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| Walking the aqueduct at sunrise after Hikertown. |
After my first speed record attempt on PCT in 2012, I said to myself that I would never do it again. Then, two years later in 2014, the weather and snow was near perfect for another record attempt, so I spent 3 months preparing, only to pull out a week before my start date. I was 100% ready, except mentally. I just wasn't sure it was the thing I wanted to spend 2 months doing. Later that summer, I realized it really was what I wanted, because there was the nagging feeling that I hadn't completed something I had set out to do, twice now. Failure is not something I am used too. Up until the 2012 speed hike, I had a perfect record of accomplishing my goals.
I'm the type of person who is always questioning where his limits are - how far can I push myself until I can no longer continue. As a result, over the past few years, I've been setting goals that I am unsure if I can accomplish. It started in 2009 with hiking the PCT for the first time, 2010 with cycling across the country along the TransAm cycling route, 2011 with climbing Mt. McKinley, 2012 with trying to speed hike the PCT to break the overall speed record, 2013 hiking the Hayduke Trail across nowhere southern Utah and 2014 cycling the Western Express route from San Francisco to Denver. With the abysmal winter on the west coast in 2015, I was eager to attempt the feat which had alluded me - hiking the PCT in under 60 days.
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| That's what it's all about... |
The true drive behind my hike was not to set the speed record, but to see what I could accomplish. Since Having hiked the entire trail in 2009, and then completing 1864 miles in 42.5 days in 2012, I knew I was capable of accomplishing my goal of under 60 days. To me, there is a distinction between my goal and setting a new speed record. My goal is to hike the trail unsupported in under 60 days. This goal is personal - to see if I CAN push myself to achieve it. The only reason "speed record" makes it's way into the picture at all, is because if I were to accomplish my goal, I would have set a new speed record. The current record is/was the bar in which to judge myself and what I could accomplished. I know the distinction is fuzzy between these two concepts, especially since 'Speed Record Attempt' is plastered all over this blog, however, it was the easiest way to label what I was attempting, rather than explaining that I wanted to see if I could go that fast, with the actual breaking of it not being the true goal.
Here are the exact intentions I posted to the 'PCT Class of 2015' Facebook group and the PCT-L, a mailing list of new and old hikers that acts somewhat like a forum. I posted to both of these locations so that the general PCT hiking community would become aware of my attempt, and in the event that I did break the record, it would give my claim more credibility because I wouldn't just suddenly pop up and say that I had broken the record when no one knew that I was even attempting it.
"Hello Everyone!
Ryan Weidert, AKA Tuna Helper here. I’d like to let my
intentions be known that I will be re-attempting to break the unsupported speed
record (60 days, 17 hours, 12 minutes Anish (Heather Anderson) 2013) for hiking
the entire length of the entire Pacific Crest Trail going northbound. My plan
is to do the hike in a “self-supported” and “unassisted” style like Scott
Williamson. This style means a great many things, most of which I’ve copied
directly or paraphrased from the posts and correspondence of the current mens
record holders (Scott Williamson (Bink) and Adam Bradley (Krusmeister)).
Following the precedents set in previous 'self-supported' records, "I will
not have anyone following, or otherwise meeting me in prearranged manner to
give me support. I plan to do this hike as a backpacker, carrying all of my
food, equipment, and water between resupply towns. I will walk into supply
towns to pick up mailed, prepackaged food boxes or to purchase food, then walk
back to the trail via the same route I came in on. I will not be getting into a
vehicle for any reason during this attempt or skipping sections of trail
etc." I will be on the PCT from end to end!
In two months, my race against the clock will begin on May
25th (thank you no snow!) as a solo hiker. My main reasons for this attempt are
to test myself (again) and too see what I am capable of finishing, the record
being the bar in which to compare myself with other awesome endurance athletes.
Having failed once after 42 days and 1860 miles, I know my goal of completing
the trail fast is achievable, especially since my goal in 2012 was sub 60 days.
I’ll occasionally be in contact with family members and relay my progress,
which may be posted on Facebook or the FKT website. I am also considering
uploading updates via Instagram on my account RevelPhotography. I am taking a
GPS to have verification of my hike since I am hiking solo and independent
verification is more difficult. I want to be as open as I can with this so
there is as little possibility of ‘drama’ or questions if I manage to succeed.
My admiration for the trail and those who hike it runs deep and I can’t wait to
test myself and get dirty! I <3 the PCT!
I should be meeting most of you near Kennedy Meadows or the
early Sierras, as that’s where I caught the heard in 2012, so keep any eye out!
Cheers!,
Tuna Helper"
I followed my intentions to the letter because any discrepancy or differences from what I said and how I completed my hike versus how Scott Williamson had set the original record and how Heather Anderson set the current record would only breed criticism and skepticism. Overall, the main intent of using a GPS to track my progress and lend evidence to my when and where if it needed defending. Letting my specific intentions be know was to give some credibility to my claims in order to minimize doubt. I think it worked out well, even considering I was injured and only manage to finish the hardest 1/3 of the trail. Shucks.
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| Just over Silver Pass, looking at the Minarets near Mammoth Lakes. |
