Pacific Crest Trail (CA, OR, WA)

[tunahelper]

Hello Everyone! Ryan Weidert, AKA Tuna Helper here. I’d like to let my intentions be known that I will be attempting to break the overall speed record (59 days 8 hours 14 minutes by Josh Garrett 2013) for hiking the entire length of the entire Pacific Crest Trail going northbound. My plan is to do the hike in a “self-supported” and “unassisted” style like Scott Williamson. This style means a great many things, most of which I’ve copied directly or paraphrased from the posts and correspondence of the current mens record holders (Scott Williamson (Bink) and Adam Bradley (Krusmeister)). Following the guidelines of previous 'self-supported' records, "I will not have anyone following, or otherwise meeting me in prearranged manner to give me support. I plan to do this hike as a backpacker, carrying all of my food, equipment, and water between resupply towns. I will walk into supply towns to pick up mailed, prepackaged food boxes or to purchase food, then walk back to the trail via the same route I came in on. I will not be getting into a vehicle for any reason during this attempt, or skipping any section of trail. I will be following the official PCT route, taking no detours, road walks or alternates of any kind."

I will be attempting to break this record as a solo hiker and will be starting sometime between June 1-15th. I will post my official start date once I have it pinned down. My main reasons for this attempt are to test myself (again) and too see what I am capable of, the record being the bar in which to compare myself with other awesome endurance athletes. Having failed once after 42 days, I know my goal of completing the trail fast is achievable, especially since my goal in 2012 was sub 60 days. I’ll periodically be in contact with family members and relay my progress, which I hope to have posted on Facebook and FKT. I am taking a GPS to have verification of my hike since I am hiking solo and independent verification is more difficult. I want to be as open as I can with this so there is as little possibility of ‘drama’ or questions if I manage to succeed. My admiration for the trail and those who hike it runs deep and I can’t wait to test myself and get dirty! I <3 the PCT!

Cheers!,
Tuna Helper

For those who may be interested heres the link to my 2012 Attempt blog/trail journal and LOTS of photos/panoramas (right side link) www.pctspeed.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html?m=1

[rhino]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Ryan Allouche aka Rhino and I will be attempting the PCT speed record as well. Unassisted and Unsupported like Bink and Tuna Helper. I will be starting approx June 8th where my fiance will drop me off and let me go on this epic journey.

The human body is an amazing thing and I love pushing it to the limits mentally and physically. I thru hiked the PCT in 2011 where Dirtmonger and I finished 9 and 10 that year. We weren't even trying to race but towards the end, after we made it thru the Sierra snows that year, we realized we were in the front of the pack and it was fun to push hard after that. I learned a lot about myself and my body. Knowing what I know now and how to listen and learn from my bodies aches and pain I feel I have a great chance.

I also know this year is going to be an awesome one as there will be 5-6 of us attempting the record (as far as I know and heard). Its going to be a fun ride =)

I will be updating on my postholer.com journal via my iphone under Rhino (there is another Rhino doing the trail this year but the journals should make it obvious)

I look forward to flying along the PCT and wish everyone on the trail the best of luck and the best of health! Good luck guys and gals!

Rhino coming thru!!

[Young Gun]

    Hi everybody! This is Jay Bonthius, aka "Young Gun". Tomorrow (June 1st) at noon, I will be starting my solo/nobo hike in an attempt to set the self-supported PCT FKT. Same definition of self-supported as others (I have not prearranged any type of support. I will carry my own food, water, and gear from town to town. I will be picking up my resupplies by walking into town and walking back to trail on the same route. I will follow the official PCT route, with no detours, short cuts, or alternate routes.)

I will post daily coordinates here.
And check out my page, if you want.

Good luck to everybody attempting this year, and stay safe!
    -Young Gun

**UPDATE** Just under 9 days and 400 miles in (Tuesday, June 10th @ 11am) I intersected Hwy 2 again and hitched a ride into the city, and rode the MetroLink home.  I was having a very tough time.  A few days prior, I had heat exhaustion coming down into the Cajon Pass, and the days that followed were painfully sluggish.  Though I was on pace, I know I did not have the mental capacity to deal with my fatigue and continue hiking.

[sanjay]

Hi there, my name is Sanjay Shanbhag and tomorrow June 23, 2014 I will be leaving the Mexican border on an attempt to break the men's self-supported (thru hiker style) south to north record set by Scott Williamson & Adam Bradley at 65d 9h 58m. Like Tune Helper and others I will not have anyone following, or otherwise meeting me in prearranged manner to give me support. I plan to do this hike as a backpacker, carrying all of my food, equipment, and water between resupply towns. I will walk into supply towns to pick up mailed, prepackaged food boxes or to purchase food, then walk back to the trail via the same route I came in on. I will not be getting into a vehicle for any reason during this attempt.
I will follow as much of the official PCT route as is legally possible. Due to several recent fires there are closures with huge fines that I will not hike. I will hike whichever detour is available to me on these sections.

I will be carrying a SPOT tracker with me to have verification of my hike since I am hiking solo and independent. This link to my tracker is below. I would love for people to use this information and to hike with me/take my picture to also help legitimize my speed record attempt.
share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0i9xVqqlJGy84zJfV2hugsJPE6qaqISsD

When I have contact with friends and family I will try to have them update my mileage and other information on my Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/sanjay.shanbhag.790

My Twitter is @rucktheworld I'll try to update there as well if I can figure it out.

[jordo]

Joe McConaughy aka String Bean is currently attempting to break the supported speed record on the PCT of 59d8h59m. He started at 5:25AM in Campo on June 18. Today is day 31 on the trail and he will be crossing highway 299 outside of Burney in just a few short hours.

Within the last week, he has shown tremendous strength and resiliency as he is now averaging 54 mpd. He crossed the midpoint posts at 29 days, 11 hours, and 15 minutes, which according to previous posts this is a new overall record. Joe has a Delorme satellite phone on him for contacting and tracking purposes, which also provides verification.

Joe is attempting the supported record in honor of his 2 year old cousin who passed away from brain cancer a few years ago. He is raising money for a charity group named CancerCare. Feel free to check out our website at www.runforcolin.com, our donation page at community.cancercare.org/runforcolin, Facebook at www.facebook.com/runforcolin, and Twitter at @runforcolin.

Cheers,
Jordo

[Ras Jason Vaughan]

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNSUPPORTED WASHINGTON TRAVERSE
VIA THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: Tomorrow morning, Monday, August 4th, 2014, I will make the 30 mile approach hike from Harts Pass to the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail. First thing Tuesday morning, August 5th, I will officially begin my attempt to traverse the state of Washington via the Pacific Crest Trail COMPLETELY UNSUPPORTED. I will not pick up and food caches or resupply or purchase anything enroute, I will not forage for wild edibles, and I will not accept any handouts or trail angelry. I will carry all of my food and gear from the very beginning to the very end, including trash. (I will, however, hand out a few Ultrapedestrian.com stickers).

My total pack weight is 39 pounds. Of that, 29 pounds is food, being comprised of dehydrated tempeh, jasmine rice, and refried beans, as well as instant oatmeal, a large container of peanut butter, and 20 old-school granola bars (to dip in the peanut butter). All dehydrated food will be soaked, not cooked, as I am not carrying a stove or pot or bowl or cup. I am also carrying a small supply of Emergen-C, nuun tablets, and instant green tea.

My clothing (not including the running shorts, Altra Running tech shirt, Lone Peak 1.5's, Seven Hills Running Shop visor, socks, team UltraPedestrian wristband, watch, and gaiters I will be wearing) makes up another 3 1/2 pounds, comprised of puffy down pants, a synthetic puffy jacket, puffy down slippers (made from the sleeves of an old down coat), a water proof shell, gore-tex socks, two fleece hats, a merino wool buff, merino wool liner gloves, overmits, merino wool arm sleeves, Altra calf sleeves, a Pendleton wool shirt, and a bandanna, which will double as my sponge, towel, washcloth, debris filter for water, and , if necessary, tourniquet.

Batteries and electronic gear comprise another 3 1/2 pounds, including a cell phone, mp3 player, headlamp, SPOT transponder, GPS, two chargers, amino acid & super green food supplements, water purifying tabs, and a ridiculous number of AA and AAA lithium batteries.

The remaining 3 pounds accounts for my pack itself, inflatable sleeping pad, ball point pen, sharpie, 5 sheets of paper, titanium spork, one roll of toilet paper, and a pair of toe nail clippers (more multi-functional than a knife!).

I firmly believe that 10 days is realistic for this project. I should be able to stretch my stores out for up to 12 days. Beyond that and I will either be violating my goals and foraging for food, or exiting the trail.

My SPOT transponder can be followed at:
epic.voyage/

I will post updates to facebook (www.facebook.com/jahsonites) when possible, but I know I will not have cell service until I hit Steven's Pass, probably no earlier than Friday evening.

To the best of my understanding, no one has ever done this before, according to the principles set out above. If I can adhere strictly to the unsupported ethic, it will be one of, if the THE, longest completely unsupported journeys by foot known to have been undertaken.

Human beings are capable of amazing things. I just need to keep reminding myself over the next ten days that I am a human being.

Give Thanks for LIFE!

[Anthony Skierkiewicz]

Hey all! Saturday august 2nd i set off from stevens pass to snoqualmie pass,(section j).
My trip started at 5:05 a.m
Reached snoqualmie the same day at precisely 10:30.
I have a link to my strava recording of the run.
Total time of 17H 25M
New fkt for this section

[Anthony Skierkiewicz]

Aug 4, 2014 17:22:26 GMT -5 Anthony Skierkiewicz said:

Hey all! My name is anthony skierkiewicz and Saturday august 2nd i set off from stevens pass to snoqualmie pass,(section j).
My trip started at 5:05 a.m
Reached snoqualmie the same day at precisely 10:30.
I have a link to my strava recording of the run.
Total time of 17H 25M
New fkt for this section

[stringbean]

Hello!

Joe McConaughy aka String Bean here. I just wanted to inform the FKT community of my recent journey thru the incredible PCT. I started on June 18th at 5:25 AM at the Mexican border and made it to the Monuments on the Canada border at 12:02 PM on August 10th.

Being supported, my official time for the PCT is 53 Days, 6 hours, 37 minutes.

I had a crew of 2-3 friends who supported me with resupplies and by camping with me. We would meet every 10-100 miles (mostly at road intersections) and we would camp out together about 4 out of 5 nights. They were awesome dudes who really motivated and pushed me, and were essential to my safety and success out on the trail. If anyone would like to know more about how we did the trip, shoot us an e-mail: [e-mail] or check out our website at www.runforcolin.com

This was the most wild, incredible test of my limits that I will ever face. It was both breathtaking and thrilling. I look forward and support anyone going for this record (in a safe manner!!!).

-String Bean

[Ras Jason Vaughan]

OFFICIAL UNSUPPORTED WASHINGTON TRAVERSE ONLY KNOWN TIME 13 DAYS, 14 HOURS, 58 MINUTES, COMPLETELY UNSUPPORTED. I carried all my food and gear from the beginning. and picked up no cache or resupply. I carried all my trash until the end and made no drops. I accepted no hand outs, gifts of food, or trail magic. I did not forage or hunt and ate no wild foods. I covered 507 (?) miles from the Canadian border to the Oregon border in the middle of the Bridge Of The Gods, by foot. Huge Love and Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and positive vibes. I guess this is one limit I still haven't found yet, although I felt close on a couple of occasions. Onward with this grand experiment of Life and Living.

Here's a link to a TrailRunnerMag.com interview about the Unsupported Washington Traverse

Here's a link to my Facebook profile, where I posted status updates before and after the trip, as well as dispatches from the trail during the Unsupported Washington Traverse

[Patrick M.]

I ran the same section, stevens to snoqualmie, starting at 6:45am and finishing at 10:00pm the same day. I ran the course on July 27, 2014. Total time of 15h 15 minutes new fkt!

[Peter Bakwin]

Sept 18, 2014 18:28:05 GMT -5 Patrick M. said:

I ran the same section, stevens to snoqualmie, starting at 6:45am and finishing at 10:00pm the same day. I ran the course on July 27, 2014. Total time of 15h 15 minutes new fkt!

Please tell us who you are so we know to whom to credit the FKT!

[Tyler Cota]

Hello, my name is Tyler Cota and I am trying to find my cousin Scott Williamson. This past holiday my mom (his mom Vicki and my Mom Carolyn are sisters) told me about his outstanding accomplishments in hiking. I myself am a hiking enthusiast and would love to speak with my cousin that I have not seen since I was a kid. If anyone here knows him can you please please please tell him his cousin in the Bay Area would love to get a chance to speak with him. Thank you all so very much.

Best Regards,

Tyler Cota
[e-mail]

[tunahelper]

Hello Everyone!
Ryan Weidert, AKA Tuna Helper here. I’d like to let my intentions be known that I will be re-attempting to break the unsupported speed record (60 days, 17 hours, 12 minutes Anish (Heather Anderson) 2013) for hiking the entire length of the entire Pacific Crest Trail going northbound. My plan is to do the hike in a “self-supported” and “unassisted” style like Scott Williamson. This style means a great many things, most of which I’ve copied directly or paraphrased from the posts and correspondence of the current mens record holders (Scott Williamson (Bink) and Adam Bradley (Krusmeister)). Following the precedents set in previous 'self-supported' records, "I will not have anyone following, or otherwise meeting me in prearranged manner to give me support. I plan to do this hike as a backpacker, carrying all of my food, equipment, and water between resupply towns. I will walk into supply towns to pick up mailed, prepackaged food boxes or to purchase food, then walk back to the trail via the same route I came in on. I will not be getting into a vehicle for any reason during this attempt or skipping sections of trail etc." I will be on the PCT from end to end!

In two months, my race against the clock will begin on May 25th (thank you no snow!) as a solo hiker. My main reasons for this attempt are to test myself (again) and too see what I am capable of finishing, the record being the bar in which to compare myself with other awesome endurance athletes. Having failed once after 42 days and 1860 miles, I know my goal of completing the trail fast is achievable, especially since my goal in 2012 was sub 60 days. I’ll occasionally be in contact with family members and relay my progress, which may be posted on Facebook or the FKT website. I am also considering uploading updates via Instagram on my account RevelPhotography. I am taking a GPS to have verification of my hike since I am hiking solo and independent verification is more difficult. I want to be as open as I can with this so there is as little possibility of ‘drama’ or questions if I manage to succeed. My admiration for the trail and those who hike it runs deep and I can’t wait to test myself and get dirty! I <3 the PCT!

Cheers!,
Tuna Helper

For those who may be interested heres the link to my 2012 Attempt blog/trail journal with my audio journals, gps tracks and LOTS of photos/panoramas (right side link on a computer not visible on mobile devices). I will be making another similar website/blog to chronicle my 2015 attempt as well. www.pctspeed.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html?m=1

[BendBorne]

First Winter PCT thru-hike?

Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter
www.pcta.org/2015/meet-two-guys-winter-thru-hiking-pct-19-incredible-photos-26687/

Amazing !!!