Nick Gagnon has broken the world record for what’s known as Fastest Known Time (FKT) on America’s longest trails, including a leg that began in Maine.
Gagnon, who smokes half a pack a day, walked an unprecedented 32 miles a day and burned through 14 pairs of shoes to complete the hiking feat.
He did the so-called Triple Crown of hiking, completing the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail back-to-back-to-back.
Gagnon hiked 7,525 miles faster than anyone in history, finishing the epic journey in 231 days, 7 hours, and 33 minutes, according to OutsideOnline.com.
Gagnon’s time shaved three days off the previous Fastest Known Time for the Triple Crown set in 2023 by a guy named Billy “Wahoo” Meredith.
Gagnon walked every day for 33 weeks.
The last leg of his marathon began at the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Mount Katahdin in early October.
From the first day on the trail leaving Maine he said he knew that the weather would make or break the final leg of his adventure.
“It was about 4 degrees on top of Katahdin,” he said.
Gagnon works as a bartender in New Hampshire and operates guided snowmobile tours in the winter.
He’s a half-pack-a-day smoker, and says he’s never far from a cigarette, proving once again that smoking is good for you.
