The+GRAND-FURTHER+Traverse



A GRAND traverse of the high and rocky ridge line of Grandfather Mountain!

Grandfather Mountain may be the most recognizable and well known mountain in the Southern Appalachia's. This iconic mountain also has some of the most unique, beautiful, and thrilling trails in the region as well! The ridge line is a non-stop wonderfest of amazing scenery, sheer cliffs, exposed ridges, fixed ropes, and ladders. I'm talking a TON of ladders! It is quite simply one of the coolest trail systems in the world!

Join us for a very nonchalant gathering of crazy folks who think it would be a good idea to "run" across this amazing mountain and then turn around and do it all again!

THE GRAND-FURTHER TRAVERSE SPECS:
 * Distance ~ 12.5 miles
 * Vertical Gain ~ 4500 ft
 * Estimated Travel Time (and these are no joke!)
 * //Fast//ish folks ~ 3 - 4 hrs
 * Mid packers ~ 4 - 5 hrs
 * Glorified hikers ~ 5 - 6 hrs
 * Tourist - near death experience
 * Number of Peaks = 4 all over 5,500 ft
 * High Point = Callaway Peak 5,949 ft
 * Low Point = Boone Fork Creek 3,905 ft
 * Number ladders ~ 20 (and you have to cross them all twice, so yeah)
 * Number of cable assisted climbs ~ 5 (and yeah, you do those twice as well)
 * Number of views ~ too many to count
 * Water = very little, spring on side trail 1.5 miles into run and from the faucet at the visitor center (at turn around)
 * How many times you'll squeeze your sphincter ~ MANY, MANY TIMES!!!
 * How many times you'll smile ~ infinitely

THE GRAND-FURTHER TRAVERSE COURSE DIRECTIONS:
 * From trailhead at Boone Fork, take Tanawha trail south
 * Turn right onto Nuwati Trail after 0.3 miles
 * Turn left onto Cragway Trail after 0.6 miles
 * After 1 mile, Turn right onto Scout Trail and follow to summit of Calloway Peak 1.6 miles away
 * From summit follow blue blazed Grandfather trail over ridge for 2.4 miles to visitor center parking lot
 * Run through the parking lot and cross the Swinging Bridge and head out to Linville Peak (dodge tourist)
 * Return the same way you came!

Route highlighted in map below