|
|
Post by Peter Bakwin on Mar 2, 2015 19:06:56 GMT -5
Lefteris Paraskevas did the Circuit in 2d20h22m, 28 April - 1 May, 2017.Seth Wolpin did the Annapurna Circuit in 3d0h4m in October 2014.Patricia Franco has the women's FKT, 4d14h45m, September 2016.The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is one of the world's classic multiday hikes. While the start and stop points and route can be variable, in general trekkers go from Besisahar to Nayapul, roughly 134 miles in total. Seth Wolpin did the Circuit in 3d0h4m in October 2014. Wolpin was well-versed with the route, having done 10-day trips in 2011 and 2014, just before has FKT trip. Trail Running Nepal reports Wolpin's effort as the FKT, and indicates that Lizzy Hawker had the women's FKT in "5 days" from Besisahar to Nayapul (2011), which Hawker reports here. Below, Patricia Franco reports a faster time of 4d14h45m in September 2016, also from Besi Sahar to Nayapul. Subsequently, Lefteris Paraskevas of Greece is reported to have completed the Circuit in 2d20h22m, April 28 - May 1, 2017, starting from Besisahar and ending at Nayapul. Further information and some photos are at trailrunningnepal.org. The Annapurna Circuit was once billed as one of the most beautiful treks in the world - it was a 'must' item on many adventurer's bucket list. But things have changed over the the last few years. Namely road building. Ugly road building. The apple growers in the village of Marpha had bushels of apples that were rotting because they couldn't get them to market across the mountainous trails. What to do? Definitely don't ask other villages or think about the impact on the main source of income (trekkers). Soon bulldozers moved in and turned trail into 4x4 jeep track with locals and trekkers zooming up and down the valleys in a gaggle of Indian-made jeeps, a chorus of honks and an encore of dust. It's easy to criticize, but it's also hard to blame villagers for wanting a road to their house, a road that opens up access to food and healthcare and the ability to visit family. - Seth Wolpin  
|
|
|
|
Post by swolpin on Apr 19, 2015 15:03:17 GMT -5
Thanks Peter for this - I tried to follow all of the New Annapurna Trekking Trails (NATT) instead of the jeep track which would have been much faster. I also followed the northern track between Muktinath and Kagbeni though Jhong as this should be part of the NATT system as it avoids the road. It was a fun adventure - not a super fast time, I am sure someone will come along and break it. Speaking of - I don't think Lizzy Hawker was trying to set a FKT when she did it in 5 days, I think she was out for a hike and saving herself for an upcoming race. I'm sure she could smash 70hrs if she wanted. Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by pfranco on Oct 5, 2016 16:19:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by gearedupadventures on Nov 11, 2016 3:49:39 GMT -5
Hello Everyone! I just completed my training trek around the Circuit. 6 Days 1 hour 40 minutes. My hats off to all of you. You're machines!
|
|
|
|
Post by Melina on Apr 28, 2017 5:46:42 GMT -5
Hey all! I bumbped into this blog as i was searching for the FKT of the Annapurna Circuit. How is the FKT recorded? Is there an official webiste/authority that keeps track of these record times? What is someone aims the break the current record, how is this validated? Any information on the above would be most welcome! Thank you and enjoy the mountains  |
|
|
|
Post by herwinw on May 7, 2017 1:26:46 GMT -5
Hey all! I bumbped into this blog as i was searching for the FKT of the Annapurna Circuit. How is the FKT recorded? Is there an official webiste/authority that keeps track of these record times? What is someone aims the break the current record, how is this validated? Any information on the above would be most welcome! Thank you and enjoy the mountains Most questions are answered in the Read This First section on this board. The short summary is that there is no official group to verify the FKTs, most is based on trust and honesty. |
|
|
|
Post by swolpin on May 18, 2017 15:58:58 GMT -5
Hey all! I bumbped into this blog as i was searching for the FKT of the Annapurna Circuit. How is the FKT recorded? Is there an official webiste/authority that keeps track of these record times? What is someone aims the break the current record, how is this validated? Any information on the above would be most welcome! Thank you and enjoy the mountains Hi Melina. What herwinw said is correct and the link he pointed to has great advice for documentation. Within that, I think using a SPOT, Delorme, or other sat tracking device so other people can follow along in real-time is very helpful, plus they create GPS tracks that are on the cloud versus the device. I think local GPS tracks (from a watch, phone, or physical device) are good too but unfortunately easy to create without ever leaving your desk using an editing program. They do show the route taken though (as do recordings from the sat devices, albeit at wider time increments usually) - I see this as important partly because there are often many route choices. This is particularly true with big efforts in the himalayas where jeep tracks have been built or alt routes exist. It is often easier to follow jeep track than technical trail; this is very much the case on the Annapurna Circuit which now has jeep track available for most of the circuit. The truth is that there is so much variability, and change, on big routes that many efforts end up technically being only known times (or an alternative FKT) unless a GPS track from the FKT effort is followed with super careful attention. When I learn about FKTs in Nepal, I try to report them on our website: www.himalayanadventurelabs.com/trail-resources/ and our facebook page, but the hope is that the holder has reported their effort in detail (before and after) here - on these pages. And, like herwin said, it is mostly the honor system but it isn't hard to follow the conventions and amass a lot proof and detail. I see it like writing a good research paper (but hopefully easier) - you want to have evidence and have it be reproducible. Let me know if you take a stab at an FKT in Nepal - I would love to follow along! Safe trails, Seth seth@himalayanadventurelabs.com |
|
|
|
Post by jtumber on Jul 18, 2017 0:08:03 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by swolpin on Jul 18, 2017 22:51:12 GMT -5
Hi - I think I can shed some light. In this post to TRN an FKT is claimed by Leuteris Paraskeuas of 2d20h22m which is ~4 hours faster than what I slogged and set as an FKT 2014. Short version: I believe and support Leuteris setting an FKT around the circuit but his route, and whether he chose trails over roads, needs clarification. Long version: Before Leuteris attempted this, his friend Nikolaos contacted me and TRN asking for advice as he expected to attempt it - I directed him to this site and the conventions posted here (declare in advance, follow same route, document things, etc) and discussed the different styles (supported, on trails, on jeep track). In the end, Leuteris ended up attempting this instead (I think Nikolaos decided to climb Pisang Peak instead) and then they reported the attempt to me and to TRN on the TRN website. TRN does not validate attempts like this and said as much in their comments. I also try to track FKTs in Nepal on my site (link below) and wanted to know if the same route was followed. Leuteris did not track his journey with a GPS or sat tracker. That is fine by me - I don't doubt that he did it - he offers decent anecdotal/supporting evidence. But the route is in question and since there is now a jeep track around most of the circuit, there are many ways to travel. I avoided the jeep track at all costs and followed the 'new annapurna trekking trail system.' which can add many hours to different sections. I encouraged Nikolaos and team to do the same and to use my GPS tracks. After Leuteris finished, he sent me a scan of an elevation profile chart with villages he had passed through. I wrote him and cc'd TRN on May 31st and said it was an elevation profile chart and really a map was needed to document his route as there are multiple routes. I have not received a response to date. I will email him and point him again to this website. Incidentally - I try to track trail running/fast-packing FKTs (not climbing) in Nepal on this website which I also directed Nikolaos to, I welcome any input and look forward to more people trying FKTs in Nepal: www.himalayanadventurelabs.com/trail-resources/ |
|
|
|
Post by swolpin on Oct 3, 2017 20:56:12 GMT -5
Here we go again! I am headed back to the Annapurna Circuit today and will start a FKT attempt at the bus station in Besisahar at 4am (ish) Thursday morning (Nepal Standard Time) or 3:15pm Wednesday (Pacific Standard Time). I am reasonably acclimated having just finished a 10 day tour of alternative trails around the circuit, co-leading a small group part of the 4th annual Annapurna Fast Pack. If all goes well, this will be my 8th time on the circuit and my 9th time over the pass. Anyway, I will follow all of the alternative trails and then some (see radio tower pass) to avoid the jeep track. None of the alternative trails are shorter than 20 minutes, so I will set my Inreach Sat transponder to no less than 20 minute increments. I will also try to record locally on GPS at 1 second increments (providing I have enough batteries)I will register at all of the checkpoints that are open. I want to stress that I am following trails as much as possible versus jeep track. This is a lot harder (and more fun) Exploring these trails has been a focus of mine over the past four years while leading fast packs for trail runners. I will always share these GPX files with anyone who wants them. Sadly - we are losing more of the trails every year to jeep track building. Tracking will be online (see link at end of this) and I will post periodic updates to the mapshare as well as my personal fb page. My route is uploaded to the mapshare, I will be following the same trails that we just did as a group fastpack - these are also on my strava account, www.strava.com/athletes/22813868 The one deviation from the strava files is I will go to Yak Kharka direct from Manang and not via Shree Kharka (a detour we made with the group). My style will be solo and unsupported. I will carry all of my own food, not accept any support on the trail other than water taps and streams, and I will pack all my trash out. My goal will be to beat my own FKT of 74 hours 4 minutes as I am following almost the same route. As I mentioned above, Leuteris never detailed what his route was on a map, or with GPS or Sat Transponder marks, when he did it in ~68 hours and so I can not follow his route. And if sections were on Jeep track..I have no desire to follow. The major deviation from my 2014 route will be to include 'Radio Tower Pass' which is a substantial detour adding at least a few thousand feet of climbing, a few miles and a slippery descent. It starts on the west side of the circuit at the bridge near Eukenbata and climbs to the Tibetan village of Phalyak, then to the pass, before dropping down to Jomsom. It is a substantial detour but one that I think is worth it to avoid road and to appreciate views. I skipped it in 2014 because it seemed to be too much of a deviation off the main circuit and it was in the middle of the night. I have always regretted that as it is an opportunity to avoid jeep track and really fun. I will finish in Naya Pull on the new bridge. Wish me luck! Safe trails everyone. www.himalayanadventurelabs.com/tracking/Belated Update on 11/2/2017: I bailed in Manang after about 31hours. I was able to follow some new side trails that we have discovered on our HAL fast packs that are beyond the NATT trails, and I had fun; but I lost a lot of steam during the first night and the heat of the second day. In the end I decided I wasn't up for 30-40hrs of death marching and potentially risking my return flight to the states and I turned back. |
|
sunny
New Member
Posts: 3 
|
Post by sunny on Nov 13, 2017 1:23:30 GMT -5
Very cool. So strong, Patricia!! I find myself with an extra two weeks in Pokhara and might just give this a go. Haven't been on the Circuit before so I'll first go for a fast pack and then decide how full my suffer bucket towards the end of the month  swolpin, pfranco, Lizzy - thanks all for the inspiration and all the great info on here! |
|
sunny
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by sunny on Feb 9, 2018 17:21:19 GMT -5
|
|
