Check out the 2016 T-shirt design. You know you want one. See the “Registration” tab for more information on how to register. If wanting to guarantee you receive a shirt, register by Monday, Sept. 19. See you Oct. 1 in downtown Norton!
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We climb…rain or shine
On your mark Hellbenders! The second annual climb is less than two days away! Last year we almost had snow and this year it looks we might have rain. The race will be held rain or shine. While you might not get crystal clear views, the woods and High Knob tower are still beautiful in the rain and clouds. Please be prepared for cool/rainy weather and wear bright clothing. We will also shuttle clothing bags to the finish line. And if you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time! Online registration is still open (https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=33019) and race day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
T-shirt guarantee
Hey there Hellbenders! Be sure to register by midnight on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 to guarantee that you receive a race T-shirt. See the Registration tab for links to paper and online forms. Can’t wait to see everyone Oct. 1!
Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who braved the COLD weather today to run in or volunteer for the inaugural High Knob Hellbender! We hope you enjoyed the hills, the views, and the beautiful fall scenery. We’ll see you in 2015! Until then, happy climbing!
Sincerely,
Deidre Donahue and Katie Dunn, The Race Directors
New Tower
Below is a taste of what runners will see at the finish line! The new High Knob Observation Tower will officially be unveiled to the public at an Aug. 22 ceremony. Standing atop the tower’s observation deck at an elevation of 4,233 feet, an expansive viewshed extends from Virginia into Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. The total cost to build the tower is estimated at $800,000. The High Knob Enhancement Corporation, which formed in 2008, led efforts to build the tower after arsonists in October 2007 burned down the former tower. The corporation collected more than $500,000 for the new tower through donations from more than 600 individuals and organizations. For more information on the corporation, its work, and the history of the mountain’s fire towers, visit http://www.highknob.org.
Photo courtesy Katie Dunn, Coalfield Progress
Photo courtesy Katie Dunn, Coalfield Progress
Photo courtesy Katie Dunn, Coalfield Progress
Photo courtesy Katie Dunn, Coalfield Progress
Photo courtesy Katie Dunn, Coalfield Progress
Race logo unveiled!
Check out the awesome race logo featuring a likeness of the new High Knob observation tower and a Hellbender! The inspiration for the race’s namesake is not only the “hell-bending” road runners will tackle to reach the High Knob summit, but also the Eastern Hellbender. This large, aquatic salamander can be found in Virginia in the mainstem and tributaries of the New River drainage and in the Clinch, Powell, and Holston River tributaries of the Upper Tennessee River. They can live to 30 years in the wild and more than 50 years in captivity. For more information on these awesome amphibians, check out the state DGIF web page, http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hellbender/.
High Knob Hellbender 10k 