Burnsville, NC, United States · Saturday, May 15, 2027

Fixed Distance 50K

Quest for the Crest 50k

227 days away

50 km Distance

3,500 m Climbing

7.8 Grit · Hardcore

35.9173° N, 82.3010° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 70 m / km Vertical. Extreme verticality. This is a technical mountain course with sustained steep grades.

Field size ~97 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, May

Daytime high 22°C

Night low 11°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 14 h 02 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 753 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2026	50km	97	David Wenzel · 08:01:45	Chantalle Falconer · 08:52:49
2024	50km	154	Lukas Burrer · 07:50:03	Kate Dohnal · 09:49:50
2023	50km	192	Grant Barnette · 07:05:22	Katie O'Regan · 09:07:47
2022	50km	136	David Hedges · 06:38:12	Sabrina Stanley · 08:29:03
2021	50km	169	Cory Keehn · 06:20:09	Sabrina Stanley · 07:21:52
2020	50km	114	Kyle Boykin · 06:12:46	Summer Frazier · 07:56:53
2019	50km	165	Avery Collins · 06:43:56	Amanda Morris · 08:52:23
2018	50km	138	Aaron Saft · 07:02:47	Amanda Morris · 08:32:19
2017	50km	116	Avery Collins · 06:45:50	Jacqueline Merritt · 08:32:00
2016	50km	96	Kyle Curtin · 07:01:43	Kristina Folcik-Welts · 07:33:39

The field shrank 37% between 2024 (154) and 2026 (97). 21% of the 2026 field were women.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a vertical course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 50 km of trail with 3,500 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 70 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 3,500 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Maurten