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Nina Bridges hadn’t been planning to set the ladies’s supported quickest identified time (FKT) when she set out on the Colorado Path (CT) on Aug. 15. However she broke the earlier document by just below 8 hours.
Initially, she’d deliberate to go unsupported when she had just a few weeks off. And she or he’d had her eyes on the ladies’s unsupported FKT for the Colorado Path — as a result of she knew nobody had claimed it but. “I used to be like, ‘I’ll begin the ladies’s time. That is going to be superior.’ I packed all my gear, packed all my meals. After which I began the primary day,” Bridges informed GearJunkie.
But it surely wasn’t lengthy earlier than catastrophe struck. “I used to be 9 miles in, and the backpack strap ripped in half,” she stated. She pressed on, although. Not less than, to get to someplace she had cell service — someplace proper round mile 25.
“I referred to as up a few of my pals, and I used to be like, ‘I don’t know what to do. Ought to I simply give up?’ However then I’d really feel smooth, and I used to be like, ‘Why am I quitting?’” Bridges recalled. She was about 8 hours into the endeavor. “And my pals all stated, ‘Don’t give up. It is best to go supported, and we’ll come help you.’”
So the plan was reformed. Bridges hitchhiked to a city the place she might catch a redeye again to Denver. Then she and her community of family and friends scrambled, placing collectively a wholly new technique, shopping for meals and provides, and plotting out meetups and resupply factors.
The very subsequent day, she set out once more, with a brand new aim this time: to set a supported ladies’s FKT on the Colorado Path. It was a loftier aim to make sure, particularly contemplating that the document had simply been damaged (for the primary time in 20 years) by a lady named Tara Dower in July 2023. And Dower had raised the bar — she’d accomplished the 486-mile Colorado Path in simply 8 days, 21 hours, and 59 minutes.
That was the time to beat if Bridges needed this FKT. So, at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16, she set forth once more from the Waterton Canyon trailhead south of Denver, sure for the Durango terminus. And on Aug. 24, at 7:15 a.m. she crossed the proverbial end line of the Colorado Path together with her FKT. She’d damaged Dower’s short-lived document by 7 hours and 44 minutes, ending your complete CT in simply 8 days, 14 hours, and quarter-hour.
“It positively feels cool,” Bridges informed GearJunkie after we caught up together with her after the accomplishment. “It’s positively the best factor I’ve ever completed.”
Q&A With Nina Bridges: Colorado Path FKT Holder
GearJunkie: So that you begin in your second FKT try on the Colorado Path in a single week — what was it like? Do you keep in mind the entire path vividly or was it sort of a blur?
Nina Bridges: I consider it as very vivid and recent in my reminiscence. However I believe [my pacing crew] Josh and Zane assume I neglect lots. I simply had a lot enjoyable on this. Like, it was probably the most enjoyable, foolish factor ever. We stored joking that I used to be having an excessive amount of enjoyable and never making an attempt laborious sufficient … I genuinely felt prefer it was a very enjoyable tenting journey.
How did you’re feeling after the primary day?
I had by no means walked over — I don’t know, 54 or 55 miles? I did one large day on the PCT, however I can’t keep in mind how lengthy it was. So the primary day I began off robust and I used to be actually sore from carrying the backpack that day earlier than. However the first day went actually nice — identical to good chat, in good spirits, I used to be consuming all day, till like 8 p.m., and it began pouring rain … After which Josh and I camped proper on the 60-mile mark. And I used to be like, “Look, Josh, I’m not going to have the ability to stroll tomorrow. There’s no approach in heck, I’ll be capable of arise and begin strolling.” I assumed I’d simply fall asleep and after I awakened; I wouldn’t be capable of transfer a single muscle in my physique.
How a lot sleep have been you getting on the path?
Josh was sort of in command of how a lot I slept as a result of he’s completed stuff like this earlier than. So he was adamant that I received 4.5 hours of sleep the primary evening. Then it sort of went right down to 4 after which like 3 hours and 40 minutes. However for this sort of factor, I received a whole lot of sleep. I felt actually rested each evening, besides one evening I didn’t sleep very nicely. However I believe I received nice sleep general.
Have been there any moments that stick out in your thoughts as actually vivid, fond reminiscences or challenges?
I believe it was like Day Six — I had had a gradual morning. This was the primary evening that I didn’t get good sleep, and I awakened and I felt exhausted … So Ben and I are mountaineering alongside and like simply having a ball on the time, and it was entering into between raining and never raining. And proper round golden hour, we’re going over this path, and it’s raining and sunny and there was a double rainbow, and we have been listening to this track and it was simply so superb.
However then it received darkish, and I received actually drained. And it was the primary time I requested for an on-trail nap … I simply felt like I couldn’t stroll anymore. And so we sat down, and I slept for five minutes, awakened, didn’t really feel any extra rested, slept for one more 10 minutes. Nonetheless didn’t really feel rested. I used to be like, “I’m going to want to truly sleep right here.” And we have been 6 miles from Stony Go. We didn’t have any sleep gear. We had simply introduced like a tarp and an emergency bivy. So we arrange the tarp and we each received within the emergency bivy, which, , like they’re meant for one individual. So we placed on rain gear after which we have been like, squeezed on this bivy.
I slept for like 2.5 hours. And it rained the entire time we have been sitting on this bivy tarp factor, which ended up being really excellent. We took a break so we didn’t get all moist.
What have been you consuming on the path sometimes?
Oh, it was wacky. I had a very dangerous abdomen for many of it, however I ate a whole lot of applesauce. Udon noodles. After which quesadillas and ham. One morning there was a chunk of ham on the range. And I used to be like, “That appears actually good.” And so I ate a ton of ham for, like, a day. Fruit. Pickles. I ate a whole lot of hash browns; I’d have a smoothie each morning.
I don’t know, I had a whole lot of hassle consuming on this due to abdomen points … Then I additionally had sort of a bizarre tongue factor occurring. I received this bizarre tongue rash, like a stress response. And I used to be having a visceral response to meals, like a visceral, nauseous response. Just like the considered consuming some meals — I couldn’t even fathom consuming some issues … I believe [my crew] discovered methods to ensure I used to be getting sufficient meals. They’d have an enormous ol’ bowl of meals at each cease. And that was the majority of my energy.
Did you’ve an internal dialogue occurring when you have been on the path?
The primary three days, each evening I used to be like, “Oh, man, I’m going to get up, however I’m not going in a position to transfer. Like, there’s no likelihood in hell I’ll be capable of stroll once more.” However I’d need to remind myself of like, “OK, simply deal with immediately. And once you get up within the morning, it’ll be a brand new day.” As a substitute of pondering like, “Oh, I’ve received 200 miles,” simply assume, “I’m beginning at mile zero this morning. It’s simply one other day.” And that stored me going for just a few days.
However then as soon as I sort of realized I really had a shot on the document, I began specializing in the larger image and simply specializing in the enjoyable. I genuinely had a lot enjoyable hanging out with Ben and Zane and Josh.
What was it like on the final day as you closed the previous few miles and approached the terminus?
The final day was the toughest day. By 10 occasions. It was so laborious. I slept via all of our alarms — which, I hadn’t slept via something. And we didn’t begin mountaineering till 5 p.m., which was the newest [we started]. I awakened, ate some noodles, drank my smoothie, after which threw up every part an hour in. I used to be so ungodly drained, and it felt like my physique had simply determined it was completed. It felt like I used to be simply going to need to stroll myself to the terminus simply by pure will. It was a battle all day.
However we powered via. And, I don’t know, I assumed there was going to be extra of a culminating expertise with all my feelings. But it surely was sort of identical to, impartial. I believe it’s simply I didn’t actually comprehend what I had completed. Ben and Zane have been each tremendous blown away. Like, “Holy fuck. That is loopy.” … I believe as a result of I had a lot time left to beat Tara’s document, I didn’t really feel pressured. And I really actually loved that.
Tara reached out to you just a few occasions when you have been on the path. How did that really feel?
She was so supportive whereas I used to be doing it. She despatched me a voice memo one morning that simply completely made my day. And like, she stored supporting me. I used to be listening to her messages, and she or he was like, “It’s one other stunning day on the path! And also you’re doing amazingly.” … Then the final day she was like, “You bought this, lady. Go, go, go!”
What recommendation would you give to a hopeful CT FKT-setter? Or to somebody who was simply going to hike the CT usually?
I believe laughter is so invaluable for motivation and staying sane. My crew briefed Josh’s good friend on how I used to be doing at one level, and one of many issues they informed him was, “She strikes approach quicker when she’s laughing.” I believe simply making gentle of the state of affairs was one thing that stored me going as a substitute of panicking and stressing out about them. Like, one morning, Ben carried 6 L of water for a water carry, and we didn’t drink any of it. And I used to be nearly peeing laughing your complete morning I assumed it was so humorous. But it surely actually wasn’t humorous in any respect.
And I believe for individuals doing the Colorado Path generally, I’d simply say, go do it. It’s so beautiful. You see so many various landscapes. It’s only a magical path.
Nina Bridges’ Gear: Colorado Path FKT
Behind each FKT is an inventory of substances that helped the hiker set their document. Bridges had by no means run a correct path race, nor had she tried an FKT like this earlier than. However she isn’t new to long-distance mountaineering. In October 2022, she grew to become the seventh individual and quickest lady to finish the “yo-yo” of the Pacific Crest Path (PCT). It took her 190 days and 6 hours. So she understands how necessary gear is.
Bridges informed us she isn’t sponsored by anybody but (trace, trace, all you working and mountaineering manufacturers on the market). However she had an intensive listing of substances to share with us after we requested her about what she used to set her FKT on the CT this summer season. Right here’s what she informed us.
Every day Put on
Layers and Extra
Issues She Carried
Sleep System
What’s Subsequent for Nina Bridges?
So that you set an FKT on Colorado’s longest thru-hike. What do you do after that?
In case you’re Nina Bridges, you begin questioning what you’d be able to if you happen to really skilled for an FKT try like this one.
“I’ve by no means adopted a coaching routine earlier than. I’m only a person who likes being within the mountains, and I run uphill lots and I ski uphill, and I do all kinds of stuff like that.” Bridges stated. “However I take into consideration what I’d be capable of do if I skilled. And so I need to begin. Like, I simply need to get stronger.”
That’s what Bridges goes to spend her winter doing. And the following 12 months, she stated she’d like to attempt working in an precise race — one of many longer ones just like the Cocodona 250.
“I believe that’s the place I might be aggressive. I’m not quick sufficient for a shorter race,” she stated. Then, nearly as an afterthought, Bridges added, “After which I’d like to go for the John Muir Path FKT.”
Wherever the path takes her, you possibly can wager that Bridges goes to get there in document time. And if her Colorado Path FKT is something to go off of, she’s going to have an absolute blast alongside the best way.
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