#trailstr

#proofofsteps

#jerrysbench

#natchaugtrail

Potholes on the trail

It finally warmed up today. The past couple weeks have been so cold that the snow evaporated before temperatures reached the melting point.

Streams and rivers are frozen. Crossing the icy areas is now more of a hazard. When it gets above the freezing point, the trail, frozen streams and snowy areas are greasy. Running, skipping and slipping become routine.

Another hazard are areas that froze and thawed leaving cavities on the trail. Frequently a foot will fall in. These cavities are about 5-10 CM deep and are a bit of an annoyance because your foot falls through what appears to be solid ground. You learn to bend the knees and absorb the shock. These cavities form the same way road potholes form after a couple weeks of intense cold. They're like tiny sink holes. This is very common in New England.

I try run atop the rocks and roots to avoid them, but sometimes there's no getting around them. I'm warm and moving by the time I get to Jerry's Bench. Today I went to the beaver pond and back. Felt good to run in warmer weather.