SMOKIES CHALLENGE ADVENTURE RUN (SCAR22)
S.C.A.R. (the “Smokies Challenge Adventure Run”) is a stunning and epic 71-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The adventure begins at Fontana Dam, the “tallest dam east of the Rockies,” and ends near Interstate 40 at an unsuspecting trailhead along the road. Source
According to fastestknowntime.com, the fastest supported efforts known are in the 14-hour range, while unsupported efforts ring in just over 15. For the true masochists out there, there is even an official registry of those who have completed Double S.C.A.R. — an almost-unfathomable out-and-back version of the route. This detailed report by Meg Landymore highlights the details, planning, and other details necessary to attempt such a feat.
We are planning on running the course over two days on May 20 and 21, 2022. The plan will be finalized and updated but this is the basic outline:
Hit the airplane icon below. I dare you.
Thursday, May 19
Drive, fly, run, cycle, or otherwise get to Hartford Tennessee by late afternoon. This is an approximately 12 hour drive from this area so plan accordingly. We will update the meeting time and place where we will drop cars and be picked up by Smoky Mountain Guides. SMG will take us to our campsite for the night, along the way we will get food. The drop point of the cars is still a couple hours from the run start so we’re not done traveling once we arrive in Hartford. SMG will provide tents, sleeping bags, and bag liners for all. You are responsible for your own running gear, any specific food you want during the run, an emergency blanket, extra lightweight jacket or windbreaker, water filter, bladder or flasks, headlamp (tested and working).
Friday, May 20
We’ll be driven to the trailhead at Fontana Dam and need to start early. SMG will provide a camp breakfast and some provisions that can be packed for on-trail lunch. Plan on filtering water along the way as necessary. We’ll be starting at Fontana Dam and starting the route north. The first day will be a challenging 38 miles and almost 13,000 feet of gain though from what I’ve seen, the trail is less technical than, say, the Whites or Catskills. Still, you’ll need to bring a headlamp since there’s no guarantee you’ll be finished in daylight. You’ll also want to bring a water filter, food for the day, emergency blanket, and extra top layer.
Midday: SMG will provide one aid station along the way approximately halfway through the run. They’ll have water and snacks. Anyone struggling can exit the run with them although you will have a few miles of running to get to their vehicle.
End of day: Our goal is to reach Newfound Gap at 38 miles. We will arrange to have a vehicle at mile 31, Clingmans Dome, in case anyone needs to exit the run. Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the AT so the next several miles to Newfound Gap are downhill. Once at Newfound Gap, SMG will transport us all to our campsite for the night and feed us.
Saturday, May 21
Saturday’s run is a walk in the park by comparison to the above. SMG will provide camp breakfast and snacks to pack and drive us to the trailhead at Newfound Gap. From there, we’ll have a 32 mile run of only 6,000 feet of gain. We may have an aid station along the way (TBD) provided by SMG. At the end, SMG or another designated service will provide transportation from Davenport Gap, our final destination, to our cars and/or hotel in Hartford, Tennessee. We will reserve several rooms to share at the hotel where we can rest, get cleaned, before we head home the next day.
Sunday, May 22
We’ll head back to our little lives, changed, in ways we cannot yet know. 12 hours after leaving, we’ll be safe at home, doing some laundry, and processing what we went through.
It’s going to be awesome.
Upcoming
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Trail Tuesday
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Trail Thursday
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Trail Tuesday
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Trail Thursday
Pound Ridge, NY 10576 United States + Google Map
Trail Tuesday
Pound Ridge, NY 10576 United States + Google Map
Want to look great? I’ll post a link so you can purchase the official SCAR22 artwork on several options of shirt.
Run Starts in...
Smoky Mountain Guides
Shuttle Services
- Day 1: SMG will provide executive van transportation from the Holiday Inn Express in Newport to Smokemont Group Campsite.
- Day 2: Smokemont Group Campsite to Fontana Dam (approx 5 or 6 am). Runners will be picked up at either Clingmans Dome Visitor Center or Newfound Gap and shuttled back to the Smokemont Group Camp upon runner completion.
- Day 3: SMG will provide transportation from Smokemont Group Campsite to Newfound Gap (time TBD). Upon completion of the run, runners will be shuttled back from Davenport Gap to the Holiday Inn Express in Newport. Transportation will also include runner drop bags to Newfound Gap and Davenport Gap.
Camp Host
SMG will provide tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp chairs, and other camp amenities at the Smokemont Group Campsite for three days/two nights. Meals will be customized for participants’ highly active days and cooked onsite in camp by SMG. SMG will provide dinner on the evening before the run (5/19), dinner on the night after the first day of running (5/20), and breakfast both mornings before running (5/20 and 5/21). Please note that the Smokemont Campground has flush toilets and running water but does not have shower facilities.
Backcountry Aid Station
SMG will provide a backcountry aid station on Day 1 at Spence Field Shelter (mile 17, about 0.1 miles from the AT). A second aid station can be hosted at the intersection of the AT and Snake Den Trail (mile 19) The aid stations will have pre-filtered water and typical trail run aid station food options.
Reservation & Cancellation Policy
This Smoky Mountain Guides trip requires a 50% down payment at the time of reservation with the balance due 90 days prior to the event. If the participant cancels a reservation earlier than 60 days prior to the starting date, the deposit will be refunded, minus a $100.00 administration fee. If the participant cancels within 59-31 days of the starting date, 50% of the trip balance will be refunded. If cancellation is made within 30-0 days of the trip starting date, there will be no refund of any costs. Smoky Mountain Guides recommends cancellation insurance available through Travel Guard. Please call or email us for details.
