FKT Categories
There are three categories for FKT.
Supported
Supported athletes can have as much support as they can enlist, as long as they are entirely self-powered. Support crews can set up camp and prepare meals, or they can transport the runner to a hotel and return them to the trail in the morning. This category is essentially trail running.
Self-Supported
Self-Supported (aka "thru hiker style") means you may resupply along the way and discard gear or waste along the way. You may not accept help from ay other person. Any support you employ must be equally available to anyone else. This can include caching supplies in advance, purchasing supplies along the way, staying at motels, and finding or requesting food or water.
Unsupported
Unsupported means you truly have no external support of any kind. You must carry everything you need from the start to the finish. You cannot add or remove anything after you start (not even trash). You may gather water from natural sources or public taps, but no water from any commercial source even if free. These rules naturally limit the length of an unsupported trip. No one has done more than one state of the PCT in this way.
The Fastest
Supported
On July 14th 2026, his 37th day on the PCT going northbound, French ultrarunner Aurélien Sanchez crossed the Columbia River into Washington. Nine days later, on July 23rd, he and his support team reached the Northern Terminus and set the new record for a supported journey; 45 days 20 hours total.
Self-supported
Nick Fowler crossed the Columbia two days after Aurelian going in the opposite direction. That was 8 days and 11 hours after departing the Northern Terminus, making him the fastest known self-supported hiker of the PCT through Washington. The FKT Nick broke by 7.5 hours was that of his friend Jonathan Thomas who held the title for 6 years. Jonathan went on to found Exotic Backpacks.
Unsupported
In the Unsupported category (no resupply, no trash, no support), Wyatt Barrett set the Washington State record in 2023. 26 days later Heather Anderson covered Washington 4.2 hours faster than Wyatt and took the FKT with a time of 11 days 6 hours. Her time was 3 1/3 days faster than the previous FKT. One year later Adrian Adler was 19 hours faster than Heather and the first to cross Washington in less than 11 days. Heather still holds the women's record.
PCT Washington FKT records.
Photo: Heather "Anish" Anderson entering Washington at the Columbia River in 2023
Photo: Heather "Anish" Anderson at the Washington/Canada border in 2023
