Vegan hikes 12,000 km to complete the Triple Crown

The great outdoors can be fantastic and beautiful, although she also presents dangers, and Alexander Marriott has seen plenty of both.

Alexander has completed the Triple Crown of Hiking in three successive years, a challenge most people have attempted over something closer to ten years.  It involved hiking the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail, the 2655-mile Pacific Crest Trail, and the 3100-mile Continental Divide Trail.

It includes the most remote and hostile of terrains in North America.

 “The total distance hiked was 8000 miles (12,000km) and took 14 months” Alexander told Great Vegan Athletes.  “I did it all as a vegan and have documented the entire journey. In September, I will attend the Triple Crown award ceremony in Colorado.”

“On the way, I have battled lightning, snow, deserts, deep rapids, mountains, thunderstorms, avalanches, rockfalls, poison oak, freezing river crossings, fires, blistering sun, injuries, dehydration, exhaustion, equipment failures, intense hunger, gun-wielding locals, wild dogs, bears, moose, bobcats, coyotes, hawks, and a whole host of other obstacles, and come out at the end craving more.”

Alexander has eaten vegan since 2003, although he became fully vegan in 2014.  “I had been plant-based since 2003 and cut all forms of cruelty out until I considered myself fully vegan” he says.

“I made the change because I have always felt compassion for animals. Since I was very young, I hated seeing cruelty and exploitation. I wanted to live a life that didn’t negatively impact the world around me.”

Travelling on foot meant that he had to travel light.

“I would buy dehydrated foods in towns and hike for 4-8 days on one supply. The foods I ate were pretty much the same each day. I would cook breakfast, cold-soak my lunch, and cook dinner. I got water from the lakes and rivers along the way. When I was in the high mountains, I would melt snow.”

We reflected with Alexander on the high numbers of trail runners and ultramarathoners that are vegan, although he noticed that some people “will sit amongst the trees, listening to the birds and watching deer pass them by, whilst eating cheese and salami.”

“I think vegan ultrarunners and hikers are proving that a vegan lifestyle isn’t detrimental to achieving success in endurance sports.”

“What does it mean to be a thru-hiker? What does it mean to be a Triple Crowner? I don’t know. I don’t know if it means anything except that I have hiked a long way.”