Press release:
Registration is now open for the Assault on Black Rock (ABR), a 7-mile trail race in Jackson County, N.C., that takes runners and hikers on an ascent and descent of one of Western North Carolina’s most picturesque mountain summits.
The seventh annual ABR will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2017, from the parking lot of Sylva’s Pinnacle Park, which is located at the end of Fisher Creek Road, just outside Sylva. Runners and hikers who register for the race will climb rocky roadbeds and a single-track trail to the 5,810-foot Black Rock summit, which is located in a fir-spruce forest on the spine of the Plott Balsam Mountains.
After gaining 2,770 feet in elevation in approximately 3.5 miles, participants reach the turnaround point at the summit, which is located on top of an enormous rock the size of a small house perched along the ridge top. The final few feet to the top involves an easy scramble up the rock, which provides participants an expansive, almost 360-degree view extending across a large section of Western North Carolina.
The first 100 registrants for the race will receive a T-shirt, and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. An extra incentive for runners to ascend and descend the mountain quickly is the Black Rock 101 Challenge. Those completing the race in 101 minutes (one hour and 41 minutes) or less receive a special belt buckle.
All proceeds from the race go to the Clean Slate Coalition of Sylva, N.C., an organization that provides safe, accessible and affordable housing for women in transition.
The pre-registration fee is $25, and the fee is $30 on race day. A printable registration form, course map and other information is available at the Assault on Black Rock page on Facebook. Online registration is available at https://www.raceentry.com, but an extra $2.49 fee is included.
For more information, contact race coordinator Brian Barwatt at 828-506-2802 or barwatt@hotmail.com.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.