EVENT
REGISTRATION

ORAMM

Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell
24th Annual – July 23rd, 2023

Old Fort, NC

60 miles – 10,500’+ Elevation

 

REGISTRATION OPEN

 

The Off-Road Assault on Mt Mitchell is a 60 mile MTB race with 10,500 feet of climbing. From Old Fort you climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just below Mt Mitchell on beautiful Forest Service roads and unbelievable North Carolina single track. There are fully stocked rest stops approximately every 10 miles and you can send anything you want to the rest areas with our staff. Mt Mitchell peaks at 6684 ft and is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi river. The MTB race starts and finishes in the town of Old Fort, North Carolina and sits at around 1400 feet. Most of the climbing is on Forest Service roads while most of the singletrack points downhill! One of the best marathon distance MTB courses in the US!

Do not underestimate the extreme difficulty and danger of this MTB race. The course is extremely demanding and travels over rugged terrain with extreme elevation changes. The forest remains in its natural habitat. It is not uncommon to see wildlife such as a wildcat or a black bear. Be ready to cope with any circumstances!! Please note that firearms are not permitted in certain areas. Aid stations will help with safety matters, but it is the competitor’s ultimate responsibility to insure his or her own safety. A few course-related facts: the 60 mile course record was set in 2019 by pro rider Jerimiah Bishop, who finished in 4 hours 17 minutes. One MTB rider completed the course with only one month of riding under his belt, however this rider quit riding altogether after the race! Others too have retired their MTB efforts after competing in this race. This is not your typical MTB race. Regardless of how you finish, you will have competed in the most exciting mountain bike race in the entire Southeast!!!

This race is limited to 500 participants.

RACE INFORMATION - Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell

Date: Sunday July 23, 2023 (Rain or Shine)

Time: Mandatory MTB race meeting at start line at 7:50 am. Race starts at 8:00 am.

Packet Pickup: Registration packet pickup begins race morning at 6:00 am. Early packet pickup will be available on Friday from 4:00-9:00 pm and on Saturday from 4:00-9:00 pm at Mountain Gateway Museum. I.D. Required.

Fee: $150 until 6/18/23; $160 until 7/16/23; $170 day of race

Amenities: Chip timed instant results, categories, Awesome Rest Stops, Upcountry Brewing Beer with Pasta (Meat or Vegetarian) Feast, Well Marked MTB Route, Restrooms, Wicked NC Singletrack and so much more.

T Shirts:  T-shirts are optional to all who register before June 25th

Injuries: Have no illusions you can escape some type of injury on 60 miles of rough terrain. Whether it be an abrasion or a mental breakdown, everyone suffers in one way or another. This is not your normal MTB race.

For 2023, all of Blue Ridge Adventures’ races help support the Bread of Life.

 

VENUE & PARKING - Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell

Directions to Start/Finish at the Mountain Gateway Museum

GPS Address For START: 24 Water St. Old Fort, NC 28762

From Asheville – Highway 40 heading East:
Take Exit #73 – Old Fort
Turn LEFT onto Catawba Avenue towards downtown
Travel for 0.6 mile
Follow signs for parking 
VENUE is across Catawba Ave at the Mountain Gateway Museum

From Charlotte – Highway 40 heading West:
Take Exit #73 – Old Fort
Turn RIGHT on Catawba Avenue towards downtown
Travel for 0.5 mile
Follow signs for parking 
VENUE is across Catawba Ave at the Mountain Gateway Museum

ParkingMap

 

LODGING - Lodging / Camping options in Old Fort, NC

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SCHEDULE - Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

  • 6:00-7:30am – Registration Packet Pickup at Start/Finish – Mountain Gateway Museum I.D. Required.
  • 7:50am – Racer Meeting at start line – All racers must attend
  • 8:00am – Race Start – Mass Start led out by Old Fort Police Department
  • 12:00pm – Cutoff for Rest Stop 1
  • 12:30-1:00pm – First Finisher expected
  • 2:00pm – Cutoff for Rest Stop 2
  • 2:30pm – Shuttled items from Rest Stop 2 expected back
  • 2:30pm – Awards Ceremony for all categories with Top 3 Finishers (must be present to collect your award)
  • 4:00pm – Cutoff for Rest Stop 3
  • 4:00pm – Awards Ceremony for all other ORAMM categories (must be present to collect your award)
    Shuttled items from Rest Stop 3 expected back
  • 6:00pm – Shuttled items from Rest Stop 1/4 expected  back*

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*Rest Stop 1/4 is easy to locate on your way out of town if you need your shuttled items sooner.

SPECTATORS - Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell

ORAMM Spectators

We encourage your friends and family members to cheer you on during the MTB race and have maps available for them at the registration area.

Please take note, spectators are allowed at Rest Stops 1/4 & 2 ONLY. Do not have your support meet you on the Blue Ridge Parkway or you will be disqualified.

We have had issues with parking in the past at the rest stop locations, so there will be enforcement of parking guidelines to ensure a safe MTB event for all involved.

Rest Stop 1/4

  • Spectators will need to park in the back of the Brookside Baptist Church parking lot. Follow signage and parking assistant.
  • Please do not park on the road! There is plenty of parking in the grassy field behind the church.
  • Please be considerate and respectful as church will be in session during the MTB race.

Rest Stop 2

  • Spectators will need to park on Curtis Creek Road with all wheels OFF the road so as to not cause interference with regular traffic.
  • Do not park on the dirt road leading to the rest stop area or in the recreation area parking lot.
  • We are required by the Forest Service to keep the recreation parking area open for other users of the forest.
  • Walk down the road and through the recreation area to a grassy field on the left which will host the Rest Stop.
Area Map

2016-ORAMM-SpectatorMap

Directions to ORAMM Rest Stop 1/4

From the Gateway Museum in Downtown Old Fort:

  • Turn LEFT on Highway 70/W Main St.
  • Turn RIGHT on Old US Highway 70 towards Andrew’s Geyser.
  • You will travel for a few miles and eventually see the Kitsuma Picnic Area on your left.
  • Turn RIGHT onto Mill Creek Road.
  • You will travel for another 2.5 miles or so passing Andrew’s Geyser. Mill Creek Road will turn left into gravel.
  • Stay STRAIGHT/Veer RIGHT on Graphite Road.
  • There will be an assistant and signage directing you to park in the BACK of the church parking lot. Please keep in mind Church is in session during the race.

Directions to ORAMM Rest Stop 2

From the Gateway Museum in Downtown Old Fort:

  • Turn RIGHT on Highway 70/E Main St.
  • Travel for 1.8 miles.
  • Turn LEFT on Curtis Creek Road.
  • The Rest Stop location will be 1.4 miles up on your left.
  • You will need to park on Curtis Creek Road, with ALL wheels off the road and not blocking the entrance to the recreation area.
  • You cannot access the rest stop by car directly and will need to walk a short distance on the gravel road down to the grassy field where the rest stop is located.
  • You cannot park in the recreation area parking lot as this area is to remain open for other users of the forest.
  • Sandwich boards will assist you in finding the rest stop location.
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REVIEWS - Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell

OFF-ROAD ASSAULT ON MT MITCHELL REVIEWS