NJ AT Unsupported FKT Attempt

[brauda02]

Hey all,

I'm considering going for the unsupported FKT on the 72 mile New Jersey AT section. As far as I can tell from my research there is no current unsupported FKT for this section. The supported FKT is 15:36:29 (https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/rya...-nj-2017-09-02). I'd like to do it on December 31-January 1, but my schedule is flexible and will only attempt it when I have a good weather window.

So two questions, 1) does anyone know of an unsupported FKT for this section? and 2) what is a good source for current trail conditions? Long term forecast is not calling for any major snowstorms so I'm hoping the trail is mostly dry.

[Dogwood]

https://weather.com/weather/today/l/...ark+6028:19:US

https://www.webcamgalore.com/webcam/...sey/12682.html The Wantage NJ web cam is near High Pt SP.

On the southern end are weather forecasts for DWG and Strudsburg PA. https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l...+PA+18327:4:US

https://www.the-webcam-network.com/P...p/2908185.html I don't know if one can still access the cams at DWG but here's access to some nearby.


What's the plan SOBO, but dependent on more known detailed conditions? Curious, why Dec 31-Jan 1 timeframe? Do you want to share how you're being supported?

[Dogwood]

There are traffic cams @ DWG. I can't tell you how to access these...legally.

[tdoczi]

over a series of multiple day hikes in 2005 i hiked all of NJ. these were all unsupported.i hereby claim the unsupported FKT. lets call it 4 months.

[Slo-go'en]

I'd wait for a better time of year. It's rained a lot recently and some parts of the trail in NJ go underwater when it rains a lot. While snow probably won't be a factor, ice may well be. While most of NJ is fairly level and easy, they do put a few obstacles in the way and those will come at the end of the day when your tired and it's dark. To beat the FKT you cite, you'll have to do better then 5 MPH - although if there is no record for unsupported, I guess it doesn't matter. All you got to do is beat tdoczi's 4 months

You cite your location as Colorado. Have you been on the AT in NJ before? A lot of western trail runners who come out east to run the AT comment how much harder the AT is compared to what their used to.

[tdoczi]

All you got to do is beat tdoczi's 4 months

my hikes were all out and back. even if he succeeds at doing it end to end i will still hold a record.

maybe i should find an unclaimed FKT and actually go out and try and establish a time. i mean it seems like someone beat me to NJ but i probably could have gone out and done it in 3 days and had that called the record until someone cared enough to beat it.

is there an FKT for MA? I could probably do that over a long weekend too. except i really dont wnt to hike MA again.

[tdoczi]

my hikes were all out and back. even if he succeeds at doing it end to end i will still hold a record.

maybe i should find an unclaimed FKT and actually go out and try and establish a time. i mean it seems like someone beat me to NJ but i probably could have gone out and done it in 3 days and had that called the record until someone cared enough to beat it.

is there an FKT for MA? I could probably do that over a long weekend too. except i really dont wnt to hike MA again.

scratch that. i forgot, i dont want to deal with the whole "where is the border" routine doing an FKT to MA would involve.

similarly that eliminates NY/CT from the running. this is harder than it seems. i really should have done NJ while I had the chance.

[MuddyWaters]

over a series of multiple day hikes in 2005 i hiked all of NJ. these were all unsupported.i hereby claim the unsupported FKT. lets call it 4 months.

Im betting you got in car and blew the unsupported, unless walked to trail each time. I bet you had pizza too.

[no_1]

Im betting you got in car and blew the unsupported, unless walked to trail each time. I bet you had pizza too.

Remember, if you can't be an athlete
please be an athletic supporter.

[Slo-go'en]

Looks like it took me 6 days to do NJ. Definitely dragged my feet through my old home state. Plus we were still recuperating from being beat up in PA. A 5 mile day into and then another 5 mile day out of Vernon definitely slowed down the pace. But hey, it was cold and it had been raining most of the last week and we needed resupply. Most thru hikers probably do NJ in about 3 days.

[tdoczi]

Im betting you got in car and blew the unsupported, unless walked to trail each time. I bet you had pizza too.

dang, you're right

[Dogwood]

I'd wait for a better time of year. It's rained a lot recently and some parts of the trail in NJ go underwater when it rains a lot. While snow probably won't be a factor, ice may well be. While most of NJ is fairly level and easy, they do put a few obstacles in the way and those will come at the end of the day when your tired and it's dark. To beat the FKT you cite, you'll have to do better then 5 MPH - although if there is no record for unsupported, I guess it doesn't matter. All you got to do is beat tdoczi's 4 months

You cite your location as Colorado. Have you been on the AT in NJ before? A lot of western trail runners who come out east to run the AT comment how much harder the AT is compared to what their used to.

If Brouda runs trails in CO, which I'd assume he does, I'd also assume after a NJ AT FKT he'd rather have solid frozen ground even if it means some ice spots rather than mud to slog through hence might have chosen those dates partly for the solid ground and no one on the NJ AT for the most part. Most during that time are gorging on food and drink, shopping, doing returns, engaged in holiday activities, and glued to TV. Could be a great time for a CO trail runner to bag a FKT as his way to experience holiday activities. What a way to spend that time of the yr ringing out last yr and ringing in the new yr in style.

@ Brouda All My Best. I sincerely hope you get the weather window you're seeking and attain your goal.

[Dogwood]

Brouda, I suggest asking the moderators to transfer your thread to the more focused Speed Hiking and Trail Running Forum from the General Forum in a PM.

[Slo-go'en]

If Brouda runs trails in CO, which I'd assume he does, I'd also assume after a NJ AT FKT he'd rather have solid frozen ground even if it means some ice spots rather than mud to slog through hence might have chosen those dates partly for the solid ground and no one on the NJ AT for the most part. Most during that time are gorging on food and drink, shopping, doing returns, engaged in holiday activities, and glued to TV. Could be a great time for a CO trail runner to bag a FKT as his way to experience holiday activities. What a way to spend that time of the yr ringing out last yr and ringing in the new yr in style. @ Brouda All My Best. I sincerely hope you get the weather window you're seeking and attain your goal.

Granted there won't be much other traffic on the trail then, but a fair number of people like to go out for New Years. Christmas is different, then you stay in and gorge. Most likely he's out here visiting relatives or something and this is the time window he has.

I would expect trail conditions to be very sloppy, possibly ankle deep in places. The forecast for Vernon, NJ this coming week doesn't look good. More rain on the weekend, then showers lingering through the New Year. Temps dip just below freezing at night and go just above during the day. In a word, raw.

It's not clear to me if he wants to do this all in one none stop go or with at least one overnighter. Two 30+ mile days would be more manageable then one 72 mile day, despite the need to carry the extra overnight gear. He apparently wants to do a 70 day thru hike, so these are the kind of days he'll have to pull off on a consistent bases. I guess this would be a good test run.

[Dogwood]

Yeah. If it is as said, "no existing unsupported NJ AT FKT" simply doing it as a first gets you the FKT, overnighter or just one minimalist kit 20 hr or so push. I've mused many times about achieving FKT's simply by coming up with a first attempt because it stands as the record. Then, I could announce to the world look I was a FKT record holder. Wanna race shopping carts to the checkout?

[Durunner]

As others said, it will be very muddy. Where there isn't lots of mud, probably a lot more rocks than you are used to. It has been a weird weather season. We actually had T-storms here last night. What kind of time are you looking at?

[RiverbirchHiker]

Granted there won't be much other traffic on the trail then, but a fair number of people like to go out for New Years. Christmas is different, then you stay in and gorge. Most likely he's out here visiting relatives or something and this is the time window he has.
I would expect trail conditions to be very sloppy, possibly ankle deep in places. The forecast for Vernon, NJ this coming week doesn't look good. More rain on the weekend, then showers lingering through the New Year. Temps dip just below freezing at night and go just above during the day. In a word, raw.
It's not clear to me if he wants to do this all in one none stop go or with at least one overnighter. Two 30+ mile days would be more manageable then one 72 mile day, despite the need to carry the extra overnight gear. He apparently wants to do a 70 day thru hike, so these are the kind of days he'll have to pull off on a consistent bases. I guess this would be a good test run.

Those are all good points. I've encountered slow-going hikers on NY Day--more interested in getting outside on day #1 of the New Year than covering miles. They'd be something to get around if you're tryin' to establish a record.

As for the raw weather, that makes carrying a bit more gear essential for an overnight. You've gotta carry enough for a restful night's sleep in temps. hovering around freezing. It's easier in warmer temps. to get away with carrying very little...

[brauda02]

Hey all,

Thank you for all the responses.

Here are answers to some of the questions posed above:

I hiked from the Del Water Gap to Bear Mountain Bridge in 4 days last June as a final shakeout hike for the Colorado Trail.

I plan to go SOBO to take advantage of some of the more runnable sections while my legs are fresher. I.e. the boardwalk, rolling pastures, etc.

I'm estimating this will be a 20 hour effort.

As far as mud goes, I'm hoping that a few cold days in a row will freeze anything soupy. I'll have micro-spikes in my pack for ice.

Why this time of year? I'm from NJ and visiting family for the holidays. My window for this attempt is the 27th to the 3rd though I'd like to start it on the 31st because that would be a great way to celebrate the New Year.

Again, I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I will post on here if/when I announce a date for the attempt and follow up with the outcome regardless of its success.

[RiverbirchHiker]

Wishing you well!! Thanks for posting here and sharing your hike with us.

Who knows? By establishing the record, you may spur others to try and break it. You might be back here doing this again in a year or two....setting a new BKT!

[franky]

Hey all,

I'm from NJ and visiting family for the holidays.

That's exactly what I thought! I'm from Dirty Jersey too, but never moving back!