Bent+Creek+Gobbler



The Gobbler started out in 2006 and has been going strong ever since! Bent Creek is the backyard playground for many Asheville runners, hikers, and bikers alike! There are loads of trails to play on, and this run is a great way to explore what I consider to be the best that there is to offer in the forest of Bent Creek. Come see what all the fuss is about and run with us! This is a no entry fee fun run with limited aid! For more information about aid stations, time and location, RSVP on the discussion board of this page.

=**2015 Courses: This year there will be three course options. After the run there will be a traditional turkey meal with turkey and stuffing at the Start/finish at the Wells' residence.** **Please bring a side to share as we refuel and do our training for thanksgiving the following week! You** **will be able to do some cooking and food prep if necessary.**=

=**Start time: 10:30 am For long and medium. Short course start at 12 noon!**=

=__Long Course: (18-20 miles?)__ **The Bent Creek Bowl: Start at the Wells Residence ( 132 Bent Creek Preserve Road ) go out the trail from the neighborhood This will be marked and link up with the Corvair Trail (not on map but will also be marked) meeting up with the North Boundary Road, right turn from the trail. - run this up as it slowly changes from road to single track. At yellow gap, about 5 miles, where the map says the road ends, stay slightly left (don't go downhill and right) and stay on this sweet piece of renegade single track that links up with the Shut-in MST trail at the turn up to Ferrin Knob go to the top of Ferrin Knob then return down the shut-in to bent creek gap and the first water and snack stop. Then continue down the MST / Shut in all the way until it hits the Hard Times road. Take this down to the left toward the Hard times parking. When you get to the bottom after about 2 miles, you will cross a concrete bridge over Bent Creek. Take a right onto the road, then take your next left toward the hard times parking area. Before** **you get to the parking, take a right onto the hard times connector trail. This will climb a little then descend until it crosses the paved part of the bent creek road. Go across the road and continue on the single track until it intersects with another trail. Go left and stay on this trail as it turns into an old road. Stay right at all intersections and Continue up until it hits a gate at the intersection with the rice pinnacle road. Take a left on rice pinnacle and start looking on your right after the first little hill for the flagging back onto the steep but short single track back into the neighborhood. Follow the flagging back to the start and get ready to feast.**=

= = =**__medium Course__: (10 miles+/-) Start at the Wells residence, go out the trail from the neighborhood This will be marked and link up with the Corvair Trail (not on map but will also be marked) meeting up with the North Boundary Road ( same as long course) - run this as it slowly changes from road to single track. At about four miles up the north boundary road, you will take a left down the Greens Lick trail. This sweet single track is loved by mountain bikers and runners alike so listen for bikers as you descend back to the valley floor. At the bottom of the trail turn left up sidehill trail. This will climb and slowly level out. At the next interessection, stay left on Little hickory top trail. This will gradually climb up to an area known as five points on the north boundary road you ran up on. Take a right down Ingles Field trail and stay left at the next interessectionsContinue. Follow this down to Ledford branch road and go left. this will take you to the intersection of the north boundary and corvair trail where you started from. Follow the flagging back to the start and get ready to feast.**=

=**__Short Course__: (6 miles +/-)Start at the Wells residence, go out the trail from the neighborhood This will be marked and link up with the Corvair Trail (not on map but will also be marked) meeting up with the North Boundary Road ( same as long and medium course) - run this as it slowly climbs then a short descent. At about three miles up the north boundary road, you will take a left down the Ingles Field Gap TRail. This sweet single track is loved by mountain bikers and runners alike so listen for bikers as you descend.** **At the next interesection, stay Follow this trail down to Ledford branch road and go left. this will take you to the intersection of the north boundary and corvair trail where you started from. Follow the flagging back to the start and get ready to feast.**=

__ 2015 Runners: __.

Damian Wells - early to mark courses and then get home to cook turkey and fixing, Hayley Wells - medium or long

Non-runners coming for food and conversation after the run:

Foods for thought( in case you need motivation to sign up, or finish): Turkey Stuffing sweet potato suffle