On Fri, Jul 29, 2016, I completed a speed record on the 750-mi Oregon Desert Trail (ODT): 17 days and 15 hours. I averaged 43 miles per day without any rest day in some of the most challenging terrain I ever navigated. Below is a short teaser for a longer movie that will be coming out soon. Sign up for the e-mail notifications (see right tabs) if you’d like to get updates.
Direct URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D8Lz0TIie8
The Trail
The trail is the brainchild of the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA). Because of its novelty and uniqueness, it was featured in both a National Geographic (“World’s Best Hikes: 20 Dream Trails“) and CNN article (“10 of the world’s most amazing long-distance trails“). Compared to other long-distance trails, the 750-mile ODT is very challenging for a thru-hiker/runner, both physically and logistically. There are few reliable water sources, the trail is extremely remote, 267 miles (36%) are cross-country, and the environment is very unforgiving.
Map of the conceptual trail designed by ONDA. (c) Map by Mapbox. For an interactive version, click here.
Additional ODT Resources and Posts
- 2nd ODT Speed Record Announcement (with movie clip)
- ODT: Gear
- ODT: Maps
- ODT: Trail Surface by Section
- ODT: Silence Map. Want silence? Do the ODT!
- ODT: The slow exception. Long-distance trail daily mileage comparison.
- NW RaceCentre Magazine article on Epic Adventures: https://issuu.com/racecenter/docs/rcnw_junjul16_digitalissue (see page 26-27)
- ONDA blog post: Christof Teuscher Runs for Discovery on the Oregon Desert Trail
- ONDA’s Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) page with everything you need to know to do it yourself.