ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 5 - Final Push

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 4

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 3

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 2

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 1

Need to submit it - unofficially 4 days 7 hrs 25 mins

Woke up at midnight in a daze. I knew I had to get up and push. I would pay to have video of myself for the 30 minutes it took me to pack up. I was so delirious I kept taking my gear and “organizing” it by moving it to a certain spot on the ground next to me only to stare at it for 10 seconds and think about how I would need to put it in my backpack but not yet. I repeated this process with essentially everything I had until all of my stuff was around me but nothing was actually in my pack. Finally, I found the solution and started actually putting items in my backpack. Putting my shoes on was huge and I took the last of the food out of my bear can for the day. I was pleased to see I still had plenty of food - not a lot, but plenty. 

After the rummage of the century that served no purpose other than wasting time and confusing/disturbing the hammocker, I finally set off at 12:41. A quick 1400 ft in the first mile awaited me as I tagged LWJ. 

I moved over to Big slide and then down to the whack. The beginning of the whack is pretty open and I had scouted it so I felt alright. I was ready for it to be over as soon as it started. The sun came up before I made my way around the bog and then I climbed to the old porter trail. My mindset was - “last climb until the last climb”. Back on trail again I was pumped. I made it over to cascade and down you the road. 

My brain went into Appalachian Trail mode for those 10 miles on the road. Feet hurt, needed to eat, just keep walking and enjoy what I’m seeing around me. I rationed food so I could eat right before the whiteface climb. 

I finally made it across the long haul of a road walk. I had only taken two 32 mg caffeinated gels until that morning where I ended up taking 600 mg throughout the day. My last 200 was on the Whiteface Landing trail where I started to feel so tired and had to fight off the urge to sit down and sleep continuously. 

I was still moving very well. Not running but hiking fast. I started the climb strong with plenty of water because it was getting hot. 

What a steep climb. I was sweating, taking salt, trying to get Maurten down, pushing uphill. My legs stayed strong throughout and my sharp pain from the day before was subsiding. I could finally see the finish. I was picturing my friends sitting there for me for days and now it was only hours away. 

I kept it steady and smooth to the top where I must have been a sight to see. In my totally exhausted state I started sobbing. I sat for a minute at the top and then kept sobbing on the way down over the rocks. Then I got a bloody nose and had to shove gauze up there to stop it. I was fully going through it. 

Just before Esther I convened with myself. I thought about how hard I’d pushed to get here and the thought of not making the most of the finish after pushing that hard would have felt like a total disservice to the previous days of suffering. 

I started to run towards Esther. I dropped my pack and ran most of the out and back and when I got my pack on for the final stretch I started sprinting. My legs stuck with me as I ran over the rocks. I was groaning in pain, sweating, out of water, couldn’t be talked into even looking at me only remaining food (1.5 clif bars) - I was leaving it all out there. 

I ran towards the bottom only to be met with 0.2 miles of uphill that had me wheezing as a got to the road. 

My friends and mom were there. How incredible it was to have so many people
I care about there for me at the finish as I collapsed onto the ground. 

Final thoughts: a tremendous about of respect for anyone who hikes in the high peaks, hikes the 46, thru hikes the 46 - these trails and mountains are the hardest around. I was thinking a lot about the people who had come before me on this route and wondering how unique and vibrant their trips were. I love this place and I’m excited to have a new set of memories on all 46. 

Thank you:
Lance Parker from coaching me for the effort to helping me mentally prepare to answering my calls from the mountains and so much more. Thank you Lance for being an absolute rock star of a human being. I truly could not have done this without you. 

Maia Buckingham, Carter Clark,  Tara, Andy Johnstone, Jonathan Zaharek, and Mom. Thank you for coming out and being there for the finish. That vision of the ending road kept me going in so many hard moments. So grateful to have people like you all in my life. From chatting about the effort before to calling when I was out there - so much support. 

Andrew Benerofe, Kara Benerofe, and Dad - the rest of my family for unrelenting support. They have always made me believe that I can do that things I set out to accomplish. 

Matt Moschella for so much support and advice as I was preparing for this effort. His experience helped me plan and prepare for this effort in a huge way. 

Will Peterson and Tara for helping me plan for the unknown of my first multi day fkt attempt. So many unkowns and so grateful to have their experience to draw from. 

Alyssa Godesky and Katie Rhodes  for helping me plan out key parts of the route. 

Andy Johnstone and Megan J for being huge support dropping me off and helping me when I was on scouting trips. 

I’m undoubtedly going to have forgotten and I’m update when I do.

Thank you to everyone who sent a motivational message while I was out there - it was such a boost to see. 

Thank you to everyone in my Vermont community - you all are the best and I cannot be more grateful every day that I have you all in my life.

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Scott B

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 5 - Final Push

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ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 5 - Final Push

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 4

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 3

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 2

ADK 46 unsupported FKT - Part 1

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