One of the most accomplished ultrarunners in the Northeast set off from Springer Mountain, Georgia in the pre-dawn hours this morning, beginning his quest to set a new fastest known time (FKT) mark on the Appalachian Trail.
Will “Sisyphus” Peterson started his attempt at 4:30 a.m. and headed northbound on the AT. He is attempting the FKT self-supported.
To set a new FKT on the 2,197.9-mile Appalachian Trail, Peterson will need to average an incredible 50 to 55 miles per day.
The current self-supported record of 45 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes is held by Jeff Garmire. The supported and overall record of 40 days, 18 hours, 6 minutes is held by Tara Dower.
Peterson is known for setting some of the most impressive FKTs in the Northeast. He is the first and only person to hold the supported and unsupported Long Trail FKTs simultaneously, and the first and only to hold the supported and unsupported New Hampshire 48 FKTs simultaneously. He also holds FKTs for the Winter White Mountains Hut Traverse and Franconia Notch Loop.
He’s also no stranger to the Appalachian Trail. One of his first big adventures was a 116-day thru-hike of the AT in 2019.
You can follow Will Peterson’s Appalachian Trail FKT attempt here.
