Scott Jurek embarked on his attempt to break Jennifer Pharr Davis' supported AT FKT today at 5:00AM at Springer Mtn, as announced on his Facebook page, which has a link to his Delorme track:
www.facebook.com/ScottJurekI hope people will post Jurek sightings (with pics!) here. Good luck Scott!
Here are some of Scott's updates from the trail (Day 1 = 27 May 2015). More info and pics on Scott's
Facebook page.
Day 1 done: departed Springer Mtn 5:56am EDT, arrived Unicoi Gap 13:16:42 elapsed time, 52.9 miles, 11,400' up, 12,100' down #SJAT15
Day 2 #AT: departed Unicoi Gap 5:49am EDT, arrived Rock Gap, 7:14pm EDT 13:25:28. 53.0 miles, 12,942' up, 12,230' down. #SJAT15 #eatandrun
Day 3: left Rock Gap 6:16am, arrived Yellow Cr Gap, 9:48pm, 15:32:20. 52 miles, 12,801' up, 13,326' down. #SJAT15
Day 4: Yellow Creek Gap 5:49am, arrived Newfound Gap, 9:20pm, 15:29:22, 13,694' up, 11,702' down, 48.5 mi #SJAT15
Day 5: Started the day with old and new friends at Newfound Gap at 6:49am EDT, arrived at Lemon Gap at 11:04pm EDT, 16:15:59. 52.7 miles, 11,627' ascent and 11,702' descent. Enjoyed seeing the rest of the Smokies and got a good dose of thunderstorms well into the night. No cell reception from Lemon Gap, hence the delay. Hoping I can end a little earlier tonight to catch up on some sleep!
Monday morning departed Lemon Gap at 5:53am EDT, arrived at Devil Fork Gap, at 10:07pm EDT, 16:14:28, 49.4 miles, 11,958' ascent and 12,103' descent. Last night my left quad developed a severe strain due to compensating for my right patella femoral joint (kneecap) that became irritated coming down from the Smokies. Today I walked into Erwin, TN from Devil Fork Gap, 33.1 miles. Staying positive and need to get the quad back in order over the next two days.
Admin (Thursday June 4): No updates from Scott in a couple of days, but the Delorme track shows him moving along after stopping last night on Roan Mtn.
Day 8 update: Yesterday was National Running Day and I found it ironic that I couldn't run. Hope you all ran some miles for me! I had a good time on the trail, started in Erwin, TN at River Rd/Unaka Springs Rd 6:15am EDT, ascent 10,019', descent 6414', 37 miles to Carvers Gap at 9:27pm. 15:12:48 my knee and quad are slowly starting to rebound, it was good to have more ascent than descent. Today is a lot of downhill so we'll see how everything holds up.
Day 9 update: Yesterday morning leaving Carvers Gap had some of the best views I've seen so far from several open balds, a really beautiful section. Departed at 6:16am, ascent 7568', descent 10,485', arrived at Dennis Cove Rd at 8:22pm, 38.8 miles total 14:06:52.
Day 10 update: Crossing a state border is always a thrill as it marks definitive progress. Stoked to make it to Virginia! Departed Dennis Cove Rd at 6:13am, ascent 10,088', descent 10,495', arrived in Damascus,10:07pm, 50.3 miles, 15:54:15. Huge thank you to The Duck House for putting us up last night and to the locals who joined me for some miles today and gave Jenny the morning off. No wonder they call this the "friendliest town on the AT!"
Day 14: This is Jenny Jurek checking in for Scott. He wanted me to post an update for him since he hasn't had cell service the last 3 nights. Day 11 Damascus to Fox Creek, over the high point of Virginia, Mt Rogers, and saw the wild ponies at Massie Gap, 41.4 miles. Day 12 Fox Creek to VA 625, 51.8 miles. Day 13 VA 625 to Dismal Falls, got to run with Clark Zealand in the morning and stopped by the party at the falls in the evening, 48.4 miles. Day 14, today he has two 20+ mile unsupported sections and we should be in Roanoke tomorrow where he can hopefully post another update. Yes, I'm trying to fatten him up so we do appreciate all the vegan treats people have been bringing him. Thank you! PS if you ever see me in a McDonalds parking lot it's because they have free wi-fi!
Posted June 13: Milestones: Came upon these on the trail as I was making my way to Highway US 60 in the dark, finishing another hot and humid 50 mile day. Hard to believe we are over 800 miles into this 2,189 mile journey!
Day 20: Started the morning run with an old friend at mile 905.8 in Shenandoah National Park. Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer has attempted to break the AT record twice and will give it one more go next year. Super psyched to share some miles and catch up with this guy who knows a thing or two about the trail ahead.
Day 21: Three weeks! A quick recap of the last few days: Day 16 started at VA 311 and rolled into Jennings Creek, 48 miles. Day 17 crossed the longest footbridge on the AT over the James River and ended at US 60, 50.4 miles. Day 18 lots of climbing up to Bald Knob, The Priest and Three Ridges and took a swim in the Tye River during the heat of the day, finished at Humpback Gap, 47.5 miles. Day 19 entered my second National Park and welcomed the smoother footing through Shenandoah to Skyline 66.7, 51.9 miles. Day 20 welcomed a nice breeze and my second mama bear sighting with two cubs on the trail, finished at Hogwallow Gap, 54.2 miles. Today is a new day!
June 17: Live from I70 footbridge, mile 1035 of the Appalachian Trail. Hard to believe if I headed west I'd be home in Boulder/Denver. Feels good to be hitting familiar latitudes!
June 18: Completed the four state challenge yesterday: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania in a day. Made it to PA in the daylight and finished a 49 mile day after 54 and 57 mile days. First time in a while that I've finished before dark, feels so good! Maryland was a little training gym for the rocks of Pennsylvania!
June 19: This happened yesterday: HALFWAY! [1090.5 miles]
Day 26: Happy Summer Solstice! It's an AT tradition to hike naked today but my fear of ticks got the better of me. Day 21 started at Hogwallow Gap in Shenandoah National Park and ended at a road construction site at Keys Gap, 57.1 miles. Day 22 Rickey Gates joined the team for two days on his way to Mount Washington Hill Climb, it's always nice to see another familiar face. I completed the four state challenge (VA, WV, MD, PA) and met a lot of great folks including a big group from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, finished in light rain at Old PA 16, 49.5 miles. Day 23 crossed the official halfway point and ended at the ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, 54.7 miles. Day 24 so many great people all day kept me going to Greenpoint School Rd, 59.7 miles. Day 25 ran through Hurricane Bill into the night over some rocky terrain to Hawk Mountain Rd, 52.3. My buddy Russell brought me Thai food from NYC and Vegan Treats delivered two boxes of out of this world desserts which made everything better. Today, I slept in! Ran with Glen Redpath, Nathan Echols and a bunch of locals all day and cut it short at Wind Gap to catch up on sleep, 45.5 miles. Good night!
June 22: Live from I-80 over the Delaware River! Thank you Pennsylvania for the rockin' 4 1/2 days, hello New Jersey!
Day 27 started at Wind Gap, entered the state of New Jersey, took a nap, and finished way past my bedtime at High Point State Park, 58.3 miles.
Day 28: I startled a large black bear this morning and then came upon "Mama Bear" and her 3 kids "Strongman" and "Little Butt" (5 year old twins) and "Spicy Guy" age 11. They thru-hiked from Springer Mt to Harpers Ferry last year and this year are completing the second half to Katahdin completely self supported. Trail tough kids, built to last!
Day 29: Just ran over the lowest point of elevation on the entire AT, the Bear Mountain Zoo at 124' (38m), right before crossing over the Hudson River. Kinda gives a new meaning to one of my favorite album's opening lyric "New York, I love you, but you're bringing me down." Amazing to be back in the Empire State, thanks for the love! Can somebody please bring me a vegan cinnamon roll from Peace Food Cafe?!
Day 30: Almost through Connecticut and onto Massachusetts tomorrow!
Day 33: A storm greeted me last night and sent me off this morning at the top of Mt Greylock (3491') the highest point in Massachusetts. Strong winds blew several trees down on the trail and I saw a large porcupine under one of them. Hoping this weather doesn't hang around too long as I head into Vermont, or as the local hikers say, "Vermud."
June 30: 500 miles to go!
Day 36 (July 1): It's been the rainiest June in Vermont in 130 years so it's only fitting that my last few miles were in a torrential downpour. Yesterday was a rough one but I was pumped to cross my second to last state line this morning. Hello New Hampshire!
Day 38: Twenty minute predawn cat nap after an epic all-nighter from NH 25A to Galehead Hut in the White Mountains, 48.4 miles. Surreal traveling over granite mountains under a waning moon. Good times with Timmy O'Neill, Andrew Drummond and former AT FKT record holder Andrew Thompson who joined us for some miles and imparted his sage wisdom. Huge thank you to the guys who found us on the trail bearing gifts of avocado maki and vegan pizza!
39: Perfect temps and views from the Northern Presidential Traverse on Independence Day, I've been looking forward to this section and it did not disappoint. Happy 4th, everyone!
Day 40: Coming to you live from the magic hour in MAINE!!!
Day 43: 2000 miles down, 189.2 to go. Getting closer!
Day 44: Kennebec River crossing this morning [by canoe] with my buddy Topher Gaylord. Reminded me of being a kid again! HUGE thank you to Adventure Bound John and Mandy for making this possible.
Day 46: My first view of Katahdin today, hard to put into words.
Day 46.5: Yes, this is happening.
July 13: For the past month and a half I dreamed of getting to the top of Katahdin. After 46 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes it was a reality and the feeling was unlike anything I've experienced. The path takes us places we never imagine.
CHEERS!!!
