Cory Wallace sets new sub-12 hour FKT to Everest Base Camp
High-altitude hustle to 5,364 metre finish line
Photo by:
Cory Wallace / Instagram
Cory Wallace added to his long list of extreme altitude FKT’s over the weekend, establishing a sub-12 hour time from Lukla, Nepal to Everest base camp.
The brutal FKT (Fastest Known Time) ride gained more than 3,000m of elevation in around 50km. The Canadian, who hails from Jasper, Alta. originally, reported that the iconic hiking route was mostly rideable (those of us who are not professional mountain biker’s might not have the same experience) other than five kilometres of hike-a-bike near the final approach to base camp.
Wallace’s ride started from Lukla (alt. 2,846m), where an airport is one of the main supply routes for hikers attempting to summit Mt. Everest. He rode from there up to South Base Camp, which sits at a staggering 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) above sea level.
The ride took Wallace 11 hours and 19 minutes. You can see the full ride (Including the return to lower elevation) on Strava.
The base camp FKT is far from Wallace’s first foray into high-altitude FKT’s or Nepalese mountains. The Canadian holds the FKT for summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro by bike and two more on Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit (clockwise and counterclockwise). He’s frequently spent time in Nepal for his less-than-orthodox approach to winter base training.
