Brasstown AND Mt Mitchell in May 2010... on same weekend

What weekend is it?  I seem to recall that Brasstown was moved to May?

Brasstown was Sat. May 16 and Mitchell was Monday May 18 this year.

Haven't found the dates either, for either event. I imagine Mitchell will be the same weekend.

No restrictions on Mitchell... you just have to call from late fall thru early spring to make sure the summit is open, due to frozen precip. Also, parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway close sometimes in winter. I have ridden to the summit a lot. It's a fun ride. Keep in mind that the grades are not nearly as steep as things like The Wall on BTB or Hogpen. But it IS consistent climbing most of the last 25-28 miles or so of the ride.

A good ride is the last 3 miles up HWY 80 to the BRP, then the 11.5 miles to HWY 128, which is the turn off to the summit, then the last 4.5 miles to the summit. Of this 19 miles, all but about 2.5-3 miles are climbing.

Oh, the weather again... the temp variation from the summit down to the BRP can be pretty drastic. We rode in early May and it started to sleet on top but was in the upper 60's just a few miles down. The wind can be dangerous too. You really have to be careful riding near the summit when weather can be a factor.

The descent is not bad... I've hit 48+ with no pedaling and hitting brakes pretty hard. Turns not bad on 128 coming down from top, same for Parkway. But the first 3 miles coming down HWY 80 are FAST and sharp turns. An absolute blast, but rider beware.

There are many Overlooks on the BRP with some really stunning views. There is just not really anything up there until you get to the summit. Very little commercialism, which is very different from say Grandfather Mtn. But to me that adds to the ride.

I think you guys would drop me like a stone but I'd like to ride it with you. It'd be good to do it before the leaves fall too much. It is a fun, fun ride to me.



Edited by tri42 2009-09-11 8:46 PM

I imagine there are at least a couple of you in here who might be interested... certainly more than a couple who could do it. I think we call it The Long Weekend...... and just do it.

Now I'm probably getting WAY ahead of myself, but who knows.

Well, one race date finalized. The 35th Assault on Mt Mitchell will be on on Monday May 17, 2010.

http://www.freewheelers.info/aomm/....prettycool pic from the parking lot. Depending on how clear it is, there are some stunning views from up there.

Haven't seen a finalization for Brasstown yet.

Still thinking long and hard about this....................lol, first thought I have is Saturday night driving towards Spartanburg knowing I have to ride up ANOTHER FREAKIN MTN in a day and a half........ but that's the "fun" of it.

Two centuries with a day in between doesn't bother me much. But when one century is at least one of the more difficult rides in the southeast and the other is to the tallest peak east of the Mississippi.... that is pretty serious.

So far we have a couple on here interested and I have a riding buddy who did the Assault this year with me who's interested. Would like to hear from anyone else who is interested in The Long Weekend.