An Evening with PCT Record-Holder Joe McConaughy

On August 10th, Mountaineer Joe "String Bean" McConaughy reached the Canadian border and completed a historic effort, thru-hiking the full 2,640 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to the Canadian border in just 53 days and six hours.  He averaged 51 miles a day on the PCT.  He broke the "assisted hike" PCT speed record, set just one year earlier, by an astonishing six days and two hours.  As recently as 2011, the PCT speed-hike record was 64 days.

Joe's thru-hike was done to raise money for CancerCare, a national cancer support organization, and was done in memory of his cousin Colin, who died in 2012 at the age of two of a rare neuroblastoma brain cancer. For more information visit the Run for Colin website. and Facebook page.

Joe and his support crew chief will share their amazing story though a video and slide-show presentation. Joe will bring and discuss the gear he used on his journey and talk about his ultra-light gear planning, his hydration and nutrition challenges, and his foot care and other physical challenges.  He and support chief Jordan Hamm will share anecdotes about their almost daily rendezvous and resupply efforts, their advance planning, and their logistic challenges. 

Joe and Jordan will also be available for audience questions & answers.

Also attending this event will be Bob Woods, North Cascades Regional Representative of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, who will provide an overview of the mission of the PCTA and the work it does in maintaining and managing this trail.

Proceeds from this event will support the work of the Mountaineers, of CancerCare, and of the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

Visit the Seattle Times article 55 miles a day: Blistering pace for hiker seeking Pacific Crest record for an in-depth look at Joe''s experience on the trail.

 Advance ticket purchase is encouraged through EventBrite. Mountaineers members $8 and General Admission $10.