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May 24, 2013, 12:12pm

Fastest Known Time :: Trails - Regions :: Mid-Atlantic (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA) :: Post Message

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Posted by Peter Bakwin on Oct 22, 2009, 2:43pm

Jennifer Pharr-Davis has the overall AT speed record, 46d11h10m, from June 15 to July 31, 2011 (Maine to Georgia)
Andrew Thompson holds the men's AT record at 47d13h31m, set in 2005.

"“I found things in the woods that I didn’t know I was looking for..." - Jennifer Pharr Davis

The Appalachian Trail (AT) runs 2,175 miles from Georgia to Maine. Along with the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, it is one of the "Big 3" National Scenic Trails.

Fully supported, ultrarunning-style multiday speed records on big trails probably began with David Horton's AT trip in 1991 (52d9h42m). Horton's time was broken by Pete Palmer in 1999, with 48d20h11m.

In 2005, Andrew Thompson beat Palmer's time, completing the AT in 47d13h31m. Here is an article about Thompson's trip.

Karl Meltzer began an attempt to break Thompson's record starting August 5, 2008 (north to south). Karl, one of the nation's top trail ultrarunners, had a high level of support spear-headed by Backcountry.com. An injury forced Karl to abandon the record attempt after hiking and running 538 miles in 14 days. The La Sportiva mountain running blog has more information and interviews with Karl, David Horton, Andrew Thompson and Brian Robinson. Karl persevered and finished the AT on Sept. 29, in a total time of 54d21h12m.

Jennifer Pharr Davis set the women's AT speed record, from June 20 to August 16, 2008, (Maine to Georgia) with a time of 57d8h38m. Jennifer was crewed by her husband, Brew Davis. The previous women's record was 87 days by Jenny Jardine, hiking traditional thru-hiker style with her husband, Ray.

Hiking from Maine to Georgia in the summer of 2011, Pharr Davis smashed her own women's record, and beat the overall AT speed record by over 26 hours, completing the trail in 46d11h10m, finishing on July 31. An article on her trip was published in the New York Times a few days before she finished.

Also in 2011, Elizabeth Thomas set a new women's record for hiking the AT in classic thru-hiker style, completing the trail in 80d13h11m. Her trail journal is here.

As best I can tell, the self-supported (thru-hiker style) speed record was set by Ward "Spooky Boy" Leonard in 1990, 60.5 days. During his 10 thru-hikes of the AT, Leonard became infamous for his anti-social behavior. Here's what Outside Magazine reported about Spooky Boy (May 1996):

Leonard has reportedly hiked the trail continuously for the last seven years. Once, he says, he covered the 2,000-plus miles in a mere 60 days. Spooky Boy's obsession is beginning to cause problems. While on the trail last summer, he tried to set the record for most consecutive climbs of New Hampshire's Mount Washington, which stands at 6,288 feet. The record attempt came to a swift conclusion when Leonard was asked to leave Mount Washington State Park for, according to one ranger, "making unwelcome advances to patrons at the snack bar.

A few other challenges have emerged that utilize portions of the AT. The Smokies Challenge Adventure Run (SCAR) is an unofficial 70+ mile traverse of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN, NC) along the Appalachian Trail, starting at Fontana Dam and going to Davenport Gap. See the SCAR thread under the South Region for more information.

Another AT record that has been persued a few times is the most miles that can be run on the AT in 24 hours. In March 2004 Matt Kirk has run 99 miles through Shenandoah National Park, beating David Horton's previous record of 91 miles. Scott Brockmeier started the attempt with Matt, but was unable to complete the traverse.

Posted by milogarcia on Jul 12, 2011, 6:40am

Elizabeth Thomas aka Snorkel set a new unsupported record at 80 days, 13 hrs, 31 min on 7/4/2011

Posted by warrendoyle on Jul 27, 2011, 4:42pm

Snorkel set a new unsupported record for a woman.

Posted by SCH on Jul 31, 2011, 4:53pm

Jenn Pharr Davis has set a new A.T. FKT for a supported hike at 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes

http://jenniferpharrdavis.tumblr.com/

Posted by LEM15 on Aug 24, 2011, 8:40am

Does anyone know what is the unsupported record for the AT? I couldn't find it on here...

Posted by LEM15 on Aug 24, 2011, 8:41am

okay, never mind, i see snorkel's record listed above. is that the fastest time as far as we know?

Posted by Matt Kirk on Aug 24, 2011, 3:46pm

Snorkel's hike was a self-supported record attempt as was Ward Leonard's 1990 hike (listed above). Snorkel holds the women's FKT for a self-supported record, Ward holds the overall self-supported record for the AT.

If anyone has additional information and details for Ward's self-supported approach and resupply techniques, that would be interesting to have listed here.

Posted by PVPatrick on Sept 24, 2011, 10:02am

Jenn Pharr Davis' 2011 record is for Maine to Georgia

Posted by PJ Wetzel on Oct 31, 2012, 6:09am

Okay, what about AT doubles (Yo-Yo's) and records for seniors?

I'm 64 and just completed a unique double, which those in the know at ATC (contact Laurie Potteiger) believe may be a first, thus obviously the fastest.

Every day beginning January 1, 2012 I hiked a piece of AT both ways and returned to my vehicle (unsupported) and worked along the trail in three 'flip-flop' sections:

Daleville VA -> Springer: January 1 -> March 31
Caledonia State Park, PA -> Katahdin: April 8 -> Sept. 10
Daleville VA -> Caledonia St. Pk, PA: Sept. 15 -> Oct. 27

4368.4 miles in 269 day hikes, 301 calendar days. No nights on the trail, every white blaze twice. I also visited and photographed every AT official shelter.

As I hiked I also blogged about it at http://www.pjwetzel.com/ and pasted the same info at Trail Journals: http://www.trailjournals.com/2012seeksit/

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