Scott Williamson is an accomplished American thru-hiker

Thru-hiking

Thru-hiking is the process of hiking a long-distance trail from end to end. The term is most commonly associated with the Appalachian Trail, but is also used for other lengthy trails and long distance hikes, including the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. Thru-hiking is also...

, most noted for being the first person to complete a continuous one-season round trip of the Pacific Crest Trail

Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...

 (PCT). This round trip is known in hiking circles as a “yo-yo”.

Accomplishments

• In 1995, Williamson completed the hiking “Triple Crown
  Triple Crown of Hiking
  The Triple Crown of Hiking informally refers to the three major U.S. long distance hiking trails:* Pacific Crest Trail - long, Washington, Oregon, and California between Mexico and Canada following the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range....
  
  ”, a coveted achievement among thru-hiker community. The “Triple Crown” consists of thru-hiking the "Big 3" National Scenic Trails: The Pacific Crest Trail
  Pacific Crest Trail
  The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
  
  , (PCT, which Williamson first completed in 1993), the Continental Divide Trail
  Continental Divide Trail
  The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states — Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico...
  
  , (CDT, which Williamson completed in 1994) the Appalachian Trail
  Appalachian Trail
  The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
  
  , (AT, which Williamson completed 1995, he started at the southern tip of Florida then hiked northward on the Florida Trail and when that trail swung westward, he continued northward along some 400 miles of mostly road walking to get to the official start of the AT in Georgia at Springer Mountain
  Springer Mountain
  Springer Mountain is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Fannin County of northern Georgia. It is now the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.-Geography:The mountain's peak is at above mean sea level.-Appalachian Trail:...
  
  ).

• In 2004, on Williamson’s fourth serious attempt at "yo-yo"ing the PCT, he finally succeeded – and became the 1st person to walk the PCT from the Mexican
  Mexico
  The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
  
   border to the Canadian border, 2650 miles, then turning around and walking back the Mexican border. 5300 total miles within one season, taking 205 days Williamson first attempt at completing a "yo-yo" the PCT was in 1996 with his friend Kenny Gould.

• In 2006, Williamson became the first person to repeat the feat of "yo-yo"ing the PCT, cutting two weeks off his previous time

• In 2008, Williamson and Joe Kisner (a.k.a. Tattoo Joe) broke the unsupported speed record of the PCT, (= unassisted, thru-hiker style) breaking Kisner's previous record-of 79 days, 21 hours and 42 minutes—by over 8 days. The new record they set was 71 days, 2 hours and 41 minutes. This equates to an average distance of just under 38 miles per day.

• In 2009. Williamson and Adam Bradley (a.k.a Krudmeister) broke simultaneously two PCT speed records for both the unsupported effort (of Williamson & Kisner) and the supported (assisted by a support crew for supplies, food & shelter) speed record of Ultra-Marathon Runner David Horton. Horton’s previous record was 66 days, 7 hours, and 16 minutes—which Williamson & Bradley broke by about 21 hours. The new double record they set was 65 days, 9 hours, and 58 minutes. This equates to an average distance of approximately 40.5 miles per day. Williamson & Bradley did their hike of the PCT without taking any detours or re-routes due to trail conditions (poor maintenance or fires). In addition, Williamson & Bradley did not accept any rides to re-supply in trail towns – which added approximately 20 extra miles to their total walking distance.

• In 2011, Williamson set a new PCT speed record, unsupported, by completing the trek in 64 days, 11 hrs, 19 minutes. Like the 2009 record, this new record broke both the supported and unsupported speed records. The new record equates to an average distance of approximately 41.1 miles per day. Unlike the record set in 2009, this PCT speed record was set going from north to south. Williamson finished at the Mexican border October 11. And finally as in 2009, Williamson did the hike of the PCT without taking any detours or re-routes due to trail conditions (poor maintenance or fires). In addition, Williamson did not accept any rides to re-supply in trail towns – which added approximately 20 extra miles to his total walking distance.

• As of 2011, Williamson has had over a 19 year hiking career, logged over 48602 miles (78,217.1 km) and thru-hiked the PCT 13 times.

Gear

“I see my equipment as a means to achieve my goals, Ultimately, it’s not about the equipment—it’s about attitude.”

Williamson’s gear choices are made with simplicity & being lightweight n mind. At presentations he has given, he emphasizes to the audience that "You don't necessarily have to do it my way, In equipment or food, don't think of me as the final word. Experiment to find what works best for you. I've paid a price for my methods.". While his style has many influences, it also shows early influence from Ray Jardine

Ray Jardine

Ray Jardine is an American rock climber who, with Bill Price, in May 1979, was the first to free climb the West Face of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley...

writings, – in that for sleeping, he uses a quilt instead of a traditional sleeping bag – for shelter, he uses a double beaked tarp (twin sized for a bigger rain shadow) instead of a traditional tent.
To carry everything, he uses a backpack that is a frame-less rucksack with mesh side pockets & mesh back pocket but without the traditional hip belt or sternum strap
. For his 2004 PCT Yo-Yo hike, his pack base weight (="without food, or water") was about 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg).)
Williamson does not use trekking poles. He does not carry a stove, water treatment, or a bear canister
. All these decisions are in the interest of maximizing comfort while hiking on the trail.

Williamson believes that light breathable trail runners are especially important, because “every ounce on a hiker’s foot makes a huge difference in terms of energy expended,”

Food

In order to reduce weight, increase trail hiking comfort, and simplify both on-trail logistics & fuel re-supply logistics, Williamson hikes with no stove. Consequently, his food choices do not require cooking. All foods are individually packaged for each meal

• Typical Dinner: "Fantastic Foods" brand of dehydrated refried bean powder (re-hydrated for about 3 hours), then add crumbled organic corn tortilla chips and finally add calorie dense olive oil to the mix". Serve in a tortilla (or eat from the container). After his 2004 PCT Yo-Yo hike, Williamson told a presentation audience: "That may sound very unappealing to you [here in the city]. Actually, right now, I'd agree, But it gets to be delicious and satisfying, after several weeks on the trail." A dinner stop is typically 6 miles shy of camp because he says you will get a late-day boost from the meal and you don't have to worry about food odors in camp. He packs cookies or chocolate for dessert / turn-in to bed snack. He does carry honey, salt and emergency drinks

• Typical Lunch: In 2004 lunch breaks could be up to an hour. In 2006 they would be more like a 15 minute break. Lunch itself would consist of fast snacks – In 2004 it was "dried fruit, nuts, organic raspberry fig bars", pretzels, tofu jerky, rice cakes and nori roll snacks that can be gotten at the health food store. For 2006, Pro-Bar energy bars were used as well (average about 2 a day). Since then, he primarily uses homemade ‘Phat Doug’ energy bars. He snacks throughout the day.

• Typical Breakfast: on the trail (he usually drops his pack for an approximate 15 minute breakfast) dried fruit and a powder protein shake. His favorite has evolved to become his "green shake" -a shake which he puts in a green supplement that has all the greens he would need for the day plus he adds Spirulina & a natural protein powder with soy milk powder (& water of course),

"To me, a good diet on the trail is very important. I focus a lot on organic or more natural food. Other people are able to do the PCT on Top Ramen and Snickers bars. I avoid sugar snacks during the day on the trail because sugar highs and crashes affect my hiking rhythms". But ...

• In Towns – (every 3–4 days) "I pigged out on junk food and ate whatever I wanted: candy bars, pastries, burgers." Where available, he also hit salad bars for his craving for spinach.

• He would also supplement his diet with fresh fruit.
• On the trail, he would sometimes forge tidbits like miner's lettuce, wild onions and various berries along the way.

• Overall in 2006, Williamson consumed 2.5 to 3 pounds of food per day, or 3,500 to 4,000 calories. The most calories eaten in a single day on the 2006 yo-yo is estimated at 17,000 (a town stop)
• "If I replenished the calories I expended, I would have to eat 5,00 calories a day on the trail, not easy to do." "If I eat 5,00 calories a day, it slows me down – my body uses so much energy to process the food." "Also. 5,00 calories would push food weight up to about 3.5 to 4 pounds per day, far more than the 2.5 to 3 pounds a day that I aim for." "There's a point at which the weight of extra food is more than a hiker can carry and still make the miles." "If I'm averaging 3600 calories per day but burning up 5,000, what about the difference?" "I load up in town" "When hiking, I eat healthy, I don't eat much sugar and candy on the trail. It messes up my rhythm to eat too much sugar." " Calories are important, but if calories were enough, we could just hike with sticks of butter. We need nutrient-dense food with vitamins and minerals. The two foods I really craved on the trail were spinach and red meat – two foods with lots of minerals."

Pace and Routine

2004 Yo-Yo Example:

• Pace: Start at first light but don't gun it – a constant, steady pace throughout the day will get you farther.

• Routine: Wake at 5:30 am and by six you're hiking. Hike until 9 am and stop for a 15-minute breakfast meal and then hike till the early afternoon, eat another quick 15 minute meal for lunch, and then hike a few more hours, stop only to add water to your dried beans, and continue hiking another few hours, and then when the beans are hydrated, have a more leisurely 30 or 40 minute dinner stop. Afterward, hike until it's dark (= about 6 miles). Repeat every day on the trail.

1992 – 2011 Time Line of Hiking History and Experience

• 1992 – Williamson attempted his first thru-hike of the PCT. It was not successful because of the heavyweight traditional hiking style (70 lb pack, heavy leather boots) he was using at the time but he did made 1701 miles to Oregon.

• 1993 – Williamson returned to the PCT using a new lightweight style (his pack base weight was 15 lbs) and was successful in completing the thru-hike from Mexico all the way to Canada.

• 1994 – Immediately after a “training” hike of about 1000 miles on the PCT, Williamson then went to thru-hike the entire the Continental Divide Trail, (CDT)

• 1995 – Williamson thru-hiked Appalachian Trail,(AT). He started at the southern tip of Florida then hiked northward on the Florida Trail and when that trail swung westward at White Srpings, he continued northward along some 400 miles of mostly road walking to get to the official start of the AT in Georgia at Springer Mountain.. With the completion of this thru-hike, Williamson finished thru-hiking all 3 of the major National Scenic Trails, and in doing so, completed hiking's "Triple Crown", a coveted achievement in the thru-hiking community,

• 1996 – Williamson returned to the PCT with his friend Kenny Gould with the intent of “yo-yoing” the trail, hiking from Mexico to Canada, then turning around and hiking back to Mexico. After more than 4,000 miles of hiking, late October, while on the southbound return leg they were snowed out of the Sierras (at Red’s Meadow). This was Williamson’s first attempt at a yo-yo.

• 1997 – Williamson tried again to yo-yo PCT solo and completed northbound leg from Mexico to Canada but did not continue back because of the heavy snow that was encountered that year.

• 1998 – Williamson thru-hiked the PCT southbound from Canada to Mexico with an ex-girlfriend.

• 1999 – Williamson he took a break from thru-hiking and spent his summer climbing all thirteen 14,000-foot peaks in California, plus Mt. Rainier in Washington.

• 2000 – Williamson again attempted to yo-yo PCT but was again snowed out in the Sierra during the southbound return leg back to Mexico.

• 2003 – Williamson again attempted to yo-yo PCT but this time, during the initial northbound leg, a late season snow storm (June 9) in the Sierras impeded his progress sufficiently that he couldn’t make his yo-yo hike schedule. He decided to end his hike there.

• 2004 – Williamson again attempted to yo-yo PCT (his pack base weight which "without food, or water" was about 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg)".). This attempt was finally successful, Williamson became the first person to yo-yo the PCT, 5300 miles from Mexico to Canada back to Mexico in a single calendar year.

• 2006 – Williamson became the first person to repeat the feat of yo-yoing the PCT, cutting two weeks off his previous time

• 2007 – Williamson married his long time girlfriend Michelle Turley and the newlyweds celebrated their honeymoon by thru-hiking the PCT southbound from Canada to Mexico.

• 2008 – Williamson and Joseph Kisner (a.k.a. Tattoo Joe) broke the unsupported speed record of the PCT, (= unassisted, thru-hiker style) breaking Kisner's previous record-of 79 days, 21 hours and 42 minutes—by over 8 days. The new record they set was 71 days, 2 hours and 41 minutes. This equates to an average distance of just under 38 miles per day

• 2009 – Williamson and Adam Bradley (a.k.a. Krudmeister) broke simultaneously two PCT speed records for both the unsupported effort (of Williamson & Kisner) and the supported (assisted by a support crew for supplies, food & shelter) speed record of Ultra-Marathon Runner David Horton. Horton’s previous record was 66 days, 7 hours, and 16 minutes—which Williamson & Bradley broke by about 21 hours. The new double record they set was 65 days, 9 hours, and 58 minutes. This equates to an average distance of approximately 40.5 miles per day. Williamson & Bradley did their hike of the PCT without taking any detours or re-routes due to trail conditions (poor maintenance or fires). In addition, Williamson & Bradley did not accept any rides to re-supply in trail towns – which added approximately 20 extra miles to their total walking distance.

• 2011 – In 2011, Williamson set a new PCT speed record, unsupported, by completing the trek in 64 days, 11 hrs, 19 minutes. Like the 2009 record, this new record broke both the supported and unsupported speed records. The new record equates to an average distance of approximately 41.1 miles per day. Unlike the record set in 2009, this PCT speed record was set going from north to south. Williamson finished at the Mexican border October 11. And finally as in 2009, Williamson did the hike of the PCT without taking any detours or re-routes due to trail conditions (poor maintenance or fires). In addition, Williamson did not accept any rides to re-supply in trail towns – which added approximately 20 extra miles to his total walking distance.

As of 2011, Williamson has had over a 19 year hiking career,logged over 48602 miles (78,217.1 km) and thru-hiked the PCT 13 times.

Personal Life away from Hiking

In 1996, while working at a convenience store in Richmond, Calif., Williamson was shot in the face during an attempted robbery. The bullet is still lodged in his head.

“Being shot, coming that close to death, that made me focus more on what I felt was important in my life,” “If the hiking is very important to me, I’m going to pursue that, regardless of what other people may think. It made me more willing to just follow my passion.”

“I don’t own a home. I’m self-employed. I drive derelict vehicles. I have to work on every weekend. But it’s been well worth it. The sacrifices I’ve had to make to get out on the trail every summer has been well worth it.”

Scott Williamson is married and lives in California with his wife.

2004 PCT Yo-Yo

• Backpacker Magazine article: “The Unbearable Lightness Of Being Scott Williamson” by Steve Friedman in their May 2005 edition. It is now also available on-line.
• This article was later incorporated into the book The Agony of Victory: When Winning Isn't Enough, by Steve Friedman.
• Adventure Sports Journal article: “A Life en Route – The Extraordinary Ho-Hum Exploits of PCT Hiker Scott Williamson”
• San Francisco Chronicle article: “Hiker travels light, fast on Pacific Crest”
• Outside Magazine article: "Hiker Completes First round-Trip of Pacific Crest Trail"
• Trailcast, an on-line podcasting project about long distance hiking did an interview with Williamson. That episode (#25) is still available on iTunes
• Pea Hicks' (Trail Name – Girl Scout) video of Williamson’s 2004 Yo-Yo Finish

2006 PCT Yo-Yo

• CBS Sunday Morning video feature on The Power of Walking
• CBS Sunday Morning article: “The Power of Walking”
• The New York Times article: "Pursuit of a Simple Dream Propels a Hiker in the Wild"
• The San Diego Union Tribune article: “Hiking into History: Pacific Crest Trail journey is a repeat performance”
• The Sierra Sun article: "Trail Master"
• BackpackingLight.com podcast: “Scott Williamson and Yo-Yo-ing the PCT”

2007 PCT Honeymoon

• Adventure Sports Journal article: "Honeymoon on the PCT"

2008 PCT Speed record

• The Sierra Sun article: “2,650 miles, 37 miles per day, 71 days”
• The San Diego Union Tribune article: “Pair make hasty work of PCT trek with nary a spat”
• YouTube video of the start the hike.

2009 PCT Speed record

• Reno News & Review article: “Walking tall”
• Fastest Known Time website lists the Speed Record
• Adam Bradley’s Video on the 2009 PCT Speed Record
• Adam Bradley’s VideoLog on the 2009 PCT Record Finish

2011 PCT Speed record

• Adam Bradley’s Blog "Scott Williamson aka Bink on the PCT again"
• Adam Bradley’s Blog "Bink managing 41 miles per day for the first half "
• Adam Bradley’s Blog "PCT unsupported Speed Record updates from Scott Williamson/ Bink"
• PCT News flash: “Scott Williamson Sets A New PCT Speed Record”
• Sign-On San Diego article: "Hiker sets speed record on Pacific Crest Trail"