Just recently I heard a rumor that Mook had, through "certain sources", obtained an o' map of Mt. Wachusett. Could the acquisition of such an obviously valuable training tool be cause of Mook's heretofore unexplained absence this past week? If that were really the case, and Mook had mailing addresses for interested OKers, Mook could presumably mail copies to OKers. I don't know if there is any validity to this rumor or not, but if someone has the time, it might be worth looking into.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 20, 2000

Answers

I have seen the Wachusett map (I think it must have been in an ONA some years ago).

Has anyone seen the Townsend map?

I have heard rumors (from someone who has seen the fieldwork for the relay map) that Townsend would be a much closer terrain type.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), March 21, 2000.

I have not only seen both the Wachusett and Townsend maps, I've run on both, several times. I can make copies of Townsend and mail them if anybody wants them. Sounds like Mook is on top of the Wachusett map. Peggy

-- Peggy Dickison (Pdickison@aol.com), March 21, 2000.

I'm up for it. I'll email my address. (But what good does a map that Mook is 'on top of' do me? Probably has holes from the spikes in his shoes!)

Fritz

-- Fritz Menninger (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), March 21, 2000.

I can remember a time when it would have been quite good to have had Mook on top of our maps--even with spike shoes. We were going to train out on the Plains of Despair but our maps were blown away by a terrific wind. They probably ended up somewhere in Nebraska.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), March 22, 2000.

Interestingly enough the map I have of Mt. Wachusett does indeed have a hole in it. I don't recall where that hole came from, in fact I was quite surprised to learn that I even had such a map!

Email me your mailing address if you want a photocopy of it.

I seem to recall the Plains of Despair 'incident'. Mook and the Swampfox were parked at the north edge of the Plains ready to go on that map. Swampfox had brought along either 2 or 3 maps. The day was very windy. As we were preparing to run, Swampfox put one of the maps down on the ground. He must have turned his back for a moment because when he looked back for it it had disappeared in the wind. For some reason that even to this day totally escapes me, Swampfox insisted on conducting a test using the remaining map. He would put it on the ground to see where it blew, and could then determine where the first map might also have gone. I strongly recommended against this test suspecting that it would do more harm than good. We must have had a conversation that went something like this:

Sfx: "Put the map down and we'll watch where it blows."

Mook: "I don't think that's such a good idea."

Sfx: "It shouldn't be a problem. I don't think the map will go too far."

Mook: "Alright. I assume you're willing to be the one to chase it down?"

Sfx: "Yes, I'll chase it down, but I don't think it will blow very far."

Mook: "I'm not so sure about that. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Sfx: "Yes, it will be alright."

I put the map down on the ground and it took off downwind. Much to my amazement the Swampfox stood there a few seconds watching it go. Did he think it needed a headstart or something? Then he jogged on after it. The map headed for Artillery Springs (the original map, not to be confused with Artillery Spring which is a wholly different area). The map was heading for the white zone and picking up speed. Swampfox was also picking up speed, sprinting I guess, but losing ground to the map. He disappeared from view. Meanwhile I went back into my car trying to warm up since it was a cold day. I think Swampfox chased the map to somewhere near the white zone then gave up (the white zone would have been fieldchecked by that time, however, and incorporated into the Jubal E. Spring map). I think the Swampfox learned his lesson that day. We didn't run on the map, and I think we went skiing instead.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 22, 2000.

Mook's account of the infamous Flying Map Incident is 100% dead on the money.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), March 22, 2000.

For those of you who have seen the Townsend map (or run in the area) -- what is it like?

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 22, 2000.

Townsend has an about average amount of detail for eastern Mass. maps, is rolling in nature, and with a fairly typical New England understory. The map looks quite green, in part because I elected to map much of the normal forest there with light green, and in part because of the ample mountain laurel there. There is little rock underfoot, and the southern parts of the map have a little sand terrain. The trail net isn't very dense. I've always enjoyed running there and have done several races there as well. Overall I think it's quite a good place to train. The scale is 1:10,000 and if I remember right the contours are at 3m, btw.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), March 23, 2000.