The Inside Scoop on Michelino’s Controversial Grand Teton FKT

The Inside Scoop on Michelino’s Controversial Grand Teton FKT
P.C. Connor Burkesmith

Any views represented below are solely my own and do not reflect the views of Michelino or other parties involved.

On September 2, 2024, Michelino Sunseri broke the Grand Teton FKT (fastest known time, aka speed record) of twelve years, running a blistering 2h 50m 50s trailhead-to-trailhead. Controversy ensued.

In the weeks that followed, the FKT was rejected by FastestKnownTime.com (“FKT site” herein), dozens of reporters wrote stories about a switchback controversy and the National Park Service (“NPS” herein) issued Michelino a violation notice citing 36 CFR 2.1(b).

Descending below Garnet Canyon, Michelino followed an old climber’s trail that the NPS alleges was closed. While off-trail travel is generally permitted in Grand Teton National Park (“GTNP” herein), the NPS may close specific areas, subject to specific legal steps. Four of the five FKTs previously accepted by the FKT site also ran the old climber’s trail, one accepted as recently as 2022. Another example of off-trail travel less than a mile from the old climber’s trail is Delta Lake, one of the most popular hikes in GTNP.

After the latest wave of articles reporting on Michelino’s citation (e.g., WyoFile and GearJunkie), I thought it’d be helpful for an insider to share context and a timeline. Connor Burkesmith and I documented Michelino’s Grand Teton FKT in 2024 and Jack Kuenzle’s Grand Teton FKT attempt in 2023. Our photographs of Michelino’s FKT are featured in many of the twenty or so articles covering Michelino’s controversial FKT as of October 2024.

Connor and I are based in Jackson, WY, and regularly adventure in GTNP. A few trip reports for fun: Owen Spalding, the Picnic, Upper Exum, CMC Face, Ford Stettner skiing (spring and winter), the Skillet skiing and Trifecta skiing. My move to Jackson was inspired by four childhood road-trips visiting National Parks from Maine to California – I still have Junior Ranger badges from over a dozen – and a summer working in Yellowstone during college.

I have nothing but respect for the NPS mission and have had only positive in-person interactions with NPS staff – climbing and interpretive rangers, trail maintenance crews, volunteers, etc. The NPS performs critical work preserving natural resources across an increasingly crowded Park System.

Below, you’ll find some context (e.g., what’s an FKT, who arbitrates submissions, requirements for a Grand Teton FKT and the process for NPS area closures), a timeline of Michelino’s FKT (from planning to aftermath) and some actions available to the NPS / FKT site, instead of the most punitive options currently being pursued.

Context

What’s an FKT?

Fastest Known Time or FKT has become the prevailing term for speed records on notable running or hiking routes. FKTs exist for multi-day traverses like the Appalachian Trail, mountain ascents / descents like Rainier and multi-sport routes like the Longs Peak triathlon / duathlons.

Many FKTs have variations, e.g., Whitney’s ascent-only vs. round-trip and Mountaineer’s Route vs. Whitney Trail. FKTs are further organized by unsupported / self-supported / supported, male / female and individual / team.

Who arbitrates FKTs?

The FKT site started as an informal, unofficial discussion board. In 2018, the board morphed into a more polished form as FastestKnownTime.com. In 2022, Outside Inc. purchased the FKT site, adding to its formidable outdoor media portfolio.

Over the last two decades, the FKT site became the unofficial but authoritative source for FKTs, popularizing the term and organizing FKTs by routes. Athletes submit new routes or new records for existing routes. Regional editors review submissions per evolving guidelines. Many gray areas exist, requiring judgment calls by the editors. As of October 2024, the FKT site lists over 6K routes around the world. As of 2015, the predecessor forum listed around 400. Pandemic lockdowns and an uptick in outdoor sports boosted the popularity of FKTs.

FKT site route map as of October 2024

The FKT site sometimes lists details for routes. Other times, route nuances are spread word-of-mouth amongst athletes. Some routes mandate specific trails. Others measure the fastest trip from point A to point B, deferring specifics to the athletes.

Today, all submissions require a GPX, KML, etc., and link to Strava, Garmin, etc. The FKT site defines ten premier Routes like the John Muir Trail or Nolan’s 14 that also require live tracking and faster submission deadlines. Of course, older records lack now-standard support. High-profile efforts draw more attention and scrutiny.

Belt buckle FKTs

Independent from the FKT site, a series of commemorative belt buckles celebrates notable routes like the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim, Half Dome up / down and Grand Teton up / down. Rickey Gates and Elizabeth Thorp created the series. Record holders pass down their buckle when a challenger bests their time.

Grand Teton FKT requirements

Grand Teton is the tallest summit (13,775′, though surveys vary) in GTNP. The FKT site lists a single trailhead-to-trailhead FKT for the Grand Teton route. An FKT must start and stop at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, and implicitly, tag the summit. Otherwise, the FKT site leaves specifics to athletes.

Running trailhead-to-trailhead involves roughly 13 miles and seven-thousand vertical feet of trail, boulders, loose rock and exposed fifth-class climbing. In practice, the least technical and fastest path up the Grand involves a series of official trails to Garnet Canyon, then unofficial climber trails and boulder-field hopping from Garnet Canyon to the Lower Saddle, and finally, variations of the Owen Spalding route, a 5.4-rated rock climb.

Most groups climbing Grand Teton do so over 2-3 days and use ropes to protect Owen Spalding and some scrambling above the Lower Saddle. Runners pursuing FKTs free solo the route in trail running shoes. Michelino completed the round-trip in 2h 50m 50s.

Grand Teton approach

FKTs must start and finish at Lupine Meadows trailhead, marked by the green dot and hiker pin in the FatMap and NPS screenshots below, respectively.

Before Garnet Canyon: The NPS maintains an official series of trails leading to the boulder fields near Platform Campsites / Garnet Meadows, marked by camping pins in the FatMap screenshots below. Many unofficial trails also exist, often referred to as climber’s or social trails. Examples include the Delta Lake trails (more details below) and the old climber’s trail at the core of Michelino’s FKT controversy.

Garnet Canyon to the Lower Saddle: The NPS does not maintain official trails beyond Garnet Meadows, though NPS staff periodically improve unofficial climber’s trails leading up the South and North Forks of Garnet Canyon. Hikers and climbers make use of unofficial trails until they must go off-trail for a campsite, climb (e.g., Teepe Pillar, Nez Perce), etc.

Upper Mountain: After the Lower Saddle, climbers spread over many variations of the hiking, scrambling and climbing required to reach the Upper Saddle and then Grand Teton summit. Steep dirt, scree, talus, boulders and rock. All fourth and low fifth class terrain, peaking at a 5.4 rating for Owen Chimney.

Wyoming Whiskey maintains the most detailed description of the Grand Teton approach and Owen Spalding ascent, cataloging its many, many variations.

In theory, Grand Teton FKT attempts can run official trails, unofficial trails or entirely off-trail. Off-trail travel is generally permitted in National Parks (see some examples below), unless an area is specifically closed.

In practice, and evidenced by FKT attempts going back to the 1980s, the fastest option is (1) a mix of official and unofficial trails into Garnet Canyon, then (2) a mix of unofficial trails and off-trail travel to the Lower Saddle, and finally (3) off-trail climbing to the summit, involving some variation of Owen Spalding. In short, FKT paths track the experience of all other Grand Teton climbers, including commercially guided groups.

Official NPS trail map

Off-trail in GTNP

Off-trail travel is permitted and common in GTNP – a few examples below.

Delta Lake: Arguably the most popular alpine hike in GTNP with over 11K reviews on AllTrails, Delta Lake likely sees tens of thousands of Park visitors each season. The Delta Lake hike is within a mile of the old climber’s trail at the core of Michelino’s FKT controversy (more detail to follow). The NPS posted a sign (below) where hikers leave the official trail to Amphitheater Lake stating, “This is not a maintained trail.”

Climbing: The NPS does not maintain official trails to summits in GTNP. Common summits (e.g., Grand Teton, Middle / South Teton, Teewinot, Moran) all have unofficial climber’s trails for portions of the approach. In the words of the NPS, “During approach and descent where there are no trails, carefully choose routes to avoid the heavy impact of human feet. Step on rocks and non-vegetated surfaces where possible.” GTNP does not require permits for climbing in the Park. Access permits are required for backcountry camping.

The list goes on: elk hunting (e.g., Hunt Area 75 in November / December), wildlife photography (e.g., moose watching in the Gros Ventre), fishing (e.g., backcountry rivers and lakes), etc. While off-trail, backcountry users are encouraged to follow Leave No Trace principles, walking on durable surfaces where available and minimizing impact.

The NPS may close areas, but must follow specific legal steps to do so. See 36 CFR 2.1(b) (preservation of resources), 36 CFR 1.5 (public closures) and 36 CFR 1.7 (public notice requirements). Notice requirements include some combination of conspicuous signs, maps, newspapers or electronic media. GTNP also must compile and make publicly available all designations, closures, permit requirements and other restrictions in an annual Compendium (not available at the link as of this article; see Laws & Policies instead).

Restrictions on off-trail travel are subject to the discretion of each National Park’s Superintendent. Some areas are heavily restricted, e.g., fragile high-alpine environments in Rocky Mountain, thermal basins in Yellowstone, high-alpine winter habitats of bighorn sheep in GTNP. Others are open to exploration, e.g., most sagebrush meadows in GTNP, the granite walls of Yosemite, waterways of the Everglades.

Grand Teton FKT history

By most accounts, Grand Teton was first summited in 1889 by William Owen, Franklin Spalding, Frank Petersen and John Shive, though members of the Hayden Geological Survey also claimed a first ascent in 1872.

The first recorded speed attempt was by John Holyoke / Joe Hawkes in 1939 at 5h 21m. In 1972, Jock Glidden followed at 4h 11m. In 1983, Creighton King took the podium at 3h 30m. Later that year, Bryce Thatcher set the record that would stand until 2012 at 3h 6m. Bryce’s record is the oldest included on the FKT site.

Older speed records were far less scrutinized, so the list is likely incomplete. E.g., Andy Anderson ran 3h 4m in 2001, technically claiming the FKT – but at the time, Andy thought the current FKT was 2h 58m and failed to report his effort.

In 2012, Kílian Jornet first broke the 3-hour ceiling and standing record of 29 years, running 2h 54m 1s. 10 days later, Andy Anderson bested Kílian's time by 59 seconds, lowering the bar to 2h 53m 2s. Andy’s record stood for 12 years.

Grand Teton FKT paths varied over that time. Early attempts like Holyoke / Hawkes likely ran entirely off-trail. Glidden, Creighton and Thatcher added unofficial climber’s trails to the mix. Contemporary FKTs, including Kílian and Andy ran a combination of official trails below Garnet Canyon, climber’s trails and off-trail. Trail construction / maintenance and closures aren't constant.

At the time of Michelino’s FKT, the FKT site listed five FKTs for Grand Teton, all without flags. Mixed gender team featuring Emilie Forsberg / Kílian Jornet at 3h 51m 0s and female unsupported featuring Jen Day Denton at 4h 15m 27s.

1) Planning and preparation

Timing

Timing a Grand Teton FKT is challenging. At earliest, the window begins in mid-July, when enough snow and ice melts off the upper route. Owen Spalding faces northwest, holding ice and snow until peak summer months. The route involves exposed 5.4 climbing, where a slip easily results in a thousand-foot fall. On the less exposed portions of the route, a slip leads to serious injury. The rock needs to be mostly ice-free for a safe FKT attempt.

We’re all experienced with hazards in the Tetons and on Grand Teton in particular. Michelino climbed the Grand over 40 times, Connor around 20 and me over a dozen. On prior climbs, we often supported other parties dealing with those hazards – performing first aid for climbers struggling with low blood sugar / dehydration / altitude, retrieving another party’s gear as they bailed in inclement weather as we continued solo climbing, etc.

Rock conditions and hazards aside, an athlete pursuing a competitive FKT like Grand Teton needs to be in top condition for an attempt. Until this summer, Michelino balanced training with full-time shifts tending Grand Targhee’s Trap Bar. After ski season, he committed to full-time training. During his heaviest training periods, Michelino clocked over 30K vertical feet and 25 training hours weekly.

Up to the day, an FKT attempt can be called off due to a negative scouting report from the upper mountain, a change in forecast or insufficient athlete conditioning.

Throughout the summer, thunderstorms in the valley arrive as snow and ice in the high alpine. A week before Michelino’s FKT, a storm deposited a few inches of snow as low as the Lower Saddle, located between Grand and Middle Teton.

After the storm, a high pressure system settled over the Tetons and warm, sunny days began melting built-up ice and snow. Connor and I, not to mention Michelino, watched conditions on the upper mountain improve, while keeping an eye on the forecast. Forecasters expected another low pressure system to arrive on September 3, 2024.

September 2, 2024, or Labor Day, was the latest Michelino could risk, before more ice and snow fell. As the sun angle drops in early September, a significant storm can rule out the upper mountain for speed attempts until the following summer.

Despite choosing Labor Day for the attempt, the upper mountain was not particularly crowded. Many parties climbed the Grand on Saturday and Sunday, reducing traffic by Monday, especially with low pressure on the way. Michelino, Connor and I experienced no issues or conflicts with other visitors, commercially guided groups, NPS rangers or NPS staff. To the contrary, most groups were excited to witness the FKT.

Similar weather windows frustrated Jack Kuenzle’s FKT attempt planning in 2023. He originally targeted late July, but a wave of thunderstorms deposited enough ice and snow to push his attempt to August 16, 2023. After Jack's attempt, continued low pressure frustrated our attempts at other high-alpine climbs, including two Grand Traverse cancellations.

Scouting

As discussed above, each FKT attempt follows a somewhat unique path to the summit and back. In 2023, Jack spent weeks rehearsing movements on various portions of the route to find his most efficient path. Over the past four years, Michelino did the same.

All FKTs on the FKT site except those of Andy and Bryce had supporting GPX files. Each took slightly different variations to the summit and back.

Below Garnet Canyon, four of the FKTs – Bryce (1983), Kílian (2012), Emilie / Kílian (2012) and Jen (2022) – followed an old climber’s trail, temporarily leaving the more recently developed official trail. Trail construction / alleged closures likely changed over time. (I haven't found records on dates of the official trail's construction or the old climbing trail's closure.)

Andy (2012) has the only FKT that did not take the old climber's trail.

At the time of Michelino’s FKT, the FKT site displayed all five FKTs without flags. The FKT site did not post any warnings about the old climber’s trail prior to Michelino’s FKT (see screenshots above / below).

Roughly 60 other parties posted public Strava runs using the old climber’s trail.

2) The FKT

At 7:45am on September 2, 2024, Michelino started his Garmin watch at Lupine Meadows and disappeared into the pines. He followed the official, maintained trail into Garnet Canyon, then a mix of climber’s trails and off-trail travel to the Lower Saddle. Then, the climbing began. Michelino followed the route he refined over four years of scouting, reaching the summit in 1h 52m 20s.

According to his Strava race report, soon after the summit, he decided to take the old climber’s trail below Garnet Canyon. On Strava, Michelino acknowledged the “tough decision” and outlined his thinking. Evidenced by the very public nature of his commentary, the debate he expected was a stylistic one within the FKT community, not a legal one.

Some runners believe an FKT should be set using the same route as the current record-holder. Others believe routes are up for interpretation and the FKT goes to whoever ascends and descends fastest. Four FKTs on the FKT site – including Jen’s, accepted two years earlier in 2022 – used the old climber’s trail. In the moment, Michelino decided to follow suit.

Michelino scouted the Grand with Andy Anderson earlier that summer. In conversations with Michelino, Andy deferred to Michelino on the decision. In an interview in 2012, Andy suggested running the official trail was his faster option. “I did stay on the trail. I think it is actually faster for me. Even though shortcuts may save a little distance, they probably don’t save me any time, because I just cannot run that fast on such steep downhills.” A stylistic debate was obvious, but the conclusion unclear. Up to the time of Michelino’s record, the FKT site was neutral, offering no details on route selection or warnings about the old climber’s trail.

2h 50m 50s after Michelino started his Garmin, he returned to Lupine Meadows trailhead the new Grand Teton FKT holder.

Michelino's Grand Teton FKT on Strava

A wave of congratulations followed, including many fellow mountain runners who were aware Michelino used the old climber's trail. Michelino and Andy spoke that afternoon. Andy congratulated him on the new FKT, also aware that Michelino used the old climber’s trail.

Michelino published his race report to Strava and submitted required documents to the FKT site (GPX, Strava link, etc.), expecting approval by the weekend.

On September 6, 2024, Andy and Michelino met in person and Andy signed over his belt buckle, a series created by Rickey Gates and Elizabeth Thorp. Andy's support hasn't waivered through the ensuing controversy.

3) Aftermath

On September 6, 2024, the FKT site regional editor responded to Michelino's submission. At least one party emailed the editor mentioning the old climber’s trail. The editor requested more information from Michelino and reached out to the NPS. An NPS ranger at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station spoke with the editor, alleging the old climber’s trail was closed and threatening investigation.

In response, the FKT site began flagging old FKTs that also used the old climber’s trail. First, Jen’s FKT (2022), the only record with a linked GPX. Within a few days, FKTs set by Kílian (2012) and Emilie / Kílian (2012). The regional editor added new language to the route’s description warning runners to not use the old climber’s trail.

Michelino’s FKT submission was officially rejected on September 9, 2024.

On September 11, 2024, the first article broke news of the FKT rejection. Roughly twenty more articles followed as of October 2024. The NPS provided quotes to many reporters, citing an investigation and threatening criminal charges.

On September 25, 2024, the NPS charged Michelino under 36 CFR 2.1(b) with an initial court appearance scheduled for November 19, 2024. According to media quotes by GTNP spokesperson Emily Davis, the maximum penalty is $5,000 and / or six months in jail.

NPS actions

To my knowledge, the NPS did not cite any of the other ~60 parties with public Strava runs or the three parties with recently accepted FKTs using the old climber’s trail – causing some to raise concerns of selective prosecution.

36 CFR 1.5 sets the standards the NPS must meet for any area closures, namely a written determination explaining the rationale for the closure and why less restrictive measures won’t suffice. Under 36 CFR 1.7, the NPS is further required to provide adequate public notice of any closures, including some combination of signs, maps, newspaper publication or electronic media. To my knowledge, the NPS did not mark the alleged closure on maps, in newspapers or via electronic media. The alleged closure was also not specifically mentioned in the most recent version of the Compendium (currently unavailable on the Park website).

The NPS posted two small signs at the bottom and top of the old climber’s trail. The sign at the top, the only side Michelino entered, merely states “Shortcutting causes erosion.” The small sign is placed next to an apparently well-traveled and maintained trail. On ascent, Michelino followed the less technical, official trail.

Several third-party mapping services displayed the old climber’s trail without closure markings. The NPS did not appear to pressure mapping services to remove the trail, even after three FKTs used the segment between 2012 and 2022.

The comparable Delta Lake “social trails” are less than a mile from the old climber’s trail, feature essentially identical vegetation / terrain and are used by likely tens of thousands of Park visitors each season. Such use causes much greater impact on the landscape, yet the NPS decided against closure. The NPS also does not appear to restrict off-trail travel more broadly in the area.

To the extent a credible rationale does exist for the old climber’s trail closure, rather than jumping to the most punitive option – criminal charges threatening $5,000 and / or six months in jail – the NPS could have:

  • Asked the FKT site to add language to the Grand Teton route
  • Installed clear signage or a fence at the top and bottom of the trail
  • Added the closure to official maps, newspapers and the GTNP website
  • Pressed third-party mapping services to delist the old climber’s trail
  • Issued an official, public statement on the closure, rather than piecemeal quotes distributed to reporters

Some examples below of clear NPS area closures from the last-posted Compendium – not available on the GTNP website as of this article. To my knowledge, comparable public notice does not exist for the old climber’s trail.

FKT site actions

In light of the NPS charges, the FKT site flagged three of the prior FKTs and rejected Michelino’s FKT, the most punitive option.

Several less punitive options remain available:

  • Split the route into old and new routes, acknowledging the FKT site’s prior endorsement of the old climber’s trail. All previously accepted FKTs except Andy, plus Michelino’s new FKT, could migrate to the old route with a clear note that future submissions will not be accepted. Andy would remain the FKT holder, and only record, on the new route.
  • Keep one route and apply estimated time penalties. One mountain runner crunched the numbers on time saved by Michelino’s route variation and suggested a two-minute penalty, which would still give Michelino the FKT.
  • If the U.S. District Court determines the old climber’s trail is not properly closed, Michelino’s FKT could be accepted as-is without splitting the route.

With any of the options above, the FKT site could continue displaying the note that future submissions using the old climber’s trail will not be accepted.