New supported JMT record

imported
#1

Having just two weeks prior completed the JMT as reconnaissance, last Friday (8/24/07) at 4:00 AM, Sue Johnston left Whitney Portal to attempt a new speed record. At midnight on Monday, at 3 days, 20 hours, and a few seconds, she, along with pacer Deborah Askew, found the finish at Happy Isle, eclipsing Kevin Sawchuk’s previous record by 1 hour, 5 min. Learning from her predecessor record holders, Sue’s deliberate use of regular sleep and planned crew support complemented her own stamina and drive to permit a strong finish seemingly unhampered by over-fatigue and exhaustion. Visit her blog at runsuerun.blogspot.com for initial comments and subsequent lengthier report. (Her Summit to Isle time was 3 days, 15 hours, 32 min.)

Muddy Legs

#2

Does anyone really care about speed records on any trail?

Different Socks

#3

Maybe I’m missing something - or just thick-headed and biased, but why would anyone want to zip through some of the most spectaculor scenary on earth without even a small amount of time to appreciate the surroundings? My skepticism originated a few years ago when I spent the day on the knoll SW of the small lake on the Bighorn Plateau and repeatedly observed southbound JMT hikers crest the rise that opens to the Bighorn Plateau and continue through one of the best parts of the JMT without even slowing down, let alone stopping.

Pacer and crew support? Post again when the attempt is made solo and unsupported. I’d still say “So what?” but the attempt would have more credibility.

Booger

#4

Don’t ask why, ask how the hell? I read your blog Sue…what a hike you should be proud! 3 days or 30 days, 3 miles or 211 miles, the JMT is special to anyone who steps foot on the trail.

mike

#5

I know of Sue from a New England hiking site and knowing the things she is capable of it makes sense to do the JMT like this. She did it a few weeks ago in just under ten days. She’s a tremendous athlete, works very hard and I am impressed with what she can do. Do I care about records; no. If Sue had missed I still would have ben impressed with her efforts, just as I am impressed with those who finish in 30 days. As a former runner- not of Sue’s caliber, I can understand her desire to mix the hike with the speed. So Stinkyfeet, whats next?

Tuco

#6

Speed records on hiking trails seems rather oxymoronic.:oh

Old & in the way

#7

I’d like to take this opportunity to announce my attempt at a new record in this year’s Boston Marathon. I’ll be attempting to carry the heaviest backpack through the course while also shooting for the record quantity of photographs taken, previously set by the great Japanese thru-photographer “Ai Shu Yamafoto”.

It will likely take me a 24 hours, and i will be supported by a small crew to resupply my film and add more weight beanies to my pack, but i am a determined athlete and i will be proud of my accomplishment. :cheers

markv

#8

Some people prefer the physical challenge as opposed to hiking at a normal pace. I happen to enjoy speed hikes and seeing how fast I can finish a trail.

Great job on the new record!

Blah

#9

Great post MARKV!

I would say that most thru hikers don’t care about record attempts. We are mostly trying to get away from the rat race, not bring it out on the trail with us.

Reminds me of the time I was hiking through the Smokies and some woman coming down the trail towards me barked hello at me. At first I thought she was trying to be friendly but then I saw her expression and realized that if I didnt get out of her way that she and the group of ladies following her would push me off the trail. Man it must totally suck to be so pressed for time that you have to race down a trail in a bad mood like you’re commuting to work.

striker

#10

I’ve noticed here and on the PCT-L list,that this year there has been a lot more interest by some people about record attempts on long distance hiking trails. In the past, you’d see someone pop up every few years, but this year it seems like several people are attempting various records on numerous trails. I think the reason for it is more publicity in running circles about long trails and that these are the latest courses to be conquered. I wonder if some running magazine did an article about it in the past year to generate this kind of interest.

As there is no official place keeping time records for long distance hiking trails, I suspect that most of these records will fade from memory when the current fad dies.

The problem that I’ve been seeing is the clash of two totally different cultures. Many hikers are out on the trail to escape the pressures of life and relax while enjoying the scenery. Many trail runners are more about the challenge of conquering a course or beating someone’s time like it’s a contest. The two goals and approaches couldn’t be further apart from one another so I suspect the two groups will never really mesh together.

I personally don’t care about records and in fact, the last thing I want to hear about is someone’s record on a trail as it somehow makes me feel pressure to go faster which is not why I go hiking. In fact, I’m more impressed/envious by those people who take longer to complete a trail as I suspect that they may have enjoyed/experienced the trail more then I did and makes me wonder what I may have missed.

I’m sure those attempting/completing these hiking records are proud of their accomplishments and as a physical feat, I’m sure it is impressive. But I also suspect that they will get a better reception on forums more geared toward trail running and ultra marathons.

Miner

#11

What happened to “To each his own” & “Hike your own hike”?? Who are any of us to judge others’ preferred pace?

Obviously, some people care about “records,” others do not.

If you bothered to check her blog, you’d see that Sue has both a traditional long-distance hiking (AT in 5 months, Long Trail in 3 weeks, etc.) background AND an ultrarunning background. She slow hiked (for her) the JMT before going for the record. Looks to me like she had fun on both thruhikes…

Muddy Legs

#12

Congratulations Sue! What an accomplishment and I’m sure you
saw a great deal!

This is even bigger than Appalachian State beating Michigan.

For the first time ever, women have two long distance trail endurance records!

Jennifer Pharr - Long Trail (unsupported record)
Sue Johnston - John Muir Trail (supported record)

I think this is a fantastic development.

What does the future hold now for these two trailblazers (both figurative and literal)?

Warren Doyle

#13

Congraluations everyone for a job well done. I just completed my record trip on the JMT I completed it in just under 30 days to much to see and do to go any faster. That is why I hike to get away from coperate America so why hurry. Damn cell phones will be there when I get back out of the woods

Chicken Feathers

#14

I don’t have any problem with the records…i just find them silly. I’m glad people speed-hiking have a great time, and i hope they keep doing it. HYOH. (At least until i can find someone to hike my hike for me while i stay up late drinking instead. That would be HMHFMWISULDI.)

But, i think this is why speed-hikers get a negative response from many thru-hikers: by saying that completing a trail fast is a great achievement, there’s a SLIGHT implication that going less fast is less of an achievement. Then those of us for whom going fast isn’t an objective, we may feel that our own achievement has been lessened. I think it’s the same rationale that has straight-thru-hikers at odds sometimes with flip-thrus and skip-thrus. Each side can feel that their achievement is lessened when somebody else makes the achievement about some other set of parameters. It’s like comparing apples and oranges, but of all sudden being the most citrus is a great achievement. The apple doesn’t stack up anymore.

markv

#15

We have to remember that the wilderness areas are set aside for many uses (at least that’s what the National Forest signs say). Speed hiking is just another use. I am amazed that anyone could cover this terrain so fast.

One thing that this thread made me think about was that the vast majority of the people (including me) who hike the JMT do it to accomplish a specific objective, treating the hike much as we would any other “project”. How much difference is there between a record hiker and a conventional one? Our ability to relax and enjoy the scenery is always subject to the asterix that reads: “as long as the food lasts, the summer weather continues, and I hike a specific number of miles today”

I thought of this on my JMT hike when I met a hiker who was spending 20 days in the Sierras, but did not have any specific plans. He was going to wander around until his time was up. He wasn’t constrained by a daily schedule. Which one of us enjoyed our time more? Hopefully we both got what we wanted out of our experience (I did).

Finally, to answer an earlier post, the record for an unsupported hike (no help, no food drops) was also set this summer by Michael Popov. He did it in 4 days, 5 hours, 25 minutes. Good for him.

Next time I plan on going slower.

Snowball

#16

It is an achievement, certainly. So is doing 100,000 calories on a Stairmaster or climbing and descending the Empire State Building one thousand times. The speed-hiking thing is not so interesting to me, and doesn’t have much to do with nature. I would be much more impressed by someone who said they’d seen a record number of bird species or identified, say, a record of 22 different lizards on the JMT. I would love to hike with and talk to that person!

Brian Osborne

#17

Sorry Brian, but the person who identified 22 bird species is no longer in the record books. Someone else identified them faster.

markv

#18

“Someone else identified them faster” Oh well, that’s life I guess. I still admire them…

Hey, you know how in poker you can play high-low? As in both the best and worst hands win? We used to play a variation where the hand-in-the-middle won! Try it sometime, it’s bizarre. So can there be a record ‘most average’ time?

Brian Osborne

#19

Most average time would be difficult, since it’s a constantly shifting time. However, one could do a variation on “highpointing” by endeavoring to reach the geographical midpoint of each state, or by reaching the exact midpoint elevation of each mountain.

Really hiking is more like “Omaha.” Everyone brings something different in the hole, but has to deal with the same conditions as his/her mates. And the same game is different with each hand.

markv

#20

My dear friends:
I would like to hike the High Sierra Trail next year (after having blisfully completed the JMT this past summer). Where can I gather information about this trail? Is there any guide? Any information or pointers that you can offer will be appreciated, especially about resupply along the way.
J.

Patronio