Mount Mitchell Challenge

The Mount Mitchell Challenge is a 40 mile Ultramarathon run in February of each year from the town of Black Mountain, NC to the top of Mt Mitchell, the highest point in the Eastern US, and back down again. This race, intentionally run in Winter to ensure harsh conditions, is regarded as one of the most difficult trail-running races in North America.

Started in 1998 by locals businesses Black Dome Mountain Sports and Black Mountain Savings, the course has seen every type of weather imaginable...rain, ice, snow, sun...and runners keep coming back...several for all of its editions.

Race founders Wendell Begley of Black Mountain Savings and Trent Thomas from Black Dome Mountain Sports saw a need for this kind of event for both the elite athlete and the weekend warrior. Their goal was to design a race that was attainable physically while offering the opportunity to test oneself against the often-uncooperative forces of nature!