Speed Demons on the Middle Kings

To paddle the Middle Fork of California's Kings River Gorge it usually takes five solid days—and it's no easy task. It starts with an 11-mile hike over a 12,000 foot pass (with an 80-pound, gear-laden kayak strapped to your back), followed by 30 miles of Class V rapids that descend 6,400 vertical feet. Completing all this in less than 24 hours is like pulling off a Tommy Caldwell-style one-day freeclimb of El Cap's Nose. In other words, it's practically impossible. Unless you're pro kayakers Tommy Hilleke and John Grace, who just this week conquered the Middle Kings in a whopping 19 hours, 53 minutes. "Never in my life have I had such a euphoric mad bombing experience," Grace told us afterward. The duo started hiking at 9 p.m., arrived at the river just after 3 a.m., put on at 6:30 a.m., and got to the take out before 5—right about the time you were getting off work. Look for a podcast and video updates at Lunch Video Magazine