Hiker breaks Pacific Crest Trail speed record

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL - California hiker Josh Garrett has set a new speed record for completing the Pacific Crest Trail.

Just before 9 p.m. on Thursday night, Garrett finished the entire 2,655-mile trail with an official time of 59 days, 8 hours and 59 minutes.

The previous record was just under 65 days, set by Scott Williamson in 2011.

Garrett, a 30-year old track coach and exercise physiology instructor at Santa Monica College, averaged about 45 miles per day on his trek, covering terrain that included the blazing hot Mojave desert near Mexico and the steep Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

Garrett, a vegan, also used the journey to raise awareness and money for Mercy For Animals, a non-profit working to prevent cruelty to farmed animals.