Mammoth March South Carolina - Kings Mountain (York County, South Carolina)

 

Last spring, I participated in the Alabama Mammoth March, which is a 20-mile hike supported much like a trail race would be with aid stations along the way. It was fun, though perhaps a bit overdone. As I'm training for an upcoming trek along the Camino Portuguese, I thought this would be a good apex training hike and so, I signed up for the South Carolina version. However, 20 miles didn't seem challenging enough and since the event offered a 30-mile option, I decided to go for this. While I've done many 20+ mile hikes over the years and even run two full marathons, I think 30 miles will be a personal record for a day hike.

I spent the night in a motel about 20 miles from Kings Mountain State Park, where the event starts. I got up early and drove to the grassy field where they were guiding participants to park. My start time is scheduled for 6:30 am and after checking in and doing some final gear checks, I headed up to the starting arch and prepared to take off. There are a lot of participants and they stagger starts by a few seconds to make a little room on the trail. I had scheduled this as an event on the Meetup and one new friend had signed up. We were messaging back on forth on the app, but with the delay in how it sends them, we struggled to meet before the start of the hike.

After only a couple of minutes and after chatting with other participants in line, I passed under the arch and began my adventure. I've been running, hiking, and dieting for the past few months and I feel like I'm in great shape. My goal is to finish the 30 miles in under 10 hours, which means maintaining an average pace of 3 miles per hour. As I don't stop my tracker for breaks, I will actually have to hike faster than that to allow for a break here and there. I come out of the 'gate' strong pushing over 4 miles per hour over the first couple of miles.

With a pace faster than most of the participants, I was quickly passing many of them and soon came across my friend from the Meetup. I asked if my pace was okay for him and said he would try to keep up. Soon though, we were halted by the first water crossing. A knee-deep creek that doesn't really an option other than getting wet. We both took off our shoes and socks and waded across the rocky creek barefoot. On the other side, I found a spot to dry my feet and put my footwear back on. I think this was a wise decision, as wet socks would have quickly lead to blisters. 

My friend and I hike together for a short time, but after only a mile or two, it's fairly clear that he's not going to be able to keep up. I wish him well and tell him I'll see him at the finish line. From here, I'm on my own as I hike the mostly single track through the park. While pleasant, there's nothing here that's overly scenic. It looks much like any other forest trail in this part of the country. 

The next several miles are uneventful, but I'm able to maintain a pace somewhere between 3.5 and 4 miles per hour, which is promising for hitting my goal time. I notice that my GPS is showing more mileage than the event signs posted along the way. It seems I'm gaining about 0.1 miles every mile and so, by the ten mile mark, I'm showing more like 11 miles. I chat with other hikers and everyone seems to be seeing the same thing. Ah well, perhaps I'll have more than 30 miles when I finish. 

While there is a water refill every three to four miles, the first major aid station comes at about mile 11 (according to the event markers). Here volunteers offer up a variety of snacks, a water refill, tables and chairs to rest, and port-a-potties. As I'm well ahead of schedule, I decide to enjoy a couple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I also decided to put on some dry socks. I brought a couple of extra pair fully intending to change them out occasionally and hopefully, save my feet from blisters. I chat with a few other hikers while relaxing, but after 10-15 minutes, I decide it's time to get moving again.

Through this next section, I hike with a pair of ladies who are traveling right at my pace. We chat a little bit as we move through the trail. At one point, I commented on the lack of poison ivy, which I've been very watchful for. After a few miles of this though, I get distracted by the ruins of an old Civilian Conservation Corps structure. The ladies continue on while I stop for a couple of pictures and to read the informational signs. 

Around mile 18, we move from Kings Mountain State Park into Kings Mountain National Military Park, where in 1780 a battel took place between British Loyalists and the militia of the fledgling new nation. I didn't really know much about this battle until reading up on it, but it seems this is considered a major turning point for the Americans in this struggle for independence, as they routed the loyalists forces.

This is a nice facility run by the National Park Service and our trail follows the rubber-coated pavement for a couple of miles as we pass through the visitors center and surrounding area. At one point, we hike up a moderate hill with two large monuments. The first is a tall obelisk commemorating the the battle. Further up the hill at the apex, a shorter monument in the shape of a tower further commemorates the American victory. I stop for a short time to read some of the informational signs. While I'm mostly here for the mileage today, I can't let history like this remain unknown.

Eventually, we leave the rubberized pavement and re-enter the woods. Small red flags have been placed by the Mammoth March organizers to show us the way. From there, I hike another couple of miles west until reaching somewhat confusing signage. After taking a moment to consider though, I realize that this point starts a short spur trail that we must travel out and back. Unfortunately, this section will prove to be the steepest and most challenging as we climb to the summit of Brown Mountain. Our reward though at the turn around near the bottom of the mountain is the second full aid station. 

With about 21 miles complete, I decide take another short break here and enjoy a cold diet coke and another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The station is staffed by volunteers, who are very nice and enjoy chatting with the participants. I ask about further water crossings, but unfortunately, they don't have any information on this. After about 20 minutes, I throw my day pack back on and head out. 

Over these last miles, I have been playing 'hop scotch' with a lady and we've chatted along the way. She left the aid station a few minutes before me, but said she would see me on the uphill. As expected the climb back to the summit of Brown Mountain is pretty brutal. It wouldn't be normally, but as I've already hiked over 20 miles today, it's a good test. I pass the test with flying colors as I continue my fast pace and chew through the terrain. I do eventually catch up with the hop-scotch lady and mention that I'll probably see her at the next aid station as I pass her. As I finish the spur trail and get back to the main trail, I also pass my friend from the Meetup. He asks if we can get a quick picture, which I'm agreeable to. It seems he's doing well and is just a couple of miles behind me

I mentioned earlier that I was glad to see a lack of poison ivy along the trails. That held true for the first few miles, but the last several miles do seem to have a little bit hugging the trail. I pull my socks up to help keep from brushing past the vile vine. I can feel my feet and legs getting a little tired and my pace does slow a little bit, but I'm still pushing well over 3 miles per hour.

Finally, we get back to Apple Road where we started and I can see the parking area. Curious though, the 20-mile course rejoined us a while back at the last water station. The 19-mile mark for those participants comes about a quarter-mile before the 29-mile mark for me and the other crazy people. This is odd since we will apparently finish together. Anyway, I finish the last little bit with hop scotch lady. Her husband meets us a the gate and walks the final quarter-mile or so with us. 

As we pass under the finishers arch, the volunteers congratulate us and hand us our medals. I check my GPS and final distance for me was about 30.7 miles. While my track had gotten ahead of their marks, they fixed some of it here at the end with this short final mile on the 30-mile course. Hop scotch lady thanks me for my encouragement along they way and I wish her well. After grabbing a Monster energy drink and a bottle of water, I find a chair to relax in for a few minutes. My final time was 9:50:09, which includes my breaks along the way. That's even better than I was expecting. I'm pretty exhausted, but surprisingly my feet and legs are not totally destroyed. Tired - yes, but destroyed - no. I now have a three hour drive home, lets see how stiff they get sitting in the car.