FKTs

Stano scrambling near Brandywine.

 

Fastest known time (FKT) is a phrase used by mountain runners, ski mountaineers, and climbers, among others, to refer to what is known to be the speed record for a given peak or route. This acknowledges the fact that fast ascents may go unrecorded and to claim to be the fastest ever in a sport with no officials may be difficult. There are still however those of us who care and keep track of things like speed records. I doubt anyone could give a reasonable argument that interest in records is not rooted in our desire to impress upon others that we are the best at something; recognition always feels good. I believe that for myself the interest stems from my time as a competitive nordic skier but also from a deep desire to sleep in my own comfortable bed each night. I do enjoy camping but generally have the philosophy that if something can be done in a day then why prolong the suffering? I would rather cruise around the Spearhead in 5 hours with a 5 pound pack and be back to the village for a burger and home for a movie than slog around it in 3 days with a 25 pound pack suffering a snoring tent-mate and dehydrated food. Below is a collection of FKTs for peaks and routes in my area and others that I am interested in. They have no particular significance aside from the fact that I have heard of them and they seem fun (so don’t complain about my choices).

I try to keep abreast of changes but leave a comment if I am missing something! Time are usually car-to-car (or trailhead-to-trailhead) unless noted. Generally, I try to avoid Strava segments as a method of tracking but with some, they become the de-facto speed record. They often don’t capture everything however and sometimes shorten times (see Evac route notes). Try to start/stop a lap timer at the noted start and finish points to confirm your time!

BC:

Run Objectives:

Stawamus Chief 1st Peak Strava Segment (Uphill Only):
 
Howe Sound Crest Trail:
 
Sea to Sky Gondola, Sea to Summit Trail (both in 2016 race):
 
Sea to Sky Gondola, EVAC Route:

The Evac route has evolved significantly over the years (and likely will continue to). This record represents the fastest overall time from Base to Summit Station. 

Sky Pilot Peak from Gondola top Stn. (round trip):
 
Rubble Creek Classic (Chekamus Lake Parking Lot to Rubble Creek Parking Lot):
 
Castle Towers (Round trip from Chekamus Lake Parking Lot):
 
Black Tusk (Round trip from Rubble Creek Parking Lot):
 
Tantalus Traverse Lite (Tantalus Summit only, Sigurd Creek TH to LLW TH):
 
Tantalus Traverse  (Pelion, Tantalus, Dione, Serratus, Alpha, Sigurd Creek to LLW Trailhead):
 
Mount Serratus (Haberl Hut to Haberl Hut, up West Rib, down North Face):
  • Ross Berg ~45min
 
Kingdom Come Traverse (Alpha, Serratus, Ionia, Panderous, Red Tusk, Lydia, Niobe, Pelops, Iota, Omega Summits):
  • Andrew Rennie ~30hrs (?)
 
Grouse Grind:
 
Baden Powell Trail (Knee Knacker):
 
Wedgemount Lake 5 Peak Traverse (Cook, Weart, Wedge, Parkhurst, Rethel Summits):
  • Thomas Morrissey – 10:10:00 (Prev: Brendan Armstrong & Jessie McAuley – 11:06.23, Eric Carter – 11hrs 49min *accompanied partially by Matt Hall)
 
Stein Valley Traverse (trailhead to trailhead):
 
Garibaldi Lake Circumnavigation (from Rubble Creek Trailhead):
  • Eric C & Nick E – 12:08:23 (Prev. Peter Croft – using a direct line up Sphinx N Ridge so better style!)
 
West Lion (car to car):
 
Mt. Harvey:
 
Mt. Brunswick:
 
Wedge Mountain:
 
Blackcomb Buttress (Rendezvous Lodge – Summit – Rendezvous Lodge):
  • Women: Stephi Ganseneder – 1:23.40 (Prev: Kyle Kirkegaard – 2:11:54)
 
Mt. Tupper (Rogers Pass):
  • MEN: Ross Berg – ?
  • WOMEN: ?
Mt. Sir Donald (Rogers Pass):

Roger’s Pass Horseshoe:

Mt. Robson:

  • Sean O’Rourke?
 
Also good potential objectives that I don’t have any info on;
 
Garibaldi Peak – From the yellow gate on Brohm Ridge
Mount Wedge – Car to Car
Alpha – River to River (maybe Nick Elson?)
 

Ski Objectives:

Tantalus Traverse:
 
Blackcomb – Mt. Currie Traverse (Ski, Village to Logging Rd):
  • Nick E & Jessie M – 8:08. (Prev: ~13.5hrs Christian Veenstra)
 
Garibaldi Park Traverse (Currie-Spearhead-McBride-Neve-Elfin):
 
Bugs-Rogers Pass Traverse:
 
Semi-Alcoholic Traverse:
 
Joffre Group Steep Ski Linkup (Joffre Aussie Couloir, Matier NW Face, Slalok N Face):
 
Garibaldi Neve Traverse:
 
Spearhead-lite Traverse:
 
Complete Spearhead Traverse (Start at Blackcomb Base and finish over Whistler Peak and out to Village):
 
McBride Range Ski Traverse:
 
COAST RANGE TRAVERSE (the baddest of them all!):

Climbing Objectives:

Squamish Buttress:
  • MEN: Hamish Fraser – 33min (Diedre + Squamish Buttress)
  • WOMEN:
Grand Wall (base to top of Roman Chimneys):
  • MEN: 38 minutes Alex Honnold
  • WOMEN:
Slesse, Northeast Buttress (base to summit):
  • MEN: 1:08 Marc-Andre Leclerc

Washington State:

Mt. Rainier (overall speed record – currently uses skis):
 
Mt. Rainier (Gib Chute):
 
Mt. Rainier (Liberty Ridge):
 
Mt. Rainier (running):
 
Mt. Baker (Coleman-Demming Route):
 
Mt. Baker (Climb N. Ridge, descend Coleman-Demming):
 
 
Mt. Stuart – Scott Bennett (5:57)
 
Forbidden Peak – Scott Bennett (4:54)

Other USA:

Grand Teton (Owen Spaulding Route):

Teton Grand Traverse:

  • MEN: Nick Elson – 6hr30m (Previously Rolo Garibotti – 6:49)
  • WOMEN: Jeanelle Smiley – 12:17?

Denali (Cassin Ridge):

Denali (overall):

Half Dome:

  • MEN: Nick Elson – 2:03:52 (Prev. Dean Potter – 2:19 *via a more direct but also more technical route – Snake Dike)
  • WOMEN:

Mt. Shasta (ascent only): Ryan Ghelfi – 1:36:13

This page has a discussion on ethics and style for FKTs. Really though, the key is being honest. Otherwise, part of the fun is that the rules are there are no rules!

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