Joe 'Stringbean' McConaughy is a young legend in the thru-hiking community. He set the fastest known time (FKT) on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
His Appalachian Trail record was truly astounding because (at the time he finished the trail) his unsupported record was faster than any supported record! That's insane!
What's the difference between a supported and unsupported thru-hike?
Supported thru-hikes have one or more people lending you a hand. These lovely people will typically:
- Meet you at junctions where the trail meets a road.
- Give you a food, water, and medical supplies.
- Set up and break down your tent.
As a result, you don't have to make any detours to go to the post office or to a store to resupply.
More importantly, you can carry little or no food. You may be able to leave your shelter and sleeping bag behind too. You can get by with less water because you know your crew will have plenty at the next road crossing.
On the Appalachian Trail, these trail junctions happen far more often than on the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail.
This results in considerably less weight than an unsupported thru-hike (which is what 99% of thru-hikers do).
If you do an unsupported thru-hike, you're on your own for everything.
Listen to my interview with Joe McConaughy
Although Karel Sabbe recently beat some of McConaughy's records, his unsupported Appalachian Trail record still stands.
(I'll be interviewing Karel Sabbe for the WanderLearn podcast in 2019.)
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