Katie Rhodes & Bethany Garretson

KT and B: Healing, hard work and heart

By Jennifer Ferriss

If you have not already heard the story about the two endurance female athletes that documented the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for an unsupported traverse of the Adirondack 46 High Peaks by women, let me catch you up. On Sept. 10, 2020 Katie and Bethany signed in at the Sewards trailhead at 10:15am and ended at Esther Mountain, after covering 183 miles with 65,000 feet of elevation gain in seven days, four hours and 50 minutes, without any assistance or vehicles. You can read more about their latest FKT, the Bob Marshall Traverse, in the April 2021 issue of Adirondack Sports: adksports.com.

People may judge or question why endurance athletes do what they do, especially in the mountains. The word “peakbagger” is used as a slur towards fit, fast, and able-bodied athletes that have the time and will to climb to the top of a mountain, presumably faster than a non-peakbagger. Both hikers reach the summit. Learning about their backgrounds and personal goals offers insight into perhaps surprising motivations.

Bethany and Katie love the outdoors and are fortunate to be able to get outside a lot, leaving a lighter trace than most as they swiftly move over rocks, roots, and black Adirondack mud. They hike to teach, for joy and love, to empower women and girls of all ages, and they hike to heal.  

The duo first met through Katie’s research project via email in 2020. Katie wanted to attempt the Adirondack 46 High Peaks thru-hike. She quickly noticed that most of the records were held by men but came across Bethany’s name on the FKT website: fastestknowntime.com. At the time Bethany held three top records in the region, the Saranac Ultra 6er (supported and unsupported) and the supported for the Bob Marshall Traverse.

Bethany had a failed Adirondack 46 High Peaks thru hike attempt in 2016 and she knew she wanted a partner for her next endeavor. She kept vetting her friends and acquaintances but never found the right fit. Life schedules and paces did not mesh. When Katie reached out to Bethany there was synergy. Unbeknownst to Katie who was just looking for advice, Bethany started the process of “hiring” her next hiking partner.

In August 2020, the women got to know each other’s hiking style and personality in a real-life setting one month prior to their thru-hike. Bethany, an extrovert who wears bright colors and makes her presence known is also a great listener and gives space for Katie, a self-proclaimed introvert, to express her thoughts and opinions. Their polarity was a great fit; they made each other whole. As they spent more quality time on the trails, Katie dropped her guard. In a training hike up Whiteface Mountain, Katie shared her experience coping with the loss of her brother Tim to suicide.

 “One of Katie’s main sources of strength in arduous times is the memory of her brother Tim, who took his own life on January 1, 2011 after a long battle with mental health and a severe neurological condition. This is one reason they decided to participate in 46 Climbs for Suicide Prevention, to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, as part of their attempt.” See Katie Rhodes: fastestknowntime.com/fkt/katlin-rhodes-bethany-garretson-adirondack-46-high-peaks-ny-2020-09-17.

The day before the hike, Bethany posted on Facebook the fundraiser for AFSP and their attempt to get the overall unsupported thru hike, not just the female record. Katie followed suit with a vulnerable post just before their 10:15am start so that she could tune out the world until after the hike. Bethany and Katie had no idea that their story spread through social media channels while they battled the elements, their bodies and minds. 

Katie wore a 46 Climbs bandana on the back of her pack as a symbol of her brother Tim; he was with them the entire hike: 46climbs.com. He was present at each summit when they hit their highs and lows. As a previous wilderness therapy instructor, Bethany was able to ask the right questions and give Katie a safe space to deal with the death of her brother. Katie’s physical and emotional strength empowered Bethany to keep pressing forward when she realized they were not going to beat the overall record. 

After the eight-mile walk on the road from Cascade Mountain to Whiteface Landing to hike their last two peaks, Whiteface and Esther, they gave each other room to process the hike and their achievements. It was then that Katie realized that she was going to be OK and that she was healing from her loss. 

“My mind wanders to a memory of my brother Tim, he had just gotten out of the Operating Room following one of many brain surgeries he endured throughout his life… He reached out and I took his hand as he said something softly. I asked him to repeat it, placing my ear close by. “You’ve always been my favorite.” Katie, Final Push: fastestknowntime.com/fkt/katlin-rhodes-bethany-garretson-adirondack-46-high-peaks-ny-2020-09-17. 

Bethany reflected on what her mother told her growing up; that she could do whatever she wanted to do in life and break through barriers. Bethany wants to continue to empower women just like her mom empowered her. Right now, she does this through her work as a professor, writer, and amateur social media expert.

Bethany and Katie chose to leave the world behind on their thru hike, so neither women had any idea what was happening through the hiking community via their family and friends. They felt energy that they were loved and supported, and even found out from a quick text that they surpassed their fundraising goal. Towards the end of the hike people began to recognize them and seek them out. It gave the pair a renewed energy knowing that they had a platform to empower others to get on the trail, even as they were experiencing some of the hardest physical and emotional days. The expanse of their reach would be known after the hike when everything fell into place.

A slurry of articles, news broadcasts, a podcast, and multiple sponsorships headed their way. A new pathway to promote women empowerment, talk about suicide prevention, and to share their wilderness expertise with many who tuned in to listen or read. Even though they did not get the fastest overall time, they finally got women on the board and accomplished a lot in just a year inspiring and healing together. 

Their work and partnership have just begun.

Jennifer Ferriss (ferrissj@gmail.com) of Saratoga Springs leads an active outdoor lifestyle and is always in search of a new adventure. When the weather warms up, she commutes to her librarian gig on her 1980s Japanese Bianchi, with a backpack that carries more than meets the eye.