APPALACHIAN TRAIL

The Appalachian Trail (AT) stretches from Springer Mountain, Ga. to Mount Katahdin, Maine, through 14 states and over the tallest mountains and deepest gorges east of the Mississippi. It is the world's longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,175 miles. The AT is the first, the original, and possibly the best "long trail", with an incredible history: it was first hiked in it's entirity in 1936, and first "thru-hiked" (done continuously from start to finish) way back in 1948; now each year approximately 500 people hike the entire trail (about 25% of those who start).

KARL MELTZER

Karl was the 2006 USATF Ultrarunner of the Year and the Ultrarunner Magazine Runner of the Year . He has the most wins ever at the Hardrock 100 trail race (4), at the Wasatch 100 (6), and the Squaw Peak 50 (5), and was the course-record holder for years at Hardrock. He also holds the record for the most 100-mile-race wins, with 23 during his career.

THE AT RECORD

Many record attempts have been made on what is the most famous trail in North America. The current record stands at 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes, by Andrew Thompson in 2005 (his third attempt after two earlier near-successes). He often covered over 50 miles in a single day, averaging 45.7 per day, every day. Thompson's record betters that of Pete Palmer from 1999, and David Horton, one of the premier ultrarunners in the country, who established a time of fifty-two days, nine hours, and 42 minutes in 1991, thus kicking off the "modern era" of Appalachian Trail records..

WHERE'S KARL?

Establishing a new record will be very hard. After an illustrious career as one of the best ultrarunners in the country, Karl Meltzer is the man to try and take it down a notch.

Starting on August 5, click on this link to follow his progress online, updated daily!