“Sugar” Aims to Become First Trans Woman to Hold Appalachian Trail FKT
By: Lyla "Sugar" Harrod
Bio: Lyla “Sugar” Harrod is a 38-year-old sober, queer transgender professional thru-hiker and LGBTQ+ advocate. She is the first known transgender woman to complete the Triple Crown, the first trans woman to hold a high profile FKT (New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 footers), and the creator of the 3,000 mile Divide to Crest Route across the deserts of the American West. Sugar also founded Trail QTs, a free mentoring program for first-time queer and trans thru-hikers.
I’m about to set out for my biggest challenge yet… a self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt of the Appalachian Trail. FKT's are what hikers call speed records for various trails and routes. The current self-supported record of the Appalachian Trail is held by Gossamer Gear ambassador, Heather “Anish” Anderson, with a time of just over 54 days.
The Appalachian Trail is the best known trail in the country, and maybe even the world. With anti-trans legislation and violence at an all-time high, it’s important to me that I continue to stand proud and provide trans representation in the hiking community, a community that has supported me as I’ve shared my life publicly since 2021. I hope we can create a dialogue about how we as hikers can support transgender people even as trans people’s rights are being stripped at every level and some media outlets try to convince people there is something wrong with us, and that we are dangerous.
The Appalachian Trail was my first thru-hike in 2021. That hike marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. After two years of focusing on my sobriety and gender transition, I sold all of my things, moved into a backpack and never looked back. The AT represents a time where I followed my heart and began chasing my dreams instead of doing what was expected of me. More than four years later, I’ve made the White Mountains of New Hampshire my home. I’ve worked at a gear shop and a hostel along the trail. I pick up fellow dirtbags when I see them with a thumb out. I’ve embraced the deep value of place-based community and the intimate knowledge of the mountains in which I reside. Attempting an FKT on the Appalachian Trail is my way of embracing these mountains, expressing my love for our culture, and of the communities that call the Appalachians home.
My attempt will be “self-supported”, which is an official designation defined by FastestKnownTime.com. Self-supported means you may have as much support as you can manage or find along the way, but not from any thing or person just for you; any support you employ must be equally available to anyone else. This can include:
- Caching supplies in advance
- Purchasing supplies along the way
- Staying at motels
- Finding or requesting food or water.
I will send myself resupply boxes with food, replacement gear and other supplies. I’ll cache food where I can during long stretches between towns so I don’t have to carry more than a few days of food at a time. I plan to eat foods like any other thru-hiker would. A diet high in sugar, carbs and fat to keep myself fueled, and don’t forget plenty of protein to help repair and replenish my muscles. This means lots of high calorie snacks, candy and nutrition bars while on trail and as much “town food” as I can pack in when I come across towns. I’m partial to ice cream, cake, pizza and bacon cheeseburgers. I’m sure there is a more professional, less “dirt-baggy” way of fueling myself, but that just wouldn’t be my style. I expect to burn over 5,000 calories a day, so I need cheap, bulk calories however I can get them!
One unique challenge associated with FKTs is constant GPS tracking. The Appalachian Trail is considered a “Premier Route” and therefore it’s encouraged that I have two forms of GPS tracking at all times. This is a tall order, because GPS watches and devices are expensive, and they require regular recharging. Therefore, I’ll have to carry two external battery packs just to keep up with the energy demands of my GPS watch, my InReach device, my phone and my rechargeable headlamp.
Gossamer Gear is supporting my effort with some essential pieces of gear. I’ll be using the DCF Whisper shelter with a trimmed polycro sheet as a ground cloth. At just 9 ounces, the Whisper is wildly spacious and has a bug netting skirt to keep the mozzies at bay. I’ll sleep on the GG ⅜” Torso Foam Pad, an amazing new super lightweight option that provides comfort for my shoulders and hips. Lastly, I’ll use the LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles, weighing just under 5 ounces each, to negotiate my way through the most rugged and steep sections of trail without weighing me down.
You can support my hike by following me on Instagram @seltzerskelter and if you want to send some virtual trail magic, you can Venmo me at @lyla-h. I’ll share tidbits from my journey when I can, and I’d love to hear any positivity and encouragement you’d like to share with me in my comments, or send me a DM to say hi! Thank you to Gossamer Gear and to all of you for supporting me and other trans athletes who need your voice and energy now more than ever.
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