Aurelien Sanchez – JMT unsupported FKT attempt (NOBO)
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Aurelien posted this Trip Report and photo on Facebook. I’m copying it here for those who might be interested but do not use Facebook:
I am finally rested and finished to analyzed what just happened:
I failed to finish the John Muir Trail, and had to stop 60 miles before the end of the trail, at Red Meadow.
I climbed over 10000 meter, hiked 160 miles (260 km), in 65 hours, and had 1h30min sleep total.
I had to quit because my body gave up on me, and I was not able to walk faster than 2 mph (3km/h) downhill, and uphill was not even possible. My headlamp was out of battery, and I could not take the risk to continue to Donohue pass without light, without energy, and with a minimal gear.
The first day went perfect. I passed mount Whitney (mile 11) in 3h30, Forester pass (mile 36) in less than 10hours, Glen pass (mile 47) in 14 hours, and decided to take a rest halfway of the Pinchot pass climb (mile 60). I was at least 2 hours ahead of schedule, and was feeling exhausted but very positive.</p>
At 9:00pm on Pinchot pass I tried to sleep, but was not able to because of the cold. People told me I was going there with a gear list too light with the temperature forecasted, there were right and I knew it, but I knew if that was the case I would just keep moving and rest later in the day time. So I laid down for 3 hours, after drinking electrolyte and protein for getting my legs some recovery and some rest, and started walking again around midnight. I think I catched around 20 min sleep total, but when I left I got sick due to the cold outside, and the sweat I had under my clothes. My throat was a bit painful, I was coughing, and eating or drinking cold water was not easy anymore.
I finish the climb on Pinchot still ahead of schedule, but then my headlamp went in Low Power mode, battery did not last long full power apparently. I lost some time in the descent trying to stay on the trail and to put my feet at the right place between the rocks since I had low visibility. The climb up mather pass (mile 73) was getting more difficult as the exhaustion was growing up, but I was still keeping the right pace to stick to the schedule.
The way down Mather was smooth as the sun rose. I tried to take a 15 min break at palisade creek (mile 83) to try to eat and drink more than usual, since I almost did not take anything all the morning. I also took an 5 hour energy shot before the Muir pass climb (mile 95) that gave me a strong push, but the end of the climb was terrible as the Muir hut was never coming in sight. I was still few hours ahead of schedule, but at this time my body was depleted with not enough calorie and not enough sleep.
I tried to take a 2 hours nap at evolution creek (mile 104), but when I laid down my legs where literally burning due to the exhaustion. The pain kept me awake again, and I maybe catched 15 min sleep total this time. At 7:30pm when I started to move again, I was coughing even more, and felt that I did not have any energy in my body anymore. I took a lot of electrolyte, protein, calories, and after 30 min I feel my legs moving at a decent pace again. I almost quit at this time, but since I was still able to move I decided to keep walking at an easy pace towards Red Meadow and see what will happen. I actually felt better after a while, and continued toward Goddard Bridge (mile 110). I turned left over there instead of right (did not look at the right bridge on the map), so I lost 30 min to find my way back. At this time I knew I was very tight with the schedule and less rested, but still believed in my chances.
The climb up Selden (mile 122) started well. I had switched the batteries in my headlamp, but the new set went in Low Power again just before the end of the climb. I lost the trail for 15min, and lost again some more time trying to stay on it and to place properly my feet on this rugged terrain. The way down of Selden was the most terrible part of all. Following the trail in the dark with the headlamp in Low Power, with exhaustion and lack of sleep was the most difficult thing ever. I was waiting for the sun to rise again, which is what happen but once I was at bear ridge (mile 131).
There where a this time only two major passes remaining, Silver and Donohue. I had done the most difficult, so I knew I could make it. I took again a 5 hour energy shot before Silver pass (mile 143), and that helped me a lot to recover the time I lost in the dark. I was then running Silver Pass downhill (after 143 mile I was pretty amazed I could do it), and I was again back 1 hour ahead of schedule, with the motivation highest than ever,and with the feeling of being invincible, that I could keep going for days like this. There are 60 miles remaining and only one major pass, so I decided to take a 1h30 min nap before the last sprint to the finish. Before this nap I forgot to eat anything, any protein or any electrolyte, so I guess my muscle did not have much help to recover properly. I slept very well this time next to Purple lake (mile 152) in the warm Sunday afternoon. When I woke up I just could not stand up anymore, my feet where extremely painful due to the many blisters I had with the creek crossing, and my legs too sore to walk fast again. That was it, I just could not move anymore. After 10 min I was able to stand up, and then to walk 2mph pace downhill, but uphill was not even imaginable. I started to analyzed the different options, keep going to Donohue at this pace could be possible, but I knew it was over for making the time record. I knew also It would be dangerous to be stuck in Donohue with no light and with a minimal gear in the cold night. It was not worth it, I just kept walking very slow to Red Meadow where I quit on Sunday evening, still very tight on schedule for the record if I had more energy to continue.
I will 100% chances give it another try next year. This was my first ultra, and I think I need to improve my calorie intake and the sleep management. I will try to sleep between 6pm and 9pm when the temperature are not the coldest at low elevation, I will need to change my headlamp, but the rest of the gear just worked as expected and I would not change anything. I will try also to improve my training to be in a better shape, even if I think this will not have the biggest impact for next time compared to the sleep and calorie management.
What worked very well is all the motivation I got from the people around me with all the encouragement. When I was on the trail I was determined to keep going thanks to that, And just could not give up for anything minor that could happen
Thank you very much everyone that followed and helped me to keep this motivation, this was not always easy as a solo endeavor for a first ultra attempt.
This trail was just splendid, I recommend anyone to spend more than 3 days to explore it if possible
Aurelien
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