The rustic charm of Maine’s rugged stretch of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) is on full display following the first male unsupported fastest known time (FKT), set by Robert Greenier, in the early dawn of July 21.
Greenier, born in the very state he walked through and now residing in Colorado, returned to his roots to complete the 138-mile Maine segment in just under 67 hours. As it stands, no male speed record exists, so Greenier’s attempt would make him the fastest person to complete this stretch, period.
The IAT, a trail that meanders through the U.S., Canada, and Europe, is not to be confused with its ever-popular counterpart, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which traverses only the American section of the Appalachian Mountains. Rather, the IAT crosses various foreign borders, comprising 23 chapters on three continents, from Maine to Morocco.
“Even though I grew up here, I didn’t know the International Appalachian Trail even existed,” Greenier told The County in an interview. “I figured if I didn’t know about it, and I was an avid hiker, then other people didn’t know about it, so I decided to set a time.”
Since 2019, Greenier has built upon his long distance resume. His past treks include the Long Trail in Vermont, the Colorado Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and nearly half of the Appalachian Trail. He began this most recent endeavor on his birthday, July 18, and concluded in Fort Fairfield just after midnight on July 21.
Robert Greenier at the Fort Fair / Canada border in the early hours of finishing on July 21. Photo Credit: The County / Robert Greenier
The Maine leg of the IAT begins at the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Established 21 years ago by Dick Anderson, Maine’s former commissioner of conservation, the full trail traces its origins through the ancient Appalachian-Caledonian Mountains formed millions of years ago. It snakes north into Canada at Fort Fairfield, traversing diverse landscapes including Greenland, Iceland, France, Portugal, and Morocco.
Greenier slept for a total of just eight hours during his 2 days, 18 hours, and 56 minutes on the Maine IAT, otherwise staying in near-constant movement.
His journey was not without obstacles.
Hiking unsupported, he carried all necessary supplies from the start. Greenier cited his biggest challenges as maintaining charged light sources throughout the hike and navigating gnarly, unmaintained trails in the north.
“I’ve (hiked) almost 5,000 miles since 2019, and these three days were the highest mileage days I’ve ever hiked in my life,” he told reporters from The County. “When I took a break it felt like I’d just gotten through a boxing match with Rocky Balboa.”
Despite the grueling nature of his nearly three-day excursion, Greenier encountered minimal human interaction, reveling in the trail’s underutilization and opportunities for pure solitude. He says he even met a few supportive Border Patrol officers near Canada.
Greenier’s record-setting hike, which he meticulously tracked, is still awaiting official confirmation on the Fastest Known Time site. Reflecting back on his hike, however, Greenier hopes his efforts draw more interest to the IAT, advocating for its recognition as a national trail.
“Part of my goal in setting the record is also to draw more people to try and do the same,” he told The County. “If you could get 25 percent of people who do Katahdin to come north, that’s more tourism The County otherwise wouldn’t see.”
Featured image courtesy of The County / Robert Greenier
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Comments 3
Well, he set the FKT for the wrong reason. The County – especially that part – does not want more tourism. Nor does it want the self proclaimed kings and wolves of the White Mountains in their space mucking it up. What a narcicisstic attitude from a selfish human who wants a record that anyone can create via a route anywhere, who doesn’t think about the impacts on the surrounding area. Baxter and KWW are the last wild vestiges of the northeast. Leave it that way.
To the author – hard to tell if you wrote this or summarized what you read. Either way, you did tell the story well.
If all the things that could be said, the most important is Love tyself, do this and you won’t feel the need to try and tear down others or thier achievements.
Secondly, if don’t enjoy that I now hold this record, go break it! Just know that you can’t hide behind an aliases to do so…
Hey Ariella,
Thanks for sharing this story! I wasn’t expecting someone from the trek to be following this journey, but I will go a LONG way to reaching my target audience, ATers, and help solidity the FKT purpose by drawing them further north.
I am grateful for the time you’ve but in this piece and that you used your platform on this website to help share it.
Sincerely,
Robert G