[pct-l]Trail Speed Records, at 64 yrs

[losthiker at sisqtel.net (Deems)]

On my JMT hike last month I was very fortunate in meeting 64yr old Reinhold
Metzger at Lake Wanda. Reinhold was on a leisurely hike of the full JMT in
7days. I knew who he was by both his lack of normal hiking gear, his age,
accent, stories, and energy. In the time I was able to spend with him on the
lake shore, I learned he still held the backpacking record for the JMT (no
support) at 5 days, 10 hours from when he was 61!(story below). He mentioned
to me he has done it in  5 days 7 hours since, and Snownymph who met him on
Whitney mentions same in webshots. There's no website for Reinhold, but he
is unmistakable if you are lucky enough to meet him on the JMT. He didn't
think too much of those ultrarunners who were being paced, or had their
camps carried in for them, but that's his style and privilege because he's a
backpacker! When he started the runs/hikes, he carried not much more than
20lbs total, no reloads, or support enroute, and started with everything he
needed. His dream was to break the 5 day time; but at 64, and on his ninth
JMT hike, he's accepted that his record will fall someday soon;  but he was
a true inspiration, mentor, and a rare spirit for me in the wilderness!
After our time on the lakeshore, he ran off like a deer out of sight, and I
continued on finishing my hike on day 17...
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<Snownymph's meeting and words from backpacker forum.com about Reinhold: >:
Reinhold Metzger was on his way to Guitar Lake to acclimatize. His plan (a
few days later) was to hike to the top of of Whitney, then thru hike to
break his record of 5 days, 7 hrs and (forget how many minutes). This was
his last try to bring his time down.

He told us about going from a 46 lb pack (1st thru hike, 10 days) to what he
carries now. His pack would be 18 lbs for the 5 day (or less) trip. He got
sponsored by a few companies, which incl his Hi-Tec trailrunners and
Mountain Hardware sleeping bag. He starts his days at 12:01am so he can
remember the times from point to point, and doesn't sleep much. He's 64
years old and so full of life! We could have talked for hours, except it was
getting cold, we could hear thunder to the west, and we had to get back to
Whitney Portal.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20030929-9999_mz1s29outdor.html
RM's JMT record story.
http://users.sisqtel.net/losthiker/images/Reinhold_Metzger.jpg   Reinhold at
Lake Wanda
http://community.webshots.com/photo/424222370/425977592ntrupL Reinhold 8/14
on Mt Whitney before I saw him, getting acclimated!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/424222370/425979094bEqCNR his unique
pack setup!

You meet the most incredible people in the wilderness!!
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As a supported run:
9 days, 10 hours, 19 minutes and 8 seconds
http://www.coloradorunnermag.com/features/Issue2_ColoradoTrail.html

The JMT, Three days, 22 hours and four minutes
http://www.runningtimes.com/issues/04mar/johnmuirtrail.htm

The record for the Long Trail:
4 days, 13 hours, 15 minutes
http://www.thecavedog.com/Long_Trail-Web_Pages/The_Long_Trail/The_Long_Trail.html

That covers the big three of the shorter distance
trails. The "triple gem" as Coup of GoLite coined it.

As a traditional backpack for these trails? Who knows.
Skurka did the CT, for example, in 14 days. May or may
not be a "record". For example, an acquaintance of mine
just did the CT in 15 days. There may be someone out
there who backpacked it in 13 days.

Backpacking records aren't kept as diligently as
supported run records. Many backpackers will take
longer alternate routes for example (esp. on the CT
and CDT) even if doing them at a fast pace.

Hope this helps.