On September 10, Bethany Garretson and Katlin (Katie) Rhodes set out to break records as the fastest hikers to complete an unsupported thru-hike of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks. The time to beat was 6d 5h 40m set by Michael Jaworski, Paul Fronhofer, and Dan Fronhofer on June 18, 2020, and while Garretson and Rhodes were unable to best that time, they still logged the fastest unsupported thru-hike by women in 7d 4h 50m.
Garretson and Rhodes hiked as part of 46 Climbs for Suicide Prevention to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). They have raised more than $3,600 to date, and their fundraising account will remain active through the end of 2020.
Before setting the women’s record, Garretson and Rhodes were already experienced hikers and members of the Adirondack 46ers. Bethany Garretson is a marathon hiker and Paul Smith’s College professor, and she first attempted the 46 peaks thru-hike in 2016. She dubbed her journey “Climb It 4 Climate” and started raise money for sustainable initiatives. She was making great time when dangerously high temperatures forced her to end the attempt after 132 miles and 23 mountains. Katlin Rhodes is an industrial hygienist and the wilderness education coordinator for the Adirondack Mountain Rescue. She is also the founder of TogaNola Snack Company, LLC, a tiny New York-based company that makes granola bars without refined sugar which are also non-dairy, plant-based, and gluten-and-soy-free. It’s just the kind of energy needed to summit 46 peaks!
Beginning on September 10, the women documented their seven day hike on Fastest Known Time, detailing the (literal and figurative) ups and downs of their 180+ mile journey. After a relatively uneventful first three days, on Day 4 Garretson and Rhodes were caught in a storm with heavy rains and winds that were too severe to safely ascend the technically difficult peaks that were still ahead (Saddleback Mountain, rated 5 on the 1-7 difficulty scale; and Basin Mountain, rated 6). They ended the day without completing all of their planned ascensions. Although they had been on track to break the men’s FKT record, this was now impossible.
On Day 5, they faced their lowest morales and considered calling it quits—a trial-run for a later, successful hike. But they persevered, buoyed by the chance to be the first women to do the thru-hike unsupported, if not the fastest hikers. Day 6 was especially rough for Rhodes who was struggling with intense shooting pains in her quad. Again, they were worried they would have to quit, but they pushed through to the end, with the encouragement of fellow hikers they met on the trails, and knowing that their friends and families were waiting at the finish line of their final descent.
Unsupported Thru-Hike of the Adirondack 46 High Peaks Bethany Garretson & Katlin Rhodes 7 Days 4 Hours 50 Minutes Completed September 17, 2020 183.2 Miles 69,600 Feet of Elevation Gain Day 1 – The Seward Range Thursday, September 10, 2020 21.6 miles 7,380 feet gain Day 2 – Santas & Allen Friday, September 11, 2020 31.1 miles 8,630 feet gain Day 3 – The LOJ Loop Saturday, September 12, 2020 32.4 miles 13,760 feet gain Day 4 – The Storm Sunday, September 13, 2020 15 miles 7,530 feet gain Day 5 – The Great Range Monday, September 14, 2020 14.7 miles 7,800 feet gain Day 6 – AMR & The Dix Range Tuesday, September 15, 2020 17.8 miles 9,100 feet gain Day 7 – Giant, RPR, Big Slide, Porter & Cascade Wednesday, September 16, 2020 29.4 miles 11,000 feet gain Final Push – Whiteface & Esther Thursday, September 17, 2020 21.2 miles 4,400 feet gain