Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker

Event

The Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker takes place in Old Fort, NC, at Camp Grier (985 Camp Grier Rd). The event offers two distances:

• 50 Miler
• 55 Kilometer

The posted registration deadline is Wed, Mar 18 at 11:59 PM ET. Time limits are 16.5 hours for the 50M and 12 hours for the 55K.

Course and logistics

Both courses include technical singletrack, grassy double track, gravel, and a short section of pavement. The 50M route includes three major climbs and descents, with approximately 12,000 ft of elevation gain; the 55K includes two major climbs and about 7,500 ft of gain. Noted trail sections include Snooks Nose, Green Knob, Black Mountain Crest, and Heartbreak Ridge. Due to Hurricane Helene damage, parts of the original course have been rerouted and the summit of Mount Mitchell may be omitted while the park remains closed; alternate routes are planned.

Aid stations will be placed roughly every 4-7 miles and will be a mix of full and fluid-only stations. Minimum provisions at aid stations include water, Gatorade, bananas, orange slices, potato chips, pretzels, PB&J, and M&Ms.

Participants must carry required gear at all times: a rain shell, at least 30 oz total water capacity, a whistle, a cell phone, and an emergency blanket. All 50 milers are required to carry a headlamp at the start and upon leaving S Toe River Aid station.

Lodging and waitlist

Camp Grier offers on-site lodging options including private cabins, bunkhouses, rustic cabins with electricity but no running water, reserve-a-bed bunkhouse options, and tent camping. The event maintains a waitlist; invites are sent by email when spots open, with one week to confirm. Historically, most invitations come from the top of the waitlist, and invites may occur in the final weeks or days before the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.