Since the days have grown longer and Spring was in the air in the high country, I thought I'd go take a trip to one of my favorite areas in the world to explore some new trail and old in the Roan Highlands. By looking at an old AT map and reading some trip reports, it looked that the Overmountain Victory Trail (OVT) to Yellow Mtn Gap would be a sweet trip. From here I could take the Appalachian Trail up to Little Hump Mtn to catch some 360 degree views before I headed back to the car. The run looked to be right around 11 miles. Perfect for a midweek run.
Start of the run
View from OVT on the way up
So I drove to the OVT trail head near Roan Mountain, TN and began my journey. The trail begins and climbs on a farm road and meanders through pastoral pastures with horses grazing on the hill sides. Along the way I had to go through several gates until the old farm road (after about 2.5-3 miles) finally surrendered itself to wooded single track trail. The single track continued to gradually climb and then took a sudden steep turn downhill. I was beginning to wonder if I was still on the right trail and then it turned right back up hill. I can definitely tell that my fitness level is currently not that great after my injury hiatus from vigorous running, such as this run. I was finding myself winded and walking on numerous occasions.
OVT singe track
After following the single track up along a stream bed, the trail took a right and I was soon back on double track. I knew that I must be getting close to Yellow Mtn Gap because the top of the ridge line was close in sight. After pushing through the climbing I finally made it, but then had to immediately take a left straight up the AT to Little Hump Mtn. The steepness in this initial climb out of Yellow Mtn Gap is quite severe and one where running does you no good. I grunted it out until the trail returned to a more tolerable grade. After about a mile of ascent up the AT, I finally reached the open balds that lay before Little Hump Mtn and a string of beaten out dirt path winds its way to the summit. It is a beautiful sight and one, in my opinion, everyone should experience.
View from the AT
The AT on the way up to Little Hump
I had finally made it to the top and began to soak in the views and felt overwhelmed by the immensity of the great expanse that laid before my eyes. I had to sit down a while and enjoy it before I made the return journey back to the car. Which was equally as beautiful as on the way up.
The OVT on the way down
I made a video of the run and have also dubbed it the Little Hump Fitness Challenge. Go here to check out the details and post your times! Little Hump Fitness Challenge. Also check out the other fitness challenges on this page. WNC Trail Runner Fitness Test. Enjoy!!!
Yesterday, Doug and Dennis (ultra warriors) decided to join me and head down towards Wilkesboro to run the Warrior Creek Loop on the banks of the Kerr Scott Reservoir. All of us live in the Boone area and we were all ready to head off the mountain and enjoy some buttery trail and warmer temperatures after a cold and nasty week of training (very un-ultra warrior like, haha).
Nice field along the way
The trail was beautiful and we all really enjoyed it. It is intended to be a mountain bike trail and you can tell with all the sweeping turns and switchbacks on top of switchbacks. Doug said that the map looked like a small child had just made scribble lines all over the paper. After running on the trail, that would be a correct observation. The trail was all over the place, but it was really fun. Because of all the switchbacks, there was never really a steep grade to go up or down. You could really settle into a nice
Doug and Dennis cruising
pace and keep it there almost the entire run. There weren't many technical sections on the trail, and the two "rock gardens" were advertised before you reached them. Other than that the trail was buttery smooth and had some pretty sweet views of the reservoir. If you know anyone that doesn't really enjoy technical trails or someone who is new to trail running, this would be a perfect place to take them.
After about 13 miles of running the Warrior Loop, we were back at our cars and it was decision time to keep going or pack it up and head back up the mountain. Dennis and Doug decided to head on back, but I decided to stay behind and get some extra time on my feet. Instead of doing another Warrior Loop, I headed out on the OVT trail. This section of the trail was quite a surprise as it was quite mountainous at first and then completely flattened out along the banks of the Yadkin river. I ran about an extra hour and a half on an out back on the trail and finished the day with about 22 miles. This was a little shy of the number of miles and hours on my legs I was shooting for, but I needed to be back in Boone by 6 o'clock. Here is the garmin data from the run (very unaccurate because of all the switchbacks) and some more pictures below: Warrior Creek and OVT
