In 2013, Heather Anderson hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada; 60 days and 17 hours later, she had broken the overall self-supported record.

For most hikers, crossing the Pacific Crest Trail takes months, whereas for Heather “Anish” Anderson, it became a race against the clock. In 2013, Anderson set out from the US-Mexico border with the aim of completing the 2,660-mile trail to Canada faster than anyone had done it in a self-supported style. She reached the northern terminus in 60 days, 17 hours and 12 minutes, setting the self-supported speed record at the time. The achievement was particularly notable because she became the first woman to hold the overall record, beating the previous mark by almost four days.A trail measured in thousands of milesAccording to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the trail stretches through California, Oregon and Washington, following the mountain ranges of the western United States between the Mexican and Canadian borders. Although the route is often described as roughly 2,650 miles long, published measurements have varied slightly depending on the trail version and year. Anderson was not new to long-distance hiking when she attempted the record. She had previously completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2005 and had also tackled the Appalachian and Continental Divide trails. Her experience gave her an understanding of the logistics involved in spending weeks in remote country, but her 2013 attempt demanded a completely different pace.She started from the southern end on June 8, 2013, and went northwards through some of the toughest areas of the trail. Rather than taking the usual five to six months that hikers take to hike the trail, Anderson took less than two months. The average that the Pacific Crest Trail Association recorded was a little over 44 miles per day. That meant hiking for long stretches each day and often continuing overnight. According to a later report, she got only five hours of sleep each day and did not take a day off during the attempt.What “self-supported” meantThe difference between a supported and a self-supported hike is key to Anderson's story. The supported hiker has a crew that supplies him or her with food, equipment and all other kinds of help during the hike. A self-supported hiker must handle all of these demands alone, carrying equipment and getting supplies during the hike. Anderson was hiking self-supported, taking care of her equipment and supplies alone. To get food or other supplies, she had to reach specific resupply points.The physical demands of long-distance hiking are considerable, especially when thousands of miles must be covered on a tight schedule. Research published in Physiological Reports examined the effects of a 112-day Pacific Crest Trail hike, documenting the physical demands of covering more than 4,000 kilometres through varied terrain and environmental conditions. The study recorded an average of 44.1 kilometres of hiking per day, along with substantial elevation gain and loss, illustrating the workload involved in sustained trail hiking. Unlike Anderson's much faster record attempt, the study followed a longer 112-day journey, providing a broader picture of the physical workload involved in hiking the trail.Even Anderson’s task proved to be shorter in time. She had to travel 44 miles every day, which meant there would be no time for prolonged rest periods during the time that she needed to reach Canada in less than 60 days. Additionally, Anderson’s route included the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range, meaning that besides the everyday distance, she also had to climb up and down mountains every day.60 days to the Canadian borderFollowing her start in June, Anderson travelled north and completed her trek at the Canada–United States border on August 7, 2013. It took her 60 days, 17 hours and 12 minutes, which was close to four days less than the 64-day record held by Scott Williamson since 2011. With this record, Anderson became the fastest person to complete the PCT in the self-supported category. However, Anderson's record didn't last very long as the overall fastest time for completing the PCT route. Josh Garrett managed to finish his trip the next day in 59 days, 8 hours and 14 minutes, though it was a supported journey.Her accomplishment also brought attention to how long-distance hiking records were measured. The fastest-known-time category was open to both men and women, so Anderson was competing for the overall record rather than a separate women's title. By finishing the Pacific Crest Trail faster than the previous self-supported record, she became the first woman to hold the overall self-supported record, marking a significant moment in the history of the trail.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.