Dr. Jeni McNeal and Dave Adlard, founding members of Team Adventure Sports Week, along with an unofficial support crew of Rick McCharles of BestHike.com completed the 94 mile/47,000 feet elevation Wonderland Trail in 63:03, June 25 – 28.
The two carried their own gear, and took only a few hours sleep time in completing what some have said is one of the fastest unsupported, July circumnavigations yet. Almost 10% of the trail was still snowed in, requiring route finding and snow travel. Most hikers completing the trail require 8 – 12 days to finish.
They climbed and descended more than 20 peaks on the famously difficult trail, with elevation changes equivalent to climbing and descending Mt. Rainier from Paradise Visitor Center almost three times. They also encountered bears along the trail.
The two burned almost 33,000 calories each, and drank more than 50 liters of fluid total in temperatures ranging from 33 – 89 degrees.
Their journey began at Reflection Lake on July 25 at 10:40 am, and finished at 1:43 am on July 28.
“This was one of the most psychologically and physically demanding tests I have done since starting Adventure Racing,” said Adlard. “This is a really tough trail that demands a lot from all participants.”
The trail is notoriously uneven, with steep, overgrown and narrow sections that make forward progress difficult in many places.
Team Adventure Sports Week is training for the five day Desert Winds Expedition race in Lake Mead, Nevada, Sept 18 – 25.
Read Dave’s detailed trip report & gear list (PDF)
besthike.com 
What a challenging, wonderful adventure!
Now they deserve a Summit Stone!
DSD
Congrats to Jeni and Dave! What an accomplishment! I was part of a group of twelve that went around the Wonderland Trail from July 30 – August 1 and we were supported! We had a SAG wagon that transported our gear and breakfast / dinner foods to our campsites. I applaud your mental and physical strength. You’re going to rock at your five-day adventure race in September!
If you were the “unofficial support crew”, how is this an “unsupported” trip? It can’t be both – either one is met with supplies (“supported”) or one brings all food and supplies (“unsupported”). (There is also a “self-supported” category where one stashes supplies in advance for oneself). Please clarify which this trip is.
I’m sure these people had an excellent, challenging, and rewarding trip, but when one makes a public claim, then honesty and accuracy are a requirement.
Good point, Buzz.
They planned for no suppport … but I was there with the vehicle a few times. So they did take out and put in a few items.
Most accurately would be to say “slightly” supported. … They could have run long sections with no backpack if it was fully supported.
… We didn’t think of any of this before the adventure.
Not to be picky, but it is not 47K feet of elevation gain/loss. The right number is between 22 and 23K. However, the 63 hours is still impressive.
“what some have said is one of the fastest unsupported, July circumnavigations yet.” Not to in any way downplay a great hike, but please be careful with these kinds of phrases. Who said that? Surely not the people who do it in 24 hours, or 3 days with 8 hours of sleep every night, and there are more than you think. Those in the know, know, and don’t draw attention to themselves with claims like this, not to mention adding up the elevation gain and loss to make it look more spectacular.