Free. You can start with nothing.
A point-to-point trail race from Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center near Blairsville to Amicalola Falls State Park. Runners carry a railroad spike from the start, wade the creek at the finish and put the spike in a coffin.
The race has 16,000 ft of climbing and 16,000 ft of descent. Until Long Creek, about mile 37, the course is 95% singletrack with steep grades. After Long Creek it eases onto road and dirt road until about mile 55, where the long Nimblewill Climb on dirt road begins. From the top to Nimblewill aid station it is mostly flat, then about 5 miles of technical rolling singletrack lead to Amicalola. Past the paved road at the park the last 4 or so miles drop 1,000 ft on technical trail, climb 1,000 ft back up the stairs beside Georgia's tallest waterfall, then descend 1,000 ft to the finish. Every runner crosses the cold creek at the finish. Over the last 13 miles runners are often moving slowly and the wind is strong on the ridge near Nimblewill, so most runners carry extra warm layers and the space blanket.
A 74 mile point-to-point race through the north Georgia mountains, from Byron Herbert Reece Farm near Blairsville to Amicalola Falls State Park. It has 16,000 ft of climbing and 16,000 ft of descent, a 25 hour limit and a 5:00 AM start. Every runner carries a one pound railroad spike from the start and puts it in a coffin at the finish, after wading the creek. Finishing in under 24 hours earns one ticket to the Western States Endurance Run lottery. Entry includes a hat and a pint glass. Runners volunteer 6 hours at any trail race or trail work day, or give $20 to the Benton Mackaye Trail Association or Georgia SORBA.
| Mile | Station | Cutoff | Crew access | Bag | Pacer | Med | To next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 |
Start
NoneSignal wrong?
|
? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 7.50 |
| 7.50 |
White Oak
NoneSignal wrong?
|
7:50am | ○ | ○ | ? | ? | 5.00 |
| 12.50 |
Mulky Gap
NoneSignal wrong?
|
9:20am | ○ | ○ | ? | ? | 8.50 |
| 21.00 |
Skeenah Gap
NoneSignal wrong?
|
12:00pm | ● | ○ | ? | ? | 6.25 |
| 27.25 |
Point Bravo
NoneSignal wrong?
|
2:05pm | ● | ● | ? | ? | 4.75 |
| 32.00 |
Sapling Gap
NoneSignal wrong?
|
4:20pm | ○ | ○ | ? | ? | 5.75 |
| 37.75 |
Long Creek
NoneSignal wrong?
|
5:50pm | ○ | ○ | ? | ? | 6.00 |
| 43.75 |
Winding Stair
None · spotty cell service · Signal wrong?
|
7:45pm | ● | ○ | ? | ? | 7.25 |
| 51.00 |
Jake Bull
NoneSignal wrong?
|
10:00pm | ● | ● | ? | ? | 5.00 |
| 56.00 |
Halfway House
NoneSignal wrong?
|
11:55pm | ○ | ○ | ? | ? | 6.25 |
| 62.25 |
Nimblewill
NoneSignal wrong?
|
2:00am | ○ | ○ | ? | ? | 7.00 |
| 69.25 |
Visitors Center
NoneSignal wrong?
|
5:00am | ● | ○ | ? | ? | ? |
| ? |
Finish
NoneSignal wrong?
|
6:00am | ● | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Parking. Park at Skeenah Campground, 20 Skeenah Gap Road, Suches, GA 30572, and ride the shuttle. No parking along Skeenah Gap road and no driving to this station.
Parking. Park at Skeenah Campground, 20 Skeenah Gap Road, Suches, GA 30572, and ride the shuttle. No parking along Skeenah Gap road and no driving to this station.
GPS 34.63607, -84.15925. From Amicalola: turn right out of the park onto GA-52 W. After the traffic circle stay on GA-52 W for 6.3 mi, turn right onto Southern Rd (3 mi), right onto Roy Rd (2.5 mi), left to stay on Roy Rd (2.5 mi), right onto Doublehead Gap Rd (2 mi), right onto Forest Service 42 (Blue Ridge Rd) and follow it 9.3 mi as it turns to dirt into Winding Stair Gap. Never drive Winding Stair Gap Road from Nimblewill Church Road: it is the race course and the runner is disqualified. To return to Amicalola head west on USFS 42 for 9 mi to Doublehead Gap Rd, left 2.1 mi, left onto Roy Rd 5.7 mi, left onto Rackley Rd 2.9 mi, left onto GA-52 for 11.6 mi.
Parking. Cars park on one side of the road only. The road is public and a crew asked to move must move. Crews may not wait long here.
docs.google.comGPS 34.58036, -84.14519. About 45 to 55 minutes from Amicalola; 4x4 recommended, all wheel drive can make it. Turn left out of the park onto GA-52, go 6.8 mi and turn left onto Nimblewill Church Rd. Go 1.2 mi and turn right at the stop sign. After 100 yards take the first left onto dirt road USFS 28-1, go 0.3 mi and take the first left onto Forest Service 83 following the pink flags. Go 1.7 mi to the aid station, down to the right at the end of the field.
Parking. Park on the far side of the field so runners coming down the road can see the station. Roads are narrow dirt with traffic both ways. Crews wait at Amicalola State Park, not along Nimblewill Church Rd; the drive is roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
docs.google.com3 people have been out there with a camera or a microphone.
These are other people's work and we link straight to them. Watching costs nothing and needs no account. More of them: every race we hold, on film.
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