[pct-l] JMT Record still stands

[Reinhold Metzger]

Reinhold Metzger wrote:
> This message is intended for my hiking buddies and should not be read 
> by those prone to sour grape attacks and other discomforts caused by 
> speed hiking.
>
> *******************************************
>
> Hi Gang,
> After watching Michael take off  like a rocket at Whitney Portal 
> shortly after 6:00 AM Saturday, Aug. 30, in quest off a supported JMT 
> record, I waited for him at Happy Isles, with a ''six pack'', on 
> Tuesday, Sept. 2 from 9:00 PM until midnight, but he never showed.
>
> Sue "Stinky Feet'' Johnston's'' record still stands.
> Sue is now a ''Marked Woman.''
> Some guys, without a doubt, are gnashing their teeth and will be 
> coming after Sue with a vengeance next year, to bring the record back 
> to the ''Boys."
>
> It has been my observation that most of the failed JMT record attempts 
> have been the results of  foot problems.
> The JMT is a tough, demanding trail with 10 rocky passes in addition 
> to Trail Crest and Mt. Whitney.
> Very tough on the feet, especially when speed hiking or running.
> I highly recommend sturdier shoes with some foot support, over flimsy 
> running shoes without support, to anybody attempting to speed hike or 
> run the JMT.
> Shoes with a  wide foot box might help prevent between toes blisters, 
> like the ones that troubled Michael, which are usually the result of a 
> narrow foot box squeezing the toes together after the feet start 
> swelling.
> I have found  most Hi-Tec shoes to have a wide foot box and resist 
> rolling.
> Some hikers report ''Indingie Socks'', socks with glove like fingers 
> for the toes, help prevent between toes blisters.
>
> For more detailed information, talk to ''SWITCHBACK'', he knows all 
> about ''Indingie Socks and ''Extreme Backpacking''.
>
> JMT Reinhold
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
> Sorensen, Aaron BM1 wrote:
>> Hey Reinhold,
>>
>> Michael left Reds Meadow on the start of his last day (day 3) 45 mins 
>> ahead of his schedule and 1:08 ahead of the record.
>> His feet ended up getting blistered really bad from the 3 days of 
>> dirt built up between his last 2 toes on each side and the outer 
>> pinky of his right.
>> It was so bad that he was loosing time quick and decided to cut a 
>> little of his shoe away while climbing up Donahue pass, (35 miles to 
>> go).
>> Immediately after he hit a rock on the exposed area that left him to 
>> deal with a slow 15 mile walk in to Tuolumne Meadows.
>>
>> He completed 206 miles in 86 hours with 41,000 feet of elevation gain.
>> He had 24.5 miles to go.
>> Michael's words were, "Just wait until next year".
>> An in-depth write up will follow about his trip.
>>
>> Aaron
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reinholdmetzger at cox.net [mailto:reinholdmetzger at cox.net] Sent: 
>> Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:44 AM
>> To: Michael Popov; Sorensen, Aaron BM1
>> Subject: JMT
>>
>> Hi Guys,
>> I and Karen (my wife) waited for you guys, with a six pack, at the 
>> Happy Isles Trail Head from 9:00 PM to 12:00 PM, my wife sleeping in 
>> the dirt and me sitting on the trail in pitch dark wilderness in 
>> constant danger of attack by ferocious, flesh eating bears, but you 
>> guys never showed.Finally at midnight I decided you guys were either 
>> hopelessly lost in the wilderness or were devoured  by those  
>> ferocious man eating bears.
>> I was very disappointed to have missed you....I assume Michael 
>> finished faster than planed...No?
>> Hope everything went fine and you guys had a good time.
>> Tune me in how it went.
>>
>> JMT Reinnhold
>>
>>   
>
>