Just weeks after a Frenchman set the speed record for the Pacific Crest Trail, an Oklahoma man has allegedly topped his time. But unlike the French runner, the 38-year-old Oklahoman did it without a support crew.
According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Nick Fowler completed the 2,650-mile journey on Saturday, Aug. 22, starting at the Pacific Crest Trail’s northern terminus and arriving at the Mexican border in 45 days, 17 hours, and 47 minutes. It was 2.5 hours faster than the French runner, Aurélien Sanchez, who briefly held the speed record when he completed the trail south to north on July 23.
What’s impressive about Fowler’s feat is that he didn’t have a team to help him. Sanchez’s run was supported. His girlfriend and friend drove ahead of him, set up his camps, procured food, and took care of his body when he rested. Fowler did it all alone, self-supported, averaging 57 miles per day to set the fastest time on the trail, in either direction, with or without a support crew.
Editor’s note: Fowler’s record, if confirmed, will hold the distinction of fastest unsupported route. While it is indeed the fastest time, period, Aurélien Sanchez still holds the fastest supported time of 45 days, 20 hours, 11 minutes, 0 seconds.
The original version of this article appeared on The Inertia.
An FKT Veteran
Fowler isn’t a no-name in ultrarunning. He holds the self-supported speed records for the Oregon section of the PCT, Arizona Trail, Oregon Trail, PCT southbound, Ozark Trail, and Pacific Northwest Trail. GearJunkie interviewed Fowler for his FKT of the Arizona Trail in 2024.
He’s even written a book about his speed runs. Apparently, Fowler joined Sanchez for a brief portion of his journey, and the two crossed paths on the PCT traveling in opposite directions. Sanchez told the Chronicle that Fowler’s feat was “amazing.”
Sanchez and Fowler didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
While Sanchez posted periodic updates on social media, Fowler’s record attempt largely flew under the radar. He hadn’t posted on social media since May and hadn’t left any hint on his profile that he was attempting such a daunting record. Fowler set the previous self-supported record on the PCT in 2023, completing the trek in 52 days, 8 hours, and 18 minutes.
He told the Chronicle that he learned from his last PCT experience, upping his energy intake from 10,000 to 12,000 calories per day, modifying his shorts with ventilation holes, and changing shoes every 150 miles and socks every 100 miles. He burned through 15 pairs of shoes and lost 15 pounds.
To solidify his record, the GPS and photo evidence must be confirmed by the de facto arbiter of ultra-running, Fastest Known Time.
