- Maverick Dustin, 16, of Spanish Fork, became the youngest hiker to complete the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup.
- Dustin hiked 36.7 miles, gaining 25,000 feet in elevation, as he trekked the ridge around Little Cottonwood Canyon.
- His journey included training with his brother and support from family and friends.
SALT LAKE CITY — A teenager from Spanish Fork has become the youngest person known to complete a grueling 36-mile hike connecting all of the peaks surrounding Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Starting at Ferguson Canyon Trailhead, the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup ascends to Twin Peaks, then follows along the ridge to summit 21 named peaks and a handful of unnamed minisummits on the way to Lone Peak before descending Bells Canyon to finish.
"The first peak is a trail, and you hike up a steep — it was almost like a bushwhack — up 7,000 feet of elevation gain to the first peak, then you are going down and up a rocky ridge for the majority of the rest of the time," Maverick Dustin recalled.
Hiker Jared Campbell first created the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup course in 2004 and has a blog page that lists everyone who has accomplished the feat. According to the website, Dustin, 16, is the youngest person to accomplish the feat.
Dustin first learned about the hike challenge from his older brother, who wanted to do it a few years ago but was prevented by the weather. So this summer, the brothers decided to start training together.
"It's been a journey. I've done countless runs for cardio. I've done a good, like, probably close to a peak a day, for the past few months, whether it be carrying a 50-pound pack or a 60-pound pack," he said.
Dustin started at 5:30 a.m. on July 11, hiking all day, all night and all the next day before finishing around 7 p.m. on July 12.
"It was 36.7 miles, close to 37," he said. "I gained 25,000 feet of elevation, and it took me 37 hours and 33 minutes."
For the first 4 miles, Dustin had two other people with him. Then he had about 6 miles on his own, before two friends joined for about 5 miles each. At mile 20, his brother joined for the final 16 miles.
Dustin had previously hiked all of the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup in three separate sections, so he knew what to expect.
"The first part, I crushed it. I went like three hours faster than the first time I did it," he said. "Then the second part, I hit a wall because I forgot to eat protein ... which the second section is the easier part, it's more of a trail, less rocky, so I lost time there."
About 2 a.m., Dustin said he was struggling to keep going, but once the sun came out, he regained his energy.
"It gets pretty cold and windy up there, and I like the sun. So, once it came out, I felt good again," he said.
Dustin had packed plenty of snacks, runner gels and energy gummies to keep him going. Once he reached the first pass, his mom was able to give him half a sub sandwich and more snacks. His brother brought him the other half of the sandwich at mile 20.
Dustin said he is so grateful for his "crew" of family and friends who helped him finish the challenge. He grew up in a family that loved hiking, and even hiked Mount Timpanogos when he was about 9 years old.
"I started in the baby pack of hiking," he said.
As an avid outdoorsman who loves rock climbing, canyoneering and mountain biking, Dustin is proud he pushed himself to do this challenge.
"I just feel like I finally, for once, pushed myself," he said. "I've never really tried to push myself or felt like I have. I have done a lot of extreme sports, but I just have been like, 'Oh, I can always do harder, I can always do more.' So this was a fun, a little challenge for me."
From the spectacular view at Devil's Castle Peak to the gorgeous sunset he saw from Mount Baldy, Dustin said it's important to focus on the "baby steps" as you tackle daunting goals.
"When I was doing it, I wasn't trying to focus on what I needed to get to; it was: 'What's the next thing I can do that would make me want to keep going?'" he said. "You're just chipping away at your final goal, and it's easier to think about it that way."
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