Barkley flyover
The runners climb 1500 ft. in the first mile up Bird Mountain, the first of many big hills on the first loop of the 2001 Barkley.
Descending the north side of Bird Mountain, the trail isn't so nice any more. In fact, it hasn't been maintained for 50 years.
Debra Moore tears a page out of Book 1, A Time to Die. You have to retrieve a page out of all 9 books to verify that you completed the 20 mile loop.
The North Boundary Trail has many blowdowns to climb over, under, and around.
Son of a Bitch Ditch, 10 feet wide and 10 feet deep.
Matt Mahoney at the Coal Ponds.
Climbing to the Garden Spot and Book 2.
Descending Leonard's Butt Slide. The first few hundred feet are on muddy slopes at a 45 degree angle down to book 3.
Bill Johnson starts climbing Little Hell at book 4, 1500 vertical feet in 0.6 miles at a 50% grade.
The climb usually takes about an hour.
Stu Gleman at the top of Hell. Book 5 is Southern Discomfort. (Photo courtesy of Peter Schuler).
Rat Jaw climbs 1000 feet in 1/2 mile under some powerlines and past some abandoned coal mines. The ground is covered with mats of cut-down sawbriers. In some places there is a downed powerline that can be used as a climbing rope. Otherwise you have to climb with your hands, and the thorns draw blood.
The "hump" replaced a 1/2 mile section of easy trail with this...
The Zip Line drops 1500 ft. in a mile, and can take an hour to descend because of the wretched footing in some places...
Like this. Big Hell is still to come, but I ran out of film.
The Barkley is considered one of the toughest 100 mile races in the world. It has 52,900 feet of climb (and 52,900 feet of descent), more than any other 100 mile race, more than the 33,000 ft. of climb at Hardrock, and more than the 45,000 ft. at Nolan's 14.
Since the race began in 1986, only 7 runners out of about 650 have finished within the 60 hour cutoff. Mark Williams of the UK finished first in 1995 in 59:28. Here is his race report. In 2001, after several failed attempts, Blake Wood, 42, NM, and David Horton, 50, VA, finished together in 58:21, only to be disqualified for inadvertently leaving the course to follow a parallel route for about 200 yards. This route (on the south side of the stream instead of the north side) has slightly better footing and had been the normal route until 2000.
To give you some idea of the difficulty of this course, Blake had won the 2001 Rocky Raccoon 100 in 16:13, and the 1999 Hardrock 100 in 30:11. David Horton won Hardrock in 29:35 in 1993 and held the course record for the Appalachian Trail (2160 miles in 52 days) until recently.
Cave Dog (Ted Keizer) finished in 56:57 in 2003. He holds the Colorado 14er speed record, 54 14,000 ft. peaks in 10 days, 20:26. He also holds speed records in the White Mountains, Adirondacks, and Catskills. (See www.thedogteam.com). He trained for 2 weeks on the course before the race.
In 2004 Mike Tilden and Jim Nelson finished in 57:25 and 57:28, running the last loop in opposite directions as required by a rule added the year before. Both have finished Nolan's 14.
In 2008 Flyin' Brian Robinson set a course record of 55:42. He was the first person to hike the 3 major N-S U.S. trails in a single calendar year: Appalacian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest, 7400 miles in 300 days.
The race consists of 5 20-mile loops with no aid except for water at two points. The cutoffs for the 100 mile race are 12 hours per loop. The 60 mile "fun run" has a cutoff of 40 hours, or 13:20 per loop. To prove you completed each loop, you must find 9 to 11 books (varies) at various points along the course and return a page from each book.
2008 Results
Mar. 29. Unofficial results for loops 1-4 posted to the ultra list by "PCTR Ultra" on Mar. 31, 2008. Weather was overcast, 40's to 60's with scattered showers and some fog. The north boundary trail had been cleared and opened for the first 5 miles, making the course possibly one hour faster per loop. The course was essentially the same as 2006 when Leonard's Butt Slide and Little Hell were replaced with Fyke's Peak, Testicle Spectacle, Danger Dave's Climbing Wall and Pig Head Trail. The Hump, removed in 2006 was added back. Total climb is 54,200 ft.Loop 1 1 Brian Robinson 7:07:43 2 Byron Backer 8:03:15 3 Jim Nelson 8:22:20 4 Greg Eason 8:52:23 5 Carl Laniak 8:52:25 6 Andrew Thompson 8:56:35 7 Jason Poole 9:03:09 8 Todd Holmes 9:03:10 9 Dewayne Satterfield 9:15:15 10 Michael Graz 9:05:15 11 Heather Graz 9:05:16 12 Blake Wood 9:11:52 13 Andras Low 9:11:53 14 Joe Decker 9:17:24 15 Jon Barker 9:17:25 16 Wendell Doman 9:33:00 17 Hiram Rogers 10:33:24 18 John Tyszkiewicz 11:09:58 19 Eugene Trahern 11:09:59 20 Ed Furtaw 11:18:19 21 Bill Goodwine 11:18:22 22 Andrew Hackett 11:19:45 23 Leonard Martin 11:19:55 24 Sue Thompson 11:27:11 25 John DeWalt 12:04:33 26 David Hughes 12:17:06 27 Matt Mahoney 12:17:06 35 Starters Loop 2 1 Brian Robinson 16:47:30 2 Jim Nelson 20:00:57 3 Byron Backer 21:53:37 4 Carl Laniak 22:14:44 5 Greg Eason 22:14:45 6 Andrew Thompson 22:14:55 7 Blake Wood 23:17:20 8 Jason Poole 23:19:46 9 Joe Decker 23:37:30 23 Starters Loop 3 1 Brian Robinson 29:56:49 2 Jim Nelson 33:42:34 3 Byron Backer 36:28:29 4 Blake Wood 36:52:27 5 Greg Eason 38:15:57 6 Carl Laniak 38:15:58 7 Andrew Thompson 38:15:59 7 Starters Loop 4 1 Brian Robinson 43:19:20 1 Starter Loop 5 1 Brian Robinson 55:42:27 (course record)
Knoxville News Sentinel article
Report by Brian Robinson (100 mile course record)
Report by Carl Laniak (3 loops)
Report by Joe Decker (2 loops)
Report by "Fatboy" Eugene Trahern with photos of course (1 1/4 loops)
Report by Steve Durban (1 loop in 17:23)
Report by Rich Limacher (half a loop)
Photos of Brian Robinson's finish
Photos by John Tyszkiewicz
Photos (in camp) by Blake Wood
2007 Results
Mar. 31. Unofficial results posted to the ultra list, Apr. 2, 2007 by "PCTR Ultra". Flyin' Brian Robinson started loop 5 with 7 seconds to spare on the 48 hour cutoff, but quit at Bald Knob (85 miles). Report. Weather was warm (60's to 80's) with rain from 3AM to noon of the second day.
Loop 1
1 Brian Robinson 8:17:35
2 Andras Low 8:39:35
3 Andrew Thompson 8:39:48
4 Mike Dobies 8:40:37
5 Greg Eason 8:40:40
6 Jim Nelson 8:42:47
7 David Horton 8:53:12
8 Bill Losey 9:04:20
9 Wendell Doman 9:10:38
10 Dave Henn 10:22:39
11 Art Fisher 10:22:40
12 Milan Milanovich 10:37:02
13 Mike Bur 10:40:46
14 Pat Costigan 10:40:55
15 Ed Furtaw 10:48:47
16 De Wayne Satterfield 10:54:39
17 Chip Tuthill 11:24:05
18 Sue Thompson 11:34:49
19 John DeWalt 11:35:10
20 Mark Shipley 11:51:22
21 Hiram Rogers 11:51:25
22 Leonard Martin 12:18:07
23 David Hughes 12:33:32
35 Starters
Loop 2
1 Brian Robinson 18:15:47
2 Mike Dobies 20:32:14
3 Greg Eason 20:32:16
4 Andras Low 20:32:17
5 Andrew Thompson 22:20:35
6 Jim Nelson 22:25:20
7 Wendell Doman 24:35:13
8 Pat Costigan 26:31:32
15 starters
Loop 3
1 Brian Robinson 31:21:31
2 Mike Dobies 34:16:19
3 Greg Eason 34:16:20
4 Andras Low 34:16:21
5 starters (+ Costigan)
Loop 4
1 Brian Robinson 47:49:43
3 starters (+ Dobies, Eason)
Loop 5
no finishers.
Washington Post article, Apr. 29, 2007.
The SCREW results by laz.
Interactive panorama of Andras Low at the Garden Spot on loop 3 (Washington Post).
Korányi Balázs skewered his knee on a branch down to the bone before reaching the first book. Photo (you have been warned).
David Harper finished 1 loop over the 13:20 cutoff in 15:08 after making a wrong turn on the firetower road (going to Coffin Springs and back), then getting all pages in 12:36, but taking a nap on top of Rough Ridge (about a mile from camp), waking up and going the wrong way back to the creek. Race report, photos and videos.
Allan Holtz also finished one loop over the cutoff in 16:10 (report), followed by Steve Durbin (report) and Stu Gleman (who took the photos of Steve) in 17:31.
The Troubadour (Rich Limacher, infamous proprietor of the Limacher Hilton) made 7 out of 10 books on the first loop. Report.
Paul Melzer was hoping for maybe a fun run but also quit after 7 books on the first loop. Report and photos.
Pete Ireland (report) and John Price made 6 books in 9:20, or 12 miles and 6260 ft of climb at 46:00/mile pace, then hitchhiked back. Altogether 8 runners did not finish the first loop.
Why I failed by Joe Kowalski.
Photos by Mike Bur (campsite and first loop).
Photos by Jean Gauger (sent to me by Hiram Rogers).
Unfortunately I (Matt Mahoney) did not run it this year after 11 attempts, yet to finish loop 2 on time.
2006 Results
Apr. 1. Five miles of new section per loop, with additional climbing, resulted in the worst finish in over a decade, in spite of sunny skies. "Flying" Brian Robinson (who completed the Pacific Coast Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Appalacian Trail in a single year) and Nick Gracie were 7 minutes over the 40 hour fun run cutoff. Nobody else completed the third loop.Loop 1 (20 miles): 1) Jim Nelson UT 9:26:46 2) Nick Gracie ENG 9:27:20 3) Brian Robinson CA 9:29:21 4) Todd Holmes CO 9:55:40 5) Craig Wilson ME 10:10:08 6) Sue Johnston VT 10:10:27 7) Mike Dobies MI 10:14:25 8) Greg Eason AR 10:32:05 9) Mike Bur MD 11:47:06 10) Pat Costigan MI 11:47:13 11) Wendell Doman CA 11:56:54 12) Frozen Ed Furtaw CO 11:58:49 13) Bill Losey OH 12:03:24 14) John DeWalt PA 12:03:30 15) Chip Tuthill CT 12:17:38 16) Sue Thompson MI 12:17:40 17) Hiram Rogers 12:29:05 18) Mark Shipley 12:29:07 19) Scott Gala MI 12:29:15 20) Andrew Hackett GA 12:38:49 21) Elise Harrington CO 12:38:51 22) Leonard Martin TN 12:53:19 ----33 starters Loop 2 (40 miles) 1) Nick Gracie ENG 24:34:14 2) Brian Robinson CA 24:38:12 3) Craig Wilson ME 24:56:23 4) Greg Eason AR 25:06:24 5) Mike Dobies MI 25:17:07 ----16 starters Loop 3 (60 miles) ----4 starters
Results and report by laz
Photos and story by Matt Mahoney
Report and photos by Allan Holtz
Report by Flyin' Brian Robinson (who with Nick Gracie was 7 1/2 minutes late for a fun run finish)
So Much Blood on my Watch by the Troubador (Rich Limacher)
Report by Sue Johnston (Hardrock winner, who made 3.5 laps in 2001 but only 1 lap this year)
Report by Dan Baglione (age 75 speed record of 2 miles in 32 hours)
Newspaper story
MSN news story
2005 Results
Apr. 2.
Loop 1
Name St Time
1 Mike Bur MD 9:12:48
2 Jim Nelson UT 9:16:58
3 Andrew Thompson NH 9:21:06
4 Todd Holmes CO 9:33:54
5 Craig Wilson ME 10:23:10
6 Mike Tilden CA 10:59:02
7 Davy Henn 11:13:37
8 Wendell Doman CA 11:27:55
9 Mark Dorion TX 11:38:15
10 Chip Tuthill CT 11:50:28
11 Kerry Trammell 11:59:39
12 Joe Kowalski OH 12:08:21
13 John Dewalt PA 12:09:15
14 Elise Harrington CO 12:09:51
15 Leonard Martin 12:19:00
16 Hiram Rogers 13:10:52
17 Mark Shipley 13:11:05
18 Matt Mahoney FL 13:14:27
33 Starters
Loop 2
1 Nelson 21:37:07
2 Thompson 21:37:37
3 Holmes 24:04:53
4 Bur 24:32:23
9 Starters
Loop 3
1 Nelson 32:48:53
2 Thompson 32:48:57
3 Starters
Loop 4
1 Thompson 47:26:59
2 Starters
Loop 5
1 Starter
Photos and report by Matt Mahoney
Report and
Concepts for Success by Andrew Thompson
Report by the Troubadour, Rich Limacher
Report by Mark Dorion
Photos by Liam Douglass
Photos
by Wendell Doman
Report by Dan Baglione
2004 Results
Apr. 3. 100 Mile 1) Mike Tilden (UT) 57:25:18 2) Jim Nelson (UT) 57:28:25 Fun Run (60 mi) 1) David Horton (VA) 30:57:09 2) Mike Tilden (UT) 31:37:38 3) Jim Nelson (UT) 31:37:57 4) Andrew Thompson (NH) 36:19:21 5) Jason Poole (CO) 36:19:22 6) Todd Holmes (CO) 36:19:23 7) Craig Wilson (ME) 36:19:24 32 startersUnofficial split times, report, and photos by Matt Mahoney
Report by Jim Nelson (posted to Ultra list)
Report by Robert Hills (posted to Ultra list)
Report by Herb Hedgecock (posted to Ultra list)
Report by David Hughes
Report by Mike Bur (posted to Ultra list)
When Your Best Isn't Good Enough by Rich Limacher (posted to Ultra list)
Report by Janice Cahalane
2003 Results
Mar. 29-31 100 miles Cave Dog (Ted Keizer) 56:57:52 (Course Record) 60 mile fun run Cave Dog 32:44:59 Mike Tilden 35:04:47 Jim Nelson 35:05:16 33 starters 25 finished loop 1 14 started loop 2 3 finished loops 2 and 3 1 finihsed loops 4 and 5
The course was changed to replace 2 miles of easy, flat dirt road between Coffin Springs and Leonard's Butt Slide with a climb over Stallion Mountain, adding 400 ft. of climb per loop. Total climb is 52,900 feet.
Weather: Saturday: 40's and rain at the start. Fog and low clouds during the day. 30's and rain in the evening, turning to snow, 2-4 inches at higher elevation. Sunday: 20's and snow flurries. Monday: sunny and warmer.
Photos and story by Matt Mahoney
Photos by Harrison Shull
History Making at the Barkley
and The Funderful Blizzard of Froz by Rich Limacher
Report by Cave Dog
Report by Steve Simmons
Report and
Photos
by Joe Kowalski
The Barkley Diet by Julie Nelson
2001 Results
There was no race in 2002.2001 Preliminary standings, distance achieved, no finish times.
2001 Unofficial results and report by Blake Wood
Report and photos by Steve Pero, who finished the "fun run" 8 minutes under the 40 hour cutoff.
Photos by Steve Simmons.
Report by Matt Mahoney, who finished two loops in 29 hours, missing the 26:40 cutoff.
Report by Joe Prusaitis, who dropped out during the second loop when the weather started turning bad (rain and sleet in the middle of the night).
Song and dance by Rich Limacher, who tried to quit after 7 of 9 pages when it got dark, and ended up spending the night in the woods with Norm Carlson huddled under some rocks, taking 22 hours to go less than 20 miles.
Poem by Chaennnon Lyons, the designated sacrificial virgin, who retrieved 2 pages, then decided the quickest way back to camp would be to leave the park and run 30 miles around on the paved roads.
Past results and reports by Matt Mahoney
2000 Results 4.5 loop report by Blake Wood
1999 Results
1998 Results
1997 Results
1996 Results
1995 Results
Race History
The Barkley was started in 1986 as a 50 mile race, but there were no finishers until 1988. The following year, Rat Jaw was added, bringing the distance to 55 miles and 27.000 ft climb for 3 loops, with a 36 hour cutoff. A 110 mile, 6 loop course was added with a 50 hour cutoff. Nobody ever finished the 110 miler.
In 1995, the course was changed to a 20 mile loop by the addition of Zip Line and Big Hell. The fun run was lengthened to 60 miles (3 loops) with 30,000 ft of climb and a 40 hour cutoff. The 110 miler was replaced by a 5 loop, 100 mile course with 50,000 ft of climb and 60 hour cutoff. That was the year that Mark Williams finished in 59:28.
In 1996, the rules were changed so that loops 3 and 4 were run in the reverse direction, and on loop 5 you had your choice. The first person to make that choice was Blake Wood in 2000, and he chose the forward direction. However his progress was blocked at 90 miles by the New River, which had become a raging torrent after 2 days of steady, hard rain.
In 2001, the "hump" was added, bypassing 1/2 mile of easy trail with an additional 240 ft. climb along a ridge north of Mart Fields. Thus, the fun run was increased to 30,720 ft. climb, and the 100 miler increased to 51,200 ft climb. Cutoffs remained the same. Nevertheless, Blake Wood and David Horton finished the 100, this time completing loop 5 in the reverse direction.
There was no race in 2002 due to temporary closure of Frozen Head State Park. The park is now reopened.
1995 historical account by "Frozen Ed" Furtaw.
Entry Information
For entry information, contact Gary Cantrell at the address from this 1995 entry form on Dec. 26. Entries are limited to 35 and generally fill up that day. You will need to write an essay on Why I should be allowed to run the Barkley. Here is my 2003 essay.
The race is held in late March or early April. The exact date will be sent with confirmation of your entry. The exact start time (usually 7-9 AM) will be announced the night before the race or 1 hour before the start at the Frozen Head campground.
Links
The "official" Barkley website (not maintained since 2000)Why I Should Be Allowed To Run The Barkley (5 minute video) by DJ Shaeter, Jan. 2007
David Horton's 1999-2000 Report and finish photos
David Biddle's 1996 report
Photos by Joe Prusaitis
Photos by Steve Simmons
Blake Wood's 1997 and 2000 report and photos