On Wednesday, ultrarunner Scott Jurek,聽who set a new speed record聽in July for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail,聽agreed in court聽to pay a $500 fine (about $300 more than a typical public drinking fine)聽for drinking on top of Mount Katahdin, the trail鈥檚 northern terminus, according to the . The agreement was part of a plea bargain. Charges filed by Baxter State Park聽against Jurek for littering and hiking in an oversized group were dropped.
Jurek聽bested previous record holder Jennifer Pharr Davis by completing the trail in in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes. Baxter聽officials cited Jurek聽for violating park regulations upon reaching the summit of Katahdin. He was accused of being in a group of more than 12 people, drinking, and littering when he sprayed聽champagne聽over the ground.
Jurek was in Colorado when the decision was made, but his attorney, Walter McKee, told Bangor Daily News聽that Jurek聽admitted to drinking the champagne but said he did not litter or have control over the media and supporters who joined him on the summit.
McKee called the settlement 鈥渂ittersweet,鈥 telling the Bangor Daily News, 鈥淚t was a shame that it ended that way.鈥