Alaska Vacation II - Day 2

Day at Sea through Stephens Passage....

Stephens Passage is like the best shortcut in the world, a straight line through Southeast Alaska in a landscape that comes with very few straight lines. It’s not only people and ships that use the passage: Concentrated in and around its waters is a greatest hits of Alaskan wildlife, from humpback whales, the whoosh of their breath loud enough to be heard almost a kilometer away, to giant sea lions and their very distinctive smell—well, okay, call it a stink—that can carry just as far.

The southern reaches of Stephens Passage start at the edges of Frederick Sound, one of the best whale-watching areas in the state. The sound narrows and as you are funneled into the passage, the mountains come right down into the sea, high tide licking the roots of spruce and hemlock. In tiny bays, guillemots and gulls gather; when they take off at the ship’s wake, the noise is like applause.

The water of the passage is ridiculously deep, well over 300 meters (1,000 feet) in places. But in this landscape cut by the last ice age, you really have to measure to the mountain peaks for true scale: They climb to summits at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), their slopes covered with forests, meadows that turn sunset into alpenglow, and best of all, by the purple tinge of glaciers that form the passage’s crown.

And from the Archives....

Hartford Marathon
October 1, 1994 - Hartford, Connecticut

Ran through the 1st Hartford Marathon today in ~3:16:00.  My father ran the 5km, my Mom and DL came along to cheer us on.  The finish-time is only six-minutes off a Boston Qualifying Time for my age divsion (sub 3:10).  I feel confident going forward I can reach the qualifying standard.

Alaska Vacation II - Day 1

Flight from Chicago with DL, JC & AC to Seattle, Washington where we boarded Holland America's Eurodam for a week exploring Al;aska.

Leaving the Port of Seattle around mid-day.

And from the Archives...

Nipmuck Trail Marathon

September 30th, 2012 - Ashford, Connecticut

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.

Vacation begins with an early morning flight to Chicago. 

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period August 1st through August 31st, 2023:

"High Points" along trails during August 2023... 

Still Building up....

• Burnt Hill Lookout, Burnt Hill Catamount Trail, Heath, MA
• Northern Drake Mountain, Southwick, MA
• Ratlum Mountain, Canton, CT
• Hatchet Hill, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Warner Hill, Plainfield, MA

Short morning at work, then a drive to have a late lunch / early dinner with my folks.

From the Archives... 

September 26th, 2020 - The New England Trail

Bear Hole, McLean & Whiting Street Reservoir Marathon

I completed my 61st Marathon today in 6:00-hours (5:49:23 moving and 9:37 stopped).

The route began a little after 7 a.m. in Bear Hole Reservoir, and once connected to the New England Trail (Metacomet) I also passed McLean Reservoir and the Whiting Street Reservoir for a gps measured 24.3-miles.  Google Earth listed the total ascent at 4195', with a likewise total descent.

It was in the low sixties for temperature at the start, but very high humidity (80%+).  Once the sun came out the temperature hit 80-degrees.

I felt very good throughout the run, but my feet and legs were sore for the last hour from the multitude of rocks that exist along much of this trail.

In Memory...  

Rest in Peace Dusty
(August 28, 1986 - September 25, 2000).

"Dusty" at Old Sturbridge Village, 1998

DL brought Dusty home at Christmas 1986, when we lived at Old Mill Pond in Arlington, Texas.  He was a cocker-spaniel, and a really great dog.

Once we made the move to Connecticut in 1989, we began hiking and backpacking.  Dusty loved the trail, and camping out in a tent.  As a spaniel, he also loved water, and even in December's winters, if the water was open, he was going in.

We began running in Shenipsit State Forest around 1992, after building up with the years of hiking.  We ran on the Metacomet three or four days a week, right up to a week before his passing.

I have been extremely lucky with the dogs I've had.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of them.  As I still ramble through the woods, I encounter hints and reminders constantly.  Those first explorations throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts were with Dusty,.  Rest easy, boy.

Rainy dreary day, stopped off at the "Old" High School track to attempt a second attempt at four Yasso 800's.

I completed each 800 as follows:

• 3:58
• 3:56
• 3:58
• 3:55

Just a bit easier than last week.  Roughly two weeks in a row is a really good start, if I can combine with the 5K runs into the winter months I'll be pleased.  

Finished with a total of 3-miles.

From the Archives...

 Mount Greylock Marathon

September 24th, 2006 - Adams, Massachusetts

On this day, I enjoyed a really special run and adventure.  

It was my 36th completed marathon, and it was at Mount Greylock.

The Greylock Marathon's always mean a bit more to me than others; this one was especially memorable due to the company I had for the entire route, my dad and my great friend Paul H, as well as Tips on her 10th completed marathon.  

We finished at 7:29:23, just beating some heavy rain.  An unbelievable day!

Greylock Finish, 2006 

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #14

Granville Reservoir 10KM (6.6-Miler)

K2 and I wanted to beat the Hurricane Remnants Heavy Rain that was projected for our region, so we began our run at 8:10 a.m.

We gave ourselves until 10, with an order to return to the car if heavy rain began.

In the end, we arrived back at the car just a few moments prior to the 10 a.m. cutoff, without any rain beginning.  Interestingly, within ten-minutes on the ride home it did begin to rain.  A small victory for us.

Still working on "field-checking" all the trails I have cataloged and mapped in the Granville Reservoir Section around Drake Mountain.

Using my "Naming Conventions" I've used on my map I covered the following today:

• Winchell Mtn Bike Trail
• UFO1 Trail
• Little Perched Rock South Trail
• White Pine Trail
• UnNamed #1
• Winchell Road

Completed 6.6-Miles in 1:34:30.

3.2-miles along the Metacomet (NET) and side-trails of Hatchet Hill / Farmington River @ T-Ville.

Running on the Metacomet (NET) from Hatchet Hill. 3.7-miles.

And From the Archives...

 Pisgah Marathon

September 21, 1997 - Winchester & Chesterfield, NH

I raced and completed the Pisgah Marathon today (29.3-miles), in 5:03:39.  Ran the majority with Zeke Z, covering a beautiful park in New Hampshire.  This was my 17th finished marathon.

From the Archives... 

Curly's Marathon II
September 20th, 2009 - Pittsfield, MA

I completed my 45th marathon today, the 2nd Curly's Marathon. 

After feeling as though I was demolished at this event in 2008, I had a goal of finishing under 5-hours this time around.  In 2008, the event took me 5:54:36.  This would be a challenge, and something I do not usually stress myself with (having a "goal" time).

The day was tremendous, and I felt great.  Somehow though, in the first 5 or 6 miles, I missed a turn.  I ran a ways before I turned around.  By the time I re-entered the correct course, I was at the very back of the race.  After several minutes, I caught my (at the time) 70-year old father.  This was not great, but I felt so fantastically good that I wasn't really bothered by it.

A few miles later I caught Wuzzam, and we ran along the top and Berry Pond together.  I pushed decently down the Turner Trail, lost Wuzzam but got to half-way just after 2:30:00.  All I needed to do was run the same time for the second loop - yes, I would be tired, but I wouldn't have to run the extra mile or more.

I can still recall getting back to the top and knowing I would really have to push down the entire Turner Trail.  I did, and finished under my 5-hour goal with a 4:59:27.  I felt really, really good on this day.  I have no idea how far I went out of my way on that first loop - but judging where I came back out on the course and who I was behind at that point, it was meaningful minutes.  Keeping a positive attitude through it really helped, and I felt blessed.

Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Earlier today, the 21 countries on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee issued their decision to inscribe Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as the United States’ 25th addition to the World Heritage List. 

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, which include five locations managed by the National Park Service and three managed by the Ohio History Connection, were built by Native Americans between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago. They are complex masterpieces of landscape architecture and are exceptional among ancient monuments worldwide in their enormous scale, geometric precision and astronomical alignments. 

Collectively, these special and sacred places constitute Ohio’s first World Heritage Site. 

“Inscription on the World Heritage List will call international attention to these treasures long known to Ohioans,” said Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. 

World Heritage inscription brings recognition to places of exceptional interest and value. There are only about 1,000 World Heritage sites around the globe. 

The eight Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks sites are in Licking, Ross and Warren counties. 

The National Park Service’s Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe includes the Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Seip Earthworks, High Bank Works and Hopeton Earthworks. 

The Ohio History Connection's Great Circle Earthworks and Octagon Earthworks are in Heath and Newark, respectively, and Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve is in Oregonia. 

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List in January 2022 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, but the process to get to that point has been over a decade in the making. 

For more information about the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks and upcoming commemoration activities, go to hopewellearthworks.org.

• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks
• Great Circle Earthworks
• Octagon Earthworks
• Mound City
• Hopewell Mound Group
• Hopeton Earthworks
• High Bank Works
• Seip Earthworks
• Fort Ancient

COVID Booster received this evening. 

Running in Granville today, roughly 4.5-miles.