FKT: Buck Blankenship - Flagstaff Fearsome Four (AZ) - 2020-06-08

* A brainchild of Helen Galerakis
Deron Ruse was the first to complete the challenge, setting the initial FKT, on 6/7/2020 (just one day before!). Wild!
This challenge is a twist on the Flagstaff Fearsome Four challenge. This requires a person to plan their own route to summit each of Flagstaff’s well known mountains in one contiguous push. Linking up these local favorites and world famous mountains will take a serious effort.
Here are some "rules" for this run. A runner must summit four of Flagstaff's most prominent mountains by running between them. These are Kendrick Peak (10,432'), Mt. Humphrey's (12,633'), Mt. Elden (9,301') and O'Leary Peak (8,937'). A runner can choose their route while abiding by proper trail ethics, rules and regulations. The clock starts at the trailhead bottom of the first ascent and is stoped at the trailhead after the last descent. 

It was nice that it was cooler than expected. The wind was rowdy on Elden and epic on Humphreys, which was actually memorable and type 2 fun.

Rob Krar, my wife and son, and my dissertation advisor crewed me at 6 locations. So great to see them.

Rob Hall, a local legend, appeared unexpectedly and rode his mountain bike with me for a few miles early in the day- it was awesome.

Also, very cool to meet Deron, who set the initial FKT, at the bottom of Kendrick before my last ascent. He has pictures of that.

I have videos that won't attach, but I will send Buzz a Google Drive link for. Let me know if that doesn't work or if you need something else. Thanks FTK!