Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Karl Meltzer Sets New Appalachian Trail Speed Record

Today we speak to ultrarunner Karl Meltzer about his new speed record on the Appalachian Trail.

By
Karl Meltzer
Photo courtesy of Josh Campbell/ Red Bull Content Pool

On September 18, just over a year after Scott Jurek broke the previous record set in 2011, ultrarunner Karl Meltzer has bested that record by more than 10 hours. The 48-year-old Meltzer started his supported run on August 3 from Mt. Katahdin, Maine and completed the 2,190 mile (3,524km) Appalachian Trail in 45 days, 22 hours and 38 minutes.

The record breaking accomplishment comes after two previous record attempts in 2008 and 2014.

The 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail stretches from Mt. Katahdin, Maine, to Springer Mountain, Georgia, and runs through 14 states. Just to give a little perspective, the average hiker takes between five to seven months to complete the journey. 

We caught up with the ultrarunner as he continues to enjoy some much deserved downtime to discuss the highlights from his journey, trail diet and what’s next.

After 2 previous attempts, how does it feel to have finally set a new world record?
I don’t look at it as a “world record”. It is simply the fastest time on the AT. It does feel good to finally achieve the goal after trying two other times. Success is always gratifying, but with as much effort as it takes to do this, the recon and preparatory work was the real key to success. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into doing this, and finally I can say I don’t have to go back.   
 
What did your caloric intake consist of?
I consumed roughly 8,000-10,000 calories per day.  Spree candy, a good beer when finishing, and many sweet treats, along with an ice cold Red Bull at each stop. Ice cream was always a favorite too (when available) and lots of BACON!
 
What was your favorite section of the trail?
I like the Max Patch and Roan Mountain areas the best. These are above tree line sections in North Carolina. Also, New Hampshire has the White Mountains and Mt. Washington, which are all above tree line.
 
Aside from the obvious (completing the trail), what was your favorite highlight?
Being able to walk, jog, and hike in the “woods” is the real attraction to the trail. The AT is a true green tunnel, which is the real beauty of it all
 
What was the toughest section of the trail?
Mahoosuc Notch in Maine, or the Wolf Rocks section in Pennsylvania. Both are very different, but crazy hard, rocky and technical.
 
What was the longest section completed between crew checkpoints?
24 miles. A section near Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.  It takes about 8 hours to hike quickly thru it.  It is very technical and hilly.
 
Did you do anything different this time in preparation for this attempt? 
I set up a stellar crew. This time, the crew worked perfectly. In the past, it was a scattered selection of random friends. This time, we did recon with the crew 3 times. Therefore, they knew everything on where to go, what to eat, etc.  It was super helpful.
 
For those that did not follow along daily, what did a typical day look like on the trail?
I would typically wake up at 420am, and hope to get on the trail at 5am.  We would have meeting locations mapped out the day before, and I would meet the crew at these locations where they would feed me, give me some supplies for use on the trail, then tell me how far to the next one.  At the end of the day, I would wash my feet, check for any issues with them. After washing my feet, I would ice my shins and eat dinner at the same time. Once I was done eating, I’d go right to sleep. Usually, it was about a half an hour after arriving. It was very efficient to give me the maximum amount of sleep.
 
Scott Jurek broke the previous record last year and lost a significant amount of weight in his attempt. He maintained a vegan lifestyle, how did you fare during your attempt?
I lost only three pounds, and have gained it back and then some already. I would never be able to do it vegan style. Bring on the bacon. 
 
Recommended Videos
You hold many records for ultrarunning, what’s next for you?
I don’t have any real plans right now as I’m decompressing. Perhaps I will go for the 50 and over record at Western States 100, assuming I can get in.  And, to play many holes of golf.
Clay Abney
Clay Abney
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Clay Abney is a PR guru and freelance writer living in the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia, where he spends his…
We love this Tribit StormBox speaker for cookouts, beach days, more — $35 off
Tribit StormBox Flow Bluetooth speaker Prime Day deal

It's summertime, which means you may be spending more time outdoors. Maybe you'll be exploring the wilderness, visiting a beach, or doing some camping or fishing. Either way, wouldn't it be nice to have some tunes? You can certainly achieve that thanks to an Amazon Prime Day deal on the Tribit StormBox Flow. It's a fantastic option for cookouts, beach days, and camping because it's tough, waterproof, and built to take a beating. Oh, and it sounds awesome, too. Usually $80, the Tribit StormBox Flow is down to $64 for Prime Day, but you can clip an on-page coupon to get the price even lower, to $45, saving you $35. Get pulsating, punchy beats with 9dB of power, up to 30 hours of battery life and customized equalizer modes through the Tribit app.

 
Why we love the Tribit StormBox Flow for outdoor adventures
First, it's a Bluetooth speaker, and you can't have a decent speaker without good sound. Outperforming many comparable options, the Tribit StormBox Flow sounds incredible, and you don't even have to bother with the Tribit app. It sounds great out of the box. That's thanks to clear treble and pounding bass, which is surprisingly impressive for such a small device. That's made possible by Tribit's proprietary XBoss tuning DSP technology, which helps boost the bass to a 9dB power rating. If you know nothing about specifications, all you need to know is that it's powerful, pulse-pounding and has exceptional audio fidelity.

Read more
Best Blackstone Prime Day deals
A man using the Blackstone 36-inch Gas Griddle Cooking Station in a yard.

If you're going to grill the steak of your dreams you're going to need the perfect grill, and Blackstone grills are offering up some savings among all of the Prime Day deals going on. We've made our selection for the best Prime Day Blackstone grill deal, and we've tracked down some other selections that offer some great savings. Read onward for a look at the best Prime Day Blackstone deals going on right now, and make a purchase quickly if you see something you like. Prime Day deals are known to end abruptly and inventories are likely starting to run low.
Best Blackstone grill Prime Day deal
Blackstone Adventure Ready 2-Burner 22-inch Propane Griddle -- $124, was $147

If you’re keen to cook outdoors more but you’re also planning on traveling a lot, you need the Blackstone Adventure Ready 2-Burner 22-inch Propane Griddle. It’ll work well in your yard, but it’s also portable enough that you can take it with you while you camp and travel on many different adventures, hence the name "adventure ready."

Read more
Still Available: Jackery solar generator deal has two solar panels for $1,400 off
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus early Prime Day deal with two solar panels

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is essentially a 2,042-watt-hour portable power station with ultra-fast charging. However, typically, you have to buy the accessories separately when you buy the station. As part of a pretty crazy Prime Day deal, however, you can get the Jackery solar generator and two 200-watt solar panels in a bundle for a ridiculous price. Usually $3,299, the bundle is just $1,899 for a limited time, saving you $1,400. It's a fantastic option for home power backup to keep your necessities on during an outage, but you can also use it for off-grid living, travel if you're on the road, or even around your home -- like to power some electronics in your backyard. The solar panels make it even more versatile as you can charge it virtually anywhere with access to reliable sunlight.

 
Here's why you should buy the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus bundle with solar panels
We know, we know, it's not officially Prime Day yet. That happens later this week, on July 16 and July 17. It usually makes sense to hold off on buying anything until the main event because you never know how good the deals will be. That said, in the past couple of years, most of the deals have remained the same; if not, many good deals were available early and went away. If you're interested in this Jackery bundle -- an incredible deal -- you might want to shop it soon before it's gone instead of waiting.

Read more