Black Bear Program "All About Black Bears" offered by the Berkshire Natural Resource Council, from February 10th, 2022 (Live Virtual Event).

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #04 for 2022...

"The Zebra Striped Hearse", by Ross MacDonald, published in 1962.

Cover Images

"High Points" along trails during January. 2022... 

• Crag Mountain, Granby Land Trust Area, Granby, Connecticut
• Windsor Hill, Windsor, Massachusetts
• Scarlet Tanager Outlook, Granby Land Trust, Granby, Connecticut
• Old Creamery Hill, Granby Land Trust Area, Granby, Connecticut
• Popatunuch Hill, Granby Land Trust Area, Granby, Connecticut

Connecting more of Windsor's Snowmobile Network today (and, from what it looks like from the topo maps, an abundance of dirt, forest roads that will make some nice spring/summer/fall running as well).

Parked at Wahconah Falls State Park and made a 5.4-mile loop once was all said and done.

Physical Therapy re-boot #4.

For the afternoon, DL and I drove to Adams for a visit with my folks, celebrating their anniversary.

A return to Windsor to learn more of the snowmobile network.  

Connected my "ends" at Hume Road and at Windsor Brook crossing west of Main Dalton Road.  

Finished right at 8-miles.

Physical Therapy re-boot #3.

Old News Department...  two-years ago today:

Nipmuck - Natchaug Marathon - February 8th, 2020
Ashford, Union,  & Eastford, CT

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I met up with Andy Hillbilliage early to attempt a Nipmuck / Natchaug Marathon.  The Wuzzam was planning to meet up with us to ramble through the last 9 or 10-miles with us, as his legs were still feeling last weekend's 17-miler.

The route is fairly easy:

• Boston Hollow Road, Ashford, north on Nipmuck Trail to Bigelow Hollow (~8-miles).
• Return via the same route, opposite direction (~8-miles).
• South from Boston Hollow along the Nipmuck Trail to the turn onto the Natchaug Trail just prior to Ladies Room Rock, down to Moon Road (~4.5-miles).
• And then return along the same sections (~4.5-miles).

What isn't easy is the trail really rolls up and down.  A lot.  5760' of ascent and descent for the full gps measured 24.6-miles.  It was also somewhat cold (around 22-degrees at the start), but that didn't stop Hillbilliage from going with shorts and a short-sleeve top for the last 9+ miles (where it might have gotten to 32-degrees or so, outside the Hemlock forest).

We completed what we wanted, pretty much averaging 4.1 mph the entire day.  At 2-miles we were at 4.3 mph, at 8 the same, at 16 the same, at 20.5 we dropped to 4.2 mph, which we almost maintained to the end.  Very steady rolling.

Completed in 6:01:00, which I felt pretty good about.  It was really awesome of Wuzzam to meet up with us to help with the company, that I (we) really appreciated, as Andy and I were getting a bit tired by the last sections.  Great day, outstanding mileage builder!

This was my 58th completed marathon all-time.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  January 1st through January 31st, 2022:

Stop in Windsor to explore more snowmobile trail, ended up with 6.2-miles.

The trail after crossing Main Dalton Road towards Crane Road was closed with no traffic.  I took a chance, and needed to break through knee deep snow for a rough 1/2-mile uphill.  I found logging at the top, which explained the "shutting of the trail".  Exited on Crane Road, which returned me near the necessary destination.

Visit with the folks, watched Uconn defeat Tenn in Women's basketball!

Picked up a painting from DL's cousin. 

A very good day!

Took a trip out to Cowles to battle the ice and my lack of conditioning.  Managed to stay upright, and completed 3.2-miles in some some twenty-degree air.

 

I watched a replay of Wednesday's virtual presentation on Connecticut's Forestlands by Connor Hogan, director of the McLean Game Refuge, to learn about Connecticut’s aging forestlands and their potential to become old growth.

Four hundred years after the arrival of Europeans and the intensive land use that followed, forestland is finally recovering throughout the Northeast. 

Another wonderful event sponsored by both the Granby Public Library and Granby Land Trust.

About the presenter:

Connor Hogan joined the McLean Game Refuge in the summer of 2017 as the fourth director since it opened in 1932. Connor oversees research, conservation, education, and recreation across 4,400 acres of forests, meadows and waterways. He works closely with the McLean President and the Board of Trustees to carry out the management goals set by founder Senator George McLean.

Physical Therapy re-boot #2.

Long evening at work in the ice and rain.

What is World Wetlands Day?

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February to raise awareness about wetlands. This day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971.

A United Nations International Day

This year’s celebration of World Wetlands Day in 2022 is especially significant — as on 30 August 2021 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 75/317 that established 2 February as World Wetlands Day.

Why World Wetlands Day?

Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.

It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.

World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems.

Theme World Wetlands Day 2022

Wetlands Action for People and Nature is the theme in 2022 highlighting the importance of actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for humans and planetary health.

Who is behind World Wetlands Day?

The World Wetlands Day awareness campaign is organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands. Contracting Parties of the Convention on Wetlands have been celebrating World Wetlands Day since 1997, when it was first established.

Who can join?

World Wetlands Day is open to everyone — from international organizations, governments, wetland practitioners, to children, youth, media, community groups, decision-makers, to all individuals — as these ecosystems are important for us all.

Physical Therapy #1, re-boot.

On this day in 1998, the 4th Annual Moby Dick Marathons were held over Greylock. I completed my 19th marathon in 6:19:40, with Johnny Bandit.  It was the second time I wore snowshoes for the 28-mile adventure.  It would be the last time I would snowshoe this distance!

Overlooking Ragged Mountain

Memorial Tower