonic River looking south

Bridgework on AT through Swamp

Large Rock along AT

Ravine with Bridge above

Roadside Memorial on East Stahl Road

Roadside Memorial on East Stahl Road

Roadside Memorial on East Stahl Road

Friday, October 2, 2020

 3-mile run on Main & Kent Street in the early morning.

Thursday, October 1, 2020

3-Miles along Main Street in the morning prior to work.

On this day in 1994, I participated in the 1st Hartford Marathon, running a time of ~3:16:00.  I needed sub 3:10:00 to qualify for Boston, and completing the run "easily" at this pace gained me confidence for my official attempt the following May at Vermont City.  This was my 4th marathon.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

From the Archives:  On this day in 2012 I completed my 9th Nipmuck Marathon today, as well as my 49th overall marathon.

I finished in a respectable 4:46:30, good for 28th place overall.

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #37 for 2020...

"His Name was Death", Fredric Brown, 1954.

Vintage Crime / Black Lizard Cover Image

1st Edition Hardcover

1956 Bantam Paperback Edition

Centipede Press Hardcover Edition

Monday, September 28, 2020

Music 2020...

Effort #40,  "I had Lost My Mind"...  another basement recording, just me and the acoustic guitar as Rapid Social Change (RSC).


Sunday, September 27, 2020

Easy, restful day after the long run on Saturday.  2.5-mile walk on Main Street to loosen the legs.