Here are David's announcements and updates [emphasis mine]: I intend to challenge the current fully supported FKT on Colorado Trail Northbound with Colorado Trail West. I hope that Jeff makes it. MovingMountains The Colorado Trail FKT write-up and record boards. He’s already rolled through the biggest climb of the trail (> 4k). I will carry all my food and supplies from start to finish and not accept any outside assistance, to include no trail magic. How could I not hike it? The trail itself was tougher than I thought it would be. Day 8 (8/11): N Fork Swan River, 91.4 miles to go. Thanks…. Betsy's time was beaten just 3 days later and by only a few minutes by Hal Koerner, 9d10h19m (shows the advantage of knowing the existing record!) That’s an understatement. Get our Handbook - the resource you need to make intelligent decisions about gear, safety, comfort, and pack weight. In reply to Hello all, After some quick research, I saw that the Unsupported FKT was just established a few months ago. I'm really intrigued to become more efficient in the mountains based on this attempt. Hargreaves made a second attempt in 2017, but stopped after 109 miles, a few hours behind FKT pace.
Bronson Hargreaves reports a remarkable unsupported time for the CT of 8d18h7m, August 14-23, 2016, less than 18 hours slower than the fully supported record! He held the record for just a short while, as Jeff âLegendâ Garmire, a 28-year-old ultrarunner from Colorado hiked it in a blistering 5 days, 23 hours and 48 minutes to finish on July 24. I can only shake my head in disbelief at the good fortune I encountered along the Colorado Trail: perfect weather, interesting people, no major mechanicals, and no major physical or mental meltdowns. My bad! More importantly, it was on the way home driving from Colorado back to Minnesota. Buzz Burrell & Peter Bakwin hit the CT back in 1999. I will be going from Durango to Waterton Canyon and taking the east variation in the Collegiate area. -- David Horton
The Colorado Trail climbs more than 75,000 feet of elevation as it traverses eight distinct mountain ranges. He suffered a bit in the high elevations of the San Juans. On Wednesday 9/9 (or Thursday depending on Tuesday’s storm) I plan on attempting to break Mikaela bad ass self supported record on the Colorado Trail, Denver to Durango, Collegiate East. The Colorado Trail made sense in the amount of challenge it presented with elevation gain and distance, as well as adding the challenge of doing it entirely unsupported as both an extra challenge and pandemic precautions. Shawn Forryâs unsupported FKT novel of a recap (10,000 words). That’s only fair; I knew Basham’s time, and went for it, so he should know mine." More info is below. The Colorado Trail. The MapShare site shows the progress of someone tracking with an inReach satellite communicator. Thanks for your inspiration.  That is, instead of a distinction between supported and unsupported there should also be a hiking/fastpacking and trail running categories for each. Mentally it is there constantly. He had a pretty slow stretch as he started up Elk Creek today and then turned on the afterburners and he seems to have had a pretty strong evening. Garmire made the 486-mile journey in nine days, 8 hours, and 18 minutes. I will be using a SPOT device to track my location at various times along the way. I spent my first summer in the Mile High City climbing all 58 14ers in the state. My connection to the CO Trail is strong, and I'm really looking forward to spending the next 9ish days out there! John Zahorian reports hiking the CT unsupported in a very fast 9d12h32m, July 11-20, 2016. I will also have the ability to post on Twitter (@mexifast) and FB along the way via the Garmin Inreach. I will be using my Garmin 935 as well as a Garmin Inreach Mini for backup (and live tracking) which I will turn off at night. I will be traveling from Waterton Canyon to Durango and use the Collegiate East route. Congrats to Mikaela Osler on her record-smashing hike in Colorado! Thu, 08/16/2018 - 01:43pm, I am starting a female supported FKT attempt of the CO Trail tomorrow late afternoon in Durango. Movie… Continue Reading → He’s ahead of an FKT pace, and has two huge things going for him right now: he started with a very light pack and that’s only getting lighter; and the San Juans are behind him. On September 21, Gnarly athlete and ultrarunner Mike McKnight set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Colorado Trail, a 485-mile-long path from Denver to Durango. If he moves too fast (too many Calories per mile), he’ll run out of body fat. With this time, Jeff broke the previous unsupported Colorado Trail FKT of 9 days, 12 hours, and 32 minutes, set by John Zahorian in 2016. Making the official announcement, in about 12 hours I'll be leaving Durango on my attempt to establish a Denver bound, Collegiate East self supported FKT and challenge Andre Michaud's current overall self supported FKT. On Saturday, Suunto team runner Ryan Montgomery set a new unsupported FKT record on Mt. Mikaela Osler left the Colorado Trail near Denver on the morning of July 30. Attempting to best John Zahorian’s and Brandon Staponowich’s records. The CT has also seen a few truly unsupported trips. And the hardest stuff is behind him. Receive new Members-only content, gain access to 2,000+ articles in the archives, and become a part of the most passionate community of backpacking experts in the world. The Peak 2 Fire near Breckenridge ended his journey early. I will be on foot the entire time and accept no muling/pacing etc. Ariella Gintzler July 29th, 2016 . Also tracking with my COROS and uploading to Strava. The John Muir Trail (JMT) is a 2- to 3-week thru-hike in the Sierra Nevadas that is part of the longer Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). @mtwarden – Jeff’s team asked me not to post the tracking link publicly. I'm planning to start early morning August 5th at Waterton CYN. While some supported trail runners can finish it in less than 10 days (the unsupported fastest-known time is 9 days, 12 hours and 32 minutes by John Zahorian), most thru-hikers spend about 4 to 6 weeks (28 to 42 days) on the trail. Forry carried a SPOT Tracker, and his track is archived on trackleaders.com. I felt like she was pushing crazy hard. Colorado native Jeff Garmire has set a new record for the fastest time ever to complete an unsupported hike along the Colorado Trail. Sun, 09/06/2020 - 04:58pm. I'll be tracking on my watch and uploading to Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/24593115 . He had big goals (PCT FKT, AT FKT, Barkley Marathons) that were crushed by COVID, so he recalibrated and started training again a few months ago without a real goal in mind other than he wanted to go after a prestigious trail record. At Spring Creek Pass (photo: Elisabeth Tizekker) –, Ryan- I didn’t see a link for his tracking; you have one you can post. Mikaela Osler left the Colorado Trail near Denver on the morning of July 30. GraceMarie14 I will have a Garmin InReach for tracking, camera on my phone, and will post on IG/FB as Im able (milissajayn). If he moves too slow (higher basal metabolic load), he’s going to run out of food.  He is definitely making a statement here. The CT was first done this way in 2004 by Demetri (Coup) Coupounas, the founder of GoLite, in about 20 days. Jeff Garmire and the Colorado Trail FKT Jeff Garmire and the Colorado Trail FKT In this episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast, Andrew and Ryan interview some of the folks who came together to make friendâo-the-podcast Jeff Garmireâs recent FKT of the Colorado Trail a success: Maggie Slepian, Dylan Harris, Nik Tizekker, and, of course, the Fastest Known Tiger himself. In addition I'll be taking lots of pictures and videos, including pictures showing my watch in front of recognizable landmarks for further verification. David hiked until about 2AM and slept a bit at Little Molas Lake, about 72 miles. I will likely send off a location at night. Is carrying all food from the beginning  a first for the Colorado trail? http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/10/colorado-trail, https://share.garmin.com/ScottJaimeColoradoTrail2019, http://trackleaders.com/cti.php?name=Fast_Eddy, Dale Garland, Dave LaFranboise, John McAward, John Wolgamott. September 22, 2020 September 22, 2020 Jeff Garmire. I can’t imagine unsupported. Jonathan Basham ran 8d13h28m (east to west) in July 14-22, 2006, supported by AT-record-holder Andrew Thompson. Mountain bikers must deviate from the hiker route in several places to avoid wilderness areas. That DJI Osmo Pocket camera seems super cool. I will be posting public updates on my insta: @mikaelaosler. Dale Garland, Dave LaFranboise, John McAward and John Wolgamott ran from Durango to Denver in about 17 days. In reply to Hello FKT world! I will post my inreach link so I can be tracked. His plan is to get about 4-5 hours of sleep each night, so we’re expecting him to roll for another hour and a half maybe. The Colorado Trail can be a life-changing experience if you let it! Looking forward very much to this time in the great mountains of Colorado! Both Kalmeyer and Koerner ran east to west. I have informed John Zahorian, current unsupported FKT holder, of my attempt. I cashed in some serious good karma along the way and I am very grateful to everybody who loaned me some of theirs (I’ll pay you back)! He hiked the PCT in 2011, the Pacific Northwest Trail in 2014, summited the Colorado 14ers in 2015, and completed a Calendar Year Triple Crown in 2016. Its average elevation is more than 10,000 feet. Jeff said he had semi-hallucinations on the LT, so I’m thinking with the higher altitude and longer distances of the CT he might go into a full blown altered state. My toes fell like they got skewered. on 2020 FKT of the Year Award! Day 4 (8/07): Marshall Pass, 217.8 miles. Take care, dre’. So with Jeff carrying 45,600 Calories, that means he may need to make up 70k or more with body fat reserves. Wish me luck! Each day, the last section ATE my lunch. I’ll fix that ASAP. It took everything that I had to finish each day. I will have plenty of witnesses, photo documentation, and written documentation in addition to the DeLorme. Fri, 07/03/2020 - 08:11am. My ankles are stiff and creaky and my knees scream or help if I expect too much from them. Paul clocked 8 days, 12 hrs, 14 mins, 5 seconds, bettering the previous mark by about one and a quarter hours. I will use mail drops, caches and businesses as necessary. Here's what happened: Earlier in day 8, Kirsten and one of the photographers tried to forge a creek, but the engine flooded, rendering the Jeep inoperable (it had to be towed away). It was long, it was hot, it was windy, it was sandy, it was dusty, it was tough. In 2018 he set the Unsupported FKT on the Double Trans Zion route and hiked the Great Western Loop. In keeping with social distancing, I will have a one-man support team, my oldest friend, David Greedy. This unsupported trip around the Tahoe Rim Trail has been in my head for 2.5 years. Murphy's report includes the following lines that I think will resonnate with many who engage in these types of individual adventures:
Sat, 07/25/2020 - 08:29am. There will be no resupply or other outside support. I really enjoyed Jeff’s podcast after his Long Trail FKT last year. Her July 6 through July 8 effort bettered the overall womenâs FKT of 59:36 set by Meghan Hicks in 2016.. but it will be nice to have a "rabbit" way ahead of me! Oslerâs success on the Colorado Trail sets the bar high for those seeking an F.K.T. I’m excited to announce that I’ll be attempting the Colorado trail female FKT. Colorado Trail Record (FKT) Trip Report . Such relays have not been common for trail FKT attempts, but could add an interesting new element if standards can be created. This is a fast time, but still 3 days over the record. Its average elevation is more than 10,000 feet. I started every day before daylight, usually around 4:00 AM and finished every day after dark. ), we see no reason to dispute his claim of a new unsupported FKT. I will be on foot the entire time and accept no muleing/pacing etc. That could be up to 20+ pounds of body weight (less if he moderates his pace), depending on how efficiently he can burn fat vs. muscle. I have experimented with two sleep strategies. This guy is legit NUTS!! I basically made a last desperate burst to Waterton, looking at my watch the whole way. Based on this as well as the language in the updates, someone else was with him likely helping him. Despite a phone, a camera crew and possibly the busiest year to hike the Colorado Trail, I took the unsupported definition even further personally. At first I considered a self-supported FKT, caching food along the route. That’s 45,600 Calories, or 75 Calories per energy-mile. Day 6 (8/09): Twin Lakes, 181.2 miles to go. Garmin inreach : https://share.garmin.com/Grizzly, Grizzly_hikes Rainier’s Wonderland Trail… Would love to meet this guy. I will be using a Garmin Inreachhttps://share.garmin.com/FU5TS. At 485 miles with 75,000 feet of elevation gain, the Colorado Trail has an energy-mile equivalent of about 605 miles. Amazing what he has done and I have no doubts that he will continue to amaze and inspire not only myself, but everyone who follows him and knows him. I am looking forward to hearing more about this! Thinking you often. I will be taking the Collegiate East route. This will follow a traditional unsupported fkt attempt-. Any details would be great!! Coup carried a big pack full of food, but also lost 25 lbs body weight on the hike. I will carry everything except water from start to finish. Not only did she put up an incredible effort and performance, she raised more than $26,000 for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation. They’re trying to prevent people/press from intercepting him at road crossings, etc., so he can just focus on his hike. Could I have caused myself or others some serious problems? Pushing 6-7 days essentially without sleep would be pretty unreal. I will hike in traditional thru hiker style, self-supported, picking up resupply at three locations along the way where I have mailed packages. Such is the nature of modern-day FKT attempts on major trails like this. Executive summary for the non-readers . And the weather outlook is terrific for the next several days. I have three boxes sent, no pre arranged support, and will be on foot the entire time. Paul shared more interesting thoughts:
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