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A fall storm, ankle‑deep snow, and a west wind tearing across the Sawatch set the stage—then David Hedges took the Nolans 14 record back by roughly ten minutes. We unpack how it happened, from the early confidence on Antero to a near-collapse between Harvard and Oxford, a frozen night saved by borrowed layers and hot gels, and a final, ruthless push off Massive that flipped the math with miles to spare. The story isn’t just splits; it’s style, stewardship, and what local fluency really looks like when the terrain turns feral.

We dig into route decisions like choosing the Columbia–Harvard traverse when conditions allow, why Princeton is the true make‑or‑break, and how Pine Creek’s flooded willows taxed time and patience. David contrasts a lean, self‑navigated approach with a big‑budget model, raising thoughtful questions about GPX dependency, pacers, and what FKTs are rewarding now. He also walks through working directly with the Leadville district ranger during the La Plata closure—a quiet example of respecting the place you move through fast.

Looking ahead, David shares a sharp slate of objectives that fit his engine: the Tonto Trail, the La Sal Traverse, and SCAR in the Smokies. Then comes the bold target—Aconcagua’s standard route FKT—where altitude physiology, long uphill intervals, and precise downhill pacing become the whole game. If you love FKTs, mountain strategy, and honest talk about what it takes to move fast when conditions say no, this one’s a feast.

If this conversation resonated, follow David on Instagram at D_hedges_, share the episode with a friend who geeks out on routes and style, and leave a quick review so more mountain nerds can find the show. Got thoughts on purity vs pace on Nolans? Drop us a note and join the debate.

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Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod