The Challenge
How many times can you complete the Elk/Kings Mountain traverse within a 48 hour period?
- Start/finish location: Elk Creek or Kings Mountain trailhead.
- Trailheads:
- Summits:
- Route: You must follow the established trails from the trailheads to the summits and between the summits.
- What counts as one traverse? From the start trailhead (Elk Creek or Kings Mtn), tag the first summit (Elk or Kings), traverse over to the second summit (Elk or Kings), and descend to the finish trailhead (Elk Creek or Kings Mtn). That means it does not matter in which direction you complete a traverse.
- Types of records:
- Do as many traverses as possible within 48h.
- Do a certain number of traverses within 48h faster than anybody else.
- Camping:
- There is a campground at the Elk Creek trailhead. It is not open year-round.
The Rules
- This is not a race. You do not need to register or qualify or anything. There are no fees. Anyone can do it anytime of the year.
- The challenge must start at either the Elk Creek or the Kings Mountain trailhead and end at one of these trailheads as well.
- The clock starts at the Elk Creek or the Kings Mountain trailhead and ends when the individual or entire team reaches either the Elk Creek or the Kings Mountain trailhead again.
- You must finish all traverses within 48 hours. Unfinished traverses do not count.
- You must follow the established trails from the trailheads to the summits and between the summits.
- You must tag both the Elk and the Kings Mountain summit during each traverse.
- If you do several traverses, you have to do them in sequence, with nothing else in-between.
- The challenge can be done individually or in teams. If completed in a team, all team members must do all parts of the route and all traverses. Relays do not count.
- The clock does not stop if the individual or team sleeps, rests, etc.
- The challenge must be completed in a single push. Sleep, rest, etc. along the route are allowed. No leaving the route and returning unless by using human muscle power only.
- Crews and stashing of gear, food, and water are allowed. All stashes must be retrieved.
- Each and every part of the route must be covered on foot. Biking, skiing, snow-shoeing, paragliding, etc. is not allowed. The use of poles, crampons, and ice axes are allowed. No motorized form of transport is allowed on any part of the route.
- The challenge can be completed in an unsupported, self-supported, or supported way.
- Announcing your intentions is encouraged, but not mandatory.
- The challenge must be tracked and documented.
- All wilderness regulations as well as Federal, State, and Local laws must be strictly followed.
- Strict leave-no-trace backcountry ethics must be followed.
The Records
The list below may not be accurate and complete. Please submit your traverses/times in the form at the end of this page if you think you should be listed here.
| Number of traverses | Individual or Team | Elapsed time | Date | Style | Notes |
| 1 (Elk to Kings) | Keegan Martin (age 14) & Scott Martin | 3:03:50 | Jun 6, 2019 | unsupported | Strava |
| 2 |
Rick Kneedler NEW FKT
|
4:32:59 | Mar 5, 2022 | unsupported | Strava |
| Megan Lacey & Christof Teuscher | 5:36:32 | May 8, 2020 | self-supported | Strava | |
| Christof Teuscher | 6:00:59 | Apr 7, 2018 | unsupported | Strava | |
| 3 | Megan Lacey & Christof Teuscher | 9:24:02 | May 8, 2020 | self-supported | |
| 4 | Megan Lacey & Christof Teuscher | 12:24:02 | May 8, 2020 | self-supported | Strava |
| 5 | Megan Lacey & Christof Teuscher | 16:15:02 | May 8, 2020 | self-supported | Strava |
| 6 | Megan Lacey & Christof Teuscher | 19:49:42 | May 8, 2020 | self-supported | Strava |
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Honorable mentions
Loops and other combined runs don’t count, but if you’d like to list yours here for comparison, please let me know.
| Number of traverses | Individual or Team | Elapsed time | Date | Style | Notes |
| 2 | Hans Balkowitsch, Eric Lubell, Nils Wagman | 6:31:33 | Jun 1, 2018 | self-supported | Strava, double loop |
FAQ
- Do loops count, e.g., do one traverse, then go back on the Wilson River trail before another traverse? No, you have to do the traverses in sequence, one after another, and nothing else in-between.
- What if I do one traverse, then continue on the Wilson River or any other trail for a bit, and then do another traverse? That does not count. The whole point is to do the the traverses in a sequence, and only that, nothing else.
- How can I announce an FKT attempt? Contact me and I’ll post here or use your personal Facebook, on Twitter, or in some running-related group/forum/page.
- How can I submit a record? Use the form at the end of this page.
Stay Informed and Connected
Disclaimers
- Records are not verified. The burden of proof is solely on the individual or team. Thus, the more documentation you can provide, the better. See http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/19/read-first for more info.
- The information provided on this website does not identify possible dangers. When you are attempting one of these challenges, you assume responsibility for your own actions and safety.
- By visiting and reading this page, you agree to assume all known and unknown risks associated with spending your day(s) in the outdoors. You agree to not sue me if your day(s) go(es) sideways.