In September 2024, Michelino Sunseri lower a signed switchback throughout an try to assert the quickest recognized time (FKT) for summiting Grand Teton Peak. He made file time, operating the 13.2-mile out-and-back route in simply 2 hours, 50 minutes, and 50 seconds.
Nevertheless, when it was revealed to fastestknowntime.com that he’d lower a switchback, his file was revoked. And that was only the start of Sunseri’s troubles.
Later, after park rangers reviewed the Strava knowledge and thought of the accusations towards Sunseri, they filed costs towards him. He was formally accused of getting ignored Nationwide Park signage to take a prohibited shortcut. Chopping a switchback in a nationwide park is a misdemeanor and usually carries a wonderful of $5,000 or as much as 6 months in jail.
A supply near Sunseri informed GearJunkie that the prosecutor’s greatest plea deal supply was a 5-year ban from Grand Teton Nationwide Park (GTNP) and a category B misdemeanor responsible plea and wonderful. In response to that supply, who agreed to share data on the situation of anonymity, a ban from GTNP might be worse than jail time for Michelino — as an expert path runner, that park is important to his livelihood. He and plenty of others within the Teton Valley have been shocked by the severity of the prosecutor’s supply, they mentioned.
Sunseri pled not responsible on Dec. 19. His courtroom date has been scheduled for Could 20, 2025. GearJunkie contacted Sunseri, who verified this data, although he declined to supply an official remark.
Extremely Publicized ‘Shortcut’
Whereas it’s usually authorized to stray from a path in a nationwide park, it’s typically suggested towards due to environmental harm and security dangers. Nevertheless, NPS overtly prohibits chopping switchbacks. When park rangers caught wind of Sunseri’s extremely publicized shortcut, they acted.
“It was a really public violation of NPS rules, shared in such a public means by this influencer and sponsored athlete in affiliation along with his effort to realize the quickest recognized time aim,” public data officer Emily Davis informed Nationwide Parks Traveler.
The shortcut Sunseri took is an previous climber’s path that NPS claims it has been attempting to shut for nearly 12 years. Nevertheless, it nonetheless exhibits up on a number of second-party mapping apps like Strava, FatMap, Gaia, and Caltopo as a reputable route.
GearJunkie’s supply included images (above) of the indicators posted on the switchback Sunseri lower as he made his descent. The signal on the prime of the switchback, the place Sunseri lower throughout it, solely states, “Brief Chopping Causes Erosion.” The signal on the backside reads, “Closed for Regrowth.”
Michelino Sunseri: Not the First to Lower a Switchback
Sunseri will not be the primary athlete to be caught chopping switchbacks in GTNP whereas pursuing an FKT — though he’s the one one who has been formally charged. In 2012, Kilian Jornet lower the identical switchback throughout his Grand Teton FKT try. The Park Service, nonetheless, didn’t legally pursue him with costs. In response to NPS, Jornet returned to Europe earlier than motion might be taken.
As an alternative, NPS issued a warning that any park customer caught chopping trails could be cited, in accordance with Nationwide Parks Traveler.
Jornet was allowed to maintain his FKT — although his file stays “flagged” on fastestknowntime.com. Sunseri’s title, against this, doesn’t even seem on fastestknowntime.com’s webpage for the Grand Teton route.
We’ll proceed overlaying this story because it develops.
