Mulberry Gap Trail Running Takeover Presented by Mulberry Gap MTB Get-A-Way
This 3-day event is meant to challenge and reward you. There are multiple distance options across three days, pick one or make a weekend of it! You’ll do some solid mountain climbing, fantastic downhill shredding, see incredible views, play in creeks and waterfalls, and see Georgia’s largest tulip poplar tree!
The Cohuttas offer some of the most beautifully rugged terrain in the Lower Appalachians, and Mulberry Gap MTB Get-A-Way is the perfect spot to launch an adventure in the mountains! Don’t let the name fool you - you don’t have to have a bike to hang out in one of the coolest hostels in the southeast!
I encourage you to take your time on the trails and enjoy everything these mountains have to offer. Stay the weekend for the full experience!
The Routes
Friday evening @ 6:15pm - Pinhoti 3 (singletrack)
8 miles total. FREE to those signed up for Saturday or Sunday or both! This is a mostly uphill 4 miles out to watch the sunset from Cohutta Overlook. Yes, you could drive to this, but it’s way more fun to hike up with good company! Plus the return is mostly downhill, which is fun as can be, especially as daylight fades away! Yep, you’ll want to bring a headlamp.
Saturday @ 7am (check-in 6am) - Big Bear
Total distance 30 miles - 3800 ft of climbing - about 7 miles of gravel, the rest singletrack with some doubletrack
From Mulberry Gap, you’ll head down the road to the singletrack heaven of Pinhoti 2. You’ll steadily climb Double Top then drop down to the forest road. Then back to climbing on Pinhoti 1! This takes you to the Bear Creek trail (and water) system. The climbing continues until you get just past Potatopatch Overlook. Then the downhill fun begins! You WILL get your feet wet along the way! You’ll then return to Mulberry Gap on the Pinhoti. Then time for food and fun!
Saturday @ 10:30am (check-in 9:30am) - Little Bear
Total distance 15 miles (mostly singletrack/doubletrack - about 3.5 of gravel road)
This is perfect for folks that don’t feel like doing all that climbing on foot! Let Mulberry Gap haul you to the top instead! This shuttle is included in your registration, so why not? Follow the Bear Creek Trail down to the Pinhoti and then return to Mulberry Gap for eats, treats and social shenanigans!
Sunday @ 11am (check-in 9am) - Emery Creek
6.2 miles of singletrack bliss
We start this one later in the day for a reason…..those creek crossings! You’ll go out and back on the Emery Creek Trail and see the spectacular Emery Creek Falls!
Course Maps/Cues
All routes will be on Trailrunproject.com. All participants should download REI’s Trailrunproject app to their phones to access the course and follow it throughout the event. Especially for Saturday. Cue sheets will be provided at check in. Signage and flagging will be at trail or road intersections only.
Friday evening: https://www.trailrunproject.com/trail/7058565/pinhoti-3
Saturday’s Big Bear Run:https://www.trailrunproject.com/trail/7058566/mulberry-gap-trail-running-takeover-spring-2019-full-course
Saturday’s Little Bear Run: https://www.trailrunproject.com/trail/7060147/mulberry-gap-trail-running-takeover-spring-2019-short-course
Sunday: Map pending
Aid Stops
Saturday only - aid is offered every 5ish miles and the following mileages are approximate
Mile 5.5/24.5 - Pinhoti 2/1/Wilderness Rd
Mile 9.5/20 - Lower Bear Creek Trailhead
Mile 15 - Upper Bear Creek Access (before Potatopatch)
At this time, it will be basic hydration: water, Gatorade, cokes (participants should bring nutrition for the trail), but if I have enough volunteers, I'll provide some ultrarunner snacky stuff as well.
Food and Lodging
This is SUPER important…..Food and lodging reservations must be made through Mulberry Gap (https://www.mulberrygap.com/), and it has to be reserved in advance. The post-run dinner is included in your Ultrasignup registration, but other meals (breakfasts, boxed lunches, other meals, and meals for non-participants) are not. Mulberry Gap needs at least 72 hours for food reservations. Food reservations make it easy to feed your support crew while you're playing on the trails, plus you can reserve a meal for them to share with you after you've finished!
Lodging will be first come, first serve. If you plan on staying the weekend, please call Mulberry Gap at 706-698-2865 or email at reservations@mulberrygap.com. Mulberry Gap has a 2-night minimum. Signing up for this event in Ultrasignup does not guarantee lodging with Mulberry Gap!! There are lots of options, ranging from camping to cabins. Give them a call!
Important Stuff
On Saturday, you’ll have 11 hours to complete the 30 mile Big Bear course. The “cut-off” of 8pm (sunset) for both distances is in place for safety reasons, as I’ve assured the USFS we won’t be running big distances after dark. If you’re uncertain about the longer Big Bear distance, stick with the Little Bear. You’ll still see all the pretty things! On the other hand if you’re a speedy distance runner and ready to crush Big Bear, consider a later start so you’re not waiting around later for the fun to start at Mulberry Gap.
If this isn’t a race, why is there a fee? Here’s what you get!
*Day use access to Mulberry Gap’s facilities, including parking, showers, bathrooms, and wifi
*Swag: T-shirt and a couple of other items TBD, all featuring the incredible art of Hilary Kelley (https://www.hilarykart.com/shop)
*Basic hydration: water, Gatorade, coke
*Basic nutrition: dependent on volunteers :)
*Access to first aid (chocolate covered espresso beans are considered first aid, right?)
*Post run noms
*Craft beer
Races have crews….what about this funky little event?
YES! I highly encourage your friends and family to come and support you and chase you around the Bears! The only thing I ask is that they render assistance to other participants as vitally needed.
Volunteers are needed for this event!
I would love to have each aid point manned so I can offer some basic nutrition along the way and to help ensure runner safety. Please email me if you’re interested in supporting, especially on Saturday! Available jobs include aid manning, shuttling participants, and 2 people for safety sweeping. As thank you, volunteer gifts include runner swag and a comp entry to the 2019 Rabun Half Marathon in June.
A portion of proceeds will be donated to the North Georgia Mountain Bike Association. This group maintains all of the MTB trails we’re using.
USFS permit is in progress and this event will be insured.