Speed on the AT

[chris]

I can't recall, nor can I find, what the current speed record for a self supported thru hike of the AT is. There was someone a few years back who ran the AT, but he had a support van. I think there was someone the same year who did a mostly (if not all) self supported thruhike in only a few days less. Does anyone recall the exact numbers?

[Lone Wolf]

In 1990 Ward Leonard hiked the AT in 60 days unsupported. Pete Palmer hiked it in 48 days supported.

[warren doyle]

Lone Wolf is correct. Ward has the shortest time for an unsupported thru-hike. However, there is some evidence that he road-walked Pleasant Pond Rd. north of Caratunk (rather than taking the Holly Brook relocation of the AT) after using the ferry service across the Kennebec. Regardless of these minor points, he still has the shortest unsupported AT thru-hike. His completing the AT three times in well under a calendar year (unsupported) is a singular achievement of greater significance.
The remaining Appalachian Trail endurance challenge left is walking the entire AT four times in one calendar year.
Pete Palmer's record is 48+ days (but under 49 days). I have the exact time if you want that.

[MOWGLI]

Weary, a former thru-hiker, and maintainer for MATC met Ward on his way South after completing his 3rd thru-hke in one calendar year. He posted a snippet from the conversation he had with Ward out on the trail. It was kind of interesting, but since I don't recall it exactly, I won't attempt to paraphrase.

You out there Weary?

[Youngblood]

Speaking of Ward, what ever happened to him?

Youngblood

[UberPest]

this year an 18-year old from Grand Rapids, MI did it in 89 days. He started right after he graduated high school and started going faster (and longer days) because he was so lonely and wanted to catch up with the rest of the class. He not only caught up with everyone else around VA, but passed them. He was doing 30 & 40 miles a day near the end, and at least one 50 mile day.

[A-Train]

This year a guy named Overshot hiked the trail in about 76 days.
Started April 11 and finished on July 6th I think. He passed me on Mt Greylock, after starting 42 days after me. He averaged over 25 miles a day and was routinely doing 30's in new england. Highlander II, who has a journal on trailjournals hiked with him a lot. They did a few high 20 mile days thru the whites which i thought was impressive.
A-Train

[illininagel]

Other notable speed hikes include (SOURCE: Roland Mueser's "Long-Distance Hiking"):

---Jim Adams was reported going 52.4 miles in one day on the AT carrying a full pack in his 1990 hike. He started at Dennis Cove campground in Tennessee at midnight and finished in Damascus, Virginia, at 7 PM some 19 hours later; Not only was Adams carrying a regular pack, but perched on top was his cat Ziggy!

--David Horton hiked the AT in 52 days at an average speed of 4.3 MPH in 1991. He was an ultramarathoner and was van supported.

--Scott Grierson covered the AT in 55 days in 1991---a record at the time and walked over 16 hours a day (van supported).

--Earl Shaffer completed the AT in 99 days in 1965!

--Ward Leonard took 61 days in 1991 (a record trip with no support system).

--Grandma Emma Gatewood took 146 days at age 67.

--Bill Irwin, a blind hiker, took 253 days to complete the trail in 1990.

--Warren Doyle completed the trip in 67 days in 1975 (a record trip, supported). Through 1996, he has made 10 AT trips.

I hope that you have found these tidbits to be of interest.

[warren doyle]

Just the facts:
My hike in 1973 (not 1975), was 66.33 days (not 67). I had NO support from Springer Mt. to Cloverdale,VA. My Dad then decided to come down (taking his vacation days from work) and provided support for me until Grafton Notch. I then walked almost the entire state of Maine with NO support.
The endurance record for the southern half of the AT is held by Sam Swisher-McClure who walked from Springer Mt. to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in 24 days (w/support) at the age of 19 in 1998.
As of today, 9/23/03, I have walked the ENTIRE AT twelve times.

[illininagel]

Warren,

Thanks for clarifying the facts. I should know by now that I shouldn't always believe what I read...

Did Roland Mueser interview you at all before writing his book?

[Lone Wolf]

Scott Grierson's (Maineak) hike was not a record at the time. David Horton finished a few days before Scott and held the record for 7 years. I was Scott's support. I don't think this Meuser guy interviewed anyone.

[Blue Jay]

Both Roland's and Bill Bryson's books are for entertainment purposes only. Both are fiction.

[Highlander II]

Overshot finished 10 days faster (not that speed really matters) than I this year. My thru-hike ended up taking 97 days with 2 zeros in Damascus. Overshot also had 2 zeros.

We hiked together from Lehigh Gap to Rangely, ME where Overshot slowed down by a day because of the brutal heat/humdity in June. (The heat hit me real hard too, hiking from 5am to 8 pm one day only netted 25 miles. Then I took a 5 mile "wimp day" in Rangely.)

I had no intention of doing that many miles on the hike this year but it kind of just happened. Sitting around after 20 by 2pm was too boring so I just hiked on.

In 91 when hiking from Damascus North to ME I met up with Maineak (Scott Grieson sp?) in VA and Ward Leonard in PA. In 92 I talked with Ward for a couple of hours. Interesting guy. At the time I couldn't understand how someone could hike 30 miles in a day consistently. Little did I know...

I believe in the "hike your own hike" philosophy. I certainly tried to be totally supportive of every other hiker I met. I certainly hope everyone I met was able to finish this year.

Highlander II

PS: Congrats A-Train! Nice to see another whom I met finishing.

[warren doyle]

Congratulations to both Overshot and Highlander II for their treks of endurance and discipline. I also appreciate Highlander II for presenting the facts before they get so easily distorted on the info superhighway.
Roland's book and Bryson's book are worlds apart. Roland's book was a good-hearted. sincere, amateur effort to help explain the long-distance hiking experience on the AT. I applaud and respect his effort.
As to Bryson, he was a professional and in it for the money. Someone who has a several thousand dollar advance from his publisher should be expected to not masquerade figures as facts when he hasn't confirmed them with the 'amateur' others who know better than him. I consider his 'book' and how it portrays the long distance hiking community the same as how James Dickey's 'Deliverance' portrays the people of north Georgia.

[illininagel]

I second Warren's opinion about the two books. Roland's book is based purely on surveys that he conducted with many (over 150 I believe) thru-hikers. It is fact-based to the extent that it reflects the combined wisdom of these thru-hikers. He simply shares their best thinking about a range of issues that people will face on the trail.

Bryson, on the other hand, wrote a best seller that is primarily intended to entertain and amuse people. And, let's give him some credit---it worked! I can't tell you how many people read his book that previously had very little or no knowledge of thru-hiking, or backpacking for that matter. I have not thru-hiked myself and I still found many of his generalizations to be very annoying. However, I must admit that I thought the book was humorous and it spiked my interest in the AT. I just wish Bryson wouldn't have quit---the book lost a great deal once he basically gave up thru-hiking.

[Peaks]

Well, I'll say something good about Bill Bryson's book. The man dropped out. Now, that makes him just like the 85% of people who don't complete the thru-hike. So, in that regard, he is much more like the majority of hikers than the minority of us who go all the way.

[warren doyle]

I don't know of many people who start out on Springer heading north who are doing the trail with a $5,000 cash advance from his publisher to write a book about walking the Appalachian Trail.
Bryson's reason/motivation for attempting to walk the trail put him in the 'distinct minority' of northbound pilgrims on Springer.
Model T, Cindy Ross, Steve Sherman/Julia O, and David Brill did not have this reason/motivation to do the trail yet they all completed their journies and wrote wonderful, heart-felt, and more accurate narratives of the long-distance hiking experience on the Appalachian Trail.
All of them have been willing to share their experiences with other long distance hikers as well. Mr. Bryson couldn't even walk across the Dartmouth green to address over 400 long distance hikers at a ALDHA Gathering held after his book had just been published. Steve Newman, who wrote the fabulous "WorldWalk", has presented his program to two Gatherings virtually pro bono.

[Blue Jay]

Mr. Bryson also made a great deal of money on the trail. His book was a best seller and continues to sell. In an interview I heard on the radio he was asked if he had donated any money at all to any organization involved with the trail. He admitted that he had not. He could be the largest leech on the AT.

[Matt Pincham]

I read this thread and I can't help myself having to argue my opinion of some of the people who post on this forum.

How can Bill Bryson be considered a leech? He hiked the trail just like millions of others each year. He gave none of his profits from book sales to the organisations that maintain the trail.
That is his choice. Writing books is how Mr Bryson makes his living, if he wants to live the life he lives then it is entirely up to him. I expect there are many like him who give no money.
He may have given nothing to the trail, but how can you say he has taken something (as would a leech)? He hiked parts of the trail...then wrote a book...leech? I think not.

Several people on this forum have a real chip on their shoulder. While the knowledge I am gaining for my attempt to thru-hike in 2004 is very valuable, I cannot believe the audacity of some people on this site. Yes, maybe behind your computer you're King of the Trail but if you were to act the same in real life you'd just be downright rude.
I am only 21, I have unfortunately not been able to hike the AT 12 'ENTIRE' times as I have been busy with such things as growing up and going through school. When I attempt the thru-hike, (if figures are anything to go by) there is a distinct possibility that I may not complete it. I am determined to however, and believe that by next September I will be able to join your little 'elite thru-hiking club'. This is not a club which I would wish to join, if I thru-hike the AT it's for me, not for bragging about on an internet forum!

[Lone Wolf]

Go Matt!! I liked Bryson's book. I don't give money to the trail or am I an ATC member.