Results: John Muir Trail (JMT) Record Attempt – Unsupported, Without Resupply

Al,
Your story was very inspiring; thank you for your attempt and telling us about it.

Al,

After this all sinks in, you’ll be content to know that you tried and bailed (…and tried and bailed…and tried and bailed…) rather than written yourself off as a fool and never tried at all.

I’m really pleased and impressed you tackled this unsupported. I think the record is ripe for the taking, but Reinhold’s current mark still remains an impressive goal.

Heal well,
Ryan

Al –

Your narrative has been awaited with much anticipation. Your efforts alone were amazing and success all a matter of relativity. How can one know their limits without testing them?

The value of your efforts are useful to all of us in planning our more modest pursuits as well as those who follow you and the likes of Metzger and Sawchuk in pushing the limits.

Hey Al,
First of all, thank you BPL for publishing Al’s story and getting us inspired in the 1st place. Al, your story was great! I also hope you are satisfied with what you have done, and hope you make another attempt at it. With blisters that are better prepared and treated water this attempt would have been in a whole other realm.
I am still going for the attempt next year. I decided to see what my body can take over a 24 hour period and signed up for the San Francisco 1-day run last weekend. I have covered 45 miles in a day a few times during adventure races but that was in different segments. The longest I have ever run straight is a 50K.
While thinking I would get to mile 40 and die slowly over the rest of the night, it was just the opposite. I did not go out too fast and maintained a good pace until mile 90. At 90, things started to go down hill from my legs and feet getting stiff. I still managed to hang on the 4th over-all and cover 103.7 miles over the 24 hours.
This race summed it up for me to go for the JMT attempt next year.

During the race I met up and ran with Catra Corbett for a few hours. She has the record for the fastest female record over the JMT. Al, she said hi and was glad she was finally able to meet you.
She is an amazing woman. She can run circles around all of us. If you haven’t checked out her blog or her birthday challenge, check it out, (11-hundreds in one year), and she is going for the women’s PCT Record next year.

Al, I have given a lot of consideration in route choice.
If I can get a Lottery Ticket for a Saturday, I will just cruz up with my brother and stay the night and start the attempt the next morning. If not Saturday, I will start the time at the portal, but not try to rush too much to the top, then note the time I leave the top, (for the attempt in breaking Reinholds record).
If I hit Reds meadow during the day, I will take the north of the road route. Navigating parking lots at night just doesn’t seem as fun.
Al, hopefully we can talk soon, so I can get you all buttered up to go for it again next year. Maybe at the same time, with Reinhold as well???

Al: Good on Ya for your attempt. I’ll wager a dozen Clif Bars (with Green Tea Caffeine!) that it was neither humans or ravens that stole your 22 Clif Bars. The marmots are notorious at that trail junction and appear very large and healthy. Clif Bars should consider their picture for an advertisement. keep getting out there! John Phillips–Ahwahnee, CA

Again, thanks to all for your supportive comments.

Aaron good for you for getting some real world experience in taking your body to extremes. I need to do more of that. I don’t know what a “PM” is that you referred to. If it’s a post-mortum, I think I already provided that.

By early October the Whitney area climbs were filling in with snow so I changed venue from the 13,100′ East Face rope-up to the 4000′ starting elevation climbs in Yosemite Valley.

I was in the process of climbing 2 laps on Half Dome’s SW Face (26 miles/10’000′ vertical) and ran into Catra training for a 100 mile race. She just became the first woman to do 4,100 milers in as many weeks.

A month later I saw her in climber’s camp and she suggested that we go for Reinhold’s record together next fall after she sets a new unsupported PCT record. I’m flattered that she would even consider me to be in her league.

Hey Al,
I’m with you for the record, however we mortal humans will not be able to keep up with Catra. She does the JMT as fast as we do while still sleeping 7 hours a day. During her hiking she runs (A LOT) more and averages over 3 mph most of the time.

After the San Francisco 1 day, I could not run for a few weeks due to my left arch killing me. Catra ran 3 more 100’s over the next 3 weeks.
I don’t think she would go for the option of doing 20+ hour days, but I’m sure she wouldn’t have a problem catching us each day.

Speaking of which, Catra is going for the unsupported female record of the PCT and I can not find any where in the internet that tells who has it now.

Anybody else know?
A link to the story would be nice to.

Is there a person/group/organization that keeps track of these official/unofficial records?
Thanks,

– Jon

Hey Martin,
Here is everything you need to know about the current and past JMT records.
Reinhold Metzger is the only owner of the unsupported record and has dropped his own record 2 times to it's current standing.
The current records:

Both:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir_Trail

Kevin Sawchucks outright record:
http://www.cerritos.edu/lgersitz/MUT/Profile_Sawchuck.html

Reinhold Metzger's current unsupported record:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20030929-9999_mz1s29outdor.html

The past records:

Blake Wood's record 1998:
http://fjwsys.lanl.gov/bpw/jmtarticle.html

Peter Bakwin and Buzz Burrell's attempt in 2000:
http://dim.com/~buzz/JMT/

Peter Bakwin's record in 2003:
http://home.comcast.net/~pbakwin/

Brian Robinson's attempt right after in 2003, (excellent story):
http://www.stevenscreekstriders.org/events/brian_r/jmt_challenge.html

Catra Corbett has the women's supported record at 5 days 10 hours.
http://www.myspace.com/catrarunner

John Stamstead attempted the unsupported record this year and would of had it if he had not had to catch a flight before he was able to finish.
There is a very nice write up about this in July's issue of Trail Runner Magazine. His time would have been around 4 days 20 hours.

Then came Al's attempt about 2
months later.

Jonathan,
I have read some where that Trail Runner Magazine was supposed to be the official magistrate for these unofficial records, but have not found any thing on it. Maybe they have a list some where???

As of 2/6/06 is Reinholds record still the one to beat? Also as far as the route goes is one allowed to start in Yosemite Valley and end at Whitney to be considered viable for the record?

thanks adam

Hey Adam,
I'm here. Getting in better shape every day. Yesterday I did a 26 mile hike out on Diablo with a cumulative of 7000' elevation gain.
I can't wait to get up in elevation. On a good note, almost all of the training I'm doing is more difficult than the JMT. It is the elevation, (above about 10500') that is going to be the hardest barrier.

And Marin, Reinhold is still the man. I will give my self a 40% chance of getting the record. I'm not putting anything past what an accomplishment Reinhold did.
_______________________________________________________
To answer you question, sure, you can start at Yosemite.
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I think the only advantage is you get a chance to get used to the elevation and obviously it is easier to get a permit.

The big disadvantage is that your hardest day will be your last day. After 4 1/2 days and felling like crap and like you died a day or 2 ago, going up Whitney would not be fun.
Going S – N gives you over 30 miles almost all down hill.

Any thing else you would like to know, let me know.
You can get a lot of info on my past posts, (link below).
Are you looking at possibly making the attempt???????

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/5803/index.html?skip_to_post=43491#43491

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/5650/index.html?skip_to_post=41800#41800

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/5734/index.html?skip_to_post=41468#41468