2010 LLTH 50k course description/maps

50k course:

Start / Finish 50k closeup:

1st Leg (5.5 miles):

Gravel Road (0.6 miles) - The race starts on this road as it 1st parallels & then enters the Red Trail after 0.6 miles.

Red Trail (3.4 miles) - Single track dirt along with some double track forest road. Some low areas on the dirt road hold water in wet weather. Has 1 small stream that you will cross twice & most of the time it's low enough to get by without getting your feet wet.

Orange Trail (1.3 miles) - Single track dirt 1st half, double track dirt 2nd half. Has one stream crossing.

Gravel Road (0.2 miles) - After exiting the Orange Trail, turn right onto the gravel road & return to the Start area.

2nd Leg (7.5 miles):

Paved Road (1.0 + 1.0 miles) - Leaving the 1st aid station (Start area) in the gravel parking lot, the course follows the unmarked paved road out of the park & joins the main highway (Holsclaw Hill Rd) after approx. 0.5 miles. After bearing to the right, the course continues for approx. 0.5 miles on the main highway. The course enters the Yellow Trail on the left.

Yellow Trail (5.5 miles) - About 50 yards from the main road on the trail, the course comes to a 4 way intersection. Turn right & proceed counter-clockwise around the Yellow Trail loop back to this same intersection. Then turn right, returning to the main highway & then turn right again & follow the paved roads back to the aid station/start area.

The Yellow Trail is single track dirt w/1 rock face. Has multiple small stream crossings & will be the muddiest trail by far in wet weather. The streams are normally low enough to get by easily. Horses are permitted on most of this trail. In icy weather, the rock face that’s encountered on the trail can be bypassed by finding the small foot path above it. There are some very narrow sections of trail along the steep side of one hill where the footing will be tricky in wet conditions.

3rd Leg 50k (18.5 miles):

Blue Trail (0.65 miles) - Single track dirt trail, downhill on the outbound trip. Crosses the dam at the bottom of the hill & then leads to Rayhill Road (gravel).

Gravel Road - (0.25 miles) - Follow the gravel Rayhill Road to the main highway (Mitchell Hill Road).

Paved Road - (0.25 miles) Turn right on the paved main highway, then 0.25 miles to the entrance of the Siltstone Trail on the left.

Siltstone Trail (6.6 miles) - White diamond blazed. A single track dirt trail that will cross two highways before reaching Scott's Gap Road. From here, turn left & travel a short distance on the pavement to the aid station at the Scott's Gap parking lot.

The first couple miles of this trail can become very muddy. The remainder runs along ridge tops & drains very well. There's only one small stream within a mile of Scott's Gap that's normally very easy to cross.

Scott's Gap Trail (3.0 miles) - Red circle blazed. Single track dirt loop run counterclockwise. A small stream is crossed several times on the backside of this loop.

Siltstone Trail (6.6 miles) - Return the same way you came before for the entire length of the Siltstone Trail.

Paved Road - (0.25 miles) - At the end of the Siltstone Trail, turn right on the main highway (Mitchell Hill Rd), then 0.25 miles to the gravel Rayhill Road on the left.

Gravel Road - (0.25 miles) - Turn left onto gravel Rayhill Road and up the hill to the Blue Trail at the dam.

Blue Trail (0.65 miles) - Proceed across the dam & up the hill to finish at the Lodge.

Other notes:

There are several wood foot bridges on the course that become very slick after an early morning frost or when wet/frozen.

Mileage shown is according to GPS and is approximate due to the spotty reception in the hilly areas.

This is not a closed course -- watch for traffic.

updated 1-10-10