Meet the youngest hikers to finish every trail in the Smokies

On October 22, 2023, I gathered with about a dozen hikers at Baskin Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our group planned to hike a little over 10 miles to the end of Grapeyard Ridge Trail in the Greenbrier area. Among our crew were Elizabeth Claire “E. C.” Stewart, then 10 years old, and her brother Landon, then 8, along with their mom, Jennifer Stoneking-Stewart. While a 10-mile hike may seem long for two kids, this was a relatively short day for the duo—and also their final hike before claiming the “youngest known time” for the Smokies 900 Miler Challenge.

The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club keeps track of all who document completing this feat—hiking every trail that appears on the park’s backcountry trail map. The first recorded finishers were Margaret Stevenson and Elgin Kintner on September 16, 1976. Since, hikers have added challenges, such as marking a “reverse map,” where they repeat all trails in the opposite direction. Others have set records for categories like most maps completed—currently Dwayne Allen with 20—and fastest known time (FKT)—presently Nancy East and Chris Ford in 29 days, 10 hours, and 12 minutes.

Before E. C. and Landon set out for the hike that would add their names to the official finishers list with “YKT” annotations for youngest known male and youngest known female, Jennifer received a kind message from Kevin Akard, father of Luke Akard. Luke claimed the YKT title in August 2020 at 12 years old. Kevin wished them well and reminisced, “We know that the real positive for the endeavor was all the time we spent together and the memories we made.”

“I was truly humbled by his note,” said Jennifer. “I had the kids read it, too. They both grew slightly red-cheeked, Landon especially, but they were both also grinning ear to ear. E. C. compared it to being called up to the front of the class by the teacher for an award; everyone is watching and it’s embarrassing, but it’s also really awesome because you did something good. There’s a lot of emotions in being passed a torch, and in knowing that one day you’ll most likely also pass that torch off to another.”

Jennifer grew up with the Smokies in her backyard and remembers hiking to Gregory Bald with her family when she was 5 or 6, her little brother still in a backpack carrier. She got the idea in the late 1990s that she was going to hike every trail in the park.

“I’ve always felt at home in the quiet coves and high vistas of these mountains and have marveled at the beauty, history, and diversity found within every footstep,” she said. “This place calls to me.”

Jennifer and her husband, Brian Stewart, welcomed E. C. to their family in 2013 and Landon in 2014. They were aligned on raising their children with a close connection to the outdoors.  

“I wished for them to have a childhood that expanded their minds and challenged their bodies, and of course, be something they enjoyed,” Jennifer said. “One day, I asked them if they wanted to hike all the trails with me. I told them they had a choice, and they could change their minds at any time. Their answer was a nonchalant ‘Yeah, sure,’ but they never looked back. I made a conscious effort to hike two times a month with them after that.”

I first met Jennifer and the kiddos while on my own 900 Miler quest, where I learned that coordinating with other hikers made for easier logistics and wonderful shared memories. As E. C. and Landon worked through their morning grumbles about the cold at our trailhead off Newfound Gap Road, I knew we already had plenty in common. However, I’ll admit that I was skeptical of two kids being able to keep pace with the adult hikers on that 15-mile, point-to-point trek down Deep Creek and Sunkota Ridge trails. But not only did they keep pace, they also kept me entertained the whole day with their jokes, stories, songs, and endless wonder for snails, mushrooms, flowers, and other forest finds.

A few months later, we hiked again on a much warmer day for 16 miles in the Cades Cove region. I’ll never forget E. C.’s wide eyes when we rounded a bend and came face-to-face with a black bear. We raised our hiking poles to look big, clacked them together, and shouted our best “HEY BEAR!” My day was made all the better by Landon’s and E. C.’s joy-filled water crossings, when their laughter conveniently drowned out Jennifer’s reminders about wet feet and blisters. And when my feet ached and my fortitude waned on the final trudge up Ace Gap Trail, I was motivated onward by E. C.’s commitment to beating her younger brother to the end.

Despite early wakeups, long days, and even a few unfortunate yellow jacket stings, these adventurous young hikers captured memories they’ll never forget along their YKT quest, with E. C. reflecting on scenic views and unexpected beauties.

“My favorite memory is when I climbed the Mount Sterling fire tower all the way to the top for the first time,” said E. C. “It was scary and exciting. I loved seeing the mountains. My other memory is when I got to ride a horse up on Gregory Bald. The azaleas were blooming too.”

Meanwhile, it was the overnight adventures that Landon remembered most.

“One of my favorite memories is when we went to Mount Le Conte for the first time and I got to drink a lot of hot chocolate,” said Landon. “I remember sleeping at the shelters and seeing big bucks at each one. I loved watching them. Also, at the shelters, I got to build campfires, and we roasted s’mores.”

E. C., Landon, and Jennifer clocked their longest hike on July 29, 2023, from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) down Welch Ridge, Cold Springs, and Hazel Creek trails, with a side trip to High Rocks. After 23.3 miles, a boat shuttle picked them up at Fontana Lake.

“Funny enough, three of our longest hikes were actually some of our favorites,” said Jennifer. “Minus the long miles on our feet, they were relatively easy days that sped by! Our only long hike that we did not enjoy was our adventure along the Appalachian Trail going over Rocky Top and Thunderhead. It wasn’t that it wasn’t gorgeous, it was just a whole other level of ruggedness scrambling up and down steep terrain and rock faces for six and a half miles! They were by far the hardest we did in the Smokies.”

But E. C., Landon, and Jennifer never gave up, and on a gorgeous fall day in the Smokies, I passed ahead of the trio near the end of Grapeyard Ridge Trail with happy tears welling up. This time, I was motivated onward by the chance to hold up my trekking poles with other supporters who were waiting to create a celebratory hiker tunnel at the end of this record-setting journey.

“I was blown away by the outpouring of support,” said Jennifer. “It was truly humbling and brings tears to my eyes now just to think about it. It was a moment I will cherish all my life, remembering how big the smiles on my kids’ faces were as our village surrounded them with love and cheered them on for the last few steps on this journey.”

E.C. also felt the power of the moment. “It felt good that everyone was there to support me and my brother to be the youngest to finish the Smokies 900,” she said. “I was really happy to see all the people we hiked with join us or meet us at the end.”

And, despite the playful sibling rivalry along the way, E. C. let her brother lead this final time. “I got to walk through the tunnel first—my sister said I could,” said Landon. “I was excited to finish first, and we got to spray my mom with a water gun too. It was fun walking through the tunnel. It made our finishing seem even bigger and more real!”

After the tunnel, we all headed over to the Greenbrier Picnic Pavillion, where the kiddos got their finisher medals, snacked on an array of treats, and posed for photos with fellow 900-milers, friends, and family. It was a joyful showing of what it means to find community in the Smokies and to raise young people with reverence for the natural world.

Over a year later, E. C. and Landon still hold the title for the Smokies 900 YKT. Jennifer continues to hike with them in the Smoky Mountains between a busy schedule of sports, arts, and all the other activities these intrepid kids take on. This family is truly rooted in the Smokies, and it’s hard not to imagine a world where one day E. C. and Landon may also set the “oldest known time” or bring their own kids along to claim their title.