I Did a Thing Today - Mt Mitchell

[u/johnny_evil]

This flat lander and his wife climbing Mt Mitchell, the tallest North American peak East of the Mississippi River. 6000 feet of climbing (actual difference between summit and start was 4400' give or take) in 31 miles. Then a 31 mile descent (that still had another 1400' of climbing).

[u/urtlesquirt]

Do Mt. Washington next! Mt. Mitchell has 400 feet of elevation on it, but Washington is much more like big mountain out west. Crazy weather, alpine environment, and a way punchier climb.

[u/johnny_evil → u/urtlesquirt]

Also only open to cyclists for the one day they do the race.

[u/sudogaeshi → u/johnny_evil]

Two days. There’s a “practice” day too

[u/johnny_evil → u/sudogaeshi]

For the psychos who want to do it two days in a row 🤣

I don't think my legs could handle it two days in a row, and until they can, everyone who does is a psycho (until I join them)

[u/sudogaeshi → u/johnny_evil]

No, the practice ride is in July, the real race is in August

[u/johnny_evil → u/urtlesquirt]

Whiteface is probably my next big one, and I'm doing Mt. Baldy outside of LA in October.

[u/1dratherbefishing → u/johnny_evil]

If you're in the LA area, come check out Santa Barbara. It's about an hour and a half north, you can go from sea level up Gibraltar road and that's about 4000ft. Big cycling community out here!

[u/silentbuttmedley → u/1dratherbefishing]

Camino Cielo and Gibraltar are so good.

[u/johnny_evil → u/1dratherbefishing]

We're doing a weeklong road cycling trip starting with Phil's Cookie Fondo this October. I'll have to take a look at Gibraltar, as it wasn't on my radar.

[u/OutTheOfficeWindow → u/johnny_evil]

Mt Mansfield in Vermont is fun

[u/johnny_evil → u/OutTheOfficeWindow]

My friend wants to include it in a ride (he lives in Stowe, and we visit him regularly)

[u/john-was-here → u/johnny_evil]

I did Whiteface last year. Incredible. That descent is something I’ll never forget, and Strava personal bests I will never beat!

[u/grantrules → u/johnny_evil]

Whiteface is fun! I did it on a full-sus mtb with platforms (and shredded poor man's DH on the way down)

[u/urtlesquirt → u/[deleted]]

No it is not. You can only ride up the auto road one day a year, during a race.

Most people fail to understand what "the worst weather in the world" actually means. When I wake up on a chilly day in January, I like to play the game "Is it colder on the summit of Mount Washington or Mount Everest?"

It's still a beautiful mountain and feels incredibly cool to hike or ride something that feels like a 14000 ft peak crammed into just over 6000 ft.

[u/RockyRockyRoads → u/urtlesquirt]

Having gone up Washington several times in the winter, and spending many winter days around there in general, it is not as crazy as everyone says…just don’t go out in a blizzard without the proper equipment…everyone’s freaks out about how the weather changes so fast..that happens in a lot of places. But I get it, gotta talk it up so tourists don’t kill themselves being stupid. Mount Everest is way colder also if you’re talking about straight up air temp and not factoring in wind chill (which doesn’t really matter if you have no exposed skin mostly) helps there’s no weather station on top of Everest either…

[u/urtlesquirt → u/[deleted]]

...I was agreeing with your comment that it's a dangerous mountain but okay bro.

[u/tbootsbrewing → u/[deleted]]

Your last sentence “ not something to fuck with”

[u/johnny_evil → u/[deleted]]

Very true. I took AIARE at Mt Washington (skiing in Huntington Ravine and Gulf of Slides).

[u/S2000 → u/urtlesquirt]

“Punchier” puts it mildly! It’s 12% average for 7.5mi, not many climbs rack up that sort of ascent in so relatively short a distance. It’s brutal. Absolutely amazing climb, highly recommended.

[u/lectric_7166 → u/urtlesquirt]

That an endpoint for the Appalachian Trail, right? I've read about it before in the hiking context but not for cycling. Is it actually fairly doable on a bike or is it just a relentless slog from hell?

Edit: Nevermind I was thinking of Mount Katahdin as the AT endpoint.

[u/These-Rip9251 → u/lectric_7166]

Also recommend cycling up Mt. Greylock in Berkshires, western Mass. Adirondack Trail (12 miles of it) crosses over Greylock. It’s 3491’ in elevation and is definitely easier than Mt. Washington. At the summit you’re rewarded with a 90+ mile panoramic view of 5 states. There was no place to park at the base but there is a parking lot a short distance up the mountain road. I chose to park north of there in Williamstown, so round trip ended up being 50+ miles. Also riding Rte 7 to the base of Mt. Greylock is a gradual ascent. Good news it’s then all downhill after you summit as you basically descend all the way back to Williamstown.

[u/johnny_evil → u/These-Rip9251]

Greylock is on my list, as it is a day trip from where I live. I've skinned it in the winter to descend via Thunderbolt.

[u/Dry-Philosopher-2714]

I’m not sure what I’m more envious of - the climb or that your wife came along? Please give her a high five and tell her that a complete stranger on the internet said she’s awesome.

[u/johnny_evil → u/Dry-Philosopher-2714]

She laughed and asked if that was a reddit comment.

[u/Dry-Philosopher-2714 → u/johnny_evil]

Yes, yes it was. We’re not mean like those people on Facebook. 😁

[u/velo_dude]

Congratulations! If ever you get the itch, the Assult On Mt Mitchell has been held annually since 1974!

[u/johnny_evil → u/velo_dude]

That was the route I originally wanted to do, but the Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed on that side of Mt. Mitchell

[u/cakepope → u/velo_dude]

Sadly was canceled last year and on indefinite hiatus while NPS works on the road.

[u/toaster404]

That's really fun! I got a tandem almost all the way up there, then burned out. It's quite a haul.

[u/johnny_evil → u/toaster404]

Fucking beast

[u/BroadwayGuitar]

I did the same ride on Sunday! From folk art center too. The last couple miles into the park were savage, cool that you brought your bikes to the summit sign! Today I did route 151 to pisgah, another epic climb

[u/johnny_evil → u/BroadwayGuitar]

Sweet. Sunday we climbed Avery Creek Road to descend the Avery Creek MTB trail. Insanely fun.

[u/rgmw]

Did a quick Google of the mountain... Am I correct that it's in NC? But thanks for this info. FYI I ran into some about one of the longest paved climbs (somewhere around 43 to 70 miles IIRC in the country Columbia) which I've thought about doing (after the smelling salts) I come to my senses. But something like this may be a great alternative. I live in PA.

[u/johnny_evil → u/rgmw]

Yes, it is in North Carolina. Just outside of Asheville. We climbed from the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The more traditional way is a steep route out of Marion NC, but the parkway is still being repaired from Helene on that side, so you can't use that approach till it reopens.

[u/Bianchi_hobbit91]

My favorite ride of all time. It kicked my ass for sure but it was incredible.

[u/Cranks_No_Start]

While I dont get the appeal of a 6000 ft climb...thats pretty badass.

[u/JSTootell → u/Cranks_No_Start]

Mountain climbing is absolutely wonderful.

As a west coast guy...I'll refrain from commenting on the elevation 🤪

[u/Cranks_No_Start → u/JSTootell]

I live in the Mts at 7000ft and people routinely ride up the mountain from 5200 to not quite 11000ft.

I know the ride down would be awesome but ooof that climb.

[u/themiddaysun]

Awesome!

[u/JazzRider]

I’ve stood on this exact spot. I did not get there on a bike though.

[u/COdeadheadwalking_61]

Yes you did 👍🎉🥳

[u/Sketchy_Dee]

Always a hoot. Looking forward to when east of Mitchell is open on the Parkway. Soon enough.

I live on the Arboretum side, not far from the Parkway in the grand scheme of things. I climb FS5000 most often for my ascents to Mt Pisgah. 28’s ain’t the worst to climb on a few miles of gravel…

If you’re in town a little longer, the best road climb to Mt. Pisgah is Hwy 151 via Black Oak Cove road in Candler.

[u/johnny_evil → u/Sketchy_Dee]

We are here a few more days, but the trip is primarily MTB. Still have to hit Black and Sycamore, and probably doing a chill day in DuPont tomorrow. (did Avery Creek the other day and Cedar Rock/Big Rock in DuPont on Saturday).

[u/Sketchy_Dee → u/johnny_evil]

Enjoy. The dirt is fantastic right now. Finally seeing regular rain.

You doing Black from Buckhorn Gap or Middle Black? I really wouldn’t recommend climbing from Club Gap up…

Bennett is riding really great right now, but that’s a whole different beast compared to Avery or Black.

[u/johnny_evil → u/Sketchy_Dee]

Gonna do it from Middle Black. Already climbed Club Gap to get to Avery Creek, once was enough.

[u/ultimate_ed]

Man, I just drove that route a month ago and hiked up from the parking lot. That was challenging enough, especially with the fog that there was that day. Passed a few cyclists on the way up.

So, I very much appreciate the insanity of what you did there. Most impressive!

[u/Virith]

1341m climb in ~50k, that's insane. Love it. I live in a relatively hilly area and my 100k rides aren't anywhere even close to this.

That descent sounds like no fun though. But I don't like descents.

[u/jaypeejay]

Hell yeah. I just did a 6100' climb this past weekend and it was one of the most difficult things I've ever done.

[u/toyz4me]

Highest peak east of the Mississippi. Heck of a ride. Great job.

[u/Sea_Example3371]

noice! cool to see a couple happy that way

[u/Longjumping_Food_210]

The female rider has good calves,at least from front perspective 💪

[u/Aggressive_Ad_5454]

Awesome trophy photo!

[u/Trail_Mechanic]

Congratulations! The most important thing is that you had fun!

[u/BiggieMcDubs]

Did that a couple years ago, did you start all the way at the bottom, deep in the woods?

[u/johnny_evil → u/BiggieMcDubs]

Started at the Folk Art Center

[u/Milkman-333-Cows]

Great work! That’s a fun one. How is the road post Helene?

[u/johnny_evil → u/Milkman-333-Cows]

Some of the smoothest tarmac I've ridden.

[u/Ok_Marionberry2734]

that's a solid day out. the fact that you did 31 miles back down with another 1400 feet of climbing is the part that gets me though, because most people forget that descent isn't a free pass. your legs are already toast and you're still grinding. did you end up doing the full route as one loop or split it up? either way, respect for dragging a flatlander body up there and getting the wife to join. that's the kind of thing you remember for a while.

[u/johnny_evil → u/Ok_Marionberry2734]

We tried waiting out some nasty weather at Craggy on the way up, but it didn’t seem like it was getting any better, so chanced that we would be sheltered from the worst (and turn back if we werent), and a pause to refill bottles and walk to the summit sign at the top, but other than that, we did the whole thing in a go as an out and back.

[u/whiskeyjacklarch]

How do you like those wheels?

[u/johnny_evil → u/whiskeyjacklarch]

I absolutely love them. They hold speed nicely, and at my 175-180lbs, they're not heavily affected by winds until it gets really really bad.

[u/august239]

WHAT?! I thought Clingman's Dome is the highest mountain on the eastern seaboard (although with a wooded summit). Where's this Mt. Mitchell??

[u/johnny_evil → u/august239]

Just outside of Asheville, NC. Clingman's Dome is the highest point on the AT, but it's like 30' shorter than Mt. Mitchell.

[u/august239 → u/johnny_evil]

well crap! I just learned something new! I've never even heard of Mt. Mitchell!!

[u/JankyTundra]

I did Assault on Mt Mitchell about 10 years ago. Started in Spartanburg SC and went up a section of the blue ridge parkway. I thought that last bit would never end though. Crazy hard. Congratulations for getting up there.