This past May Matt Kirk completed an unsupported fast-pack of the Benton MacKaye trail, 288 miles of Southern Appalachian single-track roughly parallelling the Appalachian Trail. Matt ended up completing the entire trail in 5 days 23 hours and 16 minutes, an incredible accomplishment. Over less than six days Matt averaged more than 48 miles per day carrying all his own supplies traversing the rugged Southern Appalachians.

Shortly after completing his adventure, Matt wrote an excellent detailed report. If you are at all interested in Matt's adventure you should read his report. I don't think any third-person account of the hike can compete with Matt's report.

In addition to Matt's own report, please visit the adventure's web site. There you will see photos and something else really cool: live voice reports from Matt during the course of the run..

I've known Matt and his family for more than six years and was interested in some specific aspects of Matt's record-setting through hike. My nickname for Matt is "The Trailmaster" because he has introduced me and others to so many great trail adventures. I've watched Matt progress in his fast-packing plans and preparation over the years. I've seen him experiment with different home-made gear and food options. I thought it would be great to see if if he would be willing to answer some questions via email.

ncultra: What did you eat for six days on the trail?

Matt: After a day or two on the trail, food is what it's ALL about. Thru-hiking at any speed requires a lot of energy. To be successful and happy, I carried calorie-dense foods that would help save weight. I enjoyed a variety of nuts and used single servings of flax oil to add fat to (cooked) dinners and breakfasts. I tried to avoid simple sugars and went with more complex carbohydrates.

The Sweaty Butt was my first 'Fat Ass' race. A fat ass, rather strangely does not involve an obese donkey, but rather is a race that has "no fee, no awards, no wimps". One of the things I love about ultrarunning is its grassroots, low key nature. I've run the London and Boston marathons, but the large crowds, high pressure, and commercial focus, are not for me. If ultrarunning is low key and grassroots, fat ass take this philosophy to an extreme. Fat ass is closer to a group of friends getting together for a friendly run than a competitive event.
The Sweaty Butt exemplifies this grass roots event, but don't mistake low key for poorly organized - the arrangements were perfect for the nature of the course. The race had a nice internet sign up, emailed updates, including maps - perfect.
The Sweaty Butt consists of a 10 mile figure of 8 with an out and back section at the start and the far end. At the far end, there is a second aid station. The out and back sections are nice as they allow you to see other runners. You can run three laps for ~30 miles, or just do one or two laps; a very easy going approach. The course covers a wonderful set of trails. It is almost pure single track, with varying levels of technicality. There are some sections that are smooth and flat, some steep and rocky, some narrow and thick with roots, and many other combinations. But in all cases the trail is quite runnable. It is technical enough to be interesting and challenging, to limit your pace and to require close attention, but it is never punishing or unpleasant.
Aid is self provided, which is different, but works well. You can bring the things that you like, but make sure you bring an excess - you never know what will appeal at the time.
A note of caution is required with the Sweaty Butt - it is well named, as running ultras in North Carolina in July involves some hot conditions. It is a race were experienced runners can be caught out by how fast the temperatures rise, and how far it is between those aid stations. If you start to suffer from the heat, the technical nature of the trail can slow you up even further, delaying your return to an aid station. It's not Badwater, but the race requires respect.
Overall, this was one of the most enjoyable races and is highly recommended.

Coming this weekend
posted by www.gatherlogic.com

July 13, 2009 Tryon NC:

Learn what to do out on the trail when you run out of food, water, or matches with "The Upstate's Survivor Man" Richard Cleveland as he shares his wilderness wisdom at Earth School's survival skill training session this coming weekend.

While our smoke signal messaging is almost as fast as blackberry texts, we politely and humbly request all tech savy WNC based trail runners to pass on the blog, tweets, and digital calls to the community about the upcoming wild skills training coming to Earth School in Tryon NC this coming weekend:

"Wilderness Survival & Self - Reliance I" ( July 17 - 19 ) We'll introduce Wilderness Survival and Awareness Skills in this program. Everyone will receive in-depth instruction on the Survival basics like Shelter - Water - Fire and Food. A wide variety of Nature Awareness Exercises are woven throughout the fabric of this course also. These invaluable skills will build a solid foundation toward being prepared for any backwoods emergency or situation, whether hiking for a few days or camping for several weeks. Sign up by following this link: http://www.lovetheearth.com/programs.htm#backtobasics

Contact:

Earth School
Richard Cleveland
info@lovetheearth.com
www.lovetheearth.com
(828) 395-1758

Miles for Mountains

End-to-End…to End Mountaintop Removal

By Will Harlan

Friday I completed a 72-mile, end-to-end run across Great Smoky Mountains National Park in just under 17 hours, a speed record. However, the real goal was to help bring an end to the devastating and deadly effects of mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.

I followed the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) for the entire run. The Smokies section of the A.T. is one of the toughest trails in the country: the steep, boulder-strewn footpath climbs sharply up 6,000-foot summits, including an ascent of Clingmans Dome, the highest mountain on the A.T.

But the trail’s difficulty is surpassed by its beauty: it abounds with lush old-growth forests, dramatic vistas, and an unsurpassed array of wildlife—especially bears. An estimated 1,500 black bears reside in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I had attempted a Smokies end-to-end run six years ago and barely survived. A pollution-induced asthma attack during the run stranded me on the trail. Ironically, my run was intended to promote clean air, but the orange-alert ozone day in the Smokies that summer day had constricted my chest and airways, leaving me wheezing and unable to walk 10 feet without stopping to catch my breath. By nightfall, I had stumbled across an open bald before nearly colliding with a bear in the moonless, dark night. Without a headlamp, I used the glow light of my watch to read a trail sign pointing the way to Spence Field shelter, where I was able to get water and rest. By morning, pollution levels in the park had fallen and my breathing had recovered, and I was able to finish the run.

The epic shut in trail ridge run is coming up again in Asheville in November but it needs sponsors now.

After 30 something years this race still fills everytime, but costs are mounting so sponsors are so important for events like this one.

Because of the economy and too many people offering events in Asheville, participation is dropping and the good races are souring.

Help us keep the shut in race going to the top of Mt. Pisgah at the same blistering stride this year by spreading the word.

As you know this race brings people from all over and has appeal for national and local sponsors.

Contact us at staff@gatherlogic.com to help or visit www.gatherlogic.com

Hello all,

Although I mainly promote races in Western NC, we have just set up an international event channel...interesting submission today:

March 7, 2010
Copper Canyons, Mexico
www.caballoblanco.com

I posted the race info. on my blog at www.gatherlogic.com or you can check it out at their website, but for a non-commerical event it seems to be the thing out in those parts.

Jonathan Poston

The MMT100 is generally considered the toughest 100 mile race east of the Rockies, and one of the toughest in the US. Some of that toughness comes from the elevation change, which is about 20,000 feet of ascent and the same descent. However, the real challenge is the rough trails. Some of the trails are good running, and some of the trail is rocky and you have to work on where to put your feet. However, a significant portion of the course is so rocky there is nowhere flat to put your feet. For many runners, a good chunk of MMT is not runnable; in fact, it is tough walking, let alone running.

Highlights

Buzzard Rock. The first part of the race starts easy, a road section, a nice trail, then a solid climb up to Buzzard Rock. It is on Buzzard Rock that I get some of the best views, and also my first taste of what the course was really like - rocky! The narrow ridge immediately starts to tear at my feet, which are not impressed.

Habron Gap. This is the aid station at 24.5 miles, and time for me to check out the feet. Sadly the news is not good; I have blisters that require bursting. To have problems after less than 25 miles is grim news and I have to make some hard choices. There is no way I can continue running at a reasonable pace without my feet being completely destroyed before the end. The wise course of action is to drop at this point, but I decide that by taking it easy, I can finish. (I'm still not sure if I made the right choice or not - I'll have to wait and see how badly my feet scar from the blisters.) At Habron I leave my water bottle and put on my hydration pack. Up to this point the temperatures have only been warm and the aid stations reasonably close together. From here on, you need to carry a lot more fluid. I also pick up my first iPod and I really appreciate the tunes!

To camp Roosevelt. The next stage is a hard climb with a lot of sun and temperatures rising sharply. I pass a runner I know who is having a problem with the heat - heart rate elevated, flushed, dizzy and generally unhappy. I am worried about him, but he is resting and he seems coherent. At this point, heat stroke is a real possibility, but I feel well equipped (legionnaires hat, white under armor heat gear top, full hydration pack). I've done a little heat adaptation training the previous weeks, and so I progress well. But I find myself out of fluid two miles before the Camp Roosevelt aid station, and I am grateful for the TLC I receive there. I'm not dehydrated too much, but I realize I need to conserve fluids even with a 72oz hydration pack.

When I heard that Adam Hill was planning to run 24 hours on the Appalachian Trail the first weekend of May I knew that I wanted to be part of that adventure. Springtime in the Southern Appalachians is especially pleasant, and Adam's run was on a section of the AT that was new to me. I arranged for my professional crew (Melinda and the Boys) to help out, booked a vacation day at work, and started to get excited.

We left Cary on Friday morning, drove to Asheville and met Adam at his home, then off to the Nantahalla Outdoor Center for last minute supplies, and finally to the Wesser Bald Tower, where we started our run at 6 PM.

The Nantahala section of the Appalachian Trail heads south from Nantahala Gorge and takes a winding path toward Georgia. Looking South-east from Wesser Bald you can see a chain of 5000-foot mountain ridges and peaks that seems to go on forever. Knowing that these peaks were the same ground that we would be running on made the view all the more impressive.

By Adam Hill

The weekend of May 2nd I had the pleasure of spending two (really three) days on the trail in what turned out to be some stellar running! I have done the "double" workout before, but this brought it to a whole new level for me. On May 1st, my good running friend, Mike Day, and I jumped in a car with his wife and three of his kids, and took off for the mountains! Our plan...to run for 24 hours on the AT starting at Wayah Bald heading south. Our goal...have fun and see just how far our legs and the trail would allow us to go!?!

We had planned on starting at 6 pm on Friday from Wayah Bald, then run until 6 pm Saturday. We arrived at the summit parking lot at 5:30 and after a few minutes of tossing the football around with Mike's son's (Thomas, Kevin, and Sam) I started getting my things together. My crew person was to be another running friend coming in from Knoxville, Andrew Moore. Andrew was to meet Mike's wife, Melinda, at Winding Stair Gap 10 miles in, so that he could gather my things together as he was about to follow me through the night on my journey into Georgia. Sure enough, we cranked up our running at 6 pm on a cloudy evening and began our descent off of this beautiful bald. The wildflowers were everywhere, and even though there were still no leaves on the trees, the forest floor was quite lush. I was pumped to see the large flowered trillium in bloom, along with Mayapples, crested dwarf irises, and countless others that I didn't know the names of.

I felt great and was cruising along at a good pace running almost every hill as I approached the side of Siler's Bald. I came around the corner and was somewhat startled to see Andrew sitting at the corner of the field! He had come up the trail to run with me into the first aid stop! We had a great time running, and the weather was perfect, even though some storms were looming overhead.