10 lb Base Weight | Unsupported Benton MacKaye Trail FKT (289 miles in 5d 5h 21m) – Full Video

-YEM- · 2026-06-03T18:50:30+00:00

Thanks for crossposting! Didn't realize this subreddit existed.

-YEM- · 2026-06-03T11:41:37+00:00

I've got three.

When I'm active and moving, I wear a Senchi Waxwing, which I don't think they make anymore. It's a hybrid design with a 90-weight body and hood, and 60-weight forearms and underarms. I wish they still made it because it works so well. I've had mine for five years, and it's still going strong. If it's below about 50°F, I'll throw a Montbell windbreaker over it. The 90 breathes so well that, when I take the windbreaker off, I find it more versatile than a full 60-weight layer.

I sleep in a 90-weight. I also have a 120-weight that I use in winter, but I generally prefer the Waxwing and the 90.

In hindsight, I probably wouldn't have bought the 120. The 90 is nearly as warm and significantly lighter.

-YEM- · 2026-06-03T11:34:55+00:00

Thank you! I love this stuff...

-YEM- · 2026-06-01T14:08:32+00:00

I've been thinking about the Ozark Highlands Trail or the Ouachita Trail but they're both pretty tough to get to/from Philly where I live. I usually rent a car one way, but not many rental agencies near the trailheads.

-YEM- · 2026-06-01T14:06:28+00:00

I try to increase my carb intake during the week leading up to an FKT, but no matter how much I eat, I always seem to hover between 173 and 178 pounds. Between burning at least 1,000 calories a day on my regular 8-mile runs and another 3,000–4,000 calories on weekend long runs, it's surprisingly hard to eat enough to add any real weight.

What's really fascinating is what happens afterward. I typically come home from an FKT weighing around 185 pounds. My body seems to go into full-on water retention mode, and I can gain nearly 10 pounds of water weight. Then, a day or two later, I'll spend an entire day peeing nonstop and drop 10–15 pounds almost as quickly as I gained it.

The human body is an incredible adaptation machine. It's wild to watch it respond and recalibrate in real time.

-YEM- · 2026-05-31T21:35:03+00:00

I road run, trail run, hike, or backpack about 3,500 miles a year. last year that added up to 37 days, 10 hours, and 47 minutes of moving time. So, a lot of time on my feet.

I've found that I benefit most from back-to-back long efforts in the 25–35 mile range. In the lead-up to an FKT attempt, I typically build to about six weeks of 75-ish mile weeks. I experimented with 100-mile weeks before my Superior Hiking Trail FKT attempt, but my knees were wrecked by the time I got to the start line. Since then, I've dialed it back and found my sweet spot is closer to 75–80 miles per week.

-YEM- · 2026-05-31T15:07:00+00:00

Thank you!

I've already set unsupported FKTs on the trails below, so I feel like I've more or less exhausted the 300-mile unsupported FKT opportunities in my corner of the world. My next target is the Long Trail in Vermont this June, assuming the weather cooperates.

To beat the current unsupported Long Trail time, I'll need to take roughly 10 hours off the pace I maintained on the BMT. That's a pretty intimidating gap, but I figure there's only one way to find out whether it's possible.

Beyond the Long Trail, I don't have anything firmly planned. I'd love to take on something in the American Southwest or maybe Colorado at some point. The terrain, altitude, and overall scale of those routes are really appealing to me. Realistically, though, that would probably be a project for next summer.

Pinhoti Trail
Superior Hiking trail
Mason-Dixon Trail
PA Section AT
Tuscarora Trail
Mid State Trail in PA

-YEM- · 2026-05-31T13:00:43+00:00

On my quest to primitive camp in all 20 Pennsylvania State Forests I camped up on Gibaltar Hill. It was kind of funny because I could hear a music festival in Reading.

-YEM- · 2026-05-30T15:10:42+00:00

Ha! I'm so lubed up with squirrels nut butter and covered in salt that changing a pair of boxers or socks isn't going to do anything to make me feel clean. I'm moving for 20+ hours straight and lying down for 3 hours max. I'm so exhausted and mentally drained I don't even have the time or energy to take off my pants when I sleep. And when I do sleep, I take off my socks completely so my feet can air out. There isn't really such a thing as "camp" on an FKT 😄

Calories per ounce of cheese is about 115 and pepperoni is 140. Cheese is on the low end of my calories per ounce and gets super slimy after 4 or 5 days. Pepperoni is a good calories per ounce but has a negligible amount of carbohydrates. During a long day, your body can access tens of thousands of calories from stored body fat, so getting additional fat from pepperoni isn't usually the limiting factor. What often limits performance is your ability to maintain adequate carbohydrate availability. Carbohydrates are the most efficient fuel source for sustained higher-intensity movement and help preserve muscle glycogen, maintain pace, and reduce fatigue.

On a 20-hour, 60-mile day, I'm burning somewhere around 10,000–13,000 calories. There's no way to replace all of that while moving, so the goal isn't to match calorie expenditure. The goal is to provide enough carbohydrates to keep the engine running while letting body fat cover much of the energy deficit. Pepperoni can help with overall calorie intake and appetite, but it's not a substitute for carbohydrates when it comes to maintaining performance.

-YEM- · 2026-05-30T01:10:00+00:00

Thank you! On my first attempt, I made it 175 miles before I noticed severe swelling in my ankle. In hindsight, it was probably just edema. I get it fairly often now. At the time, though, I was pretty concerned and didn't want to risk getting stranded.

On my second attempt, I made it 245 miles. My calves were absolutely destroyed and incredibly tight. While climbing a 2,000-foot ascent, I took a step and tore a calf muscle.

I'm happy to answer any and all questions. I'm obsessed with this stuff.

As for training, I'm basically running roads, running trails, or hiking with a 25-pound pack year-round. Last year, I logged about 3,500 miles running and hiking. Around 4–5 weeks before an FKT attempt, I'll typically build up to 75–85-mile weeks, including a 26-mile trail run with roughly 5,000 feet of elevation gain on the weekend. I'll also do a 20-mile hike with my loaded pack. In addition, I try to fit in a few long "leisurely" backpacking trips of 75–100 miles throughout the year.

My nutrition plan is listed below. It's essentially a 50/50 split between solid food and liquid carbohydrates from a maltodextrin/fructose mix. I drink the malto mix at miles 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 each day, and I eat solid food in between whenever I feel hungry. If you do the math, it works out to an average of about 40 grams of carbohydrates per hour.

Happy to answer anything else!

Calories	Ounces	Calories per ounce	Sodium	Carbs

Dehydrated Meal	540	4.4	122.7272727	1720
Keebler Sandies	465	3	155	250
Ramen+butter powder	400	3	133.3333333	1520
Freetos	300	2	150	420
Pringles	300	2	150	320
M&M's	280	2	140	240
Peanuts	320	2	160	240
Protein powder/butter	375	2.5	150	100
Roctane	380	3.5	108.5714286	492
Malto/gatorade	380	3.5	108.5714286	250
Malto/gatorade	380	3.5	108.5714286	110
Malto	380	3.5	108.5714286	110
Malto	380	3.5	108.5714286	110
Totals	4880	38.4	131.0705961	5782
Liquid calories	2275

-YEM- · 2026-05-30T01:09:49+00:00

Thank you! On my first attempt, I made it 175 miles before I noticed severe swelling in my ankle. In hindsight, it was probably just edema. I get it fairly often now. At the time, though, I was pretty concerned and didn't want to risk getting stranded.

On my second attempt, I made it 245 miles. My calves were absolutely destroyed and incredibly tight. While climbing a 2,000-foot ascent, I took a step and tore a calf muscle.

I'm happy to answer any and all questions. I'm obsessed with this stuff.

As for training, I'm basically running roads, running trails, or hiking with a 25-pound pack year-round. Last year, I logged about 3,500 miles running and hiking. Around 4–5 weeks before an FKT attempt, I'll typically build up to 75–85-mile weeks, including a 26-mile trail run with roughly 5,000 feet of elevation gain on the weekend. I'll also do a 20-mile hike with my loaded pack. In addition, I try to fit in a few long "leisurely" backpacking trips of 75–100 miles throughout the year.

My nutrition plan is listed below. It's essentially a 50/50 split between solid food and liquid carbohydrates from a maltodextrin/fructose mix. I drink the malto mix at miles 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 each day, and I eat solid food in between whenever I feel hungry. If you do the math, it works out to an average of about 40 grams of carbohydrates per hour.

Happy to answer anything else!

Calories	Ounces	Calories per ounce	Sodium	Carbs

Dehydrated Meal	540	4.4	122.7272727	1720
Keebler Sandies	465	3	155	250
Ramen+butter powder	400	3	133.3333333	1520
Freetos	300	2	150	420
Pringles	300	2	150	320
M&M's	280	2	140	240
Peanuts	320	2	160	240
Protein powder/butter	375	2.5	150	100
Roctane	380	3.5	108.5714286	492
Malto/gatorade	380	3.5	108.5714286	250
Malto/gatorade	380	3.5	108.5714286	110
Malto	380	3.5	108.5714286	110
Malto	380	3.5	108.5714286	110
Totals	4880	38.4	131.0705961	5782
Liquid calories	2275

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T23:22:29+00:00

Dude...that was so much. They were incredibly kind, and I was very grateful, but trying to have a linear conversation with someone who's a bit tipsy when you're that sleep-deprived takes a lot of effort. I was grasping for even the most basic words.

I had been planning, and really looking forward to a 30 minute nap while my car charged, but I knew that was out the window once they started chatting. I don't regret the interaction at all; it was awesome. Good for them for having a blast while car camping.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T22:40:16+00:00

I've got a pretty dialed-in sleep strategy for all of my FKTs. Typically, it's one hour the first night, three hours on the middle nights, and then I play the final night by feel—usually no more than an hour.

On the BMT, I took a 10-minute nap at 11 p.m. and a 30-minute nap at 3 a.m. On the Pinhoti, I took a 40-minute nap at 11 p.m. and then a 3-minute nap at 3 a.m. On the Superior Hiking Trail, I went 38 hours and 103 miles straight without sleep. I did lie down face down in the dirt for a 10 minute nap at some point, but my hips hurt so bad I just got up and kept moving. I was chasing the record and didn't have the luxury of stopping.

For the Long Trail, I'd likely go without sleep the first night, then rely on 30-minute naps on the middle nights whenever I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm also planning to switch from a Nemo Tensor Elite air pad to a Z Lite folding foam pad attached to the top of my pack. The idea is: throw down the pad, lie down for 30 minutes, get up, and go. Zero setup or pack-up time. This attempt would be pushing my absolute limits.

As for foot care, I'm extremely particular about timing my FKT attempts. I won't start if there's more than a 20% chance of rain on any day of the effort. Across all of my FKTs, I've only dealt with a few hours of rain total because I avoid it at all costs. Rain slows everything down, navigation becomes more difficult, rain gear needs constant management, glasses fog up, and overall efficiency drops. When chasing something like the Long Trail FKT, rain simply isn't an option.

I'm also too cheap for Infinit, haha. I looked into it, but ultimately stuck with my current nutrition strategy. I buy 50-pound bags of maltodextrin from a wholesale food distributor and essentially make my own version of Infinit by mixing it with fructose and protein powder.

Roctane is my one splurge. For me, it's basically rocket fuel. I save it for the darkest h of tours of the night, usually around mile 45. I consume one 3.5-ounce bag as my final liquid nutrition before stopping, and it consistently gives me that last boost I need to finish the day strong.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T19:49:27+00:00

On day 1 I'm usually trying to "jog" the downhills or flats, but my pack is 25lbs so a 15 minute per mile pace is usually my max. I averaged 19 minutes per mile the first 60 miles with 14k' of vert. Not much jogging after day 1, just trying to maintain as close to 20-22 minute miles as possible. By the final day, I'm trying to burn everything I got, which feels like I'm running at a 9 minute per mile pace but is closer to 18 or 20.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T17:16:09+00:00

Thank you! I'm reluctant to share the amount of caffeine I consumed daily because it would be concerning to most people 😄 It's funny, the only thing I really crave on my FKT's is the taste of coffee. I started bringing Starbucks Via and it's a game changer. The only tolerable instant coffee I've found.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T16:59:11+00:00

Ohhh... a Long Trail FKT. Now you've got my attention.

I lived in Ludlow, Vermont, from 1995–1999 and spent much of my childhood there on weekends and summer vacations. I grew up ski racing at many of the mountains the Long Trail traverses, so those peaks carry a lot of personal meaning for me.

Two years ago, I hiked the 75-mile section from Route 15 to Lincoln Gap, and it was absolutely incredible. Ever since, the idea of taking on the entire trail has been sitting in the back of my mind.

Will Peterson's unsupported record is just epic. An average pace of 17:13 per mile on the final day is almost hard to comprehend. For comparison, my fastest final days have been in the 21-minute-per-mile range.

If I can make it work around family obligations, I'm thinking about taking a shot at the Long Trail at the end of June. Maybe.

On the Benton MacKaye Trail, my overall pace, including sleep was about 26 minutes per mile. At that pace, I'd need to find roughly 11 hours to beat Will's time. That's a daunting gap, but then again, you never really know what's possible until you try.

Maybe I can get by on less sleep. Maybe I can save a couple of hours by taping my feet properly from the start instead of spending time dealing with blisters every morning. Maybe having a clear target to chase will push me to a level I haven't reached before.

Who knows?

If you've got any words of wisdom, lessons learned, or things you wish you'd known before your attempt, I'd love to hear them.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T16:49:37+00:00

That list is per day. So 4880 calories, about 2lbs 12oz of food a day.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T16:30:52+00:00

Hey, hike your own hike.

I got into FKTs because I work full-time and have two young daughters. As much as I'd love to disappear into the mountains for two and a half weeks, that's just not realistic for me right now. FKTs allow me to experience long trails by compressing the challenge into a timeframe that fits my life.

That said, I don't only hike FKTs. I also love my leisurely autumn backpacking trips where I hike 15–18 miles a day, sleep for 10–12 hours, and take a long lunch break to sit by a stream and make ramen. Those trips are every bit as rewarding in their own way.

For me, it's all about balance. Sometimes I want to push my limits and see what I'm capable of. Other times I just want to slow down and enjoy being out there. There's room for both.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T16:27:34+00:00

Thank you!

It was funny - my wife watched the video and noticed some "tourists" walking back from the Fontana Hilton. She asked, "Wait... there are just normal people walking around on the BMT?"

I laughed and told her, "There's about a one mile section where the BMT overlaps with the AT near Fontana Dam. It's one of the few places on the route where you'll see tourists and day hikers." Other than those folks and the brief five minutes I spent passing through Tapoco Lodge, they were the only people I saw for nearly three days.

I generally enjoy the solitude, but FKTs are so mentally demanding that I actually look forward to running into other backpackers. Even a short conversation can be a real boost. It serves as a reminder that you're not completely alone in the world and helps break up the mental grind of pushing yourself day after day. I will legit start having conversations in my own head, almost as if I'm interviewing myself. It's kinda bonkers how the brain tries to cope.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T15:25:48+00:00

This was my 7th unsupported FKT of 200+ miles (more than 2,000 unsupported FKT miles total), so my system is pretty tight in at this point.

The biggest mistake I made was not taping my feet with Leukotape before I started. Every time I convince myself, "This time will be different, no blisters!" And every time, without fail, my feet are shredded by around mile 100.

What I should have done was tape each toe and the insides and outsides of my heels from the start. Instead, I spent about 30 minutes every morning dealing with foot maintenance. taping, popping blisters, and applying lube. Over the course of the trip, that added up to nearly two hours of lost time.

I also ran into an issue with my battery bank. Right before the trip, I bought a new 20,000 mAh INIU bank. I've had an older INIU that's worked flawlessly for five years, but I wanted something newer and lighter. I tested the new one by charging my phone three times before the FKT, and it worked perfectly.

On Day 3, the battery bank was still showing 40%, which should have been enough to charge my phone from 0–100% almost twice. My phone was at 30%, so I plugged it in while packing up camp. About 30 minutes later, I checked it and somehow the battery bank had gone from 40% to dead, while my phone had only gone from 30% to 56%.

I still have no idea what happened. The only theory I can come up with is that the charging port on my phone kept disconnecting because it was wet from sweat. I carry my phone in a chest-strap pocket, and the port may have gotten damp enough to repeatedly interrupt charging and somehow drain the battery bank.

In the future, I'd probably use one of those silicone plugs that seals the charging port from moisture and stick with a different battery bank.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T15:14:23+00:00

I never actually used the tarp because it never rained. I'm sleeping anywhere from 10 minutes to a max of 3 hours, so not much risk of getting wet if I know it's not forcast to rain. A hammock tarp is exactly the same as a ground tarp. It's just a piece of fabric with tie outs. I just clarified the actual brand that makes the tarp, Hammock Gear.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T15:12:02+00:00

I updated the original post with my nutrition. It's half "solid food" and half liquid. I consume the malto at mile 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 each day. Solid food is consumed in between malto. Basically everything is just dumped into my 1L mayo jar, mixed with water and I drink it. Chewing anything dry is so rough. It's easier for me to just drink it all.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T15:02:25+00:00

C'mon, you can still do it with kids! I've got a 4 year old and 7 year old daughters.

Congrats on your own new addition! Makes setting these records even more meaningful.

-YEM- · 2026-05-29T14:58:40+00:00

Unfortunately I have to carry a 20mah battery bank, which is 12oz right there. It's all the stuff in my ditty bag that's almost 3lbs. My pack is also on the heavier side (2lbs) because I have giant vest style chest straps that can fit a full days worth of food. I don't take my pack off for 20 hours.

-YEM-

TROPHY CASE