We already noted Camden Watson, the 7 year old hiker who completed the
JMT this year NoBo with his Dad and older brother, breaking the
"youngest ever" record (set in 1982).

I just learned from Al Patrick (age 72) that he and a friend, Dale
Easton (age 75), completed the trail SoBo this year in 21 days (July
19 to August 10).  The old record, according to Ralph and Susan
Alcorn's site (backpack45.com) was 71, so they both broke the record
(set in 2008).  Not a bad pace. especially in light of the snowstorm
that apparently required a delay at Woods Creek.

Al says that they met Camden as they crossed NoBo and SoBo routes near
the midpoint of the Trail (I gather roughly along the Bear Creek
section).  That would have been a good picture.

I know that Roleigh met Al and Dale along the route and I'm sure many
others did also.

John Curran Ladd

=== Al's message ============

I noted in a posting that the oldest JMT thru hiker was 71.  Dale
Easton and I, Alfred Patrick, thru hiked the JMT this summer (2009),
hiking north to south.  Dale is 75 years old and I am 72.  Because of
availability of hiking permits, we had to hike from Tuolumne Meadows
(beginning July 19) to Yosemite Valley.  We got a bus from Yosemite
Valley back to Tuolumne Meadows and headed south to Mt. Whitney.  On
August 10 we completed the trail by hiking from Guitar Lake to the
summit of Mt. Whitney, then down to Whitney Portal--a long hard day
for us.  A day north of Muir Trail Ranch we met and talked with the
youngest JMT thru hiker, Camden Watson, his brother, and his father.

Dale and I have section hiked al of the AT.  Dale lives in Branson,
MO, and I live in Richmond, KY.

Al Patrick


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