Black Mountain, NC, United States · Saturday, April 3, 2027

Fixed Distance 50K

Mount Mitchell Challenge

147 days away

58 km Distance

not publishedn/a Climbing

2.9 est Grit · Entry level

Calculated from 58 km alone — the organiser has not published an elevation profile. Read 2.9 as a floor, not a verdict.

35.6179° N, 82.3212° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Field size ~72 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2023 edition (40mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, April

Daytime high 19°C

Night low 6°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 12 h 37 m of light

Regional 2001-2025 average for April — NASA POWER, grid elevation 738 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 58 km of trail.

Trail Running Shoes58 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
Race Nutrition58 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsFlask capacity for 58 km, without the bounce.
GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 58 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Adidas

Terrex Speed Ultra

RunRepeat found the Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra to have a grippy outsole and great lockdown, while iRunFar noted that the shoe works on a variety of trail conditi…

★★★★★ 4.5

Spring Energy

Awesome Sauce

Real food gel with 180 calories. Rice-based with natural flavors.

$4 ★★★★★ 4.6

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

Garmin

Enduro 3

Ultra-endurance GPS watch with solar charging and 300+ hour battery in GPS mode.

$900 ★★★★★ 4.8

All gear guides →

Course Notes

Begin at dawn in Black Mountain, the quaint 'front porch of Western North Carolina', and follow trails to the 'rooftop' of Western North Carolina, the 6,684' summit of Mount Mitchell - eastern America's highest point - then return to the start/finish

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.