I heard today that I guy from Nashua New Hampshire has just set a new record time of 47 days and 13 hours and so many minutes going from Katahdin to Springer. Can anyone verify?
chubby knuckles
New AT record - Appalachian Trail
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#4
we should care because that was a helluva feat, whether or not it’s your/my preferred method.
Wild Hare
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#5
Every time I think I’m tough I read about something like this and it puts me in my place.
Colter
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#6
A Record is just a Record, No one could have possibly seen and enjoyed the A.T. running 2,176 miles, They miss the whole piont of the Journey, and only have a record.
Green
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#7
My hike was nice and slow; I stopped and smelled lots of roses. But who’s to say the whole point of the journey has to be done like you or I do it. Kudos to this guy setting a new record in the way that was meaningful to him.
Cap’n
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#8
wow that ideed is quite a feat. I wonder if his run has alternatly inspired him to actually hike the trail now. I mean he’s got to be curious by now. Seeing all that good stuff fly by for a month or so. I wonder if he gets grossed out when he sees the prices of tents, backpacks, and all the other crap he’ll have to buy. Better off running the trail, probly cheaper.
heald
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#9
At an average of 45 MPD the guy really flew. It was his dream and he lived it, just like we do. Good for him! Now he gets to bore his family at Thanksgiving with tales of his adventures, again… just like I do 35 years later.
CitySlicker
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#10
No one said it wasn’t “a hell of a feat,” but it was presented as a “new record.” I would assume that everyone here understands that “competitive hiking” is an oxymoron. We would all be a little appalled, I think, if the hikers lined up at Lake Morena at ADZPCTKO or Amicalola on April Fool’s Day and took off at a starter’s gun to see who got to the end first, yet hiking to “set a record” ain’t much different than an elongated Tour time trial stage. Nor do I question whether he should not feel a sense of satisfaction if that’s what floats his boat–I only asked why anyone else should care.
But what do I know–I think it’s goofy for people to sit around competing to see who has the lightest base weight, too.
pappy
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#11
It certainly was a great accomplishment. For the person who said that he could not have possibly taken in the AT experience, you need to realize that is a value judgement that depends from person to person.
Also, when you think about that he has already attempted this twice, then you see that he has probably had a chance to see a whole lot. I’m sure if he ever thru-hiked, but I would not be surprised at all. But in terms of trail running, it really is an incredible feet that will go in the Guiness Book of World Records for sure.
So remember that we all have a different value in the AT. While most of us are hikers, many are also trail runners, and this guy has been busting his ass for years to meet this goal.
Way to go, Andy!!!
Tha Wookie
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#12
Running and walking are two different things.
Only the location is the same.
Everything else is qualitatively different.
This runner did something completely different than any hiker on the trail, past, present or future.
This was quite the running feat, for sure.
Very impressive.
I’m wondering what his 10K, Marathon, and longer distance race times are.
Sincerely–Conan.
Conan
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#13
“we should care”
No, we shouldn’t. People can care if they want but no, there’s no need for everyone to give a damn if someone successfully tried to set a record.
Seriously, what purpose does it serve? Idiots attempt records all the time like rolling an orange with your nose for a certain distance. I see that as absolutely no more important than running the AT in 47 days. Zero worldly importance in both feats.
But then again I see most peoples’ hikes as completely selfish. I try not to criticize thru-hikes (or runs) because off the trail people might be angels doing truly important things for humanity. But then again a thru-hike especially with an online journal is an EXCEPTIONAL opportunity to raise awareness and/or funds for a charity. Some people do that and how awesome it is. Those hikers deserve nothing less than praise for being not just caring but helping. Being caring is good… but if a million people care and none act then nothing gets accomplished. Thankfully some people act while others just selfishly hike.
Every thru-hike can be turned into something to help others in need.
A record-breaking attempt can especially be turned into a charitable event while reaching a personal goal.
Did the record breaker do that, turn his record breaking attempt into a charitable event?
halabalaja
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#15
halabalaja,
You said: “we should care” No, we shouldn’t.
I think it’s completely neutral. When you say “No, we shouldn’t”, you imply overtly that it is better not to care – stating specifically that we should not – or in fact, potentially stating that anyone who is interested (cares) should specifically stop caring (being interested). I question that. What’s wrong with SOME of us being interested?
Posts on a public forum are offered up freely as information. If we cannot post something unless we first know that everyone who could read it finds it of particular interest, then nothing could ever be posted without risk of someone calling its legitimacy into question. It seems more collegial to just go on past if you specifically are not interested in the topic or the individual. I found it interesting, not earth-shaking, but interesting, but your post implies there’s something wrong with that, and overtly, in a way, asks me to stop finding it interesting. Why? Why not just let it go by and enjoy the forum for what it is – a place to chat about “stuff” related to the trail and hiking, or whatever? I don’t think the information was posted as an affront to anyone, so why not live and let live?
“Every thru-hike can be turned into something to help others in need. A record-breaking attempt can especially be turned into a charitable event while reaching a personal goal. Did the record breaker do that, turn his record breaking attempt into a charitable event?”
You are completely correct: “Every thru-hike can be turned into something to help others in need.” That’s different than saying every thru-hike HAS TO BE turned into something to help others in need, or else there’s something wrong with it or with the hiker. You have no basis upon which to demand that, and no basis upon which to lower the value of the record breaker’s experience by implying it’s not worth the interest of the rest of us, even if you do not find it interesting, because he did not turn it into a charitable event. You have an interest in charitable events being connected to a personal event, but that does not mean everyone must? And implying that an individual is “selfish” for not doing so, or just hiking for the joy of hiking is “selfish” is hard to defend. That, in particular, is the part that I am questioning – you being the judge of the “selfishness” or “unselfishness” of the rest of us who hike.
In this fast-paced world sometimes a person needs a little time for themselves, and I do not feel “selfish” at all for the few times I get to indulge in that experience. In fact, I am probably more prepared to care about others after a hike, since I am refreshed by the experience. Read my journals. And, you could assume that hikers can find other means of helping people in need, other than an event such as you suggest, connected to their hike. I do regularly, so I am sure it can be done.
My hikes are sometimes hard enough to schedule and prepare for, without adding the additional layer of an event like you suggest. I bet the record breaker’s event was even harder logistically. Give my thoughts some consideration. It’s possible you could find some value there. Thanks for your thoughts. CBiscuit
CBiscuit
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#16
CBiscuit - someone said up there, “we should care” and i was trying to quote that person but since this isn’t the type of forum that allows you to quote and have it be known so well it didn’t translate that great when i quoted “we should care” and then added my own “no, we shouldn’t.”
And the record breaker’s event was meaningless on the grand scale of things in this world. One man’s out running the AT, spending money on himself, proving something to himself while people starve to death. That makes no sense. But if his event was also used to raise money to help others - okay, go and try to break the record to your hearts content!
anyhoo, there’s no need for a section hiker to turn his or her hikes into a charitable event. (and calling it an event doesn’t necessarily imply it must be a huge thing… one can simply post links in their journal, pictures maybe, comments on what they’re hiking for, it doesn’t have to occupy a person’s mind 24/7 along with hiking.)
My main contention is that most people are pretty selfish in America while others elsewhere suffer. A thru-hike, when someone starts in Maine or Georgia with the intention of hiking from one end of the trail to the other without stopping for any long period of time, can be a great way to not be selfish. Most people care about helping animals, the environment, or humanity… but that’s all they do is care without acting. Most people carry on mostly selfish lives. That’s their choice but I don’t agree with it. People shouldn’t be living to please themselves. People ought to always be thinking about a way to help others. If all a person can give is a few bucks every month then so be it. But others truly can do more.
A thru-hike often comes down to a lot of money being selfishly spent. Now I don’t want to automatically criticize everyone’s hike because some people who hike, like I said, might be angels off the trail who do great things to help people therefore a thru-hike could be a well-deserved getaway. Fine. No reason they can’t still hike for charity… one can never help too much but those who truly help others off the trail have more of a right, in my mind, to go and be selfish.
But then there are hikers who truly don’t do much more than care. Again, caring without action doesn’t accomplish anything.
All I’m saying right now is a thru-hike could very easily be used to bring attention to a cause dear to one’s heart, a way for a person to tell others about a charity or crisis by talking to them on the trail and/or in online journals. Using an online journal in the right way one can help raise money and whether that’s $100 or $100,000, that’s doing something that isn’t complete selfish. It is ALWAYS good ANY time that someone does something to help others rather than putting themselves first.
Anyone who ever thinks, “Boy, I wish I could do something to help,” about a particular cause and then goes on a thru-hike spending loads of money without benefiting anyone at all except the hiker, that person’s missing an opportunity to help.
A thru-hike can be more than about doing something for yourself. A thru-hike can also be used to help others.
I don’t know… perhaps I just have a bigger heart than most, and more of a will to actually help rather than just care.
halabalaja
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#17
I am always disappointed when I see people using the AT to be fastest and set records. Competeition on the trail is unfortunate and a bad use of the tyrail like mountain bikes or horses. There’s plenty of places for trail runners but there is only one AT. I am allowed to opine.
bamboo bob
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#18
Hell Yea, If people want to set records like that stay off the A.T. or at least stay legitimate by using a Pack like a real Man or Women, or run along the freeway!
Hardcore
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#19
The last several posts are rank with envy. Why waste your time displaying your negativity?
What Andrew did was simply an incredible feat. Say wow, move on if it bothers you that someone succeeded in their personal challenge. To me, it’s inspiring. Andrew was not raising money for a social need, but his actions DID provide a social need: to be inspired. To do what others said could not be done. These lessons cannot be learned with a million dollars -they’re invaluable.
You don’t have to set records to do this, however, to inpsire people. Many people I know from home tell me they are incredibly inspired in the fact that I hiked the AT. Yes, I did do a charity, but I’ve seen that the hike in itself is enough to help many people in their everyday lives, whether they be normal or with special challenges. All thru-hikers inspire people. That is a fact. Someone is impressed out there, and someone looks at them selves and says, “why can’t I meet challenges like that?” Maybe they then realize that they can. Maybe not. But the point is the hike or run in itself is important as much as anything as a social good. Even if it is done in selfishness, it serves a good.
But I doubt halabalaja knows this, based on the posts above. Sounds to me like someone who wants to thru-hike, but “can’t” for some reason.
Take the lesson, learn from it, incorporate it into your waking dreams. Then walk your walk and save your insults for mosquitos.
Tha Wookie
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#20
Emotionally healthy, well-balanced, spiritually restored people are nothing but a benefit to society.
An act that restores people to health both emotionally and physically can hardly be called selfish, even if it appears to be so on the surface, as long distance hiking sometimes does to some people.
Charity begins at home, in each of our hearts. Some people learn that through hiking. The trails teach according to need.
Hogg