Event 5: Mt Tom

Coursesetter: Phil Bricker 

There are three courses: Long (8.28k, 475m, 18 controls); Medium (6.26k, 325m, 15 controls); and Short (3.88k, 240m, 11 controls). There is a mass start for all three courses at noon with a pre-race briefing at 11:45. The Long and the Medium are Farsta courses: there is a map exchange halfway; everyone on a course does the same legs, but not in the same order. The Short has a butterfly, but no map exchange.

For the start and for the map exchange, maps have bib numbers on the back, and are laid out in order. Be sure to wear your bib number and take the map with your bib number on it. For an event of this type, there are no separate control descriptions; clues are only on the map.

There is water on all three courses at least every 2k. There are portable toilets near the start.

The time limit for all courses is 3 hours.

The map for all courses is 1x10,000 with 5 meter contours. It was extensively updated for an A-meet in 2008 by Kroum Serguiev. All courses stay north of the main park road, in the “Northeast Kingdom”. The courses are physically demanding, with treacherous, rocky hillsides, and a moderate amount of deadfall, much of it from last October’s freak snowstorm. Run hard, but be safe.

Directions to Mt Tom and Parking

From Cemetery Hill. Head southeast on Burts Pit Road. At the light, turn left onto Chapel Street (rt. 66); this becomes West St. Go .9 miles to the end and turn right onto Main Street (rt. 9). Go .3 miles through the center of Northampton and turn right onto Pleasant Street (rt. 5). Continue on rt. 5 south for 6.6 miles. Turn right onto Reservation Rd. Continue into the park to the toll booth - .5 mi. There is a $2 fee to drive into the park.

From the south or the Mass Pike: Take I-91N to exit 17A. Merge onto Easthampton Rd toward Holyoke. Go 0.2 mi. Turn left at Northampton St/US-5N, go 4.0 mi. Turn left at Reservation Rd. Continue into the park to the toll booth - .5 mi. There is a $2 fee to drive into the park.

From the north: Take I-91S to exit 18. Merge onto Mount Tom Rd/US-5S. Continue to follow US-5S - 3.8 mi. Turn right at Reservation Rd. Continue into the park to the toll booth – .5 mi. There is a $2 fee to drive into the park.

Parking: Continue on the park road (now Smith’s Ferry Rd.) another mile until you see signs for parking on your right (“Hampden area”). Check-in and start/finish is at a pavilion another 300 meters up the park road.

Map from Cemetery Hill


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