Records
Howard Shapiro
I noticed that a woman from Eugene, Oregon just established the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for running the Oregon PCT. Emily Halnon aged 35 did it in 7 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes on Aug. 9, 2020. Emily was supported along the way by a team of people who ran with her, provided food, massages, and all sorts of other encouragement. By the way that record represents covering 455 miles in total and averaging 57 miles a day. Reading her story is inspiring, daunting, as well as left me wondering.
About a year ago I completed the PCT. I did not thru hike it, did not run it, did not even hint at a Fastest Known Time or FKT. I section hiked the PCT. Part of what I wondered was my effort to achieve a SKT (Slowest Known Time)? Let’s see, I started in 1981 and finished in 2019, that’s pretty slow. Unlike Emily, who got out on the trail day after day for seven days in a row, I ventured out initially for a personal record of 30 continuous days (no zeros) and a wide variety of lesser days after that. There were also some gaps. After completing Washington in 1982 my partners and I didn’t get back on the trail until 1991. That’s pretty slow. We picked up the pace after that. Still, it took from 1991 until 2019 for me to complete the trail.
My curiosity about all of this took me to the Pacific Crest Trail Association. If any one or any organization would know anything about any records it would them. Much to my surprise that is not something the PCTA is really tracking. They can give you a pretty good idea of who finished the trail in many given years but they don’t really ‘track’ records. The PCTA is much more interested in the diversity of who makes up the trail community. In fact, one focus for the PCTA is promoting the value and shining a light on the trail community through both those that hike it and those volunteering to maintain it. They also appreciate anyone who wants to support the PCT through donations.
The PCTA’s Trail Information Manager, Jack Haskel, reminded me that it might be important for the trail community to have a discussion around beliefs related to records. Once the ‘fastest’ got noticed the rules changed around what some of us think and what some of us believe about our trail experience. Records are amazing things. They set a bar for everyone else who follows. Records matter but to who?
If I am the owner of the slowest known time (SKT) for section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, who does it really matter too? Maybe it makes me another in a long line of ‘iconic’ PCT hikers. Maybe I can share the podium with others who have staked out their claims to these records: Fastest Assisted , Fastest Unassisted, Fastest California section, Fastest Oregon section, Fastest Washington section, First Winter Southbound, First Yo-Yo, Most Completions, First person to complete the PCT on horseback, Oldest Person to complete the PCT, Oldest combined couple age to complete the PCT, Oldest Man to section hike, Oldest Woman to section hike, Youngest person to hike the PCT, First Thru hike, First Woman to Thru hike, First person to run the entire PCT, The lowest REI membership number to complete the PCT, and my potential category; Longest number of years to complete the PCT.
Actually, I am NO Martin Papendick who is the earliest known person to complete the trail back in 1952. This is before the PCT was the PCT! I am no Heather “Anish” Anderson either, aside from the fact that I am not a woman. I am really not nor do I fit any of the above many categories to be sure. I do have the pleasure of knowing that I spent many days and nights over a lot of years doing something I never thought I would. Walking just over two thousand six hundred miles allowed me to spend some of the most valuable time in my life (so far) with some of the most valuable people in my life. Over the years I gained confidence in my self, imagined future goals, and generally sorted my self out numerous times. That realization is in itself better than any record or space on a real or imagined podium.
What really matters to me is I got to do something that helped me grow in confidence, taught me skills I didn’t have previously, bonded me with friends and family in ways that I never imagined or considered possible. These experiences put me firmly in a community I feel proud to be a member of. When I completed the PCT last year it became my personal record that no one can wrestle away. It will always be mine. To all the record holders out there, a hearty congratulations. I applaud you and your efforts. Maybe we will meet and swap stories and experiences sometime. In the meantime, I will quietly bask in the glow of knowing I am not finished with the PCT, and it isn’t finished with me, not yet anyway. I love the bar I have set.
