By: Lyla “Sugar” Harrod
Bio: Lyla “Sugar” Harrod is a 38-year-old sober, queer transgender skilled thru-hiker and LGBTQ+ advocate. She is the primary recognized transgender girl to finish the Triple Crown, the primary trans girl to carry a excessive profile FKT (New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 footers), and the creator of the three,000 mile Divide to Crest Route throughout the deserts of the American West. Sugar additionally based Path QTs, a free mentoring program for first-time queer and trans thru-hikers.
I’m about to set out for my largest problem but… a self-supported Quickest Identified Time (FKT) try of the Appalachian Path. FKT’s are what hikers name pace information for numerous trails and routes. The present self-supported document of the Appalachian Path is held by Gossamer Gear ambassador, Heather “Anish” Anderson, with a time of simply over 54 days.
The Appalachian Path is the very best recognized path within the nation, and perhaps even the world. With anti-trans laws and violence at an all-time excessive, it’s essential to me that I proceed to face proud and supply trans illustration within the mountaineering neighborhood, a neighborhood that has supported me as I’ve shared my life publicly since 2021. I hope we will create a dialogue about how we as hikers can help transgender individuals whilst trans individuals’s rights are being stripped at each stage and a few media shops attempt to persuade individuals there’s something improper with us, and that we’re harmful.
The Appalachian Path was my first thru-hike in 2021. That hike marked the start of a brand new chapter in my life. After two years of specializing in my sobriety and gender transition, I offered all of my issues, moved right into a backpack and by no means appeared again. The AT represents a time the place I adopted my coronary heart and started chasing my goals as a substitute of doing what was anticipated of me. Greater than 4 years later, I’ve made the White Mountains of New Hampshire my residence. I’ve labored at a gear store and a hostel alongside the path. I choose up fellow dirtbags once I see them with a thumb out. I’ve embraced the deep worth of place-based neighborhood and the intimate information of the mountains through which I reside. Trying an FKT on the Appalachian Path is my method of embracing these mountains, expressing my love for our tradition, and of the communities that decision the Appalachians residence.
My try will probably be “self-supported”, which is an official designation outlined by FastestKnownTime.com. Self-supported means you might have as a lot help as you may handle or discover alongside the way in which, however not from any factor or particular person only for you; any help you use have to be equally accessible to anybody else. This will embody:
- Caching provides upfront
- Buying provides alongside the way in which
- Staying at motels
- Discovering or requesting meals or water.
I’ll ship myself resupply containers with meals, substitute gear and different provides. I’ll cache meals the place I can throughout lengthy stretches between cities so I don’t have to hold various days of meals at a time. I plan to eat meals like some other thru-hiker would. A weight loss program excessive in sugar, carbs and fats to maintain myself fueled, and don’t neglect loads of protein to assist restore and replenish my muscle tissue. This implies a lot of excessive calorie snacks, sweet and vitamin bars whereas on path and as a lot “city meals” as I can pack in once I come throughout cities. I’m a fan of ice cream, cake, pizza and bacon cheeseburgers. I’m positive there’s a extra skilled, much less “dirt-baggy” method of fueling myself, however that simply wouldn’t be my type. I count on to burn over 5,000 energy a day, so I want low-cost, bulk energy nonetheless I can get them!
One distinctive problem related to FKTs is fixed GPS monitoring. The Appalachian Path is taken into account a “Premier Route” and due to this fact it’s inspired that I’ve two types of GPS monitoring always. This can be a tall order, as a result of GPS watches and units are costly, and so they require common recharging. Due to this fact, I’ll have to hold two exterior battery packs simply to maintain up with the vitality calls for of my GPS watch, my InReach gadget, my cellphone and my rechargeable headlamp.
Gossamer Gear is supporting my effort with some important items of drugs. I’ll be utilizing the DCF Whisper shelter with a trimmed polycro sheet as a floor fabric. At simply 9 ounces, the Whisper is wildly spacious and has a bug netting skirt to maintain the mozzies at bay. I’ll sleep on the GG ⅜” Torso Foam Pad, an incredible new tremendous light-weight possibility that gives consolation for my shoulders and hips. Lastly, I’ll use the LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles, weighing slightly below 5 ounces every, to barter my method by means of essentially the most rugged and steep sections of path with out weighing me down.
You’ll be able to help my hike by following me on Instagram @seltzerskelter and if you wish to ship some digital path magic, you may Venmo me at @lyla-h. I’ll share tidbits from my journey once I can, and I’d love to listen to any positivity and encouragement you’d wish to share with me in my feedback, or ship me a DM to say hello! Thanks to Gossamer Gear and to all of you for supporting me and different trans athletes who want your voice and vitality now greater than ever.
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