Wilson Creek sWEaTfest

Every now and then you have a run/adventure that reminds you why it is exactly you spend so much time outside and training too. I had one of those runs this past Saturday.

I have been doing a few runs here or there with a group called the WNC trailrunners. I kind of got hooked up with the group through my friend Brandon who puts on a ton of their runs. I like the group a lot because they do some tough but great runs in places and on trails that I don't normally go on in the mtns. These aren't races and they don't cost anything....both of which I like a lot. I don't always love races and rarely like the location they are or the trails they use....but getting together with a great group of people to do a long run on trails in the mountains....that I love.

There is a group in Virginia similar to this one called the Virginia Happy Trails Club and they do something similar with these group runs or "fat ass events" as they are called up there. The plan is to do some of their runs this year as well but we'll see how that works out.

Anyway back to the run. So Sat was an absolutely gorgeous day.  I got up early to drive to wilson creek rec area from my moms. Beautiful drive down this long dirt road along the river....made me with I had both a kayak and a fly fishing rod with me. Stopped for a few pics.

The premise for this adventure was basically just to have a fun easy 17 mile or so run that crosses through tons of streams....(so get really wet)...swim in waterfalls...see some views and basically just enjoy the day being outside in beautiful pisgah forest. And that's exactly what we did.

Met up at the trailhead with about 8 people. Brandon gave an overview of the run route and told us where he stashed a jug of water about halfway so we could refill our bottles and we were off.

Right out of the parking lot we basically climbed straight up. The trail was rough here but it felt good to be outside and moving quickly through the woods. I found myself out in front when a few people stopped and I kept going and for the next few miles basically just knocked down about 500 spiderwebs with my face. I stopped at a trail intersection and made the comment to Brandon and 2 other guys who caught up to me that I shouldn't have bothered with breakfast since I had been eating spiderwebs all morning. To which someone else jokingly said, "funny I haven't felt any." I actually fell in with this group of 4 (never saw the other 4 who started the run) and we ran the rest of the day together which was cool. Great group of guys. Brandon, a guy John who I climbed Tanawana with this past winter, and another dude named David who I hadn't met before (but who had an awesome dog).

So we hit some overlooks on the way up the mtn. Basically we climbed the first 6-7 miles so we could cruise mostly downhill through the streams section for the last 10 miles which was nice. Got the work out of the way early and then could just enjoy the rest of the day and play.

The boys....grandfather mountain in background. 

Anyway I know I already said this....but what a day. Conditions were perfect and we spent the day running rhodie tunnels....scampering up and down rocks....and hitting side trails to go through streams and find waterfalls to look at and swim in.

Basically my feet were wet the whole day....

Refreshing! 

My friend Brandon getting a little dip in....

Roping down a steep section of Rocks to a big waterfall/swimming hole...

What a blast. It's those kinds of days that are what being outside is all about. Something almost just natural about running through the woods...nothing but shoes and a pair of shorts....swimming or wading across streams as you come to them and just exploring the woods. Soaking wet and happy. Felt like I could just run forever. Days like that make all the endless trail laps at Hobby Park worth it. Gotta put in the time to be able to really enjoy a day like that when I get one.

Hopefully after I move to Roanoke I will still be able to get down to NC for some of these runs. They told me they would still include me even though I will be a VA trailrunner and not a NC one! 

All in all a great day in the mountains!