The first through-hiker was Earl Shaffer who completed his hike without the aid of a tent, sleeping mat or stove, which he chose to leave behind due to weight. The attempt was unknown to the entire country at the time, and the Appalachian Trailway News even published an article listing 10 reasons why no one would ever complete the entire trail while Earl's hike was in progress.
Shaffer finished the hike on August 6, 1948 after 124 days in the wilderness, and now, starting around the same time Earl finished, Karl will look to complete the trail in 46 days.
The 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail has been the pinnacle of American
hiking for over 90 years. The first section of the Trail was opened on October 7, 1923 in Bear Mountain, NY and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC)
was founded soon after in 1925. Much progress was made throughout the early 1930’s as trails were blazed in West Virginia, Virginia and Connecticut. Stretching from Maine to Georgia, the trail goes through 14 states.
In 2008, Karl persevered through severe tendinitis to complete the world-renowned 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia in 54 days. “You have to exercise patience to really excel…,” he says. “You have to make your pace even all the way through.”
A few years later, Karl became the first man to run the old Pony Express route from California to Missouri.
Now, Karl’s goal is to return home to the Appalachian Trail and complete the journey in less than 50 days, noting that the attempt is “not only man versus clock, but man versus nature … and man versus self.”
Karl Meltzer is one of the world’s best in endurance mountain running – ultrarunning – a form of racing that makes a marathon look like a short sprint. The sure-footed, indefatigable athlete known as “The Speedgoat” has become a legend in the ultra community – winning more 100-mile races than anyone in the sport and completing many of the lengthiest runs in the United States.
As a native of New Hampshire, trail running and hiking have always been a part of Karl’s life. Growing up, Karl spent many days adventuring on the Appalachian Trail with his father. He has always been partial to running his home course, which he often refers to as the “Green Tunnel” due to the rich tree canopy covering much of the trail.
In 2008, Karl persevered through severe tendinitis to complete the world-renowned 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia in 54 days. “You have to exercise patience to really excel…,” he says. “You have to make your pace even all the way through.”
A few years later, Karl became the first man to run the old Pony Express route from California to Missouri.
Now, Karl’s goal is to return home to the Appalachian Trail and complete the journey in less than 50 days, noting that the attempt is “not only man versus clock, but man versus nature … and man versus self.”
• Has won more 100-mile races
• than anyone on Earth
• 5-time Hardrock 100 champion
• 6-time Wasatch 100 champion
• Named U.S. Ultrarunner of the Year
• Has run 2,064 miles along Pony
• Express from California to Missouri
• and the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail
READ MORE
FROM THE TRAIL
Ultra runner and Red Bull athlete Karl Meltzer set a new Appalachian Trail thru-hike speed record early this morning, Sept. 18, 2016, when he arrived to Springer Mountain in Georgia at 3:38 a.m. Karl started at 5 a.m. on Aug. 3 at the north end of the trail at Mount Katahdin, Maine. The new record set by Meltzer is 45 days, 22 hours and 38 minutes...
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2,190 miles on the appalachian trail is roughly ...
BY THE NUMBERS
ONLY 100 MILES TO GO!
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100 MILES
KARL GETS READY TO RUN IN THE MORNING
PLAY VIDEO
RISE AND SHINE
appalachian trail Thru-Hikers experience a lot of ups and downs.
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ELEVATION GAIN/LOSS
Breathability is key to keeping karl's feet in top condition. LEarn how KARL AND crew CUSTOMIZE HIS KICKS.
WATCH VIDEO
New York
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
elevation:
SHOE WORKSHOP
KARL AND CREW EXPLAIN WHAT IT TAKES TO CONQUER THE TRAIL
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mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
elevation:
TRAIL WARRIOR
Karl is on a pace to set a new thru-hike speed record.
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ROCKY
terrain:
HALFWAY THERE
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THE A.T. IS EXTREMELY BIODIVERSE IN BOTH ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES.
THE A.T. IS EXTREMELY BIODIVERSE IN BOTH ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES.
TRAIL FLORA
PLAY VIDEO
New York
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
IT'S NO FOUR SEASONS ON WHEELS BUT IT'S ALL THIS CREW NEEDS TO SUPPORT KARL'S JOURNEY. WATCH CREW CHIEF ERIC BELZ AS HE GIVES US A TOUR OF THIS TRULY MOBILE HOME.
a man and his van
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New York
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
besides the inherent dangers of the a.t.'s terrain, weather, animals, insects and plants can also threaten a hike. so far, Karl's crew has encountered a gnarly swarm of bees.
DANGERS OF THE TRAIL
PLAY VIDEO
New HAMPSHIRE
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
MEET KARL SR., KARL'S DAD AND MEMBER OF HIS SUPPORT CREW. KARL SR. IS AN AVID OUTDOORSMAN HIMSELF AND INSTILLED HIS LOVE FOR NATURE AND ADVENTURE IN KARL FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE.
MEET KARL's Dad
PLAY VIDEO
New York
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
elevation:
TRAIL NAME
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New York
mountainous
BOULDERING AND CLIMBING PUT KARL TO THE TEST ON HIS SECOND DAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
4221 ft
elevation:
THE HARDEST MILE
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Karl is known as THE 100 mile king. Only 2,090 miles to go.
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
elevation:
100 Miles
PLAY VIDEO
KARL EXPLAINs the adventure that Awaits him on the trail
Maine
mountainous
terrain:
4221 ft
elevation:
KARL's JOURNEY
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Maine
mountainous
terrain:
KARL HOPES TO COMPLETE THE 2,190 mile trail in under 50 days.
4,188 ft
elevation:
RUNNING THE AT
Maine
mountainous
terrain:
Karl will start his journey on the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
4,188 ft
elevation:
Mount Katahdin
KARL'S APPALCHIAN TRAIL THRU-HIKE TIME
SECONDS
MINUTES
HOURS
DAYS
COUNTDOWN TO THE RECORD
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International Editions:
Red Bull on
2190
3.28 MPH
345,122
4,330,207
DISTANCE COVERED
AVERAGE SPEED
CALORIES BURNED
STEPS
CONTACT
NEWS ROOM
NEWS ROOM
CONTACT
watch the documentary
WHO IS KARL?
ABOUT THE TRAIL
watch the documentary
00
SECONDS
38
MINUTES
22
HOURS
45
DAYS
"Karl Meltzer: Made To Be Broken” recounts the experience of ultrarunner Karl Meltzer and his crew as they set a new Appalachian Trail thru-hike speed record. The beautifully produced film reveals the thru-hiker experience and magnitude of the Trail. Watch it starting April 13 on Red Bull TV.
RECORD BREAKER
New Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Speed Record
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Follow Karl's story as it unfolded as he and his crew advanced from the northern point of the Appalachian
Trail at Mt. Katahdin in Maine to the southern
terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia.
These are the notes from the trail exactly
as reported by the crew each day during
Karl’s record-breaking thru-hike.
