Quest for the Crest 50k: Beauty Comes at a Price
What it's like facing one of the toughest 50k trail races in the entire country
We’d disembark the shuttle bus just past 5am into a world of darkness broken only by the penetrating light from runner’s headlamps. A short pep-talk (and warning message) later from Sean, the RD, we leave the comfort of this civilized road and storm into the depths of the dark forest up the steepest and toughest trail in all of NC; 2.5 miles and 3100’ straight up the mountain. Read that part again. Day broke just before reaching the first of 3 overlooks that tease us into thinking we’ve submitted, yet nearly a full thousand feet of ascent remain. I paused and turned to soak it in the first of the morning’s sun before diving back into the woods. It was beautiful.
My legs burned, heart pounded, and sweat dripped off the bill of my hat. I climbed and climbed at a ‘race pace’ considered comical if not provided with full context. Summiting this climb is a respectable feat in itself, but in this instant, our pinned race bibs signified over 30 miles remained. This was a just mere taste of what was to come, like the hors d'oeuvres stage of our full 7-course meal. The next half-mile was spent frolicking through prairie grasslands at 6,000’ before dropping down a fast 4 miles to AS1. Going too hard now will bounce a check and you’ll pay heavily later.
I arrived to the aid feeling strong and ready to tackle that same section again, but this time in reverse, climbing every foot back plus tax. If you didn’t pay respect to the trail on the way down, now’s your chance. Unlike the first climb that’s painfully slow but relatively short (by only when compared to the other assaults of the Black Mountains) this second climb is painfully long. Winding turns and long switchbacks leave you doubting if the top is actually getting closer, or if you’re somehow trapped in a Penrose Staircase that ceased to exist on the way down. Nonetheless, I got through it and the view was welcoming. Facing this way we’re treated with an entire profile image of the Black Mountains, all the way over to Mt. Mitchell, where our day would eventually take us, but not before dropping all the way down into the lowlands a second time.
The Black Mountain Crest trail (BMCT) is a twisted torment of mind and body. Though you’re engulfed with euphoria atop the tallest range in the east boasting impeccable views for miles, you’re simultaneously battling some of the trickiest, toughest and most technical terrain in the entire state. You want to look around and soak in the views, but you’re forced in a head-down laser-focused stare towards the ever-changing trail to not misstep and tumble off the mountain. It is truly remarkable. I was feeling great and moving smooth through this section navigating several roped sections to aid with the grade. It’s incredible how 2.5 miles can feel like 6 up here. After submitting Winterstar Mountain, it’s a sketchy drop down to Deep Gap and then 3.6 quad-busting miles down to AS2, the most brutal descent of the race. I arrived with wobbly, pulsating legs and struggling to stand still.
We’re at only 18 miles of this heinous race and still have the our longest climb up ahead. I scarfed down food, refilled my pack with items from my drop bag and refilled water. Up next were 1.5 of some of the easiest miles along the Quest course, beginning first on the road and then to a wide rolling horse trail. It was hot and exposed this year so I took it slow. AS3 came soon and I stopped briefly to top off fluids and calories before we began climbing again. Remember that Penrose Staircase phenomena from the second climb? Well if you somehow forgot, it’s back again in full swing.
2 hours: that’s what earns you a half-decent long-run on a typical weekend during the off season. It’s also what it took me to resurface at the intermediate viewpoint called Maple Camp Bald, a mere 4 miles later. The climb was long and slow and hard, but it’s reward well exceeded the admission price: 25 miles and a cumulative 11,000’ of climbing. This camping spot is wide open, exposed, and provides a south-eastern view of our surroundings, opposite most of the overlooks thus far. A glimpse of the all-mighty Mitchell summit towers over us like we didn’t just climb for hours to get here - that is, if it isn’t engulfed in thick, heavy storm clouds.
The forecast called for afternoon storms; I had hoped to beat them, yet here I was in a grassy field at 5,000’ - the absolute worst place to be - and heading straight into the thundering sky of wind, rain and hail. I took out my arm warmers, gloves and emergency blanket that I picked up from my drop bag and stormed on heading straight up Big Tom - a ridiculous 600’ ascent at 30% grade over loosely deposited rocks and boulders. Without the flagging and trail markers it’s path would cease to exist. The hail didn’t help. We continued 2 miles along the BMCT over three-6,000’ peaks complete with ropes and cables before reaching AS4. Cresting Mitchell hit different having done all that I had to get here. 27 miles and 12,000 feet of ascent let me truly appreciate the mountains for what they are, and just how minute I am amidst their majesty. No cheat codes to the top this time, I earned this spot.
In theory, it was an awesome thought to have (most of) the climbing behind me at this point, with the next section of 6 miles all downhill to the campground. In reality, my sore and battered body began its retaliation of this quicker pace. My quads were cramping, feet ached, and core muscles fatigued. I took the downhill slow, running with Claudia who I met a few miles ago; we ran the last of the BMCT together and shared the moment at Mitchell together with Natalie. 6 miles, 5.5, then 5.0 miles counted down as we passed the mileage markers along the trail. It was almost over.
Parting ways with the unique climate above 5,000’, it soon became humid and steamy. Sweat beaded on my skin and began dripping from my hat. My legs grew heavier and slower. Eventually Claudia and I made our way down to the campground, crossed a bridge and into a parking lot. A volunteer greeted us pointing back up the mountain and into the forest. 300 more feet of climbing in 0.5mi and then one last mile separated us from the finish. We pushed hard this last 1.5 to finish together with 35+ miles in just under 13 hours. Quest is as special as is hard, and epic in every way possible. Mile for mile, the most technical race most will ever run. But after everything comes together, the suffering, the climbing, the views, the finish smiles it’s all like a beautifully orchestrated melody and I love it. You know I’ll be back, can’t wait for next year.
And finally, here’s a video documentary I made of the 2021’s edition of the Quest Course:
In 2021 we unfortunately were unable to summit Mt. Mitchell due to COVID and the possibility of overcrowding in regards to the permits. It was still an epic and unbelievably difficult course. See ya next year!
Awesome job stud! I may have finished before you, but I paid for it. Meanwhile, you’re still running and crushing races while I’ve been injured for going on 8 weeks.