The importance of style

[Adam Bradley]

“No longer can we assume the earth’s resources are limitless; that there are ranges of unclimbed peaks extending endlessly beyond the horizon. Mountains are finite, and despite their massive appearance, they are fragile…

We believe the only way to ensure the climbing experience for ourselves and future generations is to preserve (1) the vertical wilderness, and (2) the adventure inherent in the experience. Really, the only insurance to guarantee this adventure and the safest insurance to maintain it is exercise of moral restraint and individual responsibility.

Thus, it is the style of the climb, not attainment of the summit, which is the measure of personal success. Traditionally stated, each of us must consider whether the end is more important than the means. Given the vital importance of style we suggest that the keynote is simplicity. The fewer gadgets between the climber and the climb, the greater is the chance to attain the desired communication with oneself—and nature.  The equipment offered in this catalog attempts to support this ethic.”   -Yvon Chouinard 1972

I was fortunate enough to be an employee for Patagonia for nearly a decade. The man who is the founder of the business, Yvon Chouinard was a visionary climber. He inspires people to this day. I was reading his treatise on clean climbing the other day and realized it is still suitable. Even though he penned the above statement 44 years ago, I reflect frequently on the vital importance of style.  His assertion that mountains are finite and fragile is still true. I also think that I am no more entitled to our planets resources than the very creatures I share Earth with. Fortunately for me I was lucky enough to work for a company started by a man who empowers his employees to lead an examined life and to take action.

It is with that in mind that I make the assertion that supported speed records are negatively impacting the trails and planet we all dearly love. What are the impacts of a vehicle and support crew following someone for several months on one of Americas long distance trails? If a supported speed record is only hours or a day faster than the unsupported record, was the impact worth it?

I would argue no. I would argue that supported speed records are the vestige of those who don't possess the skills or style necessary to go fast in a fashion that is respectful to our planet, let alone the trail. I would argue the RV following and crew ( sometimes upwards of 12 people) necessary to make these records possible is synonymous to climbing with oxygen or the trashing of the mountains with discarded gear. I frequently have walked into discarded gear and caches that these supported folks have left behind asking someone else to pack out their trash.

Some of the recent controversy concerning Scott Jurek's AT supported speed record points to this. Most of the articles miss the point in my opinion. They all focus on the ranger having an axe to grind. I actually support the ranger and BSP's holding him accountable for the scene on the summit of Mt. Katahdin. What should really be discussed here is style. I would argue that he lacks that with regards to the fashion he went after the AT record. I would argue that our National Scenic Trails are far from finite and are experiencing several threats to their wild nature. As ambassadors to the trail we owe it to the community to attempt our records with respect to our planet and others who we share the trail with.

Self supported and unsupported records are the “clean” walking/ hiking/ trail running/ fastpacking of our generation. I assert that supported records should be relinquished to those that do not possess the skills necessary to do it in a style that respects our planets limited resources. I assert that a vehicle and crew of a dozen people following along doesn't achieve a deeper connection with the natural world. It definitely pollutes more than necessary.

I urge everyone to measure success by their own personal style.

I urge everyone to consider if the ends justify the means.

I encourage everyone to respect our planets dwindling resources and to consume them with respect to the creatures who we share this earth with.

If your specialty is running aid station to aid station... maybe leave the long records to the walkers who have the necessary skills to accomplish these records in style.

[Peter Bakwin]

I agree style is important, and as I've said over and over, people need to be very clear about what style they are using. That said, I don't agree with idea of saying "this style counts, that one doesn't". What happened to HYOH (hike your own hike)? DIFFERENT skills are needed for each style. Clearly, since this site is about speed, just about every record posted here has sacrificed enjoyment of nature to some degree for speed. You could say that, or you could say going fast / as fast as possible provides for a different kind of enjoyment of nature.

Your comment that "I frequently have walked into discarded gear and caches that these supported folks have left behind" lacks credibility. How do you know who left it? There are so few speed record attempts of any kind that to assert that supported people are leaving trash is, well, just not believable. I recall that Scott RECYCLED every Clif Bar wrapper from his AT record. Did you save all your wrappers?

The whole "environmental" argument is a distraction, in my view. You would have to look at the person's whole lifestyle to determine the real environmental impact of their trip. For example, Scott makes his living largely by flying all over the place giving talks. That uses a ton of resources, and I would guess that he & Jenny actually had a LOWER total environment footprint during their days on the AT than in normal life. This is probably true of most supported trips. I don't know of ANY supported record that has utilized "upwards of 12 people" (at once). With Scott it was mostly himself and Jenny. Sure, people came out to meet him, but that was not planned or asked for by him, and was often a distraction, as I understand (I have not talked to Scott about it). Sleeping in a camper next to a road, it could be argued, results in LESS resource impact than camping in the wilderness.

If you really want to talk about what is the "purest" style for a long trail such as the PCT, I would say the purest style for a speed record is one that approximates what most thru-hikers do. That would end up being somewhere between what I call "supported" and "self supported", and it could be a slippery slope, so these distinctions are there to help navigate that slope. You guys established a very pure, very clear style for the PCT, which is great & I think others are attempting to emulate that (to the extent that they understand it). Nevertheless, "What is the fastest time a person has covered this trail, period?" is a valid question, and will likely continue to drive supported attempts.

Running and walking are different things. If you carry a backpack you can't run. Running is faster, but much harder to sustain physically. This makes for a very interesting calculation of what is the fastest way to get from A to B when those points are really far apart.

[Krud]

I am not passing a judgment on who did what.  I am asking people to consider the impacts of their own selfish pursuit of these records.  Is it worth the environmental impact?  I would never judge how fast a person goes.

"Your comment that "I frequently have walked into discarded gear and caches that these supported folks have left behind" lacks credibility. How do you know who left it? There are so few speed record attempts of any kind that to assert that supported people are leaving trash is, well, just not believable."

The irony of your comment here makes me laugh.  Are you making out that I need photographic evidence to establish credibility?  If that is the case about 99% of the records listed here lack credibility.  I frequently have had records broken by people with no race report or establishing any credibility as lined out in your read this first page.  To be clear I never said Scott left trash on the trail, however the scene on Mt K was unacceptable on many levels and lacks any respect for BSP and what the park is currently facing.  We can thank Scott and his kind for the new permit system in BSP.  I will say I was contacted last year by a fellow who was going to attempt the AZT record and he mentioned he was going to leave food caches at all the trail heads ( for his 4 man team).  How do you pack out your 10 gallon paint buckets full of food while doing a speed record?  Hell old Sam Fox made campfires right on the trail and his crew wrote on rocks with sharpies all up and down the trail.  I am far from finished with long distance trails and going forward I will photograph the trash and resupply buckets and water jugs left behind by these folks, and hashtag the photos FKT and supported speed record.  With regards to wrappers, I don't carry trash into the backcountry.  There is nothing to recycle in my pack.  If I do generate trash ( mostly pick up what was left behind by others ) I carry it to the trailhead.

"The whole "environmental" argument is a distraction, in my view."  I couldn't disagree more.  It is in my opinion one of the most important issues facing our planet.  I would think so called outdoor adventure types would take this seriously and make sure their impact is worth it.

"I don't know of ANY supported record that has utilized "upwards of 12 people" (at once)." 

I remember from watching the runner that at one point in the documentary there was at least 6-7 people with David and one person even had ice cream.  Below is a partial list of all the crews that helped.  One of the folks on the crew commented on how David frequently had 2 vehicles and upwards of 8 folks with him.  This entire crew at times would bomb 40 miles off trail to a hotel were everyone was graciously put up by David.  The volume of impact created to support a supported record is astounding. The distance traveled by vehicle is beyond wasteful.  It isn't a straight line and the trips off trail require out and backs.  Sam Fox had an RV with 4 folks following and a van with film crew (another 4 people).  Is 2 vehicles following 1 runner necessary?  What if the record attempt is really over on day 1?   Below is a partial list of the crew from Davids website ( which doesn't account for the film folks).

Horton’s support team will be made up with a number of different crews. Supporting him from the start to Kennedy Meadows (700 miles) will be Dr. Gary Buffington and his wife Millie. Gary is a retired medical doctor and ultra-runner from Pensacola, Florida. Brian Robinson and his wife Sophie will support Horton from Kennedy Meadows to Sierra City (700 to 1200 miles). This area is the highest area of the PCT. The John Muir Trail and the PCT coincide for most of this area and there are no road crossings for over 238 miles. Jonathan Basham will be crewing Horton from Sierra City, California to the finish. Scott Jurek will also be assisting through Oregon and Krissy Sybrowsky will assist through Washington. Other friends and runners will later be added to run with Horton and assist the crews.

"Sleeping in a camper next to a road, it could be argued, results in LESS resource impact than camping in the wilderness."

I almost agree with you when you consider how little wilderness skills these runners have.  I am not sure though that making a case to be in an RV is less impact than actually camping in the woods is a good one to make with regards to the AT record.  I don't think that is even true to the nature and history of the trail. Like you said in the NYT article: “On the Appalachian Trail, it’s almost the opposite, probably because there are tons of access opportunities. Most of the speed-record activity has been focused on the ultrarunning style, like what Scott Jurek did, which I would call fully supported. He had a camper. I don’t think he slept outside one single night.”

I would still make the case that traveling up or down any long distance trail by sleeping in an RV is akin to an elderly retired couples visiting national parks with the 5th wheel in tow, lapdog yapping, generator running so you can watch the game.  I say leave the RV and vehicles at home and leave the walking/ hiking to the professionals.  I also maintain that not one record currently on any of the major long distance trails couldn't be beat by an unsupported walker.  If anything the amount of access you refer to is the only thing that made his record possible.  He certainly wouldn't fair well on the PCT or CDT.  In fact Horton's failed attempt on the CDT points yet again to the lack of skill the supported crowd has.

I would also make the case that Binks impact on the PCT compared to Jureks AT attempt are quite obvious.  One lacks any sponsors or support.  Bink requires a budget of 800$ and some hand me down shoes.  The other requires a media firm, vehicle, support crew, fossil fuels and a dozen people to summit a delicate bit of alpine environment ( that is rapidly disappearing in New England) to make a circus out of what happened.

"If you carry a backpack you can't run. Running is faster, but much harder to sustain physically."

In my last AZT speed record I ran for the first several days with a pack.  If running is faster, why are the unsupported records so close to the runners records?  If running is faster, how was I able to best Hortons record?  I would maintain running is only faster on short trails with lots of road access.  Other than that the long/ remote trail records will always belong to those with proper skill and attention to style.

My main point of posting the above treatise though wasn't to attack or discredit anyone.  I apologize if it comes across that way.  What I want people to really take home or discuss here is what is the impact of selfishly pursuing our goals with complete lack of disregard for how we achieve them.  I even wanted to run the PCT back in the day supported, however I am glad I never could make that happen as I wouldn't be proud of that now.  I have no respect beyond the physical for the supported crowd.  In my opinion the ends don't justify the means.  I also think there would have been an opportunity to discuss the issues BSP brought up with regards to Jureks lack of respect for the park and its rules and regulations ( keep in mind his media firm has been cited too).

I personally will always route for the unsupported as I know for a fact that the impacts on our planet and the wilderness are lessened by traveling on foot, unsupported while camping in the wild.  Supported records may be faster where there is plenty of access for the RV and crew to get in, but is the shaving a few hours/ or a day off really worth it?  That doesn't even point to all of the failed records like Metzger etc...  Nope the supported records should be for the really old or amateur who doesn't possess the proper skill and attention to style.  The supported records should be for those who simply don't care about their impacts or those who prefer the comfort of a bed and hot meal in the RV.

I do thank you Peter for maintaining this site as it was an early inspiration for me.  I appreciate your conversations with me both public and private over the years so I underscore the fact I am not attacking you or anyone else.  I really encourage discussion here and consideration for the very places these records are taking place in.

[Peter Bakwin]

Your comments come across as "Do it my way or don't do it", e.g., "Leave the hiking to the professionals". If this was the standard for visiting the wilderness there wouldn't be any wilderness - wilderness preservation is largely supported by non-"professionals". (Actually, I only know of 1 professional hiker - Andrew Skurka.) If your real point is that people shouldn't leave trash & should consider the impact of their activities on the environment and other hikers then I entirely agree with you. I don't agree that supported trips are inherently unenvironmental, as I explained earlier. What would those several people have been doing if they weren't supporting David on the PCT? They would be having some other environmental impact, possibly (I'd say probably) more cumulative impact than while supporting David. If people are actually leaving & not retrieving trash/caches they should be called out on that. Just because a person chooses one style over another does not mean ... well, it doesn't mean anything. Therefore, making a blanket statement that supported trips lack merit is meaningless and appears self-serving.

[Peter Bakwin]

As far as trail reroutes, I said before that people need to be clear about what they did. I agree with you that the actual PCT is the best standard. If there are significant fire re-routes, well, people should consider going some other time. That's part of the game. I was unaware of this issue until your comments, and I am grateful to you for bringing that to attention. I note that the 2 thru-hikers who recently announced here that they will challenge Anish's PCT time have said they will follow all "official" reroutes. I'd be interested to understand if these reroutes are materially significant. That said, it's just my view & it's really the community who decides what is and isn't valid. I'd imagine that given your background and experience your comments on this will be highly influential. My intention is not to adjudicate these issues, but to provide information and a forum for these things to be explored.

[Sam Fox]

Good discussion fellas. Obviously the logic brought to the table by Peter carries the day but educational all around.

A note, Krud. I have to call much of what you state as fact into question if only because most of the things you stated about my trip are simply untrue. Alas it turns out your stint as chief naysayer of my fundraising efforts on the PCT did not end in 2011. If you have questions about the specific affronts to your style that I may or may not be guilty of shoot me an e mail: [e-mail]. Til then, stick to belittling everyone else (though if you want to cool it with that, too, I'm sure many would appreciate it).

I find it mind blowing that you haven't pieced this together by now but despite the "cost" (material and environmental) of my trip I will always consider the ends a justification of the means. A whole bunch of money to charity, a dedication to my mom that I simply couldn't put into words and as an added bonus a little extra attention brought to the beloved PCT.

On these boards you come off exactly as I assume you are, selfish, jealous, lacking in all tact or respect. Some people are different than you. Time to get over it.

PS. Supported records are faster. Not better. But faster. Joe Mcconaughy beat your fastest time by TWELVE DAYS. If you think someone will break that new record in purest thru hiker fashion, get out there and prove it!

[Mr. T]

At the outset, I'm very happy to see Adam/Krudmeister/El Monstro alive and kicking, and even declaring his intent to take on additional hikes.  I enjoyed following his human-powered Triple Crown trip, and also used his Arizona Trail journals to plan my own AZT trip.  His writings are funny, self-deprecating, informative, and (yes) cranky.  I was concerned when he (or someone) changed his own FKT's to "Anonymous Hiker," and on his own website declared his apparent intention to take on subsistence living in Alaska.  Hi Krud!

My own take is that FKT attempts, especially longer ones, need to pay heed to style and form.  If not, those attempts risk wasting the borderline-heroic efforts of the hikers/runners, and incurring the opprobrium of the base community that supports those activities.  If those attempts lack community support, not only will they lack legitimacy, but risk increased regulation and even bans in some areas.  

I come to long-distance hiking via both climbing and ultramarathoning.  In climbing, form is very important.  After Cesare Maestri climbed Cerro Torre using a gas-driven bolt drill, basically the entire community decried the attempt as not only invalid, but a repudiation of the climbing ethos.  Climbers care about things like "cheat sticks," chipping/gluing holds, new bolts, route upgrade/downgrades, and other aspects of form that may seem like minutia to outsiders.  Onsighting (climbing a route with only knowledge gained from standing on the ground, and no prior attempts) is a good example.  In climbing, onsighting is very good form, "representing the pinnacle of climbing mastery."  In other words, the climbing community recognizes that onsighting is more difficult than redpointing, for example.  Good form isn't necessarily something you can monetize or put on your resume, but it "matters" to other climbers and helps define your participation and role in the community.

When I started running ultramarathons, I was surprised to find much less focus on form, especially in 100-milers.  Some people are basically onsighting courses, while others use crews, multiple pacers, course recon, and even outright cheating to achieve their times.  I quickly realized that ultrarunning was a useful venue to explore my own running limits, but a relatively useless venue for comparing my own finish times with other runners.  I "flashed" the Western States 100 (no pacers, no support crew, race aid stations only, no prior recon of the course besides limited beta) in 23:35.  I was pretty pleased with that time, but how does that compare to a runner with a crew, who had tried the race three times previously, etc.?  The obvious conclusion is "who cares?"  My time wasn't in any way competitive, and I was never going to challenge for even an age group award no matter how many times I entered.  

Many runners I talked to at the time took the "who cares," approach - ultrarunning is a largely-unregulated sport, and that's the way they like it.  However, there is a risk that, over time, cheating, doping, and other issues will erode the sport's legitimacy, and there are more and more competitive runners who recognize this as a problem.  

I section-hiked the AZT between 2010 and 2012 in 33 days of generally-leisurely hiking.  Krud set the record of 21 days, and I pondered going out there to see if I could beat his time.  I thought, "Well, at the outset I'd go north to south, because that's easier, and I'd definitely do it in the fall to avoid bad weather.  Also, I'd do water caches because I'm a wimp and like lots of water."  However, in making those changes, I would not be respecting the form of Krud's hike, and instead creating my own unique semi-self-supported FKT (assuming that I was successful, which in retrospect is doubtful).

Again, so what?  "Hike your own hike."  It's hard to argue with this, especially with no governing body, no awards, and few sponsors.  Well, Scott Jurek's supported AT hike definitely got the attention of Baxter State Park.  What if the Forest Service decides that an FKT attempt is commercial in nature, and requires a special use permit?  What if the Park Service decides that it's a race, and is barred outright?  Are hikers going to come out and support the speedsters?  Or do they think that supported records are silly, Anish and Krud/Scott Williamson really have better form, and agree maybe the new regs are a good idea?  HYOH works, and it has worked for a long time, but it's not a panacea for every concern.  Krud's environmental concerns demonstrates this.