Was driving right past Mt. Tom so thought I'd stop for a ride. First thought was some sort of loop up the road past Lake Bray, then out to 141, then back through Easthampton. But that has one zippy downhill usually with traffic, so less appealing this time of year.
So Plan B, three different out and backs. The first up the Lake Bray road and out to 141, the second back to the NE end of the range towards Mt. Nonotuck, the third back to route 5 and south to Whiting Reservoir and a loop around it. All with either minimal traffic or bike lanes.
But at some point that morphed into plan C. Did the part up and over to 141, just fine, roads clear and dry. Headed past the gate towards Nonotuck, really crappy broken-up pavement covered by leaves and, in places, a mix of crusty snow and ice maybe a couple of inches deep. Making forward progress, so kept going.
The plan C part was, obviously perhaps, the fact that the route went right by the access "road" to Goat Peak. I hadn't done a summit for a while, and Goat Peak would be a new one (on a bike). It was almost irresistible.
Except that, when I reached the little parking area where the access road starts, the area was all covered with snow. Nope, not going to happen. Continued on towards Nonotuck. But I had noticed that where the access road headed up into the woods there was some bare ground.
Got as far as I could towards Nonotuck but then the steepness and full snow cover said enough was enough. Headed back, got to the GP parking, really, how could I not try?
I knew for a proper summiting I had to get both me and the bike up to the top (but not up the tower too). Also knew the last 50 yards were straight up, definitely hike-a bike and not an easy one. The question was how far up the road I could get, and whether I'd trash myself in the process.
Almost failed on the first little pitch, wet leaves on smooth rock and the rear wheel was spinning more than grabbing. Made the second one but not with a lot to spare. Around the corner and the last one, well, I might have made it if it was dry. But on this day not close to enough traction.
Regardless, I was on the ball, priority one, unclip as you're losing it. Smooth as could be. Hiked the bike up the last bit of the road, then up the totally unridable part, and there was the summit. Very cool.
And got back down, still in one piece. Back to the Lake Bray Road. Whipping down that road, thinking the wind chill factor was just a mental challenge, big smile. No time to do the Whiting Reservoir part, back to the car and on to Ratlum Mountain.
It did occur to me that my outing up Goat Peak was not a good use of time as far a racking up the miles. But sometimes you've gotta do what you gotta do.