Dirt Road Running 1:30:50 [3] 9.01 mi (10:05 / mi) +862ft 9:15 / mi
Rain was in the forecast, so I thought that maybe a combination of some trails and dirt roads wouldn't be too bad--especially since that's a possibility in Beartown State Forest.
I planned a route that started on pavement for a couple of miles, then onto trails and the AT, before finishing on dirt roads. Alas, when I got to Beartown, I noticed that they had put up a barrier, closing the road to vehicular traffic.
So I modified the loop, as I had a good climb to do just to get to where I had wanted to start the run. And just as I started, the rain started, very light at first, but then it turned into a steady stream after a half hour. Most of the loop was on dirt roads, nice soft roads, which were wonderful for downhill running, but made for slightly more effort on the climbs.
Met a couple of guys out walking their dogs, some rangers driving along the roads, and a ranger at the end of my run, who was heading out to look for Jefferson salamanders. I learned that they are black, or nearly so, fairly large, i.e., 4-7" long and about 1" in diameter. So, pretty big actually. I mentioned that I never saw one, only the orange newts, and the ranger said that they are underground 11/12 months, only coming above ground at this time of the year to lay their eggs in the vernal pools and then they head back underground.
Maybe I should slow down at take a closer look around the vernal pools while they are still around.