Report
I created this route to celebrate the most technical and steepest terrain northwest NC has to offer. This inaugural run was intended to better understand the route as a whole for future attempt tactics.
Training: I used this run as vert focused practice for my Gritchell attempt in May. I didn't specifically train for Tour de Grandfather, however I have been getting in a lot of fast power hiking lately. I think this contributed to getting over the Crest trails quickly where it gets hard to get any running rhythm.
Weather: Weather started overcast in the low 40's but warmed up to mid 50's once the sun fully came out. The tree canopy hasn't started to grow in yet which opened it up to more sun exposure than usual but without the humidity that comes with the denser forest of late Spring.
Nutrition/Water: I drank a Skratch concentrate soft flask with about 400 calories, stream filtered three times with my Salomon XA bottle, and took water again from the water fountain inside the Bridge Visitor Center (not open in winter). Natural water seems to be conveniently placed every 3-5 miles with the Crest being the driest. Bobo bars and fruit snacks supplemented the rest of my calorie needs which came out to 1200 total by the end.
Trail Conditions: Trail was in great shape. A little mud and a little ice but well above average for the mountain. Easter weekend brought out the people and I am sure I passed around 200 people (no exaggeration). This made the ladders and some of the scrambly parts a little harder to get through immediately but I just tried to use it as a moment of recovery.
Gear: Last big run in the Nnormal Kjerag. I love these shoes but that puts more than 600 miles on this pair. Naked Belt was stuffed per usual and still is my preferred way to haul gear for up to 6 hours. I should not have started out with a windbreaker. Less than a mile in, it was off and taking up 20% of my belts capacity.
High Points: Descending back down Profile was a good moment for me. I wanted to leave something for the last 3.5 miles and could tell I managed my effort well enough to take advantage of that. I even finished without a collapse in the parking lot.
Low Points: Not really considered a low point but it was extremely crowded from the Bridge trail to MacRae. It was tough at times getting around people and not coming across completely absent of patience. I also would have liked to scout the Storyteller's section a little better. Seemed unrecognizable.
I really look forward to shaving time off of this route. Because I took water from an "unnatural source" (Visitor Center), this has to be counted as Self-Supported. A few friends that can pace and provide aid along the Crest would be ideal for the Supported FKT time.