#Los10FKT Project

Ty will be attempt to set records on 10 iconic routes in the Andes to raise funds for the launch of the Chaski Foundation (our 501c3 non-profit).

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5 down, 5 to go!

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1. Ojos del Salado Volcano ✔️

2. Tungurahua Volcano ✔️

3. Cotopaxi Volcano ✔️

4. Pichincha Traverse ✔️

5. Plaza a Plaza Trail (Cusco to Pisac) ✔️

6. Ausangate Circuit ✔️

7. Puerta del Sol Subida ✔️

8. Choquequirao Trail ✔️

9. Quilotoa Trail

10. Aconcagua Volcano

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What is the #Los10FKT Project?

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Ty: "I’m excited to announce Los Diez (Los 10), a project about which I’ve been day-dreaming for months: to tackle 10 iconic routes in the South American Andes, accompanied by some of the true local legends in each area.

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"The idea for Los 10 came about after I joined the fastestknowtime.com staff as a regional editor for Central/South America. I was surprised to see how few Andean routes (not a single route in Bolivia!) were in the database despite the number of badass, local mountain/ultra/trail athletes I knew that train and race in the mountains of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and more.

 

In talking with Peter Bawkins and Buzz Burrell (the site’s founders and godfathers of the FKT movement) and coordinating with many friends in the athlete community across South America, we put together a list of 10 diverse routes that we thought we might be able to (aggressively) accomplish in one year. Some of these routes already have established and competitive FKTs, while some are renowned hiking or trail-running routes, but don’t have any publicized speed records.

 

Our goal is to put up marks that are competitive and will encourage both local and foreign interest in the FKT movement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic."

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Read the full announcement post here

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Up Next: Plaza a Plaza, Ausangate Circuit, Puerta del Sol Subida, Choquequirao

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Ty is currently in the Sacred Valley of Peru along with friend and fellow HOKA pro-trail runner, Joaquin Lopez (of Ecuador). They'll be attempting a huge push huge push to set 4 FKTs in 12 days. These routes include the point-to-point route from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco to the Plaza de Armas in Pisac, the infamous Ausangate Circuit (which route is entirely above 14,500 ft), the "sprint" up to Puerta del Sol from Ollantaytambo, and finally the Andean "Rim2Rim2Rim" Choquequirao trail. Stay tuned for updates!

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Read More

• Ty's #Los10FKT announcement post

• Ojos del Salado Recap

• Cotopaxi Volcano Recap

• Pichincha Traverse Recap

 

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The List: Los 10

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1. Ojos del Salado Ascent/Descent - 57km (35 miles), 2700m vert, Max Altitude 6,893m (22,615 ft) - Chile - Route Map - NEW RECORD: 9:29:46 -- Read the Recap
    

2. Tungurahua Volcano - 6km (3.8 miles), 1200m vert, max altitude 5,023m (16,479 ft) - Ecuador - Route Map -  NEW RECORD: 1:50:18 -- Read the Recap
    

3. Cotopaxi Volcano - 5km (3.1 miles), 1030m vert, max altitude 5,897m (19,350 ft) - Ecuador - Route Map - TIED RECORD: 1:37:04 (New Ascent Record: 1:13:42) -- Read the Recap
    

4. Pichincha Traverse - 30km (18 miles), 2700m vert, max altitude 4,770m (15,650 ft) - Ecuador - Route Map - NEW RECORD: 5:14:55 -- Read the Recap
    

5. Plaza a Plaza - 31km (19.5 miles), 1200m vert, max altitude 4,300m (14,100 ft) - Peru - NEW RECORD: 3:28:16 -- Read the Recap
    

6. Ausangate Circuit - 45km (25 miles), 2200m (7,200 ft) gain, max altitude 5,150m (17,000 ft) - Peru - Route Map - NEW RECORD: 5:57:39
    

7. Puerta del Sol Subida - 8km (5 miles), 1200m (4000 ft) gain, max altitude 4,100m (13,500 ft) - Peru - Route Map - NEW RECORD: 1:01:06
    

8. Choquequirao Trail - 57km (35 miles), 4000m (13,100 ft) gain, max altitude 3,000m (10,000 ft) - Peru - Route Map - NEW RECORD: 7:11:19
    

9. Quilotoa Traverse - 50km (31 miles), 2700m vert, max altitude 3,870m (12,696 ft) - Ecuador* - Route Map
    

10. Aconcagua Volcano - 70km (43.5 miles), 4,300m (14,400 ft) vert, max altitude 6961m (22,841 ft) - Argentina - Route Map
    
     

*No known FKT

 

Note - we reserve the right to change, add to, subtract from, or generally dicky around with this list as much as we like given that this project is just for us and given the general “up-in-the-air” state of the world, travel, etc.