Running Above the Clouds

Snake Den Ridge/Appalachian/ Balsam Mt. Trails

Cosby, TN GSMNP

28mi, ~ 5,500ft elevation gain   6hr1min



Any run that begins on Snake Den Ridge Trail is bound to be rough, and this one most certainly was. The initial miles are heinously steep. Over the first 6 miles you gain roughly 4,000ft.

An illustration of heinousness

I also had a good foot soaking at the two mile mark, which didn't boost my chances of getting the elevation gain over with quickly.

Nothing like some wet feet 2 miles into a 28 mile run

As I made my way up the ridge, I was a man in doubt. The fog was making no attempts to be inconspicuous. Briers lining the trail were frozen, crackling and hissing as I passed. This really wasn't shaping up to be the day I wanted. I continued to push myself up the ridge in some strange run/grunt/hike/stumble motion. Then out of nowhere, I popped out above the clouds.

Nearing the AT

This run eagerly doles out punishment, but it makes up for the abuse with plenty of views.

In the neighborhood of Mt. Guyot

Looking towards Mt. Sterling

Can't get enough of that panoramic function

Things did improve as the run progressed past Snake Den Ridge, but I wouldn't say they went exactly swimmingly either. I hit my turn around point at just over three hours and began my trip back by navigating a blowdown which I had just been through. As I tried to resume running, I more or less face planted and made a guttural sound that when spelled phonetically would come out as mugelferthinsenuvabesh. As I sat in the trail, I realized I had really neglected to eat very much so far, and had myself a little time-out while eating a candy bar. The day was much more pleasant after this point.

View from Mt. Guyot, 2nd highest peak in the Smokies

I finally get to take Balsam Mt off my list...

Made the return trip from the Balsam Mt./Gunter Fork junction just slightly quicker than on the trip out. The overall pace today was oppressively slow, around 13min/miles, but I knew coming into this day that the running would very often give way to hiking and no real pace could ever be established. Despite the challenges, still one of the most rewarding runs I've attempted in some time. These are the days that make every other run easy by comparison.