The Cleanest Line

Patagonia Ambassador Moehl Takes 1st in Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, Sets Course Record

[Editor's note: The following report comes to us from Patagonia Athlete Liaison, Kristo Torgerson, with photos courtesy of Justin Bastien (www.justinbastien.com).]

On August 30th, Patagonia Ambassador Krissy Moehl left an indelible mark on the ultra-running world when she crossed the finish line in Chamonix, France to take first place in the Women’s division at the 7th annual Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB); a 103-mile circumnavigation of the Mont Blanc massif, stretching across France, Italy and Switzerland, with over 31,000 feet of elevation gain. Krissy’s time of 24:56:01 also earned her a new Women’s course record, made her the first American woman to cross the finish line, and landed her 11th overall in a race that began with over 2,200 competitors. 2nd place went to last year’s winner, Britain’s Elizabeth Hawker, who crossed the finish line over an hour behind Krissy. Patagonia also had Ambassador John Stamstad and employee Jenny Uehisa finish the race with times of 39:52:14 and 43:23:25 respectively.

The news of Krissy’s victory has been a jaw-dropping experience for all of us here at Patagonia. Like overjoyed parents, we couldn’t be more proud of her. Many of us have found ourselves reveling, “1st place!…1st American!…course record!…11th overall!…all in the Multi Use Skirt!!”. I’ve even had a few friends who were present at the race say what they found most impressive was how much energy she carried through the finish line with her – all smiles, and laughter and looking fresh.  

We’ve been privileged to work with Krissy for many years now, and in her role as an ambassador she wears several hats. As an accomplished ultra runner, employee of the Conservation Alliance, and vibrant  (hit the jump to continue reading)

[Patagonia Ambassador Krissy Moehl crossing the finish line to claim the Women's title in the 103-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Photo, Justin Bastien, www.justinbastien.com]

Interview: Patagonia Employee Sets New Record on the Pacific Crest Trail

If you've ever called Patagonia's Customer Service line and asked a question about ultra-light hiking, then chances are good you've been referred to Adam Bradley. He's been working for Patagonia for years, during that time developing a reputation as one of the most fired-up, friendly, and knowledgeable customer service reps out there. He keeps his fire blazing by using his time off each summer to chip away at a personal list of long-distance, ultralight thru-hiking objectives. With each hike, he became more fired-up and serious about bigger and bigger objectives. This summer, he and ultralight-hiking guru Scott Williamson took their passion to a new level, setting the record for the fastest-ever thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. We were fortunate to grab an interview with Adam shortly after his return:

- First the basics: Tell us what record you set, and how it relates to the previous one.

On the evening of August the 12th Scott Williamson and I set the unsupported Pacific Crest Trail speed record. Our time from the international border of Baja California Norte to the northern terminus was 65 days 9 hours 58 minutes and 47 seconds. This is 21 hrs faster than David Horton’s supported 2005 Pacific Crest Trail speed record, and 6 days faster than Scott Williamson and Tatu Joe Kisner's 2008 unsupported record.

[Scott Williamson in the High Sierra, on his way - with partner, Adam Bradley - to a new PCT speed record. Photo, Adam Bradley.]

Backyard Adventures: The Sawtooth Traverse

Central Idaho's Sawtooth Mountain Range offer a stellar backyard for Steve Graepel's adventures. A Boise resident, he wedges his endurance training around family and a full-time job. His Backyard Adventure gives us a glimpse at a beautiful section of country to be included in one of his bigger projects: connecting 1,200 miles across Idaho’s backcountry by foot, raft and mountain bike. We can't wait to read that Backyard Adventure. Until then, here's Steve in the Sawtooths.
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“Steve, I’ve got an idea ...”

This is how it always starts. One of us drops the bait. Only this time it wasn’t me.

Scott and I have both been caught up with middle management - middle life. He runs a lab in the Bay area, and I've been tasked with leading a creative department at my place of work. Our schedules have been forged out of early mornings and late nights. Workouts squeezed between bottles and diapers.  We've both grown soft under our heavy shells of work, kids and family, barnacled with noon-meetings and mortgages...second mortgages. Our early trips together, traveling to climb in far-flung ranges have become cob-webbed memories and we now feel fortunate when we can carve out a weekend together every other year or so. As incentive to extract us from the grind of our day jobs, Scott makes the pitch.

“Let’s do the Wonderland...in two days.”

Like carp to corn, I’m hooked.

[Top, Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains in early morning light, as seen from the author's bike after running over 40 miles of trail to traverse the length of the range. Above, the route as it runs past an un-named lake below Alice Lake. Photo: Steve Graepel.]

Fastpacking the Pacific Crest Trail

Patagonia Customer Service Rep, Adam Bradley, aka “krudmeister,” aka “El Monstro” has been taking some time off this summer to do a little hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. Before he left, we’d asked him if he wouldn’t mind sending updates. His reply: “Well, I guess, but I don’t know how much of a story there is to tell you. The trail’s the story. When it comes down to it, I’m just a guy out walking in the woods.”

This is all well and true, and many a person has hiked the PCT. But he left out a small detail: how FAST he’s walking through those woods. He’s been on the trail now for a little over a month and recently sent word about his progress. 45 days, 18 hours, 27 minutes, and 45 seconds to be exact. Most folks take somewhere between 150 – 180 days to cover the PCT's 2650 miles, so by day 45 they might find themselves somewhere around, say, Agua Dulce, CA – still quite a hump from the southern tip of the 400+ mile-long Sierra Nevada. So we had to double-check to make sure we heard The Mighty Krud correctly. He’d just told us the Sierra Nevada were a memory at this point, and he was entering Oregon with 1720 miles already behind him.

Here’s some excerpts from the trail journal he’s been keeping of this year’s hike:

This year is different than last year for me . . . I have actually trained for this. . . .[but] training aside, I don't think there is really anything that can prep oneself for being on your feet 14hrs a day for 65 days. Of course I am referring to the mental aspect of the walk, which is about 90% of it. The up side is that I have done it before, so unlike last year there isn't the unknown factor. I also understand the pace of the first 35 days. But the first 700 miles of the PCT in my opinion are grim. I couldn't ever walk that section again if I didn't have a goal like this to spur me on.

 

Hit the jump for more excerpts, or click here to check out them out in their entirety:

[Top, Adam Bradley (aka krudmeister) on his way through the dry lands of Southern California. Bottom,  food for the soul at the end of a long day on the trail. Photos: Adam Bradley]