Karel Sabbe smashes Pacific Crest Trail speed record
The Belgian On athlete improved the fastest known time by five days, averaging 58 miles or 94 kilometers per day.
Manning Provincial Park, Canada, August 27, 2023 - Belgian ultrarunner and On athlete Karel Sabbe has reclaimed the Pacific Crest Trail’s fastest known time. Supported by his crew of four, he completed the iconic 2650-mile trail in 46 days, 12 hours, and 50 minutes, shaving five days off the previous record set by Timothy Olson in 2022.
The famed long-distance hiking trail runs from the south to the north of the United States — starting at Campo on the Mexico border to the Canadian border at Manning Provincial Park in British Columbia. Along the way, it passes through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, through deserts, wilderness areas, and steep climbs in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Sabbe started his undertaking from Campo on the Mexican border on July 10 and reached the Canadian border at Manning Provincial Park in British Columbia on August 27.
Along the way, the 34-year-old had to cope with multiple days of extreme heat as he moved north through the Southern California desert. Afterward, the High Sierra was buried in deep snow most of the summer, and wildfires in Washington shut down sections of the trail, forcing Sabbe to navigate a roughly 70-mile detour, which not only added some distance but also brought him onto some more challenging terrain.
“The PCT is just the most magnificent trail in the world, there is really no other place I’d rather be”, Sabbe said. “My crew has done an amazing job in supporting me throughout it all. Thanks to everyone for following along.”
You can see Karel’s route here: https://pct.karelsabbe.com/
You can find high-res imagery for editorial use here.
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