5 days? Yeah right!

[DSettahr]

Some events (like most triathlons) have a "no drafting" rule. Others (like the Tour de France) are predicated on drafting. One isn't better or worse, they are merely different. The people setting the rules for this event are the people who are doing it. I can think of no better group of people to do so.

Perhaps a rule stating that "only people who have achieved this record without having trails broken out for them are allowed to criticize Ryan's attempt." Perhaps then conversation would be more civil.

 

[ADKnBVI]

I'd be interested in your comments about the segments where the SPOT didn't pick up - dead batteries, turned off, or are there places in the Whites it doesn't reach?

The Spot will work everywhere in the Whites, if you are standing still and facing North. I told Ryan when I loaned him the SPOT, that the coverage while moving is very...spotty.. I have had it for a year and been back and forth with the company. From my experience Ryan had better then average number of points. When I did WF\PASS this fall, it showed 3 consecutive points in the cirque and my wife thought I fell off the Rollins Trail.

 

[RoySwkr]

Some people feel that record attempts should not be announced until they are over (and successful), which means that nobody will deliberately either break trail or dig pits with punji stakes along the course. You can also quit at any time without disappointing fans or making yourself look silly.

Next up is not to announce your route in advance but to post a trip report at the end of each day. This gets others more interested in your quest, but after a few days it gets easier for them to figure out where to go dig.

Posting a daily plan is the most user-friendly for those who wish to feel involved, but flexibility is required for best results. The SPOT beacon shows times (when it is working but a few lines in the blog daily would have been enlightening. Maybe next time you can dictate them while driving or something.

 

[Paradox]

Clearly we need a Record Examination and Acceptance Kommittee (REAK) That will administer blood and urine tests following record attempts, video tape all those attempting to set records to make sure theyare not using snowmobiles, off road motorcycles, Go Go Gadget helicopters, Gortex underwear or other speed enhancing equipment, monitor record setters to make sure they are not engaged in cockfighting, sexting other competitors, stealing sports memorabilia that once belonged to them before it was sold, or accepting cash, bassboats, sports cars, etc. under the aegis of relatives.

 

[Scotzman]

Clearly we need a Record Examination and Acceptance Kommittee (REAK) That will administer blood and urine tests following record attempts, video tape all those attempting to set records to make sure theyare not using snowmobiles, off road motorcycles, Go Go Gadget helicopters, Gortex underwear or other speed enhancing equipment, monitor record setters to make sure they are not engaged in cockfighting, sexting other competitors, stealing sports memorabilia that once belonged to them before it was sold, or accepting cash, bassboats, sports cars, etc. under the aegis of relatives.

lol, yes! Now as the brainchild behind this kommitee and thus founder, would it make you the Founder, Record Examination and Acceptance Kommittee (FREAK)?

 

[Snowflea]

Clearly there is a winter speed record that has yet to be accomplished -- that of bushwhacking up each of the 48, thus ensuring that the record setter alone will be entirely breaking out his/her own route. Of course, the Record Examination and Acceptance Kommitteee will need to come to some agreement on the minimum snow depth (18 inches?) required in order for the record to qualify as legitimate.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Clearly there is a winter speed record that has yet to be accomplished -- that of bushwhacking up each of the 48, thus ensuring that the record setter alone will be entirely breaking out his/her own route. Of course, the Record Examination and Acceptance Kommitteee will need to come to some agreement on the minimum snow depth (18 inches?) required in order for the record to qualify as legitimate.

Besides a minimum snow depth, I think that snow density should be in a limited range of say 30-70 g/100cc, and of course, no ice crusts allowed, as that would make the adventure way too easy.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Besides a minimum snow depth, I think that snow density should be in a limited range of say 30-70 g/100cc, and of course, no ice crusts allowed, as that would make the adventure way too easy.

We might as well stipulate that the temperature should never rise above 0 C, or the whole endeavor is rendered invalid.

 

[mtruman]

Clearly there is a winter speed record that has yet to be accomplished -- that of bushwhacking up each of the 48, thus ensuring that the record setter alone will be entirely breaking out his/her own route. Of course, the Record Examination and Acceptance Kommitteee will need to come to some agreement on the minimum snow depth (18 inches?) required in order for the record to qualify as legitimate.

There might not be a time record for that but it has been done. Guy Waterman did all 48 in winter from all 4 compass directions. I've looked a the maps several times and tried to contemplate what some of those bushwhacks must look like. Can't even imagine it!

 

[ColdRiverRun]

There might not be a time record for that but it has been done. Guy Waterman did all 48 in winter from all 4 compass directions. I've looked a the maps several times and tried to contemplate what some of those bushwhacks must look like. Can't even imagine it!

You quoting her and then posting this is somewhat equal to walking into a church and asking the preacher if he has found religion.

 

[Snowflea]

Yeah, I knew about Guy's feat but was unsure whether he actually bushwhacked each peak entirely four times (or even once). Anyone know?

Also, since he didn't appear to do it for "time," I didn't mention it. Anyone know what his total time was?

Wonder if anyone ever accused him of not respecting the mountains...

 

[Scotzman]

There might not be a time record for that but it has been done. Guy Waterman did all 48 in winter from all 4 compass directions. I've looked a the maps several times and tried to contemplate what some of those bushwhacks must look like. Can't even imagine it!

Wow, that is amazing stuff. Hard to imagine the drive and effort needed!

 

[MichaelJ]

Not to diminish Guy Waterman's accomplishment, which I could never hope to do, but keep in mind that as you go back in time, while there weren't many of the current herd paths, many bushwhacks in the Whites were different due to there being less post-logging regrowth then. Just think about all the old trip reports talking about views from the open summit of Hale, or even from Owl's Head!

 

[RoySwkr]

Yeah, I knew about Guy's feat but was unsure whether he actually bushwhacked each peak entirely four times (or even once). Anyone know?

Also, since he didn't appear to do it for "time," I didn't mention it. Anyone know what his total time was?

I believe his total time was years

And his goal was to approach each peak from 4 directions, not necessarily to bushwhack it - most peaks can be approached at least 2 directions by trail and some maybe all 4 - so part of the approach could have been on trail

I think he considered this his personal project and deliberately did not publish details so that others wouldn't copy it, just as the first completer of the NH4k grid feels that others have mindlessly accepted that a goal rather than thinking up their own imaginative projects

 

[skiguy]

Not to diminish Guy Waterman's accomplishment, which I could never hope to do, but keep in mind that as you go back in time, while there weren't many of the current herd paths, many bushwhacks in the Whites were different due to there being less post-logging regrowth then. Just think about all the old trip reports talking about views from the open summit of Hale, or even from Owl's Head!

Your not diminishing his accomplishment at all. Keep in mind the era he did most of these hikes which I believe and stand corrected if not was the 70's. No Internet to readily track conditions not to mention how many less people on the trail therefore much more trail breaking and alot of it SOLO! We could also talk about the equipment he used compared to what is available now. I think if you were to look at the number of W48 finishers in the prior 30 year period to him accomplishing this feat vs. how many have finished in the last 30 by numbers alone it would say alot. Then lets take a look at how many have done them four times from four different directions.

 

[Tuco]

Not sure what all the fuss is about. There is nothing formal going on here and if they don't want to recognize Farmer's "record" or attempt then they don't have to. Hiking is totally variable from day to day; so take the comparison for what its worth. Who knows or cares if some other person has done this faster- its the attempts that make it fun (of course Farmer won't feel that way but I do since I can never attempt any of this stuff ).

If I recall there are plenty of "supported" and "unsupported" records on long distance trails (including at least one other esteemed member of this community)- both respected equally. Farmer's attempt sounds supported- and he was clear about it from day 1. or 2, but who is counting.... All I know is it was a gas to watch it unfold and sorry it ended early.

Ryan, your life was less stressful when you were hiking with the slow guys

 

[MichaelJ]

No Internet to readily track conditions not to mention how many less people on the trail therefore much more trail breaking and alot of it SOLO!

Oh, and I forgot ... could you even take the Kanc in the winter at that point in time?

There's a lot of variability in his accomplishment, and we don't know the routes he took. For example, a peak like Lafayette, you could say Garfield Ridge is the eastern approach (Skook north, Greenleaf west, Franconia Ridge south), or you could bushwhack it up from the Pemi, and you could yourself decide if Lincoln & Lafayette get separate eastern 'whacks.

 

[dr_wu002]

. For example, a peak like Lafayette, you could say Garfield Ridge is the eastern approach (Skook north, Greenleaf west, Franconia Ridge south), or you could bushwhack it up from the Pemi, and you could yourself decide if Lincoln & Lafayette get separate eastern 'whacks.

You would probably have to subject this to an internet forum such as this one in order to decide upon the correct rules for such an undertaking.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

You would probably have to subject this to an internet forum such as this one in order to decide upon the correct rules for such an undertaking.

-Dr. Wu

Can anyone here imagine Guy Waterman's response to such a suggestion? He must be rolling over in his grave laughing. Yes, I know that you are joking, Wu.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I believe his total time was years

And his goal was to approach each peak from 4 directions, not necessarily to bushwhack it - most peaks can be approached at least 2 directions by trail and some maybe all 4 - so part of the approach could have been on trail

I think he considered this his personal project and deliberately did not publish details so that others wouldn't copy it, just as the first completer of the NH4k grid feels that others have mindlessly accepted that a goal rather than thinking up their own imaginative projects

There is someone out there right now tackling all of the NH4s solo in winter as bushwhacks from the four major compass directions and more, obviously not in one year. I believe that his goal is bushwhacking up every major ridge in the Whites. No GPS. No computer. No internet. Just map and compass. Very old school.