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Round 5 p.m. on September 5, Andrea Larson reached the northern terminus of the Superior Climbing Path (SHT) in document time. She’d departed from the southern trailhead round 7 a.m. on August 30, with a backpack weighing 24 kilos, packed its brim with meals and provides. When she completed, 6 days later, that pack weighed a scant 8 kilos.
Larson had by no means tried an FKT earlier than. Actually, she’d by no means even tried thru-hiking a path just like the 310-mile SHT. She’s no stranger to endurance targets, although — she began ultrarunning in 2008 and began competing in journey races not lengthy after that — even competing in journey racing on Workforce GearJunkie, at one level.
However when the Wausau native began contemplating taking over the SHT, and making an attempt to do it sooner than anybody earlier to her, she was nonetheless hesitant to dive in head first.
“It was an concept that I got here throughout my radar in early 2021 and one thing that I put behind my thoughts. Possibly that’s one thing I’d love to do in the future,” Larson advised GearJunkie.
Andrea Larson’s Superior Climbing Path FKT
The Superior Climbing Path is a lesser-known long-distance path, typically overshadowed by the Pacific Crest Path, the Appalachian Path, and the Colorado Path. However round 50,000-100,000 nonetheless hike the SHT yearly.
It’s a rugged, root-filled route that climbs a complete of 41,000 ft and passes by eight State Parks, starting on the MN/WI border and working up the shore of Lake Superior to the Canadian border. For many who end the whole thru-hike, it takes 3 to 4 weeks.
Initially, Larson thought she’d give it a attempt in spring 2024. However she ended up giving it a do that fall, as a substitute; virtually as a take a look at run. She did some scouting hikes together with her household within the months main as much as it. Then she began coaching and planning.
She made two last-minute selections. First, she’d deliberate on working this FKT try self-supported — that means she’d drop off provides at predetermined caches, after which decide them up alongside her route. However 3 days previous to the FKT, she modified her thoughts.
“The logistics for all that’s fairly difficult,” Larson mentioned. She realized that it will be so much less complicated to simply pack a backpack with every part she’d want and go. “So, I did it unsupported,” she mentioned. “I carried every part with me the entire time.”
That change of plans resulted in one other last-minute change. When she’d been planning on doing the self-supported FKT, she’d needed to finish up in Duluth as a result of she’d have ample entry to provides there. However after deciding to go unsupported, she says that motivation was moot. Then she checked the climate forecast and her thoughts was made up.
“Duluth had document excessive temperatures on Monday once I’d be going by,” she mentioned. Actually, that Monday would find yourself being the most well liked day in Duluth on document. “It was speculated to be about 15 levels cooler on the north aspect once I seemed on the forecast 6 days out.” So, she modified her path to hike it northbound. And he or she mentioned palms down, that was the correct selection.
Embarking on the Superior
When the day lastly got here, Larson says she was loaded “to the gills.” Her pockets had been all so stuffed filled with snacks and provides that her pants had been falling down. She had freeze-dried meals strapped to the skin of her pack. The within was full of drugs, and extra meals.
Larson hit the path early that morning, and launched into what she thought was greater than seemingly a “first try.” She says she thought she had a 50/50 shot at efficiently ending and was absolutely mentally ready to attempt once more within the spring. However, she didn’t have to be.
The primary evening Larson says she did Journey Race model. She didn’t sleep in any respect and did 68 miles within the first 24 hours. Her tempo began to sluggish after that, although her pack was getting constantly lighter.
The ultimate stretch was a slog, she says; admitting that the final 37 miles took her 27 hours. However when she lastly reached the northern SHT terminus, she had claimed her FKT. Larson had hiked the whole 310 miles of the SHT in simply 6 days and 10 hours.
“Not solely was the path itself superior, to have the ability to do each mile, however then to set out and do one thing that I wasn’t positive I’d have the ability to even end, a lot much less do it within the time that I hoped to, that was the cherry on high,” Larson mentioned. “It was a implausible expertise.”
Inspiration within the Period of FKTs
Larson’s hope with all of that is to encourage individuals to get out and check out one thing which may really feel intimidating, and to make wholesome way of life decisions. She’s the director of IronBull, a nonprofit group devoted to selling outside journey sports activities in Central Wisconsin. So that is completely according to her work off the path.
She’s additionally a mom of three. And Larson mentioned that seeing her personal youngsters impressed by this journey is among the most fulfilling features. “It’s superior to see my youngsters beginning to gravitate in direction of these items,” Larson mentioned. “My oldest daughter can’t wait to do her subsequent journey race.”
Within the busy bustle of current FKTs on the Pacific Crest Path, Colorado Path, and Continental Divide Path, Andrea Larson’s Superior FKT stands out. Not solely as a result of Larson had by no means tried a thru-hike earlier than, or as a result of she had no prior FKTs to her identify. (“I had no thought if I’d make wherever near 310 miles,” Larson advised us afterward.) However to her, this accomplishment shines a light-weight on a spectacular path that most individuals have by no means heard of earlier than.
“I believe a number of issues within the Midwest get neglected, and the Superior Climbing Path is simply completely beautiful. There’s so many scenic vistas there’s so many waterfalls, it’s out within the woods, and clearly Lake Superior,” she mentioned.
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