This is an OUT AND BACK FKT attempt
This run started as a personal vendetta against the Mischa Mokwa Adventure Trail, a trail that 20 years ago brought a12-year-old to tears with its hills, freezing rain, mud, and various other challenges. Having recently picked up trail running, I saw an opportunity to not only complete the trail comfortably, but to also run it so quickly I set a record that will stand for some time. When I planned this run, this was not yet an official FKT route. This meant that any record I set would be the FKT, but that didn't feel like enough. I wanted to totally dominate this trail, and by this website's standards that meant running an unsupported out-and-back that would total around 45mi.
I set off the morning of Oct. 14th from the Iron Furnace Trailhead parking lot around 7:15am to some light rain and heavy cloud cover. This made for a little chilly and wet start, but given the first few miles were all uphill, the effects were quickly shrugged off. I had worried that the climb up to Pinnacle outlook would be tricky given the network of trails around the Cumberland Gap itself, but luckily all intersections were clearly labeled so I was able to kick off the run with relative ease. I had forgotten to link up my route to my watch, but if the signs stayed this clear it was going to be smooth sailing for me.
Cut to: about an hour later, at the bottom of the ridge approaching the Sugar Run trailhead, where after running downhill for what I feel is far too long I finally activate my watches routing feature. It reads: 1.8mi off course. I had taken a wrong turn less than 3 miles into my planned route, and had run down the Kentucky side of the ridgeline for almost two miles. I immediately turn around and begin the frustrating 1,000ft climb back onto the ridge and soldier on, but not before giving a big middle finger to the rotting sign that sent me off course.
The next 8 miles continued to be wet and cloudy with some bushwhacking through overgrown bits of trail, but otherwise relatively uneventful. I made it to Hensley Settlement to refill my flasks and eat some heavier calories before hitting the trail again. It was surreal seeing this place for the first time in over 15 years. The settlement was where my Boy Scout troop that traditionally set up camp, so seeing the cabins and blue water spigot meant stopping for the day and making a hot meal. Today it meant that I was a quarter of the way through, and with miles to go before I sleep.
I ran down to Sand Cave, snapped a quick photo, and headed back up to White Rocks, enjoyed the view, then spend the next half hour running downhill to the Ewing Civic Park Picnic and Trail area. There I took my lunch break with my shoes off and two bologna sandwiches in hand.
Around this time the sun started shining in earnest, making the long trek back up to White Rocks at least a little more beautiful. My long climb was rewarded with even better views from the rocks than I enjoyed just an hour or so earlier. On the way back through Sand Cave I ran into a Scout troop, with boys sprinting down the sand dune and others trying to collect water dripping from the sandstone overhang, just like I tried to do when I was their age. I was running a little low on water myself, having been unable to refill at the Civic Park, so I hurried as best as I could back to Hensley.
I used up the last of my 4 liter supply just 2 miles before Hensley Settlement, so the blue water spigot was more welcome than ever. It was around this time that I realized how much my little detour earlier in the day was really costing me. I had about 2 hours of daylight left, and 14 miles to go. Even in the best conditions I would be making it back in the last moments of twilight, but with the pace I had been going I had a good amount of night running ahead.
I hadn't done much of my training in the dark, so being alone in the dark Appalachians with nothing but a headlamp and a pocketknife was a little harrowing. I may or may not have had my heart fall out my pants after running into a herd of deer. But I made it back to the Pinnacle Outlook, this time with the clouds high enough so that I could look down on the town of Cumberland Gap, and I could clearly see my goal. The rest of the run was downhill, which destroyed what was left of my knees, but by the time I reached the Iron Furnace parking lot my emotions wiped most of that ache away. I felt relieved, accomplished, and satisfied that I had beaten the Mischa Mokwa adventure trail, instead of the other way around.