AT Speed Record Attempt

[ColdRiverRun]

I figured some would find this interesting to follow. Karl Meltzer an elite ultra distance runner will be attempting to break the speed record for the AT starting Aug 5. He is starting in Maine so I'm sure some of us will see him out there soon. He has a very organized effort and a very good web site called whereskarl.com dedicated to the task as well. He is going to be trying out the SPOT tracking technology so while it works he'll be easy to find.

 

[mookie]

47 days?

47 days? cmon. that is just insane.

 

[MadRiver]

My wife’s cousin “Stairmaster” tried to break the record this summer. Unlike Karl he did it with no assistance and had to stop after several hundred miles. When he thru-hiked 4 years ago he did the entire trail in 98 days, also unassisted.

 

[dr_wu002]

FWIW, Sherpa John has an interesting interview with Karl Meltzer here.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Tom Rankin]

FWIW, Sherpa John has an interesting interview with Karl Meltzer here.
-Dr. Wu

I love the 'So tell me about your gear?' question!

The answer (which is nothing more than a huge advertisement) includes Red Bull! Gear? Ack! Cough! Is he serious? Do ultra runners really drink that stuff?

In spite of the commercialism, it is an awesome quest, to go about 46+ miles per day for 47 days! Sounds like we're in the ADKs!

 

[Puma concolor]

Ah, yes. The spirit of amateurism is alive and well.

 

[cbcbd]

Lol, my chainlove.com order came with a whereskarl.com sticker! I can't wait to see him in action on the AT!

 

[Neil]

In spite of the commercialism, it is an awesome quest, to go about 46+ miles per day for 47 days!

Fair's fair. Companies give him $$ in hopes of ....

• feeling warm and fuzzy
• making more money

Choose one of the above.

 

[mookie]

heck

heck,
i would pretend to support those products as well...if someone was paying for my trip!!!

 

[Doodles]

Nothing wrong with a challenging goal. I wish him all the best for a speedy safe hike. OK, safe trail run.

 

[DougPaul]

Fair's fair. Companies give him $$ in hopes of ....

• feeling warm and fuzzy
• making more money

Choose one of the above.

Can I choose both?

Doug

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Nice article in today's Salt Lake Tribune, where I have been the past three days; Salt Lake City is also home to Backcountry.com, one of Karl's sponsors and where my student who did the snow pit study in Tucks this past winter is now employed.

http://www.sltrib.com/Features/ci_10044784


Also, here is an article about Andrew "Trail Dog" Thompson's AT record set in 2005.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/NEWS01/108040048

Interesting that both Andrew and Karl are New Hampshirites.

 

[amstony]

All I can say as a trail runner, marathoner, and hiker is to go for it and keep us posted!!

 

[peakbagger]

heck as long as he doesnt throw empty plastic containers of the latest sports energy supplement along the trail as he runs, more power to him. (participants of a local biathalon in the area that runs up wildcat, usually leave a trail of these along the course)

 

[cbcbd]

heck as long as he doesnt throw empty plastic containers of the latest sports energy supplement along the trail as he runs, more power to him. (participants of a local biathalon in the area that runs up wildcat, usually leave a trail of these along the course)

Him and his team are actually picking up trash along the way. Their goal is 1 garbage bag of trash per day.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Can I choose both?

Doug

For a fee, I'm sure you can

Tim

 

[Blueblaze]

47 days? cmon. that is just insane.
__________________
Insane.... yes. My sisters long time boyfriend (and a personal close friend and "uncle " to my 6yr old son) Andrew(traildog) Thompson currently holds the record of 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. He made it from Maine to Georgia with only ONE crew person (JB....who holds his own records for peaks in Colorado) in a beat up pick up truck. No comfy RV to sleep in. Just a tent and a bag. No luxury of GPS tracking location along the way. (his crew can follow him and communicate with him while out on the trail) Just there knowledge of each section and alot of luck running into each other at key points. Andrew was given the opportunity to receive ALOT of sponsorship money for the trip and turned it down. Ask Karl how much money he has taken to aid in this endeavor. Andy wanted to do this trail in the most basic form possible. Some dont recognize "speed records". Thats ok. He did it as close as any thru hiker would do the trail.

Dont get me wrong. I know records are meant to be broken. I wish him all the luck and safety. I'm just a little biased. (understandably) I've communicated with Karl and the reason he told me he was going from Maine to Georgia was so that people could say that he broke the record in the same manner as Andrew.
If you want to break the record in the same manner....do it the same way. Not with "crutches" to help you along the way.

 

[Tim Seaver]

A bit wet

Here is wishing the best of luck to Karl on his attempt. Given the extremely wet conditions that he will most likely be facing in Maine, I think it's going to be a rough start.

Go SpeedGoat!

 

[Tim Seaver]

Also, here is an article about Andrew "Trail Dog" Thompson's AT record set in 2005.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/NEWS01/108040048

Interesting that both Andrew and Karl are New Hampshirites.

And also a very recent interview with Andrew by Vermont Sports .
As to future attempts, he mentions the NH4000k, the LT, and the Colorado 14K's.

 

[Snowflea]

Karl's AT record attempt will be interesting to watch. He has tough, mountainous 100 miler speed but lacks multi-day experience to my knowledge. Looking over his itinerary, the last couple of Maine days make my knees hurt.

BTW, Traildog knows how to go reeeally light: Rumor has it he once did Owls Head in winter carrying 1/2 a bagel and a coffee mug while screaming like a maniac and scaring the crap out of his hiking partners.