Triple Crown in one year?!?

[LittleRock]

I recently read the story of the first person to thru-hike the AT in less than 60 days. (http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2013/08/09/wnc-hiker-matt-kirk-breaks-at-unsupported-record/) That already seems insane to me, but it got me wondering - if the AT can be hiked in 2 months, would it be feasible for someone to hike the entire Triple Crown (AT, PCT, CDT) all in the same year?

At first glance, it didn't seem too far-fetched - total hiking distance would be nearly 8,000 miles which would equate to roughly 22 miles/day, assuming one were able to hike every day of the year. Hiking the AT in 60 days required a pace of roughly 36 miles/day. But, that was during the summer when trail conditions are optimal. If trying to hike all 3 trails in the same year, one would inescapably be faced with some really tough hiking conditions which would slow them down. Then you also have to account for travel time between trails, and one might even have to split up the trails in order to avoid extreme conditions (e.g. Sierras, Northern Rockies, or New England in winter). Not to mention that going at that breakneck pace for an entire year would wear down even the strongest hikers.

So what do you all think - could it be done?

[Hot Flash]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Robinson_%28hiker%29

[peakbagger]

Flying Brian was the first to do it one calendar year but he skipped around to take advantage of the weather in different regions. I believe another individual took up the challenge and did three straight thru hikes of the three trails in one year.

[peakbagger]

I knew I would find it after I posted it

The first person to walk the Triple Crown back to back was Matthew Hazley from Northern Ireland, who took 239 days in 2005

[LittleRock]

Thanks! Next time I'll try Google before I post on the forum :-)

[jawnzee]

Hazley has a good interview on Trailcast that was conducted about a week before he finished that Triple Crown in a year

[Sarcasm the elf]

Thanks! Next time I'll try Google before I post on the forum :-)

Nah, don't do that. If you did then we'd hage nothing to doscuss in the forum.;)

[Malto]

swami did it in 2012. Google Hikinglife
trauma did it in a year, though not a calender year.
Squeaky was the first to do it without flip flopping.
flyin Brian was the first.

so is it possible, absolutely. But these hikers are all extreme cases.

[Spirit Walker]

A lot of people have announced that they intended to do it, but only a few have even come close to succeeding.

[Tipi Walter]

Might as well do it barefoot with a tuba while you're at it.

[jawnzee]

swami did it in 2012. Google Hikinglife
trauma did it in a year, though not a calender year.
Squeaky was the first to do it without flip flopping.
flyin Brian was the first.

so is it possible, absolutely. But these hikers are all extreme cases.

While Trauma didn't do it in a calender year, he did do the whole Eastern Continental Trail.

[Dogwood]

Since the CDT isn't a set in stone trail "official" mileage *trail I've seen CDT thrus being done in about 2600 trail miles so you could possibly do a TC with about 7500 total trail miles.*

Look at Cam aka Swami's 12 long hikes which he accomplished in some 18 months or so.

I've heard of several other long distance hikers *doing 8k + miles in a 12 month period. I'm sure Nimblewill Nomad has done that several times, maybe Trauma, Skurka, Swami, etc. *But, of all these that I know they are rather the elite addicted to long distance hiking types. In a 12 month period in 2010 I did roughly, from the best I could tell, *5700 miles in an off and on again hiking fashion between short work assignments across the U.S.*I embraced it *basically living out of a backpack for a 14 month period. Sounds romantic and adventuresome for sure but for me, even though I adapt well to that lifestyle, to be honest *it got old at times. I craved those hot showers, roofs, kitchen accesses, more than two sets of clothes, etc of my own at times. * *

[Mags]

trauma did it in a year, though not a calender year.


IIRC he did the ECT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Continental_Trail) as a whole and not "just" the AT as well for his Triple Crown. 10k miles in a year. :O

EDIT: woops..someone already posted that...

[takethisbread]

Swami went bananas and did the triple crown in 236 days which is ridiculous! He ended up hiking 9 other long trails in a year and a half


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quasarr]

Can anyone post links to more information or interviews with these people? I like reading their accounts.

[jawnzee]

Trailcast 12 - Mat Hazley - Triple Crown in a year
https://archive.org/details/Trailcast-PodcastingOnFoot_283

Trauma
http://www.justinlichter.com/2006-10000-mile-triple-crown/

Swami
http://youtu.be/8uEMBB1oU4I
http://www.thehikinglife.com/journal/12-long-walks/map/

[quasarr]

Awesome, thanks!

[Mags]

http://youtu.be/8uEMBB1oU4I
http://www.thehikinglife.com/journal/12-long-walks/map/

Cam will be in Boulder tonight giving is presentation at the MontBell store @ 6:30. Should be a great talk with a chance to win some cool stuff. Benefits the CDTC as well. Anyone local should check it out.
https://www.facebook.com/thehikinglife/posts/801927449843864

[strogiyogi]

These people are amazing! My body was done after the one AT thru.