FKT: John Courtney - Big Cypress on the FT - 2023-03-11

Athletes
Route variation
Standard route
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Male
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
9h 54m 47s
GPS track(s)
Report

I've previously hiked this route over multiple days with camping gear, but wanted to try pushing through in one go. Started at Oasis heading north bound about half-hour after sunrise. Carried all my supplies on my back for the full route and did the trail on my own. I brought a filter to resupply water from the cypress domes. 

It turned into a 86 degree blue sky day and I couldn't find a water resupply until mile 23. So dehydration got the best of me from about mile 17-23. The mud from mile 20 to 30 is particularly thick and heavy right now so that also slowed me down to about 20 minute mile pace despite max effort. The last 10 miles can take as much or more time as the first 20. Even though I resupplied water at mile 23 I got dehydrated again in the slow and shadeless final miles.

I'd like to give it another try in a few weeks carrying about twice the water at the start. 

It's much drier than usual out there, which makes parts of the trail fast, but water becomes a big problem and the mud is brutal.