Top 5 Fastest Appalachian Trails

Here are the list of top 5 fastest appalachian trails. The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, some of whom, called thru-hikers, attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States. An unofficial extension known as the International Appalachian Trail, continues north into Canada and to the end of the range, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean.

5. Karl Meltzer: 54 days 21 hours 12 minutes (2008)

Fastest Appalachian Trails Karl Meltzer

Karl Meltzer began an attempt to break Thompson’s record starting August 5, 2008 (north to south). Karl, one of the nation’s top trail ultrarunners, had a high level of support spear-headed by Backcountry.com. An injury forced Karl to abandon the record attempt after hiking and running 538 miles in 14 days. Karl persevered and finished the AT on Sept. 29, in a total time of 54d21h12m.

4. David Horton: 52 days 9 hours (1991)

Fastest Appalachian Trails David Horton

Fully supported, ultrarunning-style multiday speed records on big trails probably began with David Horton’s AT trip in 1991 (52d9h42m). David Horton is a long haul veteran the fastest appalachian trails. As a dedicated trail and ultrarunner, he has 95,000 miles of running under his belt, including his record-setting run of the 2,160-mile long Appalachian Trail in 1991, which was the subject of his book, A Quest for Adventure.

3. Pete Palmer: 48 days 20 hours 11 minutes (1999)

Fastest Appalachian Trails Pete Palmer

On  May 10th, 1999 Pete Palmer, a 46 year old ultrarunner from Connecticut started his attempt to break the AT Speed Record. Pete Palmer is the fastest appalachian trails.

2. Andrew Thompson: 47 days 13 hours 31 minutes (2005)

Fastest Appalachian Trails Andrew Thompson

Horton’s FKT has since been lowered to the current standard, 47 days, 13 hours, and 31 minutes, set by Andrew Thompson in 2005. A veteran hiker and climber, it took three attempts for Thompson to get the FKT. In his successful run, he started in the north, getting past the most difficult terrain, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, early on.

1. Jennifer Pharr Davis: 46 days 11 hrs 20 min (2011)

Fastest Appalachian Trails Jennifer Pharr Davis

Pharr Davis lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She first hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2005 after graduating from Samford University. Jennifer was crewed by her husband, Brew Davis. In 2008, Pharr Davis set the record for the fastest appalachian trails hike by a woman.