After 12 months of traveling the country in a Prius and hiking in 44-states with our infant-turned-toddler, the Pharr Davis family took a 3-week reprieve to rest and recharge at our house in Asheville. The break, which seemed like an eternity in the beginning, was quickly filled with the magical and mundane side effects of domesticity: Unpacking, laundry, cleaning, yard work, doctor’s visits (that included vaccines for Charley and a wisdom tooth extraction for mom), family visits, snuggling our baby nephew and babysitting our vivacious niece, trying to catch up with friends and never seeming to have enough time for them - or with them- working in the office and guiding groups on the trail, more laundry, and finally repacking... which was harder than usual as I grappled with what to pack my sprouting 20-month old for three months and three seasons on the road.
After a rest that didn’t feel very restful, Brew and I spent our last night at home strolling through the streets of downtown Asheville, people watching and letting Charley marvel at the dancers who twirled glowing hula-hoops and the shirtless men who wore glitter bandanas on their heads while chanting at the Pritchard Park drum circle. Entertainment comes cheap in Asheville.
Nearing the end of our urban hike, Brew and I turned off Church Street and pointed the stroller towards our neighborhood. And there, amid the scents and sounds of downtown, we caught perhaps the most eccentric and exciting sight of all. We found trail friends. And not just any trail friends. We ran into Matt and Lily Kirk.
Both prolific hikers, Matt and Lily started dating while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. In 2011, when Brew and I set the overall record, Matt and Lily assisted us in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then two years later, Matt claimed the self-supported A.T. record for himself and surpassed a mark that had stood for 20 years.
Crossing paths withMatt and Lily under a supermoon in Asheville led to conversation, that conversation led to walking, and the walking led to a late-night local brew. So instead of cleaning the house and getting ready for our 5am departure, Brew and I stayed up late talking to Matt and Lily about trails, The Trail, and trail records.
It is a rare and fleeting thing to spend time with someone who has the depth of experience and passion for endurance records that Matt possesses. Brew and I travel the country telling our stories and trying our best to make the trail relatable to everyone, but when it comes to a record there are only a few people who can really grasp what the effort entails. It is a gift to spend time with someone who understands- really understands- such a precious and intense undertaking.
Sitting in our living room, we carried on in harmony about high mileage days and emotional valleys, mountain views and terrifying storms, trail magic and the magic of the trail. Then our quartet started chirping about current record attempts, endurance ideology, the ethics of fastest known times, and the minutia of trail miles that only REAL hiking geeks will debate.
It may surprise other folks to learn that in this infinitesimal, unwritten, and undefined world of trail records there are points that are still unclear even to record holders. There are concepts that Matt and I agree on 100% and sometimes our methodology and beliefs seem contrary. It is indisputable that trail records, their rules, their audience and undertakers are all still evolving. But I think the hope for trail records remains consistent.
Matt said, “Trail records can only go one of two ways. They can go in a positive direction or a negative direction.” (I won’t continue this quote because my sleep deprived, one-beer, brain would most likely slander or slaughter Matt’s words.) But he went on to eloquently express so many of the thoughts that have been jumbled up in my mind. And I want to try and put some of those sentiments into words.
- Humility – A trail record is not better than any other type of hiking. It is harder than most imaginable biped pursuits, but not better. The value of a hike cannot be quantified; it can only be exemplified through a positive life-change. The trail is there for everyone at every phase of life. A record is special but it should not take priority over other hikes, nor should it negatively impact other hikers. We all need to work together- not against one another- to protect, preserve and raise awareness of the trail.
- Respect – Any record attempt should exude respect. Respect for the path, the trail community, the environment, and the history and traditions of the trail. An A.T. record holder never stands alone. It is a group endeavor that starts with the innovation of Benton MaKaye, and is carried on the back of the industrious trail maintainers and volunteer organization established by Myron Avery. It is preserved by organizations like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the National Park System. It is inspired by dreamers like Earl Shaffer, Grandma Gatewood, Bill Irwin and others who showed us that the impossible is sometimes just very difficult.
- Honor – Trail Records are an amateur pursuit. They represent the ideal that athletics does not have to be about fame and fortune, that the honor system is still more trustworthy than a GPS, and that there is something sacred and primitive that comes from moving gracefully and purposefully through the woods. The record will never need an official rulebook IF every contended toes the line and asks, “Am I honoring the trail? Am I honoring the people around me- and before me? And, am I being true to myself?”
I think most people probably assume that I don’t want anyone to break my record. That’s not true. I am very curious what the limits of human potential are on the Appalachian Trail. Records are made to be broken and I look forward to following these endeavors of endurance for a long, long time.
I want the same thing that Matt Kirk wants. I want the record to move in a positive direction. And anyone - no matter whether they are male or female, a runner or hiker – anyone, who toes the path with respect, humility, and honor will have my blessing at the beginning of the trail and will receive my congratulations at the end.
Comments
doyi
July 17, 2014 - 1:54pm
thank you for the sweet thoughts. you guys are world class athletes
Hot Feet
July 17, 2014 - 3:06pm
The problem with AT records is how do you keep the person attempting to break a record honest in his attempt.
Let's use Matt Kirk as an example. There is no doubt that Kirk traversed the trail in record time. However, for him to claim that his hike was not assisted is a bit of smoke and mirrors.
I hiked the AT SOBO last year and ran into Matt in Vermont one evening while I was cooking dinner at a shelter and watched him attempt to yogi food from all the hikers. I struck up a conversation with him about his attempt and was astonished that he attempted to yogi and buy food from other hikers in order to keep his pack weight down as well as limiting the amount of time he had to spend trying to get to a town for resupply.
The interesting thing is Kirk does not believe that this behavior is consistent with the claim that he broke the record for an unassisted hike. It seems to me, that an unassisted hike is a hike were one follows the traditional methods the rest of us hiker trash follow when hiking the trail and that does entail heading into a town for resupply every 4 or 5 days for food and other supplies and not relying on hikers to act like a grocery store for him.
I find it humorous that Kirk talks about respect and honesty when it comes to trail records as I do not see those qualities present in regards to his attempted record breaking hike. Although what Kirk did is a great accomplishment, let's all recognize that his hike was no different than Jennifer's hike and that is it was an assisted hike.
Rebekah Trittipoe
July 17, 2014 - 4:59pm
Love this post. Great perspective.
Matt Kirk
July 18, 2014 - 11:30am
Hot Feet,
I respect your opinion, but disagree with your claim that my hike lacks honesty and respect. I believe I documented my hike as thoroughly as I could.
A similar comment to yours was posted last fall to an online Blue Ridge Outdoors article: http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/hiking/matt-kirk-sets-new-at-speed-record/
Here's my response to that comment:
"I had no planned rendezvous with support crews. There were two times during my hike when I asked hikers headed into town if they had any extra food to help supplement what I had to get to my next resupply. This happened near Manchester Center, VT (day 16) and Glasgow, VA (day 39). Although I offered to pay them, these hikers were happy to give me some of their extra food, and for that I’m very grateful. I make mention of this in my video journals, which are available here: http://sub60.wikispaces.com/About "
The total number of times I attempted to "yogi" food from fellow hikers on the trail: 2.
The total number of calories I received from hikers on the trail: approximately 2000 (a fraction of what I received from trail angels, who indeed were/are there for "rest of us hiker trash").
I assume you didn't give me any food when we met in VT, but if so, thanks ;-)
Feel free to contact me: matthew.d.kirk at gmail
Warren Doyle
July 18, 2014 - 8:29pm
Since I have been quite involved in the AT/LT endurance record sub-culture since 1973, your blog post is both thoughtful and well-written.
Congrats to both Jen and Matt for setting their respective records the traditional (meaning right) way.
There have been/will be six AT record attempts this season. Three were pretenders and three were/are contenders. The pretenders failed early. Two of the contenders lasted longer before giving up on their record attempts. Just one more contender to go.
Meanderthals | ...
July 18, 2014 - 9:36pm
[…] Read Jen’s complete post… […]
Tim Kurtz
July 19, 2014 - 2:31am
You are world class humans. Like the insights and the content.
Craig Henley
July 19, 2014 - 9:37pm
This was a great blog! Though I am an avid hiker, I cannot directly relate to trail records. My work schedule simply will not allow those pursuits...I can say, however, that I follow these record's closely. In reading Jennifer's books (getting ready to read Brew's) and following Matt's hike last year, I have been inspired to become a more efficient hiker. I have been an ultra-light hiker for many years now, and I have covered a lot of ground...
Men like Warren who set earlier records are part of the reason that I became inspired to hike longer, more difficult trails. I live within an hour of the AT, and I am there as often as possible...
Btw, Matt, I would love to know the specifics of what you carried (I know some of it was homemade, but what about shelter, etc. I have my guesses, but would love to know more. You can email me (wcraighenley@yahoo.com) if you have the time or the interest in doing so.
Articles like this give us a small glimpse into the challenges of what you accomplished and help us to appreciate it even more. Thanks to all you for setting an example for the rest of us to follow - if only in a few of your footsteps. Lol
Brew Davis
July 20, 2014 - 1:19am
Hot Feet,
I've thought about this for a few days now. Johnny Cash isn't a good friend of mine, but Matt Kirk is. And I can honestly say that I don't know a single person who has more integrity, who is more ethical, more conscientious, and more "by the book" than Matt. On his Sub 60 A.T. hike, he tried to do everything the right way. The court of public opinion has acknowledged that, and I think it's wrong to say that Matt's claim is "smoke and mirrors."
GA2ME2010
September 5, 2014 - 11:33am
Make that 3 "opinions" you have to dismiss now, Matt. ;)
From the NOC Facebook page:
Bruce Rifleman: He is carrying very little food. He actually is asking hikers if he can buy a bit of their food on the trail reducing weight and time in towns.
Interesting way to be unsupported.
August 7, 2013 at 8:57am · 4
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=450110861690170&story_fbid=619...
(Bruce is a 50 year old programmer and AT enthusiast living in Raleigh, NC.)
Sandy Shaw
October 19, 2014 - 2:15am
Hi Jenn, So enjoyed your presentation today in Santa Rosa library. Small suggestion? Post a map! that describes your journey/progress daily & just where is the App. Trail exactly?
We bought & really enjoying the book.