Tag: Fastpacking

November 5, 2021 Pursuing a Fastest Known Time on the Tuckup Trail Some adventures are more involved than others. The Tuckup happens to fall on the ‘more involved’ end of the spectrum; traversing the entire route tests not just your endurance and navigation skills but also your willingness to suffer. Thankfully Ashly Winchester and I possess plenty of the latter, as well as some degree…

Justin Simoni calls fastpacking “the space between ultra running and backpacking.” If you're curious about fastpacking and want to know how to get started, read this excellent overview by UD ambassador Jen Segger. Jen has been planning and leading fastpacking trips for years, even running a dedicated company for it (Run BC Adventures). Here's how to pick the right gear and plan your first fastpacking trip.  Fastpacking is…

Many of us are searching for an adventure on our own two feet. Maybe it's a race, maybe it isn't. In the end what we want is exploration, challenge and a good time. Here's where fastpacking comes in. The "Highest Hundred" project's Justin Simoni calls fastpacking "the space between ultra running and backpacking." A strong resolve and endurance are requisite but how about gear; what's…

As FKTs gain more and more recognition in the sport of trail/mountain/ultra running, bigger, tougher, and faster routes are being established. The sky's the limit for the FKTs we have witnessed recently. The UD Team is proud to have some athletes that are creating and completing incredible routes. Scott Jurek [caption id="attachment_2293" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Scott stands within view of Mt. Katahdin, the last climb of…

10 o'clock at night, standing alone on the bank of the Colorado River in full flood stage.  Can I swim across?  Theoretically, yes.  Emotionally, no.  I conducted an inventory of my emotional reserves and made a rational decision:  I’m not going.  I measured, and my cajones weren't big enough. This trip I had brought a Space Blanket, so wrapped myself up in that and slept…

It's 5am on April 17, when a Ford F250 pulls into the dark parking lot. Peter Bakwin and I say hello to Elaine, who fills us in on local lore while driving an hour and half out to Pasture Wash, where we are dropped off by an abandoned cabin. We shoulder our packs and navigate straight west across the flat and featureless plateau until the…