Georgia Loop 55mi

[razor]

I am wondering if anyone has done the "hardest hike in GA" non stop?

www.bmta.org/imgs/GA-60-Mile%20loop.jpg

It looks prime for a FKT. I'm sure there are some reports out there!

Cheers.
Jamie


EDIT (by the site Administrator): Richard Schick has the FKT of 12h35m, run in a race on April 3, 1993, as reported below.

[razor]

Billy Simpson and Jamie Anderson are heading out for a tour of the GA mountains on Operation DaRk StAr on Thursday April 18th. Stay tuned for the gory details.

[razor]

Operation Dark Star was a success. It took us 19hrs and 30min to complete 58.2 miles in a clockwise direction starting at the north end of HWY 60 and going onto the Dragon's back first, then making our way to the AT, and BMT. The weather never got below 70 degrees and humid as an approaching front kept us on our toes. We traveled alpine style, no drops, no support. After further study it appears we went the "wrong direction" actually the harder way, but that's how we roll.

If anyone has any information on this type of style or direction feel free to email Jamie Anderson [e-mail]

[razor]

Here is a fun little video of our adventure:
vimeo.com/64731428

[bgood]

Phil Canning, Sue Johnston, Liz Bauer, and Scott Brockmeier did this on 4/25/10 in 16 hours
My first attempt was 25:19 hours with a torn rotator cuff and fractured shoulder. Sep 2011
Second attempt doesn't count because we took FS-42 from Hightower gap to Gooch gap 22:24 hours May 2012. That added one mile.
Runbum did it the same day in ~16 hours

[Run Bum]

As far as I know, I do. 15hrs 27 mins.
It is a really soft record. I would love to go do it again when the weather is right come late November or April. I know I can go sub 13:30. I walked most of the last 8 miles.

www.runbum.com/?p=689

[janice]

A group of us is going to take on the loop this weekend. June 8th, 2013. We are not really going for a record, but you never know what might happen

[razor]

Are the times listed above from bgood supported or unsupported?

[runbum]

I just want to say that I DO NOT HAVE THE FKT!

Richard Schick does. Unless the trails have changed since 1993...
Here's what he said

"As a further challenge the fastest time I know of on the Georgia Loop is mine at 12:35 , April 3 1993 when it was run as a race, North Georgia Adventure Run . 19 people started , 6 finsihed . I was followed by David Horton 14:25 and Patrick Binienda 15:24. Record is soft, Blizzard of 93 a couple weeks earlier led to numerous blow downs on the trail."

I don't agree with it being soft! He is a bada**!

Hope to try again soon

[Eli White]

I'm planning on running this loop on Dec 29th. I'll start at Woody Gap and run counter clockwise. Anyone else interested in coming out is more than welcome. My primary goal is just to finish, but we'll see how things shake out!

[Eli White's crew/pacer]

aw yeah

[Eli White]

My 12/29/13 attempt resulted in a DNF at ~50mi.

When I started at Gooch Gap a little after 5 AM, the temperature was in the high 30s with light to moderate rain falling. After several hours in the dark, the rain subsided. I rolled into GA-60 (35mi) a bit after noon still in good shape, though feeling a bit low on energy after paying the high caloric price to ride the rollercoaster known as the dragon's spine. On the way up Toonowee Mountain I bonked hard. I eventually recovered, but then I started to notice pain in the bottom of my feet. When I could no longer run, I decided to drop to avoid major injury. Ultimately, it was still a good day, because I got to spend a full day running in the mountains!

Richard Schick's 12:35 FKT is certainly NOT soft! To crack this time will require sound planning, adequate training, and an earnest effort. I was certainly undertrained this time, but I'll be back for redemption.

[ben]

Greetings - I went 15:07 unsupported, counterclockwise on the Georgia Loop on 1/1/15.  My start/finish was Woody Gap.  It was humbling and cold.  The evening sleet made for a tough finish.  I think I walked the last 15.  At one point, I sat down on a log for 5 minutes feeling sorry for myself.  I talked to Mr. Schick afterwards - I strongly concur, his time is very stout.  I was not all out on my run, but I also wasn't going to touch 12 or even 13 if I had gone all out.

First - if anyone wants my Garmin track for planning purposes, I am happy to share.  It has the exact elevations and every mile split.  I also used a set of Boy Scout troop maps that I found online for the route.  The notes are incredibly detailed and I am happy to share all of that detail if it is no longer online.  I think that in those notes the miles are off a little.  My Garmin came in at 57.24 miles and 15,797' of elevation gain.

Second - If anyone wants a compadre to go out there and try to improve on the times for either this or the Georgia AT, let me know.  I am always in.  Let me know. 

[aaron]

Does anyone have a GPS file they would be willing to share for this?

Thanks,
Aaron

[Tyler Johnson]

Here's a gpx file constructed from my watch data from two runs on the loop in Summer 2013.

Attachments:

GA_Loop.gpx (770.21 KB)