So Sadie and I got a later start than I wanted. Tory dropped us off at the base of the Red Triangle across from Hogan Road around 6:30 PM. We climbed up what is pretty much a stream bed, except for the louder stream to our right on the way up. There were some fairly large trees down but I didn't have the time or energy to move them.
I was grateful when we crested near the Orange trail and got to take it easy as we crossed the Blue and Tower Path. The drop down the north side was steep in places. We crossed the gulley and could see Tuttle down below. The path takes a pretty long bend to the east but I was true to the path and reached the bottom near River Road. There was a pretty strong stream running along the road so I stayed up on the bank as long as I could although Sadie opted for the middle of the road.
I started to get concerned when I realized that the walk along Tuttle was a lot longer than I expected. I just measured it now as more than half a mile. The sun was pretty much down when we reached the Diamond/Hexagon start and headed in on the flat part. The sun was still reflecting off of the Mill River to our right.
I was trying to decide if I should just be satisfied with completing the Triangle and Diamond north of the Blue trail in my pursuit of the 4 Season Giant Master. I left the decision up to Sadie and soon there was a couple with a dog approaching along the Diamond trail. So we quickly turned up the Hexagon and now I was determined to complete it. I just wasn't sure how dark it would get.
We climbed the long gradual ramp along the back of the head. Twice I was hoping that the top was just around the next bend and twice I was fooled. But we reached the Blue trail and I was energized by the fact that we had completed another section.
It was getting pretty dark now and I was concerned about missing the spot where the Hexagon trail drops off the Tower Path down to the right. I probably should have studied the map a little closer before we left. The moon was reflected in the puddles on the Tower Path. I see now that I did miss it and just cut across the first switchback on the way down. Now I was sure that the Hexagon cut across the next switchback rather than follow the side of it so we followed a trail of sorts to the next crossing of the Tower Path.
At some point in here I was convinced that I saw a Hexagon on a tree leaving the Tower Path in one spot so I was proud of myself for finding it in the dark. We continued on this "trail" I had found. A few times Sadie balked and I had to call her to get her to follow me. I'm sure she knew we weren't on any marked trail. It may have been that I did see a Hexagon on the Tower Path because they coincide for awhile here. In essence, when we crossed the Tower Path the last time, we were crossing the Red Hexagon.
Tory called around this last crossing because they were concerned because it was after 7:30 and quite dark now. I told her I was just about to call (I was) and that I would be out soon. As we crashed through the dark woods, I now know that we were west of where we should have been. I thought I saw Tory's car and called her. I had her beep her horn and was surprised when she was off to our left. There is just enough of a rise along the road that I couldn't really tell where we were relative to the University entrance. I called Tory again and then saw her. We crashed out and walked to where she was.
I feel that we were close enough to the Red Hexagon to count the southern portion also for March 16th. Only a few more segments for the winter but only a few days left until Spring begins. Will we complete the mission?
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