Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker

Overview

The Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50M/55K is an extremely scenic tour of "the other Pisgah" in the shadow of Mount Mitchell. Starting at the foot of the mountains in Old Fort, NC at Camp Grier, the race takes runners up and down some of the most stunning, quad-busting, and heart-pounding trails in all of Western North Carolina, eventually taking the 50 milers over three 6,000 ft+ peaks including Mount Mitchell itself, making this the highest 50 miler east of the Mississippi!

Highlights of the course include Snooks Nose, Green Knob, Black Mountain Crest, and Heartbreak Ridge Trails. Note: Due to Hurricane Helene Damage to the area, the course has been rerouted for 2025 and the course will not summit Mt Mitchell due to the park remaining closed at this time.

NOTE Much of the original course is still actively closed due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, but the good news is repairs are underway or in planning phases to be repaired. There is still uncertainty on the timeline of these repairs, so the course will most likely be altered in some fashion. Please refer to last year's course as the most likely alternative if trails and roads are still under repair during the race. The alternative course is still incredible with massive climbs, pristine singletrack, and stunning views.

Course Description

Each course has a bit of everything, from technical singletrack, grassy double track, gravel, and a short bit of pavement. The 50 miler has three major climbs and descents up Snooks Nose/ down Green Knob, up Mt Mitchell and the Crest Trail/ down Buncombe Horse, and up Bald Knob Ridge/ down Heartbreak Ridge. The 50k has two major climbs/descents, the first and last as described in the 50 miler. The 50k does not include the climb up Mt Mitchell.

Although the course has a lot of climbing, there are plenty of sections to make up time with long gentle downhills and a good mix or gravel road sections. Each course will have a combo of full and fluid only aid stations located approximately every 4-7 miles along the course. Aid stations will have at a minimum: Water and Gatorade. Minimum foods include: bananas, orange slices, potato chips, pretzels, PB&J, and M&Ms.

Note Alternate course map can be found here 50miler - https://www.strava.com/routes/3312099721976463764 and here 50k - https://www.strava.com/routes/3298393640499872136

The Numbers

• Start: 50M - 5:30 AM, 55K - 7:00 AM
• Distance: ~ 50 M/ 55K
• Elevation Gain: 50M ~ 12,000 ft, 55k ~ 7,500 ft
• Time Limit: 50M - 16.5 hours, 55K - 12 hours