Scheduled off-day at work, so I had a brief 2-hour shift.  Afterward, back to Cowles Park in East Granby to see if I could locate the "other" climb to Hatchet Hill, more northerly.

The alternative climb was found fairly simply;  what I didn't expect was the incredible maze of "inner" trails within the park...  I never expected such back-and-forth and winding.  Wonderful surprise!

All told, 6.6-miles today after the heavy rain of the morning.  There were deerflies, but they were not too bad.  

Several bridges pop up throughout this trail network.

View from the top on Metacomet;  rain and clouds just thinking of moving out.

Mushrooms!

 Today's route is in "red".

Played some music with Jon Evil in the morning, so it wasn't until the heat of the afternoon that I ventured out to run.  Managed 3.5-miles along the Metacomet Trail from Hatchet Hill Road heading north toward Route 20.

I managed to take photos of several of the notable features along this section today, my camera was working ok.  The missed items mentioned on the June 26th, 2016 post have been corrected!

  

Large Oak along the path.

Charles Julian Kaiser's footstone.

Graveyard;  Deacon Joshua Holcomb, Ruth Ford, and Caleb Holcomb tombstones.

Joined Hemlock and Black Birch.

The outstanding weather continued, so I managed another exploration in Cowles Park, East Granby, Connecticut.  Last weekend I ran a bit on the Metacomet in the Tarriffville area - and noticed dozen's of side paths.  About 15-years ago I had run from Cowles Park up to the Metacomet Ridge, and figured it was time to re-familiarlize myself with the area, as many of those side-paths lead easterly off the ridge toward Cowles.

The amount of mountain bike trails in here is staggering.  But, not only are there many, they are built really, really well.  As I begin to learn how it all connects, I imagine I'll visit here often.

Ended up with just under eight-miles (7.89), in about 1:45:00.  No bugs, No humidity, only minor heat today (about 80 degrees during the run).  I'd call it a pretty good day.

Cowles Park in East Granby, Connecticut.

The fight for survival.

  

Cowles Park has several educational Tree ID postings throughout;  this is Pitch Pine.

The view from above Tarriffville Gorge on the Farmington River.

 All the trails explored today;  I'll clean up a complete map once all trails are found.

 

Spent the morning with K2 on the Tunxis Trail, between the two Ratlum Road crossings.  I intended to check on a the side-trails that have popped up over the years.

It was a magnificent day, about 65 degrees with a nice strong breeze coming up the ridge.  No humidity and bugs were at a minimum.  

Came very close to another Br'er Bear today, on the return trip on the last peak about 8/10-mile from the start (just prior to the Lake McDonough lookout).  I slapped the tree with the log-book attached, as I often do (no idea why), and Brother Bear was startled while half-way up a small black birch about 15' away.  The bear descended very quickly, which startled me!  I about-faced and took three big steps before turning back to see the bear was as disinterested in me as I was him.  Opposite direction at about 25-mph.  It was my third bear in the last three weeks, all very close, all big.

K2 and I managed 7-miles, and it went pretty easy.  The foliage along the Tunxis Ridge does not seem to be affected by the gypsy moth as Shenipsit area is.

First Peak heading north (about 8/10-mile), Brother Bear sighting.

 Second Peak, about 1-Mile out.

Interesting rock piles along the route.

Lake McDonough Lookout.

K2 wrapping it up.

 

My friend the Wuzzam hadn't run in 11 days, and wanted to "run about 90 minutes off Galbreath Road / Soapstone area".  Sounded fine with me.  The morning was much warmer than expected, and filled with humidity as well.  Additionally, Eastern Connecticut is seeing the worst gypsy moth caterpillar infestation in a decade, according to state officials.  The caterpillars are eating significant portions of shade cover.  Normally shaded "woods" are not so shaded this year.

We managed 6.5-miles on our legs;  we took a trail we hadn't been on, one that brought us up the eastern side of the Bald/Pinnacle ridge in a saddle between the two.  We noticed a few more paths we need to explore in the future as well.  The extensive time we've spent in this portion of Shenipsit really has helped us learn the terrain.  I'd say we're confident in here.

 Wuzzam and Zippy.

  

  

 

Wuzzam on a shelf, with two large set stones.

 

  Looks like a stone wall or maybe an old structure?

On this day in 2006, I completed my 33rd marathon, Tunxis II.  This was the second time in 5-weeks that I marathoned along the Tunxis Trail...  this time, I used the southern portion down to Satan's Kingdom.  My time was 6:06:30, and I had Tippi along for company.  It was her 9th completed marathon.

Tippi on top of  Indian Council Caves, along the Tunxis.

 

A very early start allowed me to get ahead of the sun, but it came with a price...  The deer flies were ferocious this morning.  

Grabbed the trail right at the Route 20, Newgate and Holcomb intersection and headed south toward Tarriffville.  Ended up with 10.2-miles in roughly 2:24:00.  

Biggest bummer today was the camera I had didn't want to work, so I missed out on some great pictures - which I hope to remedy soon.  There is a fantastic large Oak tree about 3/4-mile in from Route 20 that I've been passing by for over twenty years, and I don't think I have photographed it.  

Also, almost at the end of the Holcomb to Hatchet Hill Road section, there are two links to the past worth mentioning.  First, Charles Julian Kaiser's favorite outlook on the trail contains a footstone (which may mark Kaiser's ashes) with his name and dates of birth and death.  The stone reads "Charles Julian Kaiser, January 30, 1902 - October 9, 1952".  Secondly, I've noticed renovations to a 1770s era smallpox victim's graveyard just a half-mile or so from the road crossing.  Currently, it looks like three stones have been refurbished.  Very rewarding to see this effort being made.

Once across the street on the Tariffville section, I wandered off the Metacomet and explored Smaug's Lair and Egg Beater trails.  There is a network of routes to explore here, including Taj Mahal which I didn't get to.  

The map I am adding contains yesterday's section with today's.  Red is the Metacomet Trail, and the Yellow portions are Mountain Bike trails that veer off the main route (very nicely done, I have to add).

Hatchet Hill Peak.

 

Stone Chimney along Metacomet Trail.

Something I do not do much of, a run in the later part of the day.  Didn't start out until close to 6:00 pm.  The conditions were comfortable, but I'll admit motivation is better when I run earlier...  

Metacomet from Hatchet Hill Road down to the Farmington River, and back.  There are many more "side-trails" available since I've last been here.  I don't know why I don't run this section more often, it's really nice.

Finished up with 3.8-miles total;  2.2-miles out to the Route 189 (I think) in Tariffville and with the short-cut coming back 1.6-miles.

View North, Upstream of the Farmington, from the lookout near T-Ville Gorge.

The Farmington River along the Metacomet Trail.

Took a run late along the Metacomet, from Phelps Road North.  Outstanding day to be anywhere, but especially the woods.  A nice 3-mile run to get my legs loose. Ended the day with playing some music.

Path uphill after power-line crossing.

Stone Marker at Trailhead, Hugh M. Alcorn Wildlife Preserve.

Today's Route, showing turn-around point.

On this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I completed a Metacomet Marathon, with a time of 7:00:00.  Tippi ran the first section with us, from Route 20 to Phelps Road, and back (about 10.5-miles).  Weather report was that heating up was very possible - so the Donnalee grabbed Tippi early.  This was my 46th marathon completed.

Our Route for the Marathon Distance.

On this day in 1998, my Pop and I completed the 1st Greylock Centennial Marathon in Adams, Massachusetts.  Our time was 6:55:38.  This was a very difficult course, with 5 lengthy climbs.  The heat didn't help much either, if I remember correctly.

This was my 19th marathon completed, and my dad's first.

On the trip to Adams to celebrate Father's Day, I detoured to Adams Road (Upper East Hoosac Street) in Savoy.  I wanted to check a snowmobile trail that would lead toward the old Marko Camp, above High Bridge and the Fritz Farm.

The Old Fritz Farm in 2003.

 View of Greylock from Fritz Farm, just above High Bridge.

The snowmobile path was short and not really necessary (there is the old road that acts as a driveway adjacent to the snowmobile path).  High Bridge was as awesome as always.  My last visit there was January 2003, with my dad and Paul.

High Bridge with Pop and Paul, January 2003.

 

This place really impresses me. The gorge and small falls are pretty awesome, right up with Windsor Jambs.  Out and back gave me 4.3-miles - I spent a bit of time looking for the "Lead Mine" but that will be for another day.

High Bridge in June 2016.

High Bridge in June 2016.

High Bridge in June 2016.

As I have been adding completed marathons into this blog, I noticed that I haven't completed a "Tunxis" Marathon in a while.  Since June of 2012, to be precise.  Adding to that, I had once explored tying a route together from Granville State Forest just over the border in Massaschusetts, to join the Tunxis in East Hartland,  and then continue south to Satan's Kingdom - a one direction route pretty close to 26-miles.

Yesterday I checked on the Granville portion along Hubbard Brook.  Today I would explore Valley Brook and Hurricane Brook and complete the section from Granville State Forest to Route 20 on the Tunxis.

All went well, things are somewhat like I remember them.  Some logging has "opened" some narrow trails in Tunxis, and the old path along Valley Brook looks like repairs were made when logging took place.  Basic story is the route is still possible, and I have it mapped and measured.

Granville along Hubbard Brook to Route 20 at North Hollow measured up at 2.9-miles.  The section around Valley Brook, climbing to join the Tunxis Trail at Hurricane Brook, and continuing to Route 20 measured out at 6.1 -miles.  Both these sections lacked switchbacks and turns, so I believe the gps measurement is very accurate.  This leaves the northern route of the marathon plan right at 9.0-miles.

Excellent run, I ended up with 8.5-miles once back at the car.  Had not one, but two, close up encounters with Brother Bear (two separate individuals).  Big healthy creatures that didn't even give me the time of day (thankfully).

Trillum Hill is just over a 1/2-mile from the Route 20 parking area.

Northside of  Trillum Hill is home to Mountain Laurel.

Stonework along upper Hurricane Brook.

 Connecticut and Massachusetts marker just off trail.

 The crossing at Valley Brook.

About 50' upstream at Valley Brook crossing, Brother Bear is passing through.

Today's 6.1-Mile route.

The planned northern section of the 2016 Tunxis Marathon.