35M Appalachian Trail Run - NC/TN
Smoky Mountain National Park
from Newfound Gap (out and back)
north to Mount Guyot (6621')
11,000+' of elevation gain
Friday, June 10, 2022

Beginning at 0630 at Newfound Gap at elevation 5046', I headed straight up the AT to greet the dawn in temps that would barely make it out of the 40's all day. The initial climb up Mount Ambler at 6120' got the juices going before the AT descended beyond 2.7 miles after passing the Boulevard Trail to Mount Le Conte (6593') which I ran up in March of 2021. Being the first person on the trail I caught a couple black bears unaware, coming within thirty feet of one of them as they scampered away. The trail undulates the rest of the way out to my objective for the day - Mount Guyot - gradually gaining in net elevation.

It was a solid workout between 5000 and 6600 feet in elevation on a very technical trail with endless rocks and roots that necessitated a cautious pace. With frequent stops I managed only about three-and-one-half miles per hour all day. It took until I was into the run 9 miles before passing any other hikers. Thereafter I saw perhaps thirty hikers, stopping to chat with many. There were only two sources of water at 3 miles and 16 miles, so I drank sparingly. My body responded better than I could have hoped for. I was strong throughout the first half without any knee discomfort. It wasn't until after 20 miles in the warmer temps of the afternoon that I began to feel labored. Once it cooled back down into the low 40's I felt alright again.

The challenge of the day was ascending and summiting Mount Guyot by noon, the fourth highest mountain peak east of the Rockies. Most of the highest peaks are easily accessible by trail. Guyot is remote and requires bushwhacking for the final 300 feet of ascent. The photos below and below right show the forest I climbed through at a 40-degree slope to reach the summit, marked by the cairn with USGS marker at right. Surprisingly, my legs had good climb left in them after running 17 miles.