Why Yoga and Climbing Are the Perfect Pair

Climbing challenges the body and mind in unique ways. It demands strength, mobility, balance, coordination, focus, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Yoga supports all of these areas, making it one of the best complementary practices for climbers of every level.

Here are a few reasons why adding yoga to your routine can improve your climbing and help you feel better both on and off the wall.

Improved Mobility and Flexibility

Climbing often requires high steps, drop knees, heel hooks, and extended reaches that demand mobility through the hips, shoulders, and spine. Yoga helps increase range of motion while also building stability and control within that movement.

Better mobility can help climbers move more efficiently, reduce unnecessary tension, and access positions that may have previously felt difficult or restrictive.

Better Balance and Body Awareness

Yoga develops proprioception, or awareness of where your body is in space. This translates directly to climbing, where precise foot placement and controlled movement can make all the difference.

Practicing yoga also helps improve balance and coordination, allowing climbers to move with more intention and confidence on the wall.

Core Strength and Stability

A strong core is essential for climbing. Yoga builds deep core engagement through controlled movement and sustained postures, helping climbers maintain tension, improve stability, and move more efficiently between holds.

Unlike some traditional core workouts, yoga trains strength alongside breath and body awareness, which supports functional movement patterns useful for climbing.

Injury Prevention and Recovery

Climbing places repetitive stress on the fingers, forearms, shoulders, and hips. Yoga can help counterbalance these demands by improving mobility, posture, and muscular balance.

Gentle movement, stretching, and breathwork also support recovery by increasing circulation, reducing tension, and helping the nervous system shift out of stress mode after hard training sessions or long days outside.

Mental Focus and Breath Control

Climbing is as much mental as physical. Yoga teaches breath awareness, concentration, and the ability to stay present during discomfort or challenge.

Learning how to regulate breathing and remain calm can help climbers manage fear, conserve energy, and stay focused during difficult sequences or high-pressure moments.

Active Recovery for Climbers

Yoga does not always need to be intense. Slower, restorative practices can help climbers recover after weekends spent outside or hard sessions in the gym. Taking time to move intentionally and reconnect with the body can improve overall performance and sustainability in the sport.

Whether you climb indoors or outside, yoga can help you move better, recover more effectively, and build a stronger connection between mind and body. It is not about becoming more flexible for the sake of flexibility. It is about creating balance, resilience, and longevity in your climbing practice.

Join us on Mondays at 6:30 PM for active relaxation through yoga and give your body the recovery and movement it deserves after a weekend of adventure.

PRESS RELEASE: McHone Performance Training Reopens After Hurricane Helene – Rebuilding with Community and Commitment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                          

McHone Performance Training Reopens After Hurricane Helene – Rebuilding with Community and Commitment

Asheville, NC – April 16, 2025 - McHone Performance Training (MPT) is proud to announce the official reopening of its facility following a successful ribbon-cutting celebration held in partnership with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce this March.

This reopening marks a powerful moment of resilience for the MPT team and its community, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.

MPT originally opened in mid-2024 and quickly became a premier training hub for mountain athletes, ultra-runners, mountain bikers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Just months after opening, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage, resulting in the loss of all equipment and a full interior rebuild.

Thanks to generous community support and assistance from local grants, MPT was able to recover, rebuild, and re-equip the facility. The space is now fully operational and better equipped than ever.

"Feeling so much gratitude and love for the WNC community. Tough times don’t last, tough people do," said Steven McHone, Founder and Head Trainer. "The damage from Hurricane Helene was devastating, but the outpouring of support made our comeback possible. We’re incredibly grateful and excited to welcome everyone to our newly restored and upgraded facility."

The updated facility includes expanded resources tailored to outdoor athletes, offering specialized training for endurance sports, strength and conditioning programs, and in-house physical therapy and sports massage services.

MPT welcomes inquiries from outdoor athletes and enthusiasts who are interested in learning more. Whether you're preparing for a competitive season or simply aiming to move better in daily life and on the trail, the coaching team is available to discuss training goals and program options.

To support new members during this reopening phase, MPT offers $100 off enrollment for a limited time.

To learn more about McHone Performance Training, visit McHonePerformanceTraining.com or follow @McHonePerformanceTraining on Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contact:

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

Steven McHone
Founder, McHone Performance Training

info@mchoneperformancetraining.com

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About McHone Performance Training

McHone Performance Training is a leading provider of outdoor performance training, catering to mountain athletes, ultra-runners, mountain bikers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts. With a commitment to excellence, McHone Performance Training empowers individuals to reach their peak potential through specialized training programs, expert guidance, and a supportive community. Their approach focuses on functional strength for daily living and mountain adventures.

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My First Race

Coach Morgan showing his stoke to be finished with Heartbreak Ridge and Star Gap.

By Coach Morgan Willger

I’ve never been a big “race-guy”. The last time I competed in any kind of race was on foot over 10 years ago. Moreover, I would barely call myself a “mountain-biker”. More like a rookie dabbler in his first season. Naturally it makes sense when I say that “apprehensive” is the word which comes to mind when my boss, Steven McHone with McHone Performance Training, presented me with the idea of competing in the Pisgah Enduro. I knew I should do it the moment I realized I was scared of it. Thankfully, I committed, and as a result I gained several valuable lessons:

1. Don’t sell yourself short.

2. Beginnings are beginnings; they do not dictate the end.

3. You define your own success.

From the beginning I was a bit of a mess. I started the morning by driving off with my coffee mug on top of my truck and forgetting my gloves at home. Cheers for good starts and setting expectations for the day. Upon arriving to Camp Grier, however, things immediately began turning around. There was tension, but good tension. Excited tension. Not the kind that makes you shrink but the kind that brings enthusiasm for life. I decided then that I was going to not only finish this, but it was going to get better with every mile.

The climb was not for the faint of heart. Again, I am not an experienced mountain biker, but I am fairly athletic. I can push a bike a long way. The Enduro was perfect for this because I didn’t have to worry about timing, and this actually gave me the opportunity to get my head straight. Those close to me know I am very competitive. When I am in over my head or find myself in a game where I am far inferior to my competition I have learned to “change the rules”. Not literally but internally. If I can’t win the proper game then I devise a new goal and pursue that. This no-pressure climb gave me the time to stop and think about how I can change the game. I decided on two simple rules: Make a Friend and Don’t Crash. The first because when I am nervous I revert to being introverted, and the second because hospitals are expensive. I figured if I could do these two things then the day was won.

Team MPT representing on top of Heartbreak Ridge at the start of Stage One of the Pisgah Enduro. Coach Morgan and MPT Athlete Weston pictured above.

After ascending Heartbreak, the pressure was further alleviated by the friendly peers and relaxed manner of the race coordinator. I also quickly discovered that my first goal was going to be an easy one. These people were all friendly and eager to help or offer advice. A fellow racer even gave me his extra pair of gloves which would later on inspire me to pay the good deed forward. After some quick, simple instructions we self-sorted based on competitiveness with “people who want to race” going to the front and “those who are here for fun” starting towards the back. I was part of the latter.

The first segment, Heartbreak, was a blast. I rode within my means and focused on my second rule: Don’t Crash. I learned that I could trust my abilities and I was more capable than I thought. This fun, choppy downhill quickly ended, and gifted me an adrenaline high that made the minor climb to Star Gap nearly imperceptible. The short reprieve allowed for me to engage in some laughs with the other riders around me and then quickly get back on the ride. Stage Two (Star Gap) began and ended much the same: adrenaline, no crashes, and fun.

However, it was broken up by my aforementioned opportunity to pay forward a good deed. A short distance into the timed downhill I ran into a fellow racer who was in need. Nothing crazy, just a simple flat tire; however, he didn’t have anything to repair it. After quickly squashing my competitive desire to keep burning downhill I realized the more important thing to me was to see this guy finish the race. This stop provided a learning opportunity for me as well as contributed to further fulfillment of Rule One. Being new to the sport I only had theoretical knowledge in how to use my trail tools. While I puzzled my way through inserting plugs and using CO2 to refill the tire, another racer with more experience and a need to rest stopped to help. Once we got it sorted, we all set off together and at the bottom we caught up to another racer who clearly had not heard of my second rule. The dirt and minor scrapes along one shoulder and side of his face gave away his close inspection of the Pisgah Trails. We four took a moment to collect ourselves, put a bit more work into tire repair, and then set off together for the final climb up Kitsuma as an unspoken team. We didn’t know it fully, but by the end we were all going to get something useful out of one another.

Aid Station 1 of the Pisgah Enduro by Pisgah Productions. Coach Morgan helping his fellow riders keep rolling.

The final climb was less daunting and we had plenty of untimed trail to get to know each other. One of us wasn’t sure if he would make it because his tire was still not holding air. We kept working it and eventually ended up pulling a spare tube from my gear to ensure he could finish. My lack of experience was covered by another teammate, but my preparedness came in hand by having the supplies. Our mechanically experienced teammate was from a low elevation state with minimal opportunities for mountain training. As a result, he was unsure of continuing due to cramping and fatigue. We three kept pace with him and encouraged his effort. He later stated that had it not been for the team’s encouragement he would have dropped out. Our third teammate was solid. All he needed to finish the race was the joy of our newfound band and to keep his tires on the trail. We summited Kitsuma together and descended in close succession. The final ride was the best. No one blew a tire, no one ate any dirt, and we all won in our own way.

As for myself, I was more than physically capable of finishing the race and had all the gear to do it, but I was inexperienced and uncomfortable. Looking back, I could have been more competitive in my ranking if I had wanted to, but I changed my rules and do not for one second regret it. I grew in my self-perception. I dictated my ending. I defined my own success, and while I am thoroughly impressed by the incredible times put up by those top riders, I am more than happy with the success I found in my first race.

Coach Morgan and a fellow racer at the finish of the Pisgah Enduro in Camp Greir.

My Nutrition Strategy for PMBAR: Eat Early and Often

My Nutrition Strategy for PMBAR: Eat Early and Often

Sarah Pruett Soufl, MS RDN LDN at the Finish line for Pisgah Productions Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race(PMBAR).

If you’re reading this, you know about the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race (PMBAR). It is an exciting endurance event with no set course in Pisgah National Forest, Brevard, NC. Getting at least 4 of 5 checkpoints can mean pedaling or pushing a bike up 8,500-11,000 feet over 50-80 miles. To a first-time teammate like me, it was everything: the magic of an all-day mountain bike adventure on world-class trails in a stunning forest bursting with springtime green and gently scented by wild blackberry blooms.

Nutrition Strategy: Learn my Body

Leading up to May 6, 2023, I was doing a lot more training than I had ever done, working up to rides over 5 hours.  I tried to get at least 10 hours in the saddle each week, combining gravel grinds with lots of techy downhill in Bent Creek, N. Mills and Brevard. I combined that with 2 days in McHone Performance Training where I focused on balance and strength training. The longer rides gave me a good sense of what my body needed in terms of food over the miles and hours; it was that experience of riding leading up to the event, more than any formula, which informed my intuitive approach to food on the day of PMBAR.  I found that I felt “better”, i.e. more energy, more satisfaction, less GI distress, when I was eating a “main course” like a savory sandwich, bagel with cream cheese, leftover dinner or burrito–and some salty potato chips–every 1 ½ to 2 hours of “hard” riding. I would say those items generally were 500-600 calories with relatively higher protein and fat than an energy bar or gel/goo/powder, which I would eat in between.

How I planned what to bring:

The total time allotted for the race is 14 hours, which would mean I would need at most 7 “main” courses and lots of salty snacks.  My teammate Leslie Prescott and I had the goal of getting back before dark but we were willing to stay out there if there were to be significantly more difficult checkpoints.  I would bring 5 “mains”, study the maps well so that we could be efficient, and bring lots of snacks like Trader Joe’s granola bars, Margarita Shot Bloks containing extra sodium, Skratch Labs drink powders and chews, mini beef sticks, Good & Gather 100% fruit strips, chocolate chip Z-bars and salted dark chocolate bark.

My 5 “mains”:

-2 breakfast burritos made with fajita-sized white tortillas, 1 ½ eggs, 1 pork sausage, cheddar cheese and ketchup each.

-2 cinnamon raisin bagels with cream cheese on both sides.

-1 peanut butter and jelly sandwich with an extra sprinkle of salt.

I ate the first burrito at the top of Clawhammer, 1.5 hours in. What a fun start to the race! From there, I had a main at each checkpoint and ate snacks while riding gravel or hiking in between. This strategy worked well as it was easier to add more glucose-heavy items later in the day when my GI tract had been nourished by foods higher in protein and fat.

Your mileage may vary! Speaking with a dietitian can help you dial in nutrition pre-, during and post-event.  Reach out if you want to talk more.

TNGA 2021 Just Keep Going

2021 was my 4th Trans North Georgia Adventure, with one finish and two DNF’s I returned to get some redemption on the mountains of North Georgia. TNGA is the kind of event that takes every rider along a very special kind of  journey of self discovery. The week leading up to the ride I got asked a lot of questions about why would someone put themselves through something so challenging? For me it's to find out where my edges are and how I handle myself despite surmounting adversity. When the rain, heat, humidity and countless other grueling physical challenges lying ahead start to break me down how will I respond? TNGA has become my litmus test each year for how much I have grown as a person and as a rider. 

Every year after TNGA I come away from the bike forever changed. These changes go beyond the superficial physical scars caused by chafing and briars to personal self discovery. After the last two DNF’s I took a deep look at my reasons for calling it quits and how I could come better prepared. First call I made was to sign up for the shuttle service and hotel combo offered by Mulberry Gap Adventure Basecamp. Logistics can be exhausting and overwhelming when taking on a big adventure so this year would need to be a solo mission. I drove from Asheville  to Northern Georgia leaving at 5am the morning before the race to make it to Mulberry Gap on time to park the minivan and load up on the bike shuttle to Clayton, GA. Being a part of the shuttle experience this year was one of my favorite parts of the adventure. The scene at Mulberry felt like a family reunion, I had to smile seeing all of the veteran riders mingling with rookies as everyone's bikes were being loaded up.

On the shuttle I got to exchange stories with other riders and got to hear some of the original days of TNGA of sleeping in group yurt and Andrew cooking. These days the logistics are much more streamlined and we would all be sleeping in the Days Inn the night before the ride and eating at one of the local restaurants. Arriving at the hotel so early gave me time to look over my set up one more time and even top off my breaks. Earlier in the year I raced the Rockstar in Virginia, after losing my front braking ability in the first 10 miles so I wanted to make sure I double checked that they were working optimally. With all things feeling dialed in it was time to grab dinner with some of the usual suspects to fill out bellies before some much needed sleep. 

Race morning I did my traditional 5am commute to the local Waffle House to get a few thousand calories in. After breakfast it was back to the hotel to load up on the shuttle. The shuttle vibes were a mix of stoke and nerves before heading off to battle our way across the North Georgia Mountains. Due to Covid restrictions the grand depart was split into three different start times: Friday 8am, Saturday 7am & 8am. I was a part of the Saturday 8am group roll out. After a few quick photos with friends it was time to  line up time on the bridge that serves as the dividing line between Georgia and South Carolina. Honcho gave us a two minute warning followed by a few inspirational words then released us into Georgia. 

My biggest goal this year was to race my own race so I had lined up in the middle of the pack on the bridge but it wasn’t long before I found myself leading the pack up the gravel climb. I kept the throttle back to make sure I didn’t blow up in the first 100 miles where we would climb over 20,000 ft. Between dad life and being a small business owner my training this year has been very spotty. I did a ton of running the first 3 months of the year to train for my first 100 mile ultra run and since then I have tried to get consistent rides each week. Bouncing back and forth with fellow rider Chris Joice, both of us riding our own paces kept us together off and on in the early miles. I enjoyed these moments riding together as it kept my spirits high when the rain set in around mile 50. Little did any of us know that an unpredicted rain storm would join us off and on for the next 24 hours leaving us all soggy and chafed. Chris and I reached the top of a climb around mile 70. I started the charge on the descent but I was halted almost instantly due to a black bear cub. We decided to give the cub a few minutes to move on before we came plowing down the mountain. At the bottom of that descent Chris who had bounced his Spot Tracker off a few hours earlier thought he had lost his tracking device again so he turned around and started back tracking up the mountain. All racers are required to carry a tracking device called Spot Tracker, without it there is no way to show where we are in real time. This is the last time I would see Chris or any of the other riders before Helen.

After descending Tray Mountain, the longest section of single track on the route 10 miles and 2,400 I arrived soggy to the gas station on route just outside of Helen. I quickly resupplied and made my way over to some picnic tables next door. This was the last opportunity of the day for me to talk to my family so I called them up for a video chat while I ate my dinner that consisted of a can of Campbell's Soup, Snickers, potato chips and a Coke. It wasn't long before the picnic area became party central with 7 other riders joining me for dinner. Trying to take my time I was the 3rd rider to head back out on route and into the darkness of night fall. 

There were two large climbs coming up with little to no resupply for another 30 miles. After the first climb I decided to go off route to refill on water at Vogal State Park. After getting back on route I was now behind several of the riders who pushed past this refill and as I started the next big climb I heard “McHone” called out from a pump house off to my left. Chris knew of a better water resupply than I did and was refilling somewhere in the darkness. I continued to climb and passed another rider or two on my way up to Bear Pen. Luckily the rain had held off on this section of climbing but once I turned off onto gravel it was obvious that it wouldn’t be long before we would be getting hit again. I stopped for a moment to put my rain jacket on when Chris caught back up. He told me that he was going to hold off for a little longer before putting his jacket on. I thought this might be a good idea also since climbing in a rain jacket gets hot and sweaty real fast. Chris may have misguided me on this one because it wasn’t long before we all got hammered with another storm right as we started the descent. It was around this time that I had also bumped into Joe Rinehart and I had realized that my lights were struggling from all of the rain. One of the two lights was almost dead and would only stay on for 5 seconds at a time. Trying to conserve the other light I played a game with the dying light which helped to pass the time into Coopers Creek by turning the light on and counting down from five. When the light turned off I would turn it back on and begin the countdown again 5,4,3,2,1....

In previous years when I came by Coopers Creek I just rolled on due to it being so late that everything was closed but this year they hooked it up and held their word staying open 24/7 for the TNGA racers. I put in my order for a slice of lasagna and a burger to go. With a little down time while the food was getting cooked I decided it was time to check out the feet and give them a little TLC. I took off my shoes and socks and gave both feet a heavy dose of Gold Bond powder. The same group of us that had collected outside of Helen were all chowing down at Coopers. Jason and Jon who had taken off first from Helen were the first to set back off just before another wave of rain set in. With my rain jacket failing me by only drying on the outside I made the call to take a little nap under a nearby lean to shed and see if the rain would pass in the next hour. 

This was the time of night that normally I had just used my grit to push through struggling to stay awake while riding. Sticking with riding my own race I watched a few more riders roll out into the wet night while I curled up on two camp chairs. The hardest part about naps is that it drops your core temp and the 65 degree damp air felt much colder but it was time to get going. Joe  was getting ready to roll out also, little did I know that this would be the last time I would see him on route as a rider. Knowing it was just 20 miles before rolling through a little rafting town of Iron Bridge on Toccoa River I set off cranking to warm up and knock out the easy miles while they lasted. 

Next on the checklist of walls that had hit me hard in previous years was the two sections of single track where historically I stumbled and hiked my way through the darkness. This yeah due to my nap I was feeling alert and fresh when I arrived at the Aska Trails Parking Lot. The sun was now coming up and after a few miles it was lights off but right as I started to feel the sweet relief of daylight I looked down to see my front tire about to roll over a rattlesnake. Without thinking I pulled up on my handlebars and cranked hard on the pedals causing me to ride a wheelie over the snake. I didn’t look back as I continued to panic pedal away as fast as possible. Next up was another section of single track climbing up to Stanley Gap where I got another wake up from a bee stinger in my left thigh. After this rad descent I rolled into the Cherry Log Community where I found Chris posted up peering through to small slits in his eyes mostly closed from sleep deprivation. I refilled my water and chatted with Chris who had decided this would be his final destination of his ride due to trench foot setting in on him throughout the night. 

I had 30 miles to go to get me to Mulberry Gap with the Cohuttas looming in the distance separating me from a shower and a burrito. This section was one of the most demoralizing for me with what always seems to be an endless climb followed by several sections of technical single track trails. Close to the top of the gravel climb I rolled up on Joe Warton who informed me that he believed that his journey would be over once he reached Mulberry Gap. Joe, like Chris and Joe Reinhart was a veteran to the route and even though he was ahead of me and keeping up with me he shared that he was cooked. Joe and I kept each other company as we slogged through super saturated trails that at times were un rideable due to the mud and fallen trees. Hanger started to set in the closer we got to finishing Pinhoti 2, I wanted a warm meal so bad! My original plan was to see how I was feeling when P2 dumped out onto Mulberry Gap Road to see if I would pass up the Mulberry Trap which can eat up several hours of down time. My decision had been made for several hours, Mulberry here we come! 

For funsies Joe and I raced up the steep paved driveway to The Barn where Joe would be finished for this year's ride. I walked inside and was greeted by Kate who is use to seeing(and smelling) the likes of TNGA riders. Trying to honor riding my own race that included self preservation I asked Kate for the works, it was time for a quick shower and nap while my riding gear got laundered. Next stop was to get all of my electronics set up and charging before flopping onto one of the camping cots in The Barn/dining hall. I set my alarm for a 90min nap hit the feet with another round of Gold Bond then it was lights out. Upon waking I put down two burritos and ordered one to go as I exchanged my robe for my riding gear. Feeling fresh, fat and sassy I got the bike dialed back in and gave a round of high 5’s to some of my fellow riders who wouldn't be heading back out.

As I crested the top of the Mulberry gravel climb I took a moment to call the family for a quick check in before heading down to P3 where I would be climbing up into the void. Feeling stoked to start P3 feeling freshish I started the climb with confidence which was soon shattered by my chain dropping down. WTF? I played with the cable tension and tried to continue but it just kept dropping off of the top two cogs of my 11 speed drivetrain. I must have been messing with it for a few minutes because I started receiving texts telling me to keep going. After taking a moment to look my cassette over I realized that the teeth had been worn down to the point I could no longer use my top climbing gears(granny gears). I thought of bailing and heading back to Mulberry to hang with my friends who had ended their journey but the voices in my head grew louder telling me to keep going. WWCJD(what would Chris Joice do?) A few months back Chris and I had been on an epic ride together and he, a dedicated single speed rider, picked on me for sitting in my granny gear so much. Well it was time to see what I had in the tank. Would the last 150 be easy this way? Heck no! Could I continue? Yes, so I pushed on. 

Crossing over onto P3 & P4 put me in the place of no easy way out once I started the descent on P5. I looked down and WTF? My light was already blinking orange which shouldn’t happen for another several hours. I tried turning on my other light and it was dead dead. Going for it was only one way to find out if I could make it through the next two sections of single track with my current scenario so I put my light on strobe mode(lowest setting) and continued on. It didn’t take long before my light was almost dead so I stopped and plugged it into my backup battery while I had my burrito. To give the light a little time to charge I decided to continue by using the flashlight function on the back up battery so that I could charge my light and still ride. This got real sketchy. With only my right hand on the bars and my left hand holding the battery flashlight I continued to make my way through the Pinhoti’s. By the time I reached pavement I had enough charge to go back to strobe mode and start cranking out paved miles. The combo of boring flat paved road, sleep deprivation and staring at a strobe light made my eyes grow heavy. I needed a short nap before the last couple of miles into Dalton. 

I made a deal with myself that the first church I rode by I would scope it out to see if a short nap out front would be worth the stop. Coming across a small while country church with a small awning and two benches outside of the main entrance looked so luxurious I made myself at home. My feet were still talking to me so I felt this would be a good time to air the shoes, socks and feet so that I could give them another round of Gold Bond before taking a nap. I woke up just before my alarm went off due to a large pick up truck across the street sitting idle with its high beams on. This didn’t seem like the most friendly gesture at 3am so I loaded up and put myself back together before hitting the road for Dalton. The burrito I had eaten hours ago was burned up by now so I headed straight to Waffle House. After a few hundred calories and an awkward 30 minutes of the late night Waffle House experience which I'm never sure who is the most odd character in the room, is that character me? A bit delusional I set off to a 24 hour gas station at the edge of town that would serve as my last resupply for the next 87 miles. Real food was sitting much better than snacks and sugary things at this point in the ride so I went with an old favorite, the gas station frozen burrito. An old bikepacking trick is to buy a frozen burrito for the road and eat it hours later once it has unthawed. Yum!

The sun was starting to rise as I pedaled up the road to Snake Creek Gap. This climb serves as the approach climb to a section of the Pinhoti Trail that traverses 15 miles from Snake Creek Gap to Dug Gap, affectionately known as The Snake. The Snake is a section of trail that alone would be a big day on the bike, luckily during the TNGA you get to start it at mile 255. The next 80 miles would consist of many hike a bikes, downed trees, and few water resupplies. I surfed The Snake for the next 13 hours. It was full on sweat fest, a 90 degree 100% humidity in Georgia kinda of day. Two of my highlights were seeing two bikepacking legends on the trail. First Linda Sledge who is 74 years young. She was walking some of the rock tech when I rolled up but she was moving fast on foot. I didn’t see anyone for several hours after passing Linda and her riding partner. Just after filling up at a creek crossing several hours later I decided it was time to check in on my burrito. The Georgia sun had cooked it propper so I propped up my bike on a tree and took a squat, it was lunch time. A few bites into my meal I heard another rider pushing his way up the hill. Eddie O’dea, former TNGA winner and FKT record holder came rolling by my trail picnic. Confession...Eddie you and some of the early ultra riders are what made me want to get into the sport. 

Getting close to mile 300 at the hottest part of the day, pushing my bike up a mountain I had one of those this is why moments. I began looking back at the year that had led up to me being on this adventure. I saw my friends and family's faces as I pushed on towards the sun. All the work and time spent training in any spare time that I had. Training in 2021 started off with 3 months of running culminating in my first 100 mile ultra. Since then my biking came back into the picture but there was still the struggle for time and getting the most efficient workouts possible. Dad life, small business owner and endurance athlete doesn't leave time for any other hobbies. The blessings that allowed me to be here took over and I found a new energy, I felt the love and support of all those following along my journey. In the middle of nowhere I had y’all. 

The Pinhoti flowed along high ridges covered by grassy fields with a tint of gold from the setting sun. This was one of my favorite sections. The route then crosses highway 27 before a stout gravel climb up to a water tower before reconnecting with the Pinhoti Trail again. I had charged my one half working light as much as possible and the back up battery pack was now dead. I knew I didn't have much daylight left so I put the hammer down again blasting through single track and racing the sun. It was a fiery sunset on that third evening. The trail connected back with a dirt road along the ridge before dropping back onto single track. It was now too dark to see so I turned on the light to blink mode and continued as fast as I felt safe to travel on what was now steep, rocky, tech single track. Imagine riding a bike at night and blinking slowly, things got a little weird after dark that last night. 

Finally I came out into the trailhead parking lot and it was time to crank out some easy flat paved miles. My feet were not feeling the best so I decided to air them out by keeping my shoes clipped in but took my feet out and placed my feet on top of the shoes and kept pedaling. My light was now blinking red indicating that it wouldn’t be long before it died again so I looked at Google maps to see if there was a nearby gas station. Just off route one mile was a gas station so I booked it to get there just 5 minutes before they closed. I loaded up on any food that didn’t make me nauseous when I looked at it. I also bought batteries for the headlamp I had brought in hopes of using it as a backup. Outside of the gas station I plugged up my charger and light to get a little charge for the next stretch. It was going to have to be a sprint to Cave Springs, the next stop where I would need to charge again. While things were charging I treated myself to a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and took care of my feet one last time. The couple that owned the gas station turned to me on their way to their car and asked “are you ok?” I smiled and said yes before going back to my ice cream. 

It was a little over 20 miles to Cave Springs, all of which were flatish and paved. I was feeling good knowing that the worst was behind me and it was just cranking out a few more miles and the adventure would come to an end. I passed the miles by following my blinking light with amazement of the amount of random things that collect on the sides of the road. Rolling into Cave Springs a little after 2am I needed to charge one more time before the final push to the border. The town was silent except for 2 teenagers in the park. I leaned the bike up against the outside of a closed gas station, plugged my light in to charge and laid down with my legs up the wall for my last nap of the 2021 TNGA. 30 minutes was all I needed for me and my light to charged up enough to finish the route but there was still no time for slow rolling it. I quickly cranked out the paved section before the last bit of Pinhoti. This section of the Pinhoti is super trippy at night especially when you're riding on blink mode. Feeling good I popped out onto the last section of dirt feeling strong and capable of still standing up and charging the last few hills before entering the Silver Comet Greenway. With just a few flat greenway miles left I started to feel the enormity of this ride begin to lift. Someone's flashlight off in the distance let me know the end was in sight. As I rolled up to the archway that separates Georgia and Alabama two figures in the darkness cheered me though. TNGA 2021: 2 days, 20 hours and 49 minutes.