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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Woman hot-footing toward speed record on Appalachian Trail

Jennifer Pharr (now Pharr-Davis) has hiked chronicled her record 57-day trek on the Appalachian Trail in her book, "Becoming Odyssa-Epic Adventures On the Appalachian Trail."   (Courtesy photo)
Jennifer Pharr (now Pharr-Davis) has hiked chronicled her record 57-day trek on the Appalachian Trail in her book, "Becoming Odyssa-Epic Adventures On the Appalachian Trail." (Courtesy photo)

BACKPACKING -- Ultra hiking specialist Jennifer Pharr Davis of North Carolina is trying to break her own speed record of 57 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes  as she attempts to go from Maine to Georgia on the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail.

Davis, who began her supported trek in midJune is also mindful of the men’s record of 47 days, 13 hours, 31 minutes.

For perspective, to set her record of 57 days she had to average a brisk pace of 38 miles per day every day for two months.

She knows what she's up against on the 2,181-mile footpath. Davis hiked end to end (called a thru-hike) from south to north in 2005 before setting the speed record three years later going north to south.

Read on for more details.

"It's not about going fast. It's about being smart and efficient," she said in a telephone interview. "It's about being consistent and making the most of your time."

A hobby, a career and an affirmation of life, hiking is what makes Davis tick. She stood atop Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, in 2006. That year, she also trekked the 2,663-mile Pacific Coast Trail. And she holds the speed record for Vermont's grueling Long Trail, covering the 270-plus miles between Massachusetts and Canada in seven days, 15 hours.
 
 
Checkout the updates on Jennifers Tumblr Becoming Odyssa


Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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