My greatest running love is doing long solo adventure runs. To make them even more interesting, I enjoy doing “firsts.” These are tough runs that as far as I know, no one has ever attempted or accomplished before. By publishing these “firsts” I hope that others attempt these and even run them faster, establishing fastest known times.
My “firsts” described below were all solo and either unsupported or self-supported. If anyone knows of someone who has accomplished these runs before or after me, I welcome the information. When I do these runs, I don’t try for “fastest known times” because I enjoy sight-seeing and taking pictures. My aim is to just finish. My motivation for documenting these are not to boast of “records” but to inspire others to do the same and find creative “firsts” to push the limits of what is possible.
Adventure runs can be supported, self-supported, and unsupported.
- Supported means you have a dedicated support team that meets you along the way to supply whatever you need.
- Self-supported means that you don’t carry everything you need from the start, but you don’t have dedicated, pre-arranged people helping you. This is commonly done a couple different ways: You might put out stashes of supplies for yourself prior to the trip, or you might just use what’s out there, such as stores, begging from other trail users, etc.
- Unsupported means you have no external support of any kind. Typically, this means that you must carry all your supplies right from the start, except any water that can be obtained along the way from natural sources.
Spanish Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon – July 2, 2004, 55 miles, unsupported, about 26:00 – details
I ran from Spanish Fork Canyon, starting below Soldier’s Summit, most of the way on the Great Western Trail to the South Fork of Provo Canyon. I was such a rookie, had never been on the route before, hauled a heavy pack, and greatly underestimated the difficulty.
Loop around Lake Mountain – November 13, 2004, 32 miles, self-supported – details
I’ve accomplished this run all the way around Lake Mountain more than 10 times now. Several times I have run with friends. The route on the east side of the mountain is along a power line trail. I usually run that side before sunrise to avoid target shooters. (After the big 2012 fire, shooters are now banned, but some still appear.) I loop around the south side using Soldier Pass road. The east side is a straight dirt road in the valley to some dirt roads looping around the North end. Depending on the route, you can do an exact 50K. This is a great long training run.
Triple Mount Timpanogos – October 14, 2005, 42 miles, self-supported, about 17:00 – details
Mount Timpanogos (11,749 feet) is the most popular hiking destination in Utah. I run the Timpooneke Trail because of its steady, runnable ascent and beautiful scenery through a series of four plateaus and meadows, collectively known as the Giant Staircase. The total elevation gain during this hike is 4,579 feet.
Accomplishing a double Timpanogos hike is a significant physical and mental challenge. To achieve this feat, you do the hike twice with a short rest at the trailhead between trips to eat and drink. The 9,158 elevation climb and 9,158 decent in about 28 miles is a grueling physical challenge, but the mental aspect of doing it again is just as challenging. Up to that time, I had accomplished two doubles. No one had yet accomplished a triple. I was the first to do it. Many hikers were stunned to hear what I was doing and would stop me to ask questions. Two of the trips were accomplished at night. In the years to follow, others of accomplished a triple, including Phil Lowry, Brent Rutledge, and Dallan Manscill.
Also June 29, 2007, 15:28 – details
Quad Mount Timpanogos – June 30, 2006, 56 miles, self-supported, 22:00 (FKT) – details
I had planned to rum a triple Timpanogos, but on the way down from my third trip, I met fellow ultrarunner, Phil Lowry in the basin. He planned to match my triple accomplishment the following Monday. I said, “I should continue and do a quad today just to spite you!” He replied, “I bet you can’t do it. You will get to the bottom with sore legs and call it quits. I dare you to try.” I smiled, knowing that he threw down a challenge I couldn’t resist. He had left a note on my car that said, “We are all freaks, and you are our KING! You are nuts, Phil.” I headed back up. Despite my slow pace, I was still going faster than all the hikers. At the top, local ultrarunner pioneer, Grizz Randall congratulated me. I did it! I accomplished the first Quad Timpanogos. That Monday, Phil Lowry attempted to match my quad. He allocated 17 hours for the feat and was pretty much on schedule, but called it quits after triple. He was the second person to accomplish a triple.
A few weeks later, Dallan Manscill matched my quad, doing it as supported run.
Quint Mount Timpanogos – August 18, 2006, 70 miles, self-supported, 27:24 (FKT) – details
Since Dallin had matched my quad, I was asked many times if I was going to go for five. Yes, I was determined, but fully knew how difficult it would be with nearly 24,000 feet of climbing. It would be a busy time on the mountain and many friends would witness my nutty accomplishment. As I passed people, many asked me the usual questions. I tried to explain that I was trying to break my record of four summits and do five consecutive summits. One guy asked me, “What kind of record is that, a record for the criminally insane?” During my fifth trip, word traveled up and down among the hikers what I was doing. I stopped to talk to many groups who were very encouraging and cheered me on. I arrived to the top for the fifth time without fanfare, just quietly went into the hut and signed the register. When I returned to the trailhead, a forest service guy was there and said, “There he is, the 5-summit guy!” My total time ended up being 27:24:36.
As of 2014, I am still the only person to accomplish a quint Timpanogos. Three times since then, I went up the with the hopes to do six, but each time I only did two or three and came home vowing that I’ll never try again to break it, that it is just too stupid and hard. Others have their eye on it. In 2013, Jennilyn Eaton attempted to break it but was turned away by bad weather before her third summit. This may be a record that will last through the ages.
Grand Canyon R2R2R via Hermits Rest – November 24, 2006, 77 miles, self-supported, about 34:00 – details
I had previously accomplished ten R2R2Rs (double crossings) and wanted to start exploring the more remote areas of the canyon, so I decided to do a very long, different R2R2R, using the Hermit trail on the South Rim. I started at the North Rim, went to Hermit’s Rest on the South Rim and returned. The final climb up the North Rim was a painful, slow, death march, but I made it! I threw in an additional ten miles for fun to explore some additional sections of the Tonto Trail.
As of 2014, I’m still the only person to have accomplished this R2R2R.
Seven Utah 13-ers – Kings-Emmons Ridge – July 7, 2007, 48 miles, unsupported, about 20:00 – details
The highest peak in Utah is Kings Peak, with an elevation of 13,528. In Utah there are 17 peaks that qualify as 13ers (over 13,000 feet). Utah has no peaks over 14,000 feet. All of these peaks are found in the Uinta Mountain range. One thing that makes summiting Utah’s 13ers very difficult is the distances from the nearest roads to the peaks – 20-40 miles round trip.
The Kings-Emmons Ridge is the highest continuous ridge in Utah, one of the highest in the United States, and certainly the highest in the United States outside Colorado. Descriptions tell hikers that it will take them 4-6 days to do a round-trip of hiking the ridge. Four-to-six days? How about one day? I could do it.
This turned out to be the most dangerous solo adventure I ever ran. It is so remote with no one else up on that high ridge that involves boulder hopping for more than five miles. It required careful skill on moving boulders to avoid injury. I fell hard one time, hit my chin and nearly knocked myself out with no one around for miles. I’ll never try this again solo, but I did it! I was the first person to travel the Kings-Emmons Ridge in one day from a trailhead, along the way summit 7 13-ers, and return to the trailhead. After finishing, that night, I had nightmares all night about boulder hopping.
As of 2014, I’m still the only person to have accomplished this.
Grand Canyon R2R2R via Grandview – October 12, 2007, 83 miles, unsupported, 34:07 – details
On this adventure, I accomplished a R2R2R (double crossing) from North Kaibab to Grandview Point and back, more than 83 miles. About forty of these miles were on the primitive East Tonto trail. In the hiking guides, ten days would be recommended for this adventure. I accomplished it in 34 hours. My climb up and down the South Rim was on the unmaintained Grandview Trail.
I had navigation problems at night but my GPS would eventually get me back on the serpentine Tonto Trail. The final climb up to the North Rim was slow. It seemed like hundreds of hikers were coming down the trail. Because I was such a mess, they could tell that I had come a very long way. I explained to a few that I had come over 80 miles. Finally the end came in sight. I had done it! I had accomplished the first known double crossing from North Kaibab to Grandview Point
No one else has accomplished this feat. However, I repeated on November 26, 2009, 33:58 (FKT) – details
Utah Triple Crown – August 1, 2008, 37 miles, unsupported, 14:34 – details
For my 50th birthday, I figured since I was officially “over the hill,” why not go over some huge hills? I wanted to summit the three highest peaks in Utah and return to the trailhead, all in one day. This was inspired by Craig Lloyd, in 2003, who did it using a base camp, but so far no one had accomplished it from a trailhead. I wanted to be the first.
The three peaks, located in the Uinta Mountains are:
1- Kings Peak – 13,528
2- South Kings Peak – 13,512
3- Gilbert Peak – 13,442
I did it! The Utah Triple Crown. I returned home that evening in time for birthday cake. My final time was 14:34:59. But that time was very soft and was easily broken in the years to come by several others.
Solo Uinta Highline Trail, Leidy to Hayden, July 30, 2010, 78 miles, unsupported, 33:19 – details
The highest continuous established trail in the Uintas is the Highline Trail (#025) that runs the length of the mountain range. In its entirety, the trail is more than 100 miles long. A 78-mile stretch from Leidy Peak on the east to Hayden Pass on the west is generally recognized as the end-to-end expanse of the trail. I had run much of this trail, but as of yet, no one had run/hiked it solo in less than three days.
The hardest challenge about this adventure is getting off trail, even with a GPS. Some people who have never run it think it can be run solo in less than 24 hours. All I can say is prove it. Go try it. To do it fast solo, requires much familiarity of the trail and good experience in the Uintas.
So I did it. I set a speed record on the Uinta Highline Trail for Leidy Peak to Hayden Pass in 33:19:12. The time was soon broken but the solo time stood until the impressive run by Stephen Jones in 2013 who set the fastest known time of 27:41:49 and did it solo.
Bear River Smiths Fork Trail double, September 3, 2010, 59 miles, unsupported, 18:08 (FKT) – details
The Bear River – Smiths Fork Trail (#091) (Also sometimes referred to as the North Slope Trail) is a long-forgotten trail in the Uinta Mountains that crosses the North Slope from west to east. This mostly forest trail connects seven river forks, and climbs up and over six major ridges. It covers nearly 30 miles with climbs totaling more than 7,000 feet. The altitude for the route is between 8,800 feet and 10,800 feet.
Because the trail is old and forgotten, there are few signs to identify it. Portions of the trail have been taken over by ATV routes, cross-country ski courses, and in a few short sections, newer dirt roads. Portions are faint and are a challenge to navigate. Because of infrequent trail maintenance in this section, the trail has about 400 deadfall downed trees to hop over.
After scouting sections of the trail, I was ready to run it end-to-end and back. I started at 1:00 a.m. and finished about 7 p.m. the next evening. It had been an amazing adventure. The weather had been perfect.
As of 2014, I’m still the only person to accomplish this.
Double Kings Peak, August 12, 2011, 52 miles, self-supported, 19:44 – details
Kings Peak is the highest peak in Utah at 13,528 feet. All of Utah’s peaks over 13,000 feet are located in the Uinta Mountains. I’ve summitted ten of them. Kings Peak gets the most attention and each weekend in the summer dozens of hikers make the trek to the top.
Would it be possible to summit Kings Peak twice in one day, a double? This would involve running from the trailhead to the summit and back twice, a run of about 52 miles and about 10,000 feet of climbing with almost all if it above 10,000 feet. I heard that several people were going to attempt it this weekend, so I decided to join in. With all my experience doing multiple Timpanogos summits, I knew it would be tough, but very possible.
It was a long and tough adventure. I finally finished the first known Double Kings Peak in 19:44:10. I knew that was a terribly slow time, but still, I was the first person to do it. I think a good time would be around 15 hours. The four others who attempted a double this weekend all quit after one trip. I knew how mentally tough it is to go back out after one trip, so it wasn’t surprising. So, I was the last one standing (or stumbling).
In 2013, twice I attempted to do a Triple Kings Peak. Both times, I just could not pull myself out of my car for a third trip. It is so mentally tough to do. But, I did do two more doubles.
Repeated on August 3, 2013 – details
Repeated on August 9, 2013, 18:05 (FKT) – details
As of 2014, I am still the only person who has accomplished a double Kings Peak.
Loop around Utah lake – October 15, 2012, 82 miles, self-supported, 19:54 (FKT) – details
Every year, hundreds of bikers, bike around Utah Lake, a distance of about 100 miles. They go right by my house and it is fun to watch them. I got the crazy idea to try running around it. I knew I could cut the distance some, but using some old railroad tracks and some trail short cuts. I used convenient stores along the way as my aid stations. It was a long day but I did it. This video tells the story.
Utah Lake to Great Salt Lake – November 8, 2012, 58 miles, self-supported, about 14:00 – details
The Jordan River in Utah meanders for more than 50 miles between Utah’s largest natural fresh-water lake (Utah Lake) and the famed Great Salt Lake. For many years a paved recreational trail has been constructed along the river. It is named: Jordan River Parkway Trail. As far as I can tell, no one has before attempted to run the trail end-to-end in one day. That was my quest for this urban adventure run. I decided to go further than that and link up with the Legacy Parkway Trail and the go out to the Great Salt Lake. This adventure wasn’t difficult, it was mostly an urban run. I don’t know anyone else who has accomplished this.
Run around the south Oqhirrh Mountains – November 30, 2013 62 miles, self-supported, about 17:00 – details
I accomplished my 4th 100K+ training run in the past 22 days, for a big mileage month of 441 miles. I started at 2:00 a.m. in the little town of Cedar Fort, ran clockwise around the southern portion of the Oqhirrhs. Dawn came around mile 23 on the west side of the mountains. This video tells the whole story.
Solo unsupported Kat’cina Mosa 100K – June 21, 2013, 64 miles, unsupported, about 18:00 – details
One of toughest 100K races in the country is held in Utah, in August each year. It is called Kat’cina Mosa 100K. The course runs a huge loop behind the Wasatch Mountains that rise above Provo and Springville. Nearly half of the course shares the same course as Squaw Peak 50, but in the opposite direction. Kat’cina Mosa runs clockwise and includes about 17,000 feet of climbing along the way over its 62 miles. When I went to the store to buy my food for the run, I ran into a friend who was stocking his van for this weekend’s Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay. I chuckled as I observed the huge amount of food and drink stocked in the van for their series of 10K runs, and then looked down at the little bag of food that I would stuff into my small cammelback, for my entire 62 miles.
I started in the afternoon and around dusk came close to a bear running across my route and during the night I was “herded” by a couple sheep dogs who wanted the bacon in my pocket. Later, I chased a cow and a calf for about three miles down a narrow canyon. I finally made it back to my car, accomplishing the 100K run. It had been a great adventure. I sure love running at night but can do with out the wildlife and farm stock.
No one else has be crazy enough to attempt this.
Loop around Brown Duck Mountain – July 3, 2013, 33 miles, unsupported – details
This run is in the Uinta Mountains accessible from the South side. I ran around a large mountain, Brown Duck Mountain and reaches Cleveland Pass. The trailhead is north of Duchesne and Mountain Home, at Moon Lake. It was an easy drive, 2:45 from my home, all on pavement. The trail is very rugged at times, as most trails in the Uintas are. This video tells the story.
Five highest Wasatch Peaks – September 19, 2013, 40 miles, self-supported, 21:33 (FKT) – details
Could it be done? The highest peaks in Utah are found in the Uinta mountain range, but the most impressive peaks that rise from the valley floor to the sky are found in the Wasatch Front. Could the top five be summited in one day? This was one of my toughest “firsts.” It took me two separate attempts to do it. I thought I had climbed the six highest peaks, but later I learned that Bomber Peak doesn’t qualify, not having 300-feet of prominence. These mountains are in three different locations, requiring a 1.5-2 hour drive between them. When I finally finished, I felt pretty thrashed, especially from all the falls going up and down the last tough peak above Snowbird Ski resort. My Garmin indicated that I had climbed about 18,000 feet during my crazy run. While it wasn’t very far, it was very rugged. It felt like I had just finished a 100-mile race.
No one else has ever attempted this.
Loop around Mount Nebo – October 13, 2013, 47 miles, unsupported, about 15:00
I have a funny fascination with running completely around mountains. For this adventure I ran around Mount Nebo, the highest mountain in the Wasatch Front. I ran through pretty deep snow and on the south side just couldn’t find the right route. I was stubborn and rather than just run the paved highway into Nephi, went back up a canyon to try to find the right way. I still missed it and eventually ran back to the highway into Nephi and then on roads back to my car on the northwest side of the mountain.
No one else has been crazy enough to attempt this.