Reinhold Metzger’s record of 5 days 7 Hours 45 minutes without being resupplied was shattered by Michael Popov. We’ve updated our JMT information page.
Speed record
The speed record for fastpacking the John Muir Trail without resupply (as of 2007) is held by Michael Popov, who completed the trail in 4 days, 5 hours, and 25 minutes. Popov carried all of his equipment and received no outside assistance.
On August 26, 2007 Sue Johnston arrived at Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite Valley, having run from Whitney Portal in 3 days, 20 hours. Total distance 218 miles (351 km).
Popov was pushed by racing Aaron Sorensen for the record, though Aaron was forced to quit after 120mi due to foot problems.
That’s Aaron Sorensen on the left, Michael Popov on the right. They posted accounts of the “race” on Southernmostrunners.com
I don’t recommend you try to best the Popov record. Take it slow. Enjoy the JMT.
besthike.com 
What is the record for the slowest JMT ?
Note that Popov’s clock started on the summit of Whitney, while Johnston’s started at the Portal. Her summit-to-Happy Isle time was 3 days, 15 hours, and 30 (?) minutes.
Slow, are you kidding me! He is carrying all of his equipment from start to finish with no assistance at all.
So what would be easier, traveling 58.5 miles a day with a few pounds on you back and a place to rest and eat every day or doing 50 miles with 20 pounds on your back and no help what so ever?
Hhhmm, I can run with 1 day of food on my back.
His mileage was basically 85% of the speed of the assisted record.
Popov also went for the Supported Record last year and was an hour and a half faster than Sue’s time going into the last day until he messed his foot up on a rock.
He also had some serious altitude sickness going on that he didn’t have during the Unsupported Record.
Rumor has it; he is going for it again this year.
I have run the trail over 25 times.
Its much harder to go unsuported.
Best times I have done are around 5 and 3/4 days unsupported with two food drops but traveling almost totally in daylight Aug trip date. Five and 3/4 days is not much of a speed trip really if you are in half ass 100 mile trail running shape.Any faster is much much harder. But you got to feel 100 percent great every step, once you feel bad forget it, Death march mode sets in.
Did a round trip once in about 14 3/4 days with two food drops each way. 6 3/4 days return from Portal, very tiring trip. Still remember I could really feel every 500 feet of altitude gain. Thinner air really effected how I felt.
Tried a virtually unsupported speed trip once but got snowed out second morning and bailed out at Reds meadow. Its a nice one day trip from happy isle to reds meadow HAHA. I am sure the trail can be done under 2 days by a top runner unsupported. But need luck and just carrying clothes and food, no sleeping gear. Under 3 days can be done by a very good runner unsupported. It’s harder to go slower if you carry your food sort of because of weight. Using two mailed in food drops makes life much easier. experiance showed me a pack under 10 pounds you can run ok 10 to 13 pounds harder. Over 15 real hard specially uphill so forget it. Designed and made my own pack just to run this trail. And always used super lightweight gear. About 6 pounds of gear including full sleeping equipment, added food weight on top of this and of course this was back in the good old days of no bear containers needed, when men were men. Never lost food ever..
6 3/4 nights on trail unsupported can be done only traveling mostly in daylight if all goes well.. I think 8 night trip is the best for fun and food weight carried and I mostly did trips in this time frame. Leave Sat morning Happy Isle, get to Portal noon next Sunday.
I just broke 24 hours once at Westernstate 100 to give a fitness Idea.
Thanks Robert. I appreciate your personal experience. Especially the importance of luck. And how you are personally feeling … when it comes to setting new speed records on trails.
Hey Robert,
So why hasn’t anyone done this yet?
You do know that John Stamstad, (the best mountain bike rider of his time) turned long distance runner and failed in 3 attempts to break what was the old record of 5 days 7 hours and 50 minutes.
Previous supported record holder Brain Robinson, (record holder of the Barkley 100) could not beat the 94 hour record. Then there is Kevin Sawchuk who has numerous top 20 finishes in Western States did it in 93 hours.
So you are saying that someone going without support would be able to do it 20 hours faster than these “Top Runners” Mean while you are saying that it is much hard to go unsupported (duh).
Yes a 50k a day is hard as well for 6 3/4 days, but give credit where credit is due. Michael Popov beat the record by over a day. I also don’t see anyone else in such a hurry to try to beat it.
Mean while there are 2 people gunning for the Supported Record and yes Michael is one of them.
The other happens to be the best runner in the world right now, (Kilian Jornet).
I am considering a supported attempt in mid August – obviously I would be very interested to speak to or hear about the attempts of Michael and Killian. If anybody can put me in touch with them or point me to their blog/website I would be very grateful.
For info I am Mark, from the UK, current holder of the Lake District 24 hour record, Grand Slam completion in 2005, former winner of the Hardrock 100 and an 18 hrs 23 min finish at States. Getting a bit long in the tooth though and with creaky knees 🙂
The JMT would be a wonderful trail to compare with your previous adventures.
Mark,
Send me and email via mine from the bottom of this messagel and I will get back with you for Michael Popov’s email and Ph#.
He is my best friend and I was the one how started with him on his Unsupported Record Attempt.
You can read our stories here:
http://www.southernmostrunners.com/JMT/AaronsJMTStory-07.htm
He doesn’t have a story about his supported attempt for last year.
Go to the Salomom website, (Kilian’s Quest) and just sing up on Kilian’s facebook page where you can post replys under his facebook blogs.
I will be heading to Lake Tahoe for the Unsupported Record on the Rim Trail starting on June 28th.
No one has claimed this record yet and I am hoping or a 55-60 hour time of the 168 miles.
Peter Lubers tried to break the supported record last year. If all goes well, he will be doing an interview with me and have it on his blog.
http://runlaketahoe.blogspot.com/
My email:
aaron(dot)w(dot)sorensen(at)uscg(dot)mil