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Runner Who Was Denied Grand Teton Speed Record Now Facing Charges

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By

Justin Housman

Published Date

October 21, 2024

Screenshot of a now-deleted Instagram post from The North Face / SCREENSHOT

In early September, Michelino Sunseri, 32, shocked the mountain sports world when he apparently set the speed record for ascending and descending the Grand Teton in a blazing 2 hours, 50 minutes and 50 seconds. Or, so the outdoor community thought. Shortly after his feat was made public, it was revealed Sunseri had cut a switchback to maneuver around hikers, which disqualified him from officially setting the Fastest Known Time (FKT). 

This wasn't the first time an elite mountain athlete had tried to set the FKT on the Grand Teton, but cut switchbacks in the process. 

Kilian Jornet, one of the world's best mountaineers and long-distance trail runners, also cut switchbacks on the Grand back in 2012 in his attempt to set the mountain's speed record. The running community in Wyoming was not pleased at his off-trail running and park rangers in Grand Teton National Park got involved. Shortly after Jornet's run, rangers posted warning on the Grand Teton's trails that they'd ticket anyone caught cutting switchbacks on the mountain. 

And now, Grand Teton National Park rangers have confirmed they've not simply issued Sunseri with a citation, they've formally charged him with ignoring those signs and cutting the switchback. This carries a significant amount of weight as Sunseri must appear in court to answer the charges. 

The section of trail cut by Sunseri connects Garnet Canyon to Lupine Meadows, the largest switchback on the descent. 

Sunseri is a The North Face athlete and the brand has subsequently removed imagery of Sunseri's climb from their social media channels after pressure surfaced about promoting illegal activity. That's essentially why the park is taking Sunseri's actions so seriously. 

“It was a very public violation of NPS regulations, shared in such a public way by this influencer and sponsored athlete in association with his effort to achieve the fastest known time goal,” public information officer Emily Davis said. 

Cutting a switchback is a misdemeanor that carries a fine of $5,000 or 6 months in jail. Sunseri must appear in court on November 19. 

 

 

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Comments

Mmmm...who hasn't cut a switchback?

 

But, not many of us were sponsored for thousands of dollars or publicized our exploits for the NPS to review.

 

Lesson:  if you expect or desire publicity, Just Do It....right.

 

 


Just do it right - no matter your expectations. 


This is a tough one. Yes, he cut the switch back, but it was very poorly signed and it seems totally unnecessary to go after him with this level of charge. At the most, give him a citation, use his platform and his offer to help promote & rehabilitate, and move on.


This article leads the reader to believe Michelino stomped on living flora and fauna. This was not the case at all. I'm not advocating for or condoning his route, but this was a hard-packed trail where no work has been done for regrowth in over a decade. 


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