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By: Jeff Garmire
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The John Muir Path (JMT) quickest identified time (FKT) file could be the top of my fastpacking journey. I would want to hold the naked minimal whereas additionally staying secure, considerably sane, and able to finishing the 220-mile trek from Yosemite Nationwide Park to Mount Whitney. I knew this journey could be the final word check of velocity and effectivity. So, I put years value of fastpacking notes and experiences to make use of as I tackled a problem I had been impressed by for a very long time.
How My Fastpacking FKT of the JMT Started
I awoke in Yosemite Valley with the solar. It might be the final time I didn’t use an alarm for days. Timers, grime naps, and pushing via exhaustion could be my life, and I used to be prepared for it. From the second my eyes opened within the morning, I used to be able to go. I casually walked to my automobile and unpacked all my gear earlier than repacking it. I wished to make sure I had all of the gadgets I wanted and nothing I didn’t. On the final minute, I even took out my quilt in change for an emergency blanket and a single hand-warmer. If issues went sideways, self-extraction could be just a few miles away.
I walked confidently to the beginning of the path, and I started my try at 7:33 a.m.
Twice this summer season, I had a allow for the JMT, however canceled solely days later. The JMT unsupported FKT scared me. I first backpacked and scouted it for a file try in 2019, however then spent the subsequent three years too nervous to aim it. Then, Joe McConaughy lowered the JMT unsupported time by three hours in early August, and as an alternative of additional scaring me away, it drove me to place a plan in movement and provides the file a shot.
I charged uphill from Completely satisfied Isles. The time would not cease till I arrived on the Whitney Portal Trailhead 220 miles away—or if I stop. Consistency was the aim and the plan. I wished to cowl almost the identical distance each 24-hour interval and eat almost the identical quantity of energy. The delicate goal was a 72-hour end, or a 3 mile-per-hour common, breaks and sleep included.
What It Was Like Fastpacking the JMT to Set the FKT
In 10 hours, I stood 36 miles in, on prime of Donohue Go. All the things was feeling nice. However because the solar disappeared, I finished to pee, and it burned. The colour was improper. It was too quickly for these points. Was it brown or purple? I’m colorblind and could not inform. Did I’ve rhabdomyolysis? This had by no means occurred after 40 miles. I used to be in shock, so I took off my backpack and sat on the bottom. I wanted to relax and be rational—after which preserve going.
It grew darkish and the temperature plummeted. I pulled out my headlamp. The three-minute break to relax utterly turned my temper round. The problem didn’t disappear, however I mentally accepted it. Now I may start to resolve it or stop it from getting worse. My water consumption doubled from that time ahead. The primary night time was productive, and I charged via it, embracing the chilly temperature and clear, starry night time.
My first 24-hour section ended on the base of Silver Go after 77 miles. It was a day stuffed with diligent snacking whereas mountaineering, and hydrating to keep off any additional problems. Consistency had prevailed. It was enjoyable—the climate was lovely, the surroundings incredible, and my physique felt nice. The signs had not gotten worse, so I saved charging forward.
Trudging up Muir Go, my power disappeared utterly. The second night time had arrived, and I sprawled out on the aspect of the path at 11,000 ft. With a five-minute timer set, I closed my eyes and handed out. Nonetheless feeling exhausted, I wanted a technique, a method to focus my thoughts. I got here up with the quantity 5: 5 excessive passes stood between me and a climb up Mount Whitney. Pushing my physique ahead, I crested the ridge close to the stone hut on Muir Go, and 5 passes shortly turned 4.
All the things was inefficient. I attempted to run downhill, however the second wave of exhaustion hit. The enjoyment of night time one was absent, and night time two was a battle. The solar slowly re-energized my thoughts close to the Palisade Lakes. How may I make it via a 3rd night time? It might be essentially the most troublesome day of any FKT.
Nearing the End Line to Set the JMT FKT
On prime of Mather Go, my 4 remaining passes turned three. And not using a second of pause, I ran down the switchbacks towards Pinchot Go. Time was ticking down within the final 24 hours. However sleeplessness was crushing me. I craved a nap and gave in. A five-minute snooze is all it took. However a quarter-mile later, one thing did not really feel proper. My palms had been empty. In a frenzy, I ran up the hill and again to my nap spot to seize my poles. I had wasted a treasured ten minutes.
I used to be shortly down to 2 passes and smiling from ear to ear on the descent off Pinchot Go. I used to be flying via essentially the most lovely terrain within the nation. My tempo solely slowed on the climb as much as Rae Lakes and Glen Go. The worry of one other night time seeped in. However I didn’t have a selection. Glen Go left only one excessive cross. One 13,120-foot cross and a 14,505-foot mountain stood between me and the FKT.
I used to be able to crush the final cross. I climbed the ultimate switchbacks, and no excessive passes remained. I attempted to jog, however shortly rolled each ankles in lower than a mile. My head screamed, and my imaginative and prescient danced. My eyes could not give attention to the beam of my headlamp; every little thing was a blur. The sleek path bounced with each step.
Close to Crabtree Meadow, I opened my eyes. I used to be on the bottom. My thoughts had given out, and I fell asleep whereas working. I used to be preventing demons. I attempted to conjure up adrenaline. My physique was not responding. I made essentially the most vital choice—to take a 12-minute nap. Would the 12 minutes price me? Perhaps, however my physique couldn’t preserve going like this.
I awoke with a begin and jogged to Guitar Lake. The switchbacks up Mount Whitney bought my coronary heart pumping. If there was a time to push deep into the paincave, this was it. The rhythm of my panting turned the cadence of my ft. I moved in a trance to the highest and was greeted with the primary mild of morning from the excessive level of the continental United States. I took a second to mirror, however time was nonetheless ticking. The FKT doesn’t finish till the Whitney Portal Trailhead. I began to jog. Then I out of the blue fell arduous, then once more. My telephone display screen broke, however nothing mattered. I charged on.
72 Hours and 47 Minutes Fastpacking the JMT FKT
Over Path Crest and down the Portal Path, my legs picked up steam. Two hours remaining turned one, and the path stretched on with no sign of ending. With 45 minutes to complete, my nervousness skyrocketed. A jog turned a dash. My bladder screamed, so I attempted to alleviate the discomfort whereas working. It didn’t go properly. I dropped a six-minute mile, however the path stretched on. The place did this factor finish? Round another nook, I noticed it: the end. I ran as much as the signal, stopped my watch, and sat.
I pictured this second for 220 miles, however the flood of feelings by no means got here. I used to be empty. There was nothing left. I couldn’t comprehend the end. Residing within the second lasted 72 hours and 47 minutes. Three years of a aim, and now it was completed and gone; an exquisite journey was over. I had set the brand new JMT file by 13 minutes.
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Jeff “Legend” Garmire has accomplished the Calendar 12 months Triple Crown and Nice Western Loop, completed the Nolans 14 in 59 hours, climbed all of the Colorado 14ers, and broke the Arizona Path self-supported FKT, Pinhoti Path self-supported FKT, Lengthy Path unsupported FKT, John Muir Path file, and Colorado Path unsupported FKT, amongst others. Study extra about his adventures at: freeoutside.com.
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