New AT speed record

[Stephen]

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Originally Posted by Nashua Telegraph

Derry native back in N.H. after setting trail record

Author: ALBERT McKEON
Telegraph Staff
Date: August 4, 2005
Publication: Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH)

The Trail Dog flew home, his return journey passing nearly as fast as his trek south.

Well, not quite. But Andrew Thompson must have seemed like a 747 to other hikers as he sped down the Appalachian Trail.

The 29-year-old just set the unofficial record for hiking the 2,175-mile path. In 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes, Thompson blazed through 14 states, tolerated a sore knee and feet, ran from a bear, endured heat and cold, and managed to enjoy some sweet Ben and Jerry's ice...

[MichaelJ]

47 days? Incredible. Of course, his initials are A. T. and now he's earned them.

[cbcbd]

Wow, that is just amazing!!

That's an avg of 46.28 miles/day!!!!!!!!!!!

[cbcbd]

Day by day report
http://www.inov-8.com/TrailDogNews.htm

[Rushski]

Just curious what the quickest time for the AT was for a full packer?

Not to downplay his amazing record, but he definitely had it a little easier (in some respects) than most thru-hikers...

[cbcbd]

Usually records of fastest times and such things aren't really formally kept so it's hard to tell since most people that are trying to go for breaking a record will go all out and have a support team.

My friend hiked the AT in 90 days in 2000(?). He carried no tent, no sleeping bag (until past CT), no water filter (iodine pills or just "fresh"), ate mostly nutter butters, and had the trail name "Mile Slave"