Trail Status Update
For any athletes planning to train on the Pine Mountain Scenic Trail in advance of the race this fall, please be aware of a necessary re-route on the 100k and 100 mile courses. There are a number of blow downs on the Birch Knob Section of trail located between Bryant Gap and Austin Gap as you are moving toward US 23 at Pound Gap from Elkhorn City. Bryant Gap is located at approximately 11.5 miles from the parking lot at the Birch Knob Observation Tower. A permanent iron gate straddles the dirt road at this point on the course. Do not turn left and go up the trail at the iron gate. Continue past the gate along the dirt road.
Traversing the section of trail with the blow downs is extremely laborious, and many of the downed trees are those which have been blazed, making it very difficult to navigate. We will not be using this section of trail for the race in October. We have obtained permission from the private property owner who has land between The Doubles and from Bryant Gap along the dirt road down to the Civil War Memorial at US 23.
Please respect private property owner’s rights and be very courteous on this section of trail. From Bryant Gap to US 23 the course is a very nice, wide and open dirt road in a heavily forested area. Because this is private property, the way is not blazed. Surveyor’s tape will be placed along the way here just before the race, and at The Doubles as well.
If runners plan to train from US 23 at Pound Gap (going toward Elkhorn City), do not follow the reflective blazes leading to Apostolic Drive, up the hill and to the State Line Apostolic Church. Running from behind the church will take you directly to Austin Gap and then to the problematic area mentioned above. It would be best to park behind the Marathon Station across the street, cross US 23 and enter the road going up the hill by the Civil War Memorial. Again, this is the way the course will be run in October for the 100k and 100 mile distances.
Finalized course maps are coming soon. The areas of private property will be outlined in detail on the course maps. A written narrative of the various course distances is also coming soon.
For any specific questions regarding the current trail status, please do not hesitate to contact the race director.
