View Full Version : Eric Strum starts FKT attempt 6/28 SoBo.
TJ aka Teej
06-28-2018, 09:11
Via Facebook from Ole Man:
Dropped off Eric Strum at Abol. He's going for the speed record. GOOD LUCK ERIC!
Slo-go'en
06-28-2018, 11:35
I saw some SOBO trail runners in the Mahoosucs last week. There were four of them and at a trail junction which was a short cut down to the North Road, heard them talking logistics. Two of them headed down the side trail, and the two others continued down the AT. Rafe and I were sitting on a log taking a break and as they went by I asked what was the big rush. I got a dirty look in response. I was wondering if it was a SOBO FKT attempt. Maybe it was this guy doing a warm up hike?
chknfngrs
06-28-2018, 14:16
Any background on this fella
TJ aka Teej
06-30-2018, 16:40
Eric Strumpf
An unsupported attempt.
His Instant Gram thingy: here (https://www.instagram.com/ericstrumpf/).
His website: here (https://ericstrumpf.com).
To follow Eric's hike: https://share.garmin.com/EricStrumpf
Password: ATFKT2018
Gonna be a big pack unsupported!
He doesn't appear to have an ultrasignup.
I'm not sure I understand the Garmin site. Did he travel 6.41 miles from 11am through 8:30pm yesterday?
Is there a reroute? https://puu.sh/AOJCi/58dd97c9e2.jpg
TJ aka Teej
06-30-2018, 20:03
Is there a reroute? https://puu.sh/AOJCi/58dd97c9e2.jpg
Yup. Baxter took the AT off the tote road and returned it to the original route several years ago. Now the trailhead is right across the tote road from Katahdin Stream Campground.
chknfngrs
07-01-2018, 08:32
Thanks for the details
Odd Man Out
07-01-2018, 22:39
Wonder if it is a short attempt? From the Garmin site, he took a whole day to cross Barren Mtn and there are now updates since 9 AM today??? From his tracking it seemed he was moving all night fro two nights in a row.
Gonna be a big pack unsupported!
:D
Obligatory Flextrek Whipsnake 37T video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAtzN_ScKXY
chknfngrs
07-02-2018, 07:01
I am also confused by the garmin tech
We need travisrex on this
chknfngrs
07-02-2018, 19:30
He’s done according to Instagram update
chknfngrs
07-02-2018, 19:30
He’s done according to Instagram update
His website was already advertising motivational speeches he was going to make based on his experience attempting the record...before he even left.
It seems plausible to think he only did this to get material and didn't even expect to finish.
chknfngrs
07-03-2018, 06:23
Yes does not seem congruent to an actual attempt at an fkt
Odd Man Out
07-03-2018, 07:31
If you look at his tracking it looks like he was moving all night for the first two nights. So maybe 60 hours of continuous running is not an effective strategy.
chknfngrs
07-03-2018, 08:25
Nope not at all
Slo-go'en
07-03-2018, 09:56
If you look at his tracking it looks like he was moving all night for the first two nights. So maybe 60 hours of continuous running is not an effective strategy.
Maybe he didn't have the clock set right? Or maybe he thought night hiking would be better since it was kind of hot. Of course, night hiking in Maine you fall down a lot.
All in all, another clueless attempt. No mention of any backpacking experience on the web page. Only claims to be an "adventurer". Photoshopped picture of him in front of the Matterhorn.
chknfngrs
07-03-2018, 10:37
I kind of felt that he grew his thru hiker beard before even hiking and posed for the part well or at least moderately well smh
Here's what he posted on FaceBook.
Thank you everyone who have been so supportive of this adventure. Unfortunately, my radical approach approach (around the clock push) left little margin for error and I had to come off trail yesterday for medical reasons. Although things started well - 48 miles first day - the rains, rivers, and ~70 hours of hiking without rest put me in a bind: my feet were close to trench foot and hobbling me severely but I needed to push harder to stay in the hunt. With two opposing needs (record vs health) and increasingly aware that my body would no longer do what I needed it, I initiated coordination to leave the trail and did so yesterday at noon after just 100 miles. I am recovering at Shaw’s Hostel in Monson, ME and hoping to be able to fly next day or so. If you have a strong stomach and want to see what I did when I checked my feet on day 3, swipe to the 3rd pic. I wish I could’ve continued and shared an epic journey with those who have been so supportive but it just may have been a bigger beast than I was up for. Let’s not allow that to stop from trying though right! All the best from recovery in Maine, “Bivvy” out. PS Bivvy is my new trail name earned for sleeping in an emergency Bivvy sack on the wilderness floor for last two nights while working toward the extraction point. @ Monson, Maine
Crushed Grapes
07-03-2018, 12:17
He lasted 3 days? Lol bye
He lasted 3 days? Lol bye
"... my radical approach approach (around the clock push) left little margin for error and I had to come off trail yesterday for medical reasons. Although things started well - 48 miles first day - the rains, rivers, and ~70 hours of hiking without rest put me in a bind: my feet were close to trench foot and hobbling me severely but I needed to push harder to stay in the hunt. With two opposing needs (record vs health) and increasingly aware that my body would no longer do what I needed it, I initiated coordination to leave the trail and did so yesterday at noon after just 100 miles."
So many questions.
Round the clock hiking, no sleep. He was going to do that for 40 days?
I know that section is tough, but is 100 miles in 70 hours record setting pace?
Having foot problems from 70 hours straight in wet shoes is a surprise?
Curious.
chknfngrs
07-24-2018, 19:06
I do believe he had delusions of grandeur
chknfngrs
07-26-2018, 08:41
10 seconds on Google and I found his linked in page:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstrumpf
Reminds me of The Hammer from last season
10 seconds on Google and I found his linked in page:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstrumpf
Reminds me of The Hammer from last season
Similar in some ways, but The Hammer had a much better resume' than this guy.
Let's review:
Jurek, the best ultrarunner ever, barely breaks the record.
Speedgoat Karl, winner of more 100 mile races than anyone ever (and won more after the AT FKT), breaks the record on his 3rd attempt.
Stringbean, a 26 year old former D1 track runner and experienced through-hiker and ultrarunner, smashes the record (still amazing).
Harvey Lewis, winner of Badwater and top ultrarunner comes in a week longer than Stringbean.
I don't think any of them weighs over 150 lbs.
Then this guy with a dad bod, with no known hiking or ultrarunning history, take a couple day hikes and decides he's going to set the record because he's really motivated or something.