Promise Land 50 km

On April 28, 2001, David Horton first showed us the Promise Land.

We knew it was coming; he had prophesized it. The previous Fall, David had been posting to the ULTRA list about a new 50k that he and George Wortley had pieced together. It was south of Mountain Masochist and, like most of Horton's races, flirted with his beloved Appalachian Trail along the crest of the Blue Ridge. But Promise Land was different. Instead of running the ridge, the course crossed up and over the mountains. Twice. "Not your average 50k" he said.

He described grassy fire roads high on the Blue Ridge that he and George had discovered and were now clearing to make passable again. The route they'd concocted would crest Apple Orchard Mountain (at 4,225 feet, there is no taller peak along the Appalachian Trail until Vermont) and cross under 200-foot-high Apple Orchard Falls.

the magical time machine that, with each vertical foot, takes you back to early Spring / late Winter to gaze from the roof of the Blue Ridge

But he didn't tell us about the really good stuff. Those things that can only be experienced this one weekend of the year. The vibrant green woods accentuated with blossoms of dogwood, redbud, and trillium each and together at their peak. Streams swollen from Spring rains adding to a symphony of songbirds overhead. And the magical time machine that, with each vertical foot, takes you back to early Spring / late Winter to gaze from the roof of the Blue Ridge one last time, before the dense deciduous canopy takes back her views.

Thanks, David, for showing us the Promise Land.

Tips

Arguably the hardest section is Cornelius Creek to Cornelius Creek, miles xx to yy. This the warmest part of the course and is also all runnable if you have the legs

The race begins at Cornelius Creek the second time through, mile xx. This is the climb of Apple Orchard Falls

My results