Posted on 11/12/2025 7:07:04 AM PST by Twotone
President Trump on Monday pardoned a trail runner who took a brief detour on a prohibited trail while attempting to break a record running up and down the tallest peak in the Teton Range of Wyoming.
Michelino Sunseri, 33, ran up and down the 13,775-foot-tall Grand Teton peak on Sept. 2, 2024, in a record-shattering 2 hours, 50 minutes, 50 seconds.
On his way down, Sunseri used a shortcut to avoid casual hikers, but going off-trail in a national park is prohibited due to concerns of erosion.
Sunseri was convicted of a misdemeanor in September for taking the frowned-upon cut-through.
“Well… the trail trial of the century is officially over,” Sunseri posted on Facebook after being granted clemency.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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“On his way down, Sunseri used a shortcut to avoid casual hikers, but going off-trail in a national park is prohibited due to concerns of erosion.”
Main character syndrome.
It wasn’t well marked. If I recall, only at the bottom, not at the top. No one should be subjected to prosecution for this without evidence of intent beyond a reasonable doubt.
Yeah, shouldn’t be a misdemeanor. No need to give him such a harsh sentence. Just chop off his left foot and send him on his way.
I’m not a fan of going off trail, it does increase erosion and can be destructive if repeated.
However this is not a misdemeanor, it should have been a citation and a $100 fine.
0MG!!!! The heart busting run. RFK may have advocated the pardon.
One person going off trail one time is probably not going to do any damage to the environment. After all, animals ignore the rules all the time.
Wyoming is very conservative, but the park employees are overwhelmingly out-of-staters who lean leftist and no love is lost between natives and them.
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