I completed the Peak to Peak Challenge, the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) segment 1 in just over 18 hours. We (my hiking partner and I) started at appx 4:15a from the summit of Kuwahi (Clingmans Dome - below the tower), and finished at appx 10:26 at the summit marker of Waterrock Knob.
We began in the clouds/fog in the dark and about an hour in were faced with heavy rain for about 4 hours. We took a break at mile 9, the Deep Creek crossing (at lower water it was still over knee deep in spots), then again at Campsite 57/Martins Gap trail junction to change socks in the hopes that all water crossings were complete. The trail is mostly downhill to this point with the upper elevations being somewhat technical, especially when wet. The Martins Gap and Sunkota Ridge trails are all uphill but not technical. The descent down from Newton Bald on the Mingus Creek trail is very pleasant and smooth until the bottom portion where the trail is littered with rocks and some water crossings. We made our way to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center (appx mile 27) where we had a small crew for lunch and ressuply. This is also a great spot for a bio break with the public restrooms. My original partner ended his journey here and I gained a fresh partner for the climb up the parkway to Big Witch Gap (appx mile 36). I was resupplied here as well. I finished the remaining 12 miles solo. I reached Mile High Campground at mile 40 where I gained water from a clean spigot and made use of the restrooms as well. I took my final break at Soco Gap before the in-the-dark climb up Waterrock Knob. The lower portion of this climb is nice and smooth but the last 1.5 miles are quite technical, especially in the dark and fog. I found the marker for the summit of Waterrock Knob and stopped the tracker there. I was aiming for sub 18 hours but the technical portion of the last 1.5 miles (plus the dark, fog, and exhaustion) slowed things way down.
The half mile hike up to the summit of Kuwahi nor the half mile descent to the parking area of Waterrock Knob are tracked as this is not park of the actual challenge, it is literally peak to peak. Also of note, the .3 miles of the Waterrock Knob trail from the junction of the MST is not an official part of the MST but is required to get to the summit/complete the challenge.