Another Long Trail FKT as Will Peterson sets new unsupported best

Will Peterson has set a new unsupported Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Long Trail in Vermont, USA.

He completed the 273-mile route in four days, 11 hours and 34 minutes, over a day and 12 hours quicker than the previous FKT, set by Jeff Garmire in 2019.

It is the second Long Trail FKT to be set in recent weeks, with John Kelly setting a new supported best at the beginning of July, finishing in four days, four hours and 25 minutes.

“Highest highs and lowest lows”

Peterson, who goes by ­­­­­­’­Sisyphus’ on the trails, was therefore only around seven hours adrift of two-time Barkley Marathons finisher Kelly despite going solo for the entirety of the challenge.

“On Sunday morning at exactly 7:00am, I started walking south from the Canadian border with myself, the clothes I was wearing, and a 33lb backpack,” he wrote on the Fastest Known Time website.

“Around 4.5 days later, I reached the Massachusetts border at 6:34pm on Thursday. The journey that transpired in between these borders contained some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life.

“Between its history and natural beauty, it’s easy to see why the Long Trail captures the imagination of so many.

“I’m humbled to be a small part of the history of this great footpath in the wilderness.

Peterson has set a series of FKTs in the USA over the past three years – in 2020, he completed the New Hampshire
4000 footers in five days, 13 hours and five minutes, unsupported.

He bettered the supported effort earlier this year, ascending all 48 peaks in three days, 12 hours and 35 minutes.