The Double Top 100 is a 100 mile and 100 km trail race across the Cohutta Mountains in northern Georgia. This is a beautiful course with amazing scenery and unique flora. You will run by numerous inspirational overlooks, traverse the rolling switchbacks of Turkey Mountain, between the Double Top Mountains, pass by scenic overlook at headwaters of Bear Creek, and run the ridgeline encircling Cashes Valley. The course leaves Ft Mountain State Park and follows the northern section of the Pinhoti Trail until it joins the Benton Mackaye Trail. Runners opting for the shorter run (100k) will turn around and return down the Pinhoti Trail. The 100 mile runners will be treated to the vistas of Flat Top Mountain, Fowler Mountain, and Bear Den Mountains before turning around near Bushy Head Gap to return to Ft Mountain. Runners will be given 34 hours to complete the course. The start and finish is at Ft Mountain State Park. Ft Mountain State Park has a considerable number of day-use and overnighting services such as cottages, campgrounds, and shelters. It also has some beautiful trails that circumnavigate the park and provides many excellent day hiking opportunities. Additional activities are planned at Ft Mountain State Park during the day, such as a kid.s fun run and The Guhati Ring-of-Power Challenge.
Course expectations 100M: The 100M course has a moderate amount of elevation gain/loss (17,000 . 18,000 ft). The course is not particularly technical (by Appalachian standards) but there is the possibly of blown down trees. The Benton Mackaye Trail (BMT) is lightly used so runners should pay close attention to trail markings. The section of the BMT between Dyer Gap and Bushy Head Gap has no crew access because of a lack of connector trails and trailheads. March weather in Georgia can be wet and cool so the ridgelines may be breezy and chilly while the river trails may be wet and slippery. There is no trailhead at Bushy Head Gap so the course turn-around will be located near Fightingtown creek. Cutoff times: Walosi-Unilisdi'yi (Wa-lo-si-u-ni-li-sdi-yi) Aid Station (turn around point):9:09pm (Sat) Old Tearbritches Aid Station (return):1:59am (Sun) Top of Pinhoti Aid Station (return): 3:36am (Sun) Double Top Aid Station (return): 7:20am (Sun) Cohutta Overlook Aid Station (return): 10:23am (Sun) Ft Mtn Finish Line: 2:30pm (Sun) 100k:The 100k course has a moderate amount of elevation gain/loss (10,000 . 11,000 ft). It runs on the north end of the Pinhoti trail that the 100M course also uses. Like the 100M course, the 100k course is not particularly technical (by Appalachian standards) but there is the possibility of blown down trees. Because of environmental concerns, there will be a detour around the Bear Creek and Mountaintown Creek trails that takes the course along Forest Service Roads 64 & 68. Although this detour will miss the beautiful tall poplars and cascading creek falls, these FS roads traverse the ridgeline of the Cohutta Mountains providing wonderful views of the valleys and mountains to the south. The course turns around near the high point of the Pinhoti Trail. Cutoff times: Top of Pinhoti Aid Station (return): 4:48pm (Sat) Double Top Aid Station (return): 7:29pm (Sat) Cohutta Overlook Aid Station (return): 11:16pm (Sat) Ft Mtn Finish Line: 3:00am (Sun) Gahuti Ring-of-Power Challenge: This is a timed event up and down the Power-Line track as many times possible in a 4 hour period. Participants will be given a bracelet ("ring") each time when arriving at the top to be carried down. A portion of the entry fee will be accumulated in a cash purse - to be divided amongst the winners by an obtuse formula (and approved by Amanda T. as being suitably obtuse). This race will start at 8:00 AM, rain or shine, though the RD is hoping for rain. Runners can register on Ultrasignup or same day registration (Note: there is no same day registration for 100M/100k runners). 1k fun race: A supervised fun run for kids. This will be a short loop near the lake (about 1 km). Start time will be in the early afternoon. Registration will begin at noon (no cost). Race "swag" will include treats to ensure that parents are sleep deprived. | ||||||
