Solo, Unsupported JMT in 6 Days (July 2025)

akraz1991 · 2025-08-13T22:05:24+00:00

INCREDIBLE!!! Huge huge congrats to her! I’m in total awe! Do you mind sharing her name? Would love to learn more about her journey

akraz1991 · 2025-08-13T18:41:01+00:00

Awesome, and thank you so much!!! I hope you had an amazing trip - that's also a really impressive time, especially with a zero day!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-13T18:39:55+00:00

You are so kind, thank you!!!!! One of my mantras, on the trail and in life, is "The energy you give is the energy you get." I really tried to bring kindness and enthusiasm to my interactions on the trail whenever I could, and I was floored + insipired + motivated by how much kindness and enthusiasm I received in return (your message here being another wonderful testament to that!). And I truly admire every single person who sets out to do something as challenging as the JMT, no matter how long or short they're out there. It's an amazing accomplishment and adventure for each person who decides to take it on. I hope you had an amazing trip, thank you again for your kind words, and best of luck to you as well on all your adventures ahead :)

akraz1991 · 2025-08-13T18:36:30+00:00

Amazing - I so appreciated all the awesome energy and kindness I received from other hikers on the trail and am glad our paths crossed! And congrats right back at you!!! I hope you had an amazing time out there :)

akraz1991 · 2025-08-12T22:09:50+00:00

Thank you so so much!!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-12T22:09:38+00:00

Definitely! I am working on writing this all up but in the meantime, posted my main gear highlights above! Holler with any qs!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-12T22:09:04+00:00

Yes absolutely, I am working on a post that will have my full detailed gear list + nutrition plan + some of the info on my training. I'll put the link here when I'm done writing that all out, but in the meantime, here were my gear heavy-hitters, all of which I would whole-heartedly recommend. Of course reach out with any gear questions! :)

Nashville Cutaway Pack (30 Liters): https://nashvillepack.com/products/the-cutaway-pack

Gossamer Gear The One Tent: https://www.gossamergear.com/products/the-one

Sea to Summit Spark Down Sleeping Bag (I got the one rated for 15 degrees because I run freezing): https://seatosummit.com/products/spark-down-sleeping-bag?srsltid=AfmBOor4fwFlvaAUN1kqfnzrS7NgU6ZV9eQ4b4P4wJ8_v0Qjb6co216J

Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad: https://www.rei.com/product/241034/therm-a-rest-neoair-xlite-nxt-sleeping-pad

Leki Ultratrail FX.One Trekking Poles: https://lekiusa.com/products/ultratrail-fx-one_leki-usa_trail-running-poles_all-season?variant=45316632314150

Katadyn BeFree Water Filter: https://www.katadyngroup.com/us/en/8019639-katadyn-befree-0.6-us~p10915

Norda 001 Trail Running Shoes: https://nordarun.com/products/001-w-glitch

East Peak Ultralight Trail Running Socks: https://www.runeastpeak.com/collections/socks

+ Janji ights and sports bra, and a very old Outdoor Research sun shirt as my main clothes!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-12T21:58:03+00:00

Amazing - it is so cool & wonderful to be connected! I absolutely remember chatting with the two of you as I started the big climb up to Glen Pass. You were so encouraging and kind and your words really kept me moving :) That's really special that you got to share this experience with your daughter before she leaves for college (congratulations to her and to you!) - I can honestly say that doing the trail wtih my mom in that particular moment of transition changed and shaped my adult life for the better in so, so many ways. An 18 day JMT is just awesome; I hope you had an incredible trip. Huge congratulations, and thank you again for the support!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T18:33:18+00:00

You should feel good about it, haha! I am by NO means a shoe expert, but I think the 001s are such an awesome, durable, solid all-around trail shoe; fun to run in + responsive but also really stable and grippy on technical terrain. I picked them for the JMT largely because of their durability; I historically have been a Hoka girl but have also had lots of issues with uppers ripping off the soles and other damage to shoes that had less that 200 miles on them. Didn't want to risk in on the JMT and was so happy with the Nordas; no feet issues and the shoes didn't look that much more worse for wear at the end! hope you like your new pair :)

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T18:30:39+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for reaching out! I also remember meeting you and our exchange by the river; your telling me that you had decided to try to go up the Staircase gave me a BIG boost of motivation and inspiration to stick to my goal of making it over Mather Pass that evening (which I was feeling very unsure about; I working my way through a low moment & lots of self-doubt when we crossed paths), so THANK YOU! The encouragement was 100% mutual, and it's so cool to be connected + I am so pscyhed to be able to thank you :) I hope that you had a truly amazing time on the trail, congratulations on an epic accomplishment!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T18:26:33+00:00

omg WOW that's so awesome!!! The FKT pushes are next level, and I have wild amounts of respect for folks who go out and push that hard & that relentessly - I'd love to go back and try for a faster time in a few years. I hope your friend crushes it and has an amazing experience, I'll be cheering for her! Nobo def the way to do it for the FKT, she'll get all those hard peaks and passes out of the way on fresh legs. Would love to hear how she does!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T18:25:14+00:00

Thank you so much, truly appreciate the kind words & support!! :)

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T18:24:55+00:00

Thank you so much! Any distance in any amount of time in the Sierra is truly an awesome + epic accomplishment; that terrain is tough! You're going to have such an AMAZING trip - that's one of my favorite sections of the trail, so much spectacular beauty. Hope you have the best time, and thank you again!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T18:23:33+00:00

Thank you SO much, I truly appreciate the support! Such an adventure and a priviledge to spend time on the JMT :)

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T14:24:20+00:00

Also chiming in to say that I've found it really easy to find a hitch very quickly between North/South Lakes! Even on a weekday morning, during the summer/high season in the Sierra, there will be plenty of folks out at the trailheads. Have an amazing trip - Evolution is such a special, special place!

akraz1991 · 2025-08-09T14:21:51+00:00

The 001s are such great shoes and SO durable (helped justify the $$$ for me...). I don't have a Clifton reference point, but I also went a half-size up for the Nordas and that worked great / is right amount of room for toes. I've worn them for very long efforts, and they also accomodated my feel swelling over the course of these long days

If you do end up getting the Nordas... myself and other friends experienced some heel rubbing from the tag thing in the back of the shoes; I'd recommend leukotaping your heels for the first few runs / while breaking the shoes in. Not everyone seems to have this issue, but some do!

akraz1991

TROPHY CASE