In the last 9 days of August, three athletes set FKTs for different routes on the Colorado Trail (CT). GearJunkie confirmed with fastestknowntime.com that this is the first time that so many FKTs have been set on the CT in such rapid-fire succession — but not by much; last year, three FKTs fell within a month.
This year, from August 22 to 31, Brent Herring, Jeff Browning, and DJ Fox all completed the CT in record time, claiming different FKTs. All three have had their records confirmed by fastestknowntime.com.
The CT has four different possible routes. It can be completed east-to-west or west-to-east, with a split in the middle offering two variations in both directions — the Collegiate West or Collegiate East trails. There are also three different types of FKT: Supported, Unsupported, and Self-Supported. Between the two route options and the variants of FKT attempts, the CT offers 24 different possible FKTs.
Below are the highlights of this recent August flurry of FKTs and a look back at last year’s to see how FKT season in the Rockies is ramping up.
CO Trail FKTs: 3 Athletes, 3 Routes, 3 Records
Brent Herring, Aug. 22: Self-Supported, East-to-West, Collegiate West
10 Days, 17 Hours, 38 Minutes
Herring started at the eastern trailhead for the CT on August 11. He is a veteran mountaineer and endurance athlete. This is his 14th FKT, according to the fastestknowntime.com website.
In his trip report, Herring said that it rained on him almost nonstop for the duration of his trip. He struggled with food rations. But he was able to accept supplies from others on the trail, as his attempt was classified as “self-supported.” The last 48 hours, Herring said he was suffering from auditory hallucinations and severe confusion.
“What an adventure,” Herring wrote. “The sort I’ll always think back on nostalgically yet have no desire to ever do again.”
Jeff Browning, Aug. 25: Supported, West-to-East, Collegiate West
7 Days, 9 Hours, 37 Minutes, 53 Seconds
Browning left Durango on August 18. His crew consisted of four people and a pacer who ran with him the entire time. Browning resupplied at every checkpoint along the way and filtered his own water. His pacer carried a small food ration, an emergency kit, and extra food when necessary.
According to Browning’s trip report, he experienced some rain throughout and “rough GI issues” on days 2, 3, and 4. But otherwise, his FKT was straightforward and unimpeded.
DJ Fox, Aug. 31: Supported, West-to-East, Collegiate East
7 days, 4 Hours, 37 Minutes, 22 Seconds
On August 24, DJ Fox took off from the Junction Creek Trailhead. Similar to the other athletes who set FKTs on the CT in the preceding days, Fox experienced some gnarly storms throughout his attempt, according to his trip report. His pacers ran alongside him the entire time, though, taking turns on different sections.
Fox said his most challenging morning was waking up at the Mount Massive trailhead, over halfway through the trail.
“My body hurt, I was tired, and truly felt there was no hope to complete what we set out to do,” he wrote. “My crew team gave me a much-needed inspiring pep-talk and got me out back on the trail with the mission at the front of my mind.” Fox finished his attempt at the Waterton Canyon trailhead on August 31.
Record Season for Colorado Trail FKTs
It’s no surprise that August to September is a popular time for FKTs in Colorado. The snow is gone from the high country, and weather patterns often stabilize. Usually, that makes the conditions ideal for long pushes in the high country.
In 2023, there was a similar volley of FKTs set on the CT around this time. Tara Dower, Nina Bridges, and Claire Bannwarth all set FKTs on the CT within a month of each other. Dower broke a record that had been standing for 20 years when she completed the supported FKT for the east-to-west Collegiate East route in 8 days, 21 hours, and 59 minutes.
Twenty-five days later, Bridges broke Dower’s record by 6 hours and 44 minutes, claiming the FKT for herself.
Also in the summer of 2023, Claire Bannwarth broke the women’s self-supported FKT on the CT, finishing the west-to-east Collegiate East route in 9 days, 2 hours, and 50 minutes. And on the same day, September 6, Nathaniel Gilbert and Melinda McCaw set FKTs on the west-to-east Collegiate West routes for the men’s unsupported and women’s supported records, respectively.
It was a big year for CT FKTs. And 2024 has been even more action-packed. Just 2 months ago, Kyle Curtin smashed the men’s supported FKT for the east-to-west Collegiate West route. He completed it in 6 days, 15 hours, and 8 minutes — faster than anyone has ever run any route of the CT.
Clearly, it’s FKT season in the Rockies. And that seems to be ramping up every year.
