Power lines wrote:
In explanation of the briars, brambles and thorns... Some of the trail is following a power line up a steep mountain, where the growth has been cut back 100% when installed. A single or sometimes double track trail develops from hikers over the years but without proper ecosystem of natural shade from trees that were once there, ground cover encroaches all over from direct sun and rain, hence lots of brambles.
No explanation is needed for why brambles exist. The race is designed specifically to make people go through the brambles. It’s all part of why the race is so difficult and also why it’s an adventure race and not a running race.
I like Barkleys. I would never put myself through that but I think it’s great that others do. I don’t know why anybody gets worked up about it. It’s ok that it’s an adventure race.