Crowder's+Mt+Fitness+Challenges

= **Crowders Mountain Fitness Challenges** =

Crowders Mountain State Park is easily accessible from I85 near Gastonia, NC (and ~30 miles from Charlotte). These are well marked/maintained trails with great facilities. Some of the trails (Rocktop & parts of Pinnacle) aren't very runnable and will involve some climbing/bouldering so please use caution and slow for conditions. Water is available at the Main Office, Linwood & Boulders Access. Lastly, you will have some good overlooks and views so you may want to bring a camera (and if you do, please post pictures/video).

Crowders Mounain - 1,625' Kings Pinnacle - 1,705' Lowest Elevation - Crowders Trail (near Sparrow Springs Rd) ~730'

Official Website Trail Map Blog w/ pictures/info on Kings Pinnacle Trail (including the steel pipe at the top!) Blog w/ Crowders info Crowder's Panorama


 * The Challenges (There are multiple options):**

**Run For The** (SC) **Border**
Miles - ~8.5mi / Elevation - ~3,000' gain <-- Numbers aren't official... submit your info so we can get it dialed in... I've seen ~8.25mi to 8.6mi and ~2,800' to 3,300+)

From the Main Crowders Mt Visitors center take whatever route you want to the Ridgeline Trail which will eventually take you to the SC border. The only real rules on the trails are you must summit Kings Pinnacle (touch the steel pipe) along the way. Take your split at the steel pipe, Rt161/York Rd crossing (and other road crossings, trail junctions if you want), and of course at the border. Just barely off the trail before the border (.5mi before) is Boulders Access Area (out/back adds .5mi) where you can get water and find restrooms. You don't have to include the King's Pinnacle Trail spur on the way back if you are doubling up (you're welcome). Post your time if you run the reverse (or 'Run From The Border' or 'I Heard Banjos... RUN!'). If you want to include the second half of your double as a 'run from the border' just make sure you go to the top of Kings Pinnacle again on the way back.

Times (include route/trails taken)

**1/31/09 - Stack: 1:45:13** (Pinnacle pipe @ 23min, Rt161 @ 60min) Trails: Pinnacle-Ridgeline (incl Boulders Access) **4/11/10 - Stack:** **1:47:30** (Pinnacle pipe @ 30min, Rt161 @ 62min) Trails: Pinnacle-Ridgeline (incl Boulders Access) **8/7/10 - Stack (with Kay & Josh):** **1:44:40** (Pinnacle pipe @ 24min, Rt161 @ 59min) Trails: Pinnacle-Ridgeline (incl Boulders Access) **1/14/12 - Stack:** **1:33:16** (Pinnacle pipe @ 23:47, Rt161 @ 52:04) Trails: Pinnacle-Ridgeline

DOUBLE: **1/31/09 - Stack:** **3:25** (1:45 out, 1:40 back) Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC-Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Finish **4/11/10 - Stack:** **3:13:57** ~17mi (Negative Split! 1:48 out, 1:38 back) Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC-Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Turnback **8/7/10 - Stack:** **3:21:10** ~18mi (1:45 out, 1:37 back) Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC-Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Turnback-Fern (got a little lost at end) **1/14/12 - Stack:** **3:01:32** ~17mi (1:33 out, 1:28 back) Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC-Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Turnback (Boulder Access & Boulder overlook on return trip)
 * 12/15/12 - Brandon Thrower: 2:55:35** ~17m (1:30 out, 1:25 back) Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC-Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Turnback (Boulder Access on the way out)
 * 10/12/12 - Mike Moran & Stack: 3:08:15** ~16.5m (1:39 out, 1:29 back) Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC-Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Turnback (Boulder Access on the way back and had ~20 minutes of stoppage time)
 * 1/4/14 - Stan & others: 3:20** (~1:30 out, ~1:50 back including Pinnacle summit) Turnback-Pinnacle-Ridgeline-SC- return by same route w/ Pinnacle summit) group fun run

REVERSE (Run From The Border):
 * 12/15/12 - Brandon Thrower: 1:24:46** (1st rd xing @10:41, 2nd xing @ 32:41, 3rd xing @51:27, Pinnacle Pipe @1:05:53) Trails: Ridgeline-Pinnacle-Turnback

**Peak To Peak** aka **Crinnacle*** (Crowders Mountain to King's Pinnacle) aka __CROWNACLE__ !!
Miles - around 5mi / Elevation ~1,400' gain, 1,350' loss <-- Taking Backside to Crowders to Pinnacle From Linwood parking area either take the Backside Trail or Tower Trail to the peak of Crowder's Mountain (or head up from main lot). Start at the radio tower building or foundation of building at the top and make your way to the top of Kings Pinnacle (steel pipe) via whatever trail you want. Take the Rocktop Trail to Crowders Trail for a more technical but shorter route or the Backside Trail to Crowders Trail for more 'runnable' terrain and rolling hills. Double up and do the return trip if you want (and be sure to post the time with your splits so you get credit for both).


 * Open to a new/alternative name for this challenge... post your suggestions.

Times (include route/trails taken):
 * 1/14/12 - Stack: 47:34** (~20min @ Pinnacle junction, ~38:30min @ Ridgeline junction) - Backside-Crowders-Pinnacle
 * 3/3/12 - Joshua Boyle: 37:15** (~19min @ Pinnacle Tr junction & 33min @Ridgeline Tr Junction) - Backside/Crowders/Pinnacle (GARMIN)
 * 3/21/12 - Brandon Thrower: 46:38** (have to find my splits)
 * 8/11/12 - Stack: 41:58** (12:50 @ road, 19min @ Pinnacle Trail junction & ~37 @ Ridgeline Trail junction) - Rocktop-Crowders-Pinnacle
 * 3/27/13 - Stan Austin: 38:37 ** (12:07 at road crossing; 17:09 at Pinnacle Tr junction; 34:03 at Ridgeline Tr junction) Rocktop - Crowders - Pinnacle
 * 10/9/13 - Stan Austin: 37:08** (11:40 @ road crossing; 16:31 @ Pinnacle Tr junction; 32:50 at Ridgeline Tr junction) Rocktop - Crowders - Pinnacle
 * 10/4/14 - Brian Trotter**: **38:59** (12:42 @ road crossing, 17:01 at Pinnacle Tr junction) Rocktop - Crowders - Pinnacle (Garmin)



DOUBLE (Peak to Peak to Peak): ???

Some ideas for other challenges (if you do one set it apart like those above and post your time)... -Twin Peaks Loop (start @ Main Access w/ summit of Kings Pinnacle & Crowders & back to main access) -Short Crowders Mountain Summit Loop (Linwood to Backside to peak to Tower trail and back... or reverse) ~2.5mi (~800' gain) -Long Crowders Mountain Summit Loop (Main Acces to Crowders to Rocktop to Backside to Crowders and back... or reverse) ~6mi -Kings Pinnacle Summit Loop (Main Access - Pinnacle (to summit) - Turnback... or reverse) distance ~3mi? -Combo of Run For The Border & Peak to Peak (start at Linwood, summit Crowders then continue with the Run For The Border Challenge).

8.7.10 - Stack w/ Josh, Kay & Ashley - Run For The Border Double+++ 3.3.12 - Joshua - [|Crowders p2p run] (note garmin stops at rock face before climb to pinnacle and on further to the pipe)
 * BLOG POSTS & OTHER DATA/LINKS:**

view from King's Pinnacle looking toward the Ridgeline trail heading to South Carolina
 * PICS, VIDEOS, ETC.**