By: Jeff Garmire
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The John Muir Path (JMT) quickest recognized time (FKT) report 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 last word take a look at of pace and effectivity. So, I put years price 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 will be the final time I didn’t use an alarm for days. Timers, grime naps, and pushing by 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 objects I wanted and nothing I didn’t. On the final minute, I even took out my quilt in alternate for an emergency blanket and a single hand-warmer. If issues went sideways, self-extraction could be only some miles away.
I walked confidently to the beginning of the path, and I started my try at 7:33 a.m.
Twice this summer time, 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 report 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 report a shot.
I charged uphill from Pleased Isles. The time would not cease till I arrived on the Whitney Portal Trailhead 220 miles away—or if I give up. Consistency was the aim and the plan. I wished to cowl practically the identical distance each 24-hour interval and eat practically the identical quantity of energy. The mushy 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 high of Donohue Move. All the things was feeling nice. However because the solar disappeared, I ended to pee, and it burned. The colour was mistaken. It was too quickly for these points. Was it brown or pink? 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 settle down and be rational—after which hold going.
It grew darkish and the temperature plummeted. I pulled out my headlamp. The three-minute break to settle down fully turned my temper round. The difficulty didn’t disappear, however I mentally accepted it. Now I may start to resolve it or forestall it from getting worse. My water consumption doubled from that time ahead. The primary night time was productive, and I charged by it, embracing the chilly temperature and clear, starry night time.
My first 24-hour phase ended on the base of Silver Move after 77 miles. It was a day stuffed with diligent snacking whereas climbing, and hydrating to thrust back any additional problems. Consistency had prevailed. It was enjoyable—the climate was lovely, the surroundings implausible, and my physique felt nice. The signs had not gotten worse, so I stored charging forward.
Trudging up Muir Move, my power disappeared fully. The second night time had arrived, and I sprawled out on the facet of the path at 11,000 toes. With a five-minute timer set, I closed my eyes and handed out. Nonetheless feeling exhausted, I wanted a method, a technique 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 Move, and 5 passes rapidly 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 by a 3rd night time? It will be probably the most tough day of any FKT.
Nearing the End Line to Set the JMT FKT
On high of Mather Move, my 4 remaining passes turned three. With out a second of pause, I ran down the switchbacks towards Pinchot Move. 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 fingers 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 rapidly down to 2 passes and smiling from ear to ear on the descent off Pinchot Move. I used to be flying by probably the most lovely terrain within the nation. My tempo solely slowed on the climb as much as Rae Lakes and Glen Move. The worry of one other night time seeped in. However I didn’t have a selection. Glen Move 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 rapidly rolled each ankles in lower than a mile. My head screamed, and my imaginative and prescient danced. My eyes could not deal with the beam of my headlamp; all the pieces 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 operating. I used to be preventing demons. I attempted to conjure up adrenaline. My physique was not responding. I made probably the most important resolution—to take a 12-minute nap. Would the 12 minutes price me? Possibly, however my physique couldn’t hold 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 toes. I moved in a trance to the highest and was greeted with the primary gentle 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 onerous, then once more. My telephone display 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 for ever and ever. With 45 minutes to complete, my anxiousness skyrocketed. A jog turned a dash. My bladder screamed, so I attempted to alleviate the discomfort whereas operating. It didn’t go nicely. 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 report by 13 minutes.
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Jeff “Legend” Garmire has accomplished the Calendar Yr 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 report, and Colorado Path unsupported FKT, amongst others. Be taught extra about his adventures at: freeoutside.com.
