Andrew Skurka's Blog, page 14

76 testimonials about our 2020 guided trips

Since 2014 we’ve asked clients to complete an online trip evaluation at the conclusion of their trip. It gathers feedback about their satisfaction, goals, guides, preparedness, location, physical difficulty, and meals. The results have helped us understand what we do best and how we could further improve, and to ensure that the quality of their experience is being at least maintained and hopefully improved.

From our 2020 trips, 152 out of 173 clients (88 percent!) took the survey, so I have high confidence in the results.

Overall satisfaction

The single most important survey question is the first one: “Overall, how satisfied are you with your experience?”

I’ve asked this question since the beginning. On a 5-star scale, our results have been:

2020: 4.882019: 4.922018: 4.812017: 4.882016: no trips2015: 4.902014: 4.85

We’ve always run a high-quality program, and 2020 continued the trend, despite all the curveballs and uncertainty life threw at us throughout the year. This was still the case despite the program growing quite a bit over the past few years, and me guiding a smaller percent of the trips. In other words, our infrastructure is strong and our team rocks!

Testimonials from 2020 trips

Towards the end of the survey, I ask clients to provide a testimonial if they’re willing. Of our 2020 alumni, 152 did. I wanted to share some of them here to thank the clients for being so flattering and to demonstrate to prospective clients that our program is truly extraordinary.

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Yosemite: FundamentalsYosemite: Adventure (5- and 7-day)Rocky Mountain: Adventure (5-day)Grand Staircase Escalante: Adventure (5-day)West Virginia: Fundamentals (3-day)West Virginia Adventure (5-day)







Yosemite: Fundamentals

“The 3 day Yosemite Fundamentals trip was my second backpacking trip ever. Through the curriculum beforehand and the knowledge obtained in the field, I now feel totally confident to start planning solo trips!” -Krystle C.

“I cannot thank Andrew and his team enough for a truly memorable learning experience.  With the beauty of the Yosemite Wilderness as a classroom, and truly experienced guides genuinely committed to your learning and safety, I have come away with better skills and confidence to undertake a similar journey on my own or with family.  Thank you, Andrew and team!” -Ovidio C.

“New or returning to backpacking?  The ultralight backpacking course with Andrew Skurka will save you countless hours.  Gear selection, navigation, weather predictions, how to go off-trail.  It’s all here!  I feel that learning from the accumulated wisdom of the guides has made me more confident and comfortable heading back out into the wilderness.  They also make it a fun and memorable experience on top of all they taught me.  I loved it so much I plan on taking the next level trip with them as soon as possible.” -John H.

“Andrew Skurka, and all of his guides, are so incredibly knowledgeable as to all aspects of backpacking. The well thought out planning curriculum prepared me not just for the guided trip, but gave me the ability to plan my own backpacking trips going forward! I would highly recommend the fundamentals trip for anyone with a desire to learn how to properly prepare for, and complete, a successful backpacking trip!” -Nick M.

“As a first-time backpacker I think that this was the best hands-on learning environment I could have asked for. I was nervous and intimidated at first but once I got out there I saw how prepared I was for this trip (gear, fitness, etc) through the pre-trip lessons and group chats. I have a great base of knowledge now for going on short trips of my own.” -C.D.

“I had a great trip. We had world class guides with a wealth of knowledge and experience. The guide team had to deal with a pandemic and wildfires, yet they still provided a great experience. I would like to join a future trip and recommend the fundamentals  trip to anyone that want to improve their backpacking skills.” -Phil M.

“You can get a guided backpacking experience from many providers.  However, you won’t build your skills and advance very much.  The up-front classroom training and expert advice from legendary long-distance backpackers will help you gain skills.   You will learn and have a great experience at the same time.” -Chuck T.

“Such an amazing trip! Our guide’s knowledge and the experience was very impressive. At first, I was slightly disappointed Andrew would not be guiding my trip, but I am thrilled to have the experience provide by our guides. I would love to go on one of the longer trips after doing the 3-day trip!” -Patrick K.

“Andrew’s whole team did an amazing job at creating a smooth and delightful trip! From the planning course to leaving Yosemite after a wonderful trip, their hard work made the trip great and was so nice to leave behind the craziness of the world right now. Our group jumped in nearly every lake we came upon, went over a “smart pass” and overall had a blast! Thank you for all that you do and I hope our paths cross again soon.” -Jade T.

“My backpacking trip with Andrew Skurka was amazing, there was so much to learn and discuss, we spent a good amount of time doing various activities and they let us hike at our own pace and gave all the warnings ahead but let us choose the risks, which I liked a lot. I couldn’t believe we were hiking with the legends of the backpacking world, this was a dream come true.” -Prasad S.

“As an authority on the topic of backpacking, Andrew has all the credentials and accolades to back it up, giving the student the utmost confidence in his lessons but also being lead out into the wilds.  His hands-on instruction of all the fundamentals: planning, packing, navigation, nutrition, hydration, and sanitation have given me the confidence to explore on my own, but also wanting more. I will definitely be taking another, more advanced class, from Andrew next year.” -Stuart M.

Yosemite: Adventure

“Andrew Skurka Adventures is an entirely unique experience and is operated very differently from other outdoor guide groups.  Andrew’s attention to detail, all the way from matching experience and fitness levels of the groups, to route planning, navigational aids and equipment checks provided a confidence inspiring foundation for our trip.  Our guides, Dave and Jessica, were knowledgeable, highly experienced and fun.  The route we followed took us to crazy beautiful areas that few ever get to see.  Although I felt constantly challenged by the terrain, I never felt afraid or concerned about the danger level and our guides took the time to teach us the techniques we needed for safe travel.  I have an entirely new confidence level in back country and off-trail travel having journeyed with Andrew’s group.  I had one of the most enjoyable backpacking trips I’ve ever been on and am already figuring out which Skurka trip to go on next year.” -Jay K.

“Fantastic trip! I loved being out in the Yosemite backcountry, off-trail, in amazing scenery and views. Gave me a chance to stretch myself in terms of hiking distances and scrambling up high passes. Great guides and fellow hikers. Learned a bunch from the pre-trip exercises. And, great refresher on how to navigate in the wilds. Looking forward to another trip next year or sooner.” -Nabeel A.

“A Skurka Adventure is everything you’d expect it to be.  Great venues.  Challenging routes.  Top guide teams.  Like-minded clients, who quickly become friends.  Daily teaching moments that increase your knowledge and confidence.  Not to be missed!” -Sam D.

“Andrew’s trips have a well developed and thoughtful training component. His guides are world-class, and nice as well. The destinations are spectacular. Your companions are likely to be engaging folks committed to outdoor pursuits. A great value for the money.” -Neil R.

“The 5-day adventure trip on the Yosemite High Route was definitely the best backpacking trip that I have been on. Each day was full of hiking and learning and worthy challenges. The way that Andrew Skurka runs his guided trips is that he empowers the client to take charge of as much as they can. The amount of prep work that Andrew’s team puts in, and the prep work that they provide for the client, is an indication of how committed this operation is to ensuring that the client gets the most out of their experience. The guides are exceptional. They are experts. Our guides, Brian and Christy, have a lifetime of experience in high mountains and have undertaken numerous of the most challenging adventures. They are so knowledgeable and encouraging and they know just when to press (and let off) the accelerator, getting the most out of the group. We were lead through the pristine areas of Yosemite that most people only see on a map. However we could only see these beautiful remote areas by putting in the hard miles to get there. And it was worth every step. I was tired every night and eager every morning. I’ll certainly be applying for future trips.” -Ruben Z.

“The first thing I noticed about Andrew is his attention to detail on his website, be it gear reviews, articles about backpacking skills or his book. He brings the same level of detail to his guided trips. Everything is very well thought out, from pre-trip planning and gear shakedowns to food and dietary restrictions. On top of it, this year, he came up with good and sustainable ways to keep clients feeling safe w.r.t. Covid-19. The trips themselves are conducted along spectacular routes in spectacular locations. The guides all have stellar reputations as backpackers (Andrew Skurka, Alan Dixon, Dan Durston, Brian Robinson, Paul Magnanti, Joe McConaughy etc. – the list reads like the who’s who of the backpacking world) and have immense and intimate knowledge of their field. If you are new to backpacking and want to learn more or are experienced but have a hole in your skill set that you are hoping to fill and do it in some of the best locations that the Great American Outdoors has to offer, I can’t think of a better set of people to help you out.” -Nirmal V.

“My trip with Skurka Adventures was one for the books. You are given tools before you even set foot on trail that set you up for success. And once you are out in the backcountry, you feel safe, secure and strong thanks to the like-minded humans you are intentionally grouped with. We even had the chance to hike with Andrew one afternoon, definitely a cool experience. From a world-class route in Yosemite to the best guides, I can’t say enough about this adventure!” -Brit K.

“Five stars for Andrew Skurka’s guided backpacking trips.  Andrew’s program combines in-depth classroom learning with practical field application and provides access to expert guides who pass on their experience every step of the way.  Oh, and don’t forget an amazing adventure – plenty of epic scenery and challenge!  As someone with limited prior backpacking experience, I greatly benefited from learning Andrew’s philosophy for how to approach any situation with the correct gear, supplies, and skills.  During the trip I was able to apply my skills and further build knowledge through real-world application and the insight of our expert guide team.  I now feel empowered to take my personal backpacking to the next level!” -Sarah M.

Rocky Mountains: Adventure

“Andrew’s 1-week Colorado Adventure was the perfect tool to accelerate my learning of “The Right Way to Backpack” – and we also had an amazing time in the most beautiful backcountry I have ever visited. Highly recommended.” -Balazs M.

“Andrew – My hike on the 2020 Colorado trip was great.  Your pre-trip planning process was by far the best I have seen in many years of using guiding companies. During my trip, Jess and Brian presented opportunities to challenge myself and overcome obstacles (be it weather, elevation, off-route planning) that will serve me well on future hikes.   I learned a tremendous amount of skills on this hike and look forward to going out on my own and using them successfully.” -Jonathan K.

“This was my first Skurka trip and it lived up to my expectations. The San Juan’s were beautiful, our guides were kind and knowledgeable and the group was well-formed. I would not have been comfortable pulling a trip like this together on my own prior to this but now I feel equipped to do so.” -Josh A.

“This was a trip of a lifetime, a true week long intensive adventure in the Colorado wilderness. Along with the high elevation hikes and peak summits, we learned about the wildlife, side hilling and finding natural Elk trails. We also went off trail for an entire day leaning to navigate with compass and topo maps across entire landscapes. The meals and group dynamics were excellent. Andrew spends a lot of times assessing people and backgrounds to create group and trip dynamics that gel together.” -Winston W.

“As someone who has learned a lot from Andrew’s website but hasn’t ever backpacked with people more experienced than myself, I thought this trip was a huge step forward in my backcountry skills and comfort. Would highly recommend.” -Billy F.

“This was a really nice trip.  The route was remote, beautiful, and challenging.  The guides did a great job. They were friendly, knowledgeable, organized, and supportive of everyone in the group.  There were many opportunities for hands-on learning, including how to use maps for instance.  I would definitely recommend a hike with Andrew and his crew to upgrade your backcountry skills.” -Gregory T.

“The trip to the San Juans was a home run! Southern Colorado is easily accessible to me and that was a key for travel in 2020. Andrew and Dave are world-class guides! It’s easy to stress their athletic strength but they bring so much more to the trip – personal care for their clients and sharing their passion for an incredible wilderness experience. Our guides were also ready to share their skills and experience any time we asked for their input and thoughts. And Andrew has developed a great ability to match each of us to the right challenge. I’m also amazed at the incredible people that I got to share the trip with! I greatly enjoyed their energy, experience, passion, and humor. This was my fifth adventure with Andrew. And I can’t wait to head for Alaska!!” -Phil B.

“There is no better way to be a great backpacker than to attend a Skurka Adventure trip.  I have absolutely no worries about completing any thru-hike now.” -Paul W.

“If you are willing to put in the work, this trip is for you. You will come out a much more capable backpacker along with a newfound community of friends who see the inherent value of the outdoors!” -Rahul S.

“This was an amazing trip complete with challenges, learning new skills, enjoying new experiences, making new friendships, and was everything I had hoped for. I feel enriched by the people I came to know. I gained more confidence in the skills I learned and practiced. I am very thankful to those who put this together and guided the trip. A totally awesome experience.” -Greg E.

“The San Juans were majestic. An inspiring, invigorating place to be with a tremendous group of folks learning how to enjoy this creation to its fullest. I’d hit the trail with Dave or Andrew anytime and anywhere. Truly a privilege.” -Matthew M.

“I have taken several trips with Andrew.  I keep coming back because of the outstanding teaching, venues and fellow clients.  He seems to attract the nicest, most interesting people.  They all have varied backgrounds and skill sets that I lack. I learn from them in addition to the guides.  If you want to build your backcountry confidence and skill set, I can’t think of any better organization to do this.” -Kevin J.

“Andrew Skurka’s adventure and team are in a class by themselves.  There is no better venue to explore the wilderness in a relatively safe yet challenging way than with his team.  From start to finish, both on paper and put to test in the field, it’s an educational, efficient and hands-on experience to your own lightweight essential backpacking journey.  It’s an exhilarating week of exploration, where anything can happen and something everyone should try at least once. I look forward to returning and making more memories.” -Michelle C.

“The experience with Andrew Skurka’s guided trips is incredibly unique! I learned more about backpacking in 7 days than I had in the preceding 7 years of trips that my husband and I had been taking on our own. The opportunity to go with guides of this caliber and experience level is unmatched. It’s like having Michael Jordan show you how to shoot a free throw. Andrew is so thoughtful about the organization of the trip and the way that he matches clients on a trip and it paid off in the field when we had the BEST group anyone could ask for. This eclectic group of people laughed our way through all 7 days, even when we were hailed on or had a mishap! It wasn’t 4 days after we returned home that several group members were calling to already plan our next trip together a month later. We finally found backpacking buddies who are at our same level and will definitely be keeping in touch and having more adventures together in the future. This was a truly unique opportuity that I will never forget. The amount of gear that I have to buy now based on all of the cool stuff that I saw (mostly lower tech gear than I previously thought I needed) will keep me busy shopping for the next 6 months.” -Alana Shah

Grand Staircase Escalante: Adventure

“If you are interested in improving your backcountry backpacking and navigational skills, I highly recommend embarking on one of Andrew Skurka’s guided trips. The guides are all world-class adventurers and will help to elevate your respective experience in the wilderness. The trip schedule has multiple location options from which to select. You won’t be disappointed if you decide to join one of Andrew’s adventures!” -Robert A.

“This trip was very engaging, interesting, fun, physical, and worth it!  I was encouraged to lead and try new things.  I was comfortable if I struggled–the instructors helped build confidence and stuck with me when I was unsure.  I had a lot of “firsts” on this trip and the guides and other participants made sure we had the knowledge and skills (and gear!) to do them right.  Very impressive.” -Stephanie A.

“I had an amazing experience backpacking for 5 days in Escalante. While the trip location was a last-minute change due to the wildfires closing Yosemite, Andrew and his team executed this change smoothly, with clear, consistent communication. The planning curriculum leading up to the trip is detailed and thorough. I felt fully prepared prior to arriving at the trail head. David and Christy were awesome guides. They imparted invaluable knowledge on backpacking skills and gear.  They were both genuinely fun to be with. The trip included hands-on learning of map and compass skills and a chance for each of us to test these skills in the field. The desert environment was new for me and I found the terrain beautiful and challenging. Because of this experience I have increased my knowledge and skill set significantly while enjoying 5 days on (and off) trail in an amazing place. The in-depth planning curriculum and hands-on learning that occurs with Andrew’s trips makes them far superior to the experiences I have had with other guided excursions.” -Anonymous

“It’s a strange feeling when you drive away from people you hiked and lived with for a week. You think you may miss them but you also know you only really met them a week ago. Then you realize you might meet them on the next trip you go on with Andrew. Then it’s not good-bye, rather, it’s I would love them to join the next great adventure.” -Brian S.

“This is the best and quickest way to learn practical skills for navigating the outdoors efficiently and effectively with only the gear you need and nothing you don’t.  It builds your confidence to plan your own trips and literally get off the beaten path.” -Mark B.

“If you want to take your backpacking experience to a new level and have a great adventure and not just a tour then Skurka Adventures delivers. From the planning curriculum, resources, pre-trip introductions, travel arrangements, gear recommendations, gear demo opportunities, and overall care for clients Andrew and his team are the best. Once on the trail the guides were knowledgeable, willing and able to communicate their expertise, very supportive and encouraging, and challenged us to practice what we were taught. It was a challenging and fun adventure with a great group of people that Andrew had matched up. We are already signed up for another trip.” -Dave & Michelle H.

“Due to unavoidable smoke and park closures, the original trip was rescheduled at the last minute to Utah. It was a little bit chaotic, but we got it figured out. Once we were at the trailhead, Andrew gave a great short introduction and set the tone for the trip “out here, life is simple”. From there, Andrew and Joe took our group through some amazing terrain and within a few minutes of starting, the group was already bonding and laughing together. It only got better from there. I was honestly terrified of going on a long hike with a bunch of strangers in an unknown location, but with the prep that went into it and the expert guidance from Andrew and Joe, it turned out to be one of the best 5-day stretches of my life.” -Matt B.

“This was my third Skurka adventure and once again Andrew exceeded my expectations.  The overall organization, classroom experience, and client mix was spot on.  Unlike other guide services who focus on getting you from point A to point B, a Skurka adventure immerses you in the environment and teaches you wilderness principles that you can and should apply anywhere and everywhere you go in the outdoors.” -Michael L.

“This is an outstanding way to learn light and ultralight techniques for backpacking in a variety of terrains (particularly off trail) with fantastic guides committed to your well-being and education.  I defy anyone to find a better way to get this education in a fun and safe environment.  Ultralight and off-trail techniques will enhance your enjoyment of the backcountry.  Go for it!” -Erik V.

“The experience and instruction were more than worth the money and time involved.  A wonderful outdoor experience that gave me confidence to get back out there and backpack and camp and enjoy nature.  The Skurka team were there to assist in all aspects of the adventure; planning/gear selection, fitness, how much food to pack, how to use technology and maps to stay found, everything!  And at the end, you are left with the Online Tutorials and Andrew’s National Geographic Gear Guide for references.  Oh and wonderful memories, of course.” Carrie B.

“Our trip to Utah was our second with Andrew Skurka’s company. It exceeded our expectations on many levels. The guides are top notch, and really allowed the group to use the information we learned to create our own experience. Dave and Scott were a joy to be around, the group of fellow clients were prepared, and everybody worked well together. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants to improve their off-trail skills. It made me very comfortable in the desert, an environment that I’ve never backpacked in before.” -Ginny

“This trip exceeded my expectations! The guides are world-class. I would recommend a Skurka trip to anyone!” -Jason K.

“I learned so much during my guided trip in Utah with Andrew’s team and through the curriculum leading up to the trip.  I was looking to take the next step in my skills as a backpacker, and this trip really hit the mark.  Taking the curriculum to the field, I felt much more confident in navigating off-trail travel and learned so many skills along the way.  I learned tons from Dave and Christy who were phenomenal guides and even better people and were a true pleasure to spend 5 days within the backcountry.  I will absolutely do another trip with Skurka Adventures!!!” -Wade E.

“Alyssa & I had a fantastic time exploring southern Utah with Dave and Christy.  It was our first route in the desert with significant adventurous off-trail portions.  Both guides were personable and amazing people to chat with, and always attentive to the group dynamics and needs of each group member.” -James J.

“This trip was amazing!  Alan and Scott were the perfect balance of knowledge, enthusiasm, and humor to guide us along the journey.  Our group came together well, with each person bringing something different to the table.  The educational component was excellent, the route was challenging but not overwhelming, and the support was fantastic.  Exceeded my expectations in every possible way.  I’ll be back for more!” -Jo R.

“I am an aging (48 y/o) career 1st responder with the desire to maintain if not improve my level of physical fitness and do fun and exciting things.  I’m a country boy at heart trapped in a big city for career reasons. When my girlfriend told me about her Andrew Skurka trip I expressed an interest (which floated her up HARD).  I was intrigued by the Utah venue and premise of a 5 day “off-trail” hike.  I haven’t been to that neck of the U.S. since I was a kid.  Amazing and so totally worthwhile.  Sleeping out in the open on the mesa slick rock, under the stars, with no tent after a day of hard work in the form of hiking diverse and challenging terrains, navigating with map and compass instruction was beyond the scope of my expectations. All this occurred while getting to know, over the course of the 5 days, what turned out to be a fun, interesting, funny, and down right charming collection of like minded individuals.  We had a lot of fun! Hard work mixed with comic hijinx and sometimes gut busting laughter.  The guides, Alan and Scott, developed a magical synergy that complimented our group well and provided instruction, information, and help when necessary or desired.  I look forward to the next trip.” -Kurt A.

“I cannot say enough good words about the guide team.  Not only did they make us feel safe and teach us new skills, but they also encouraged us and cheered us on.  I also have to give a big thumbs up to my group.  Everyone was a great team member and looked out for each other.  I think in the future when I look back on 2020, I might remember it as a good year because I was able to do one of my bucket list trips. If you are looking for an experience that improve your backpacking skill, challenge your fitness and have fun all the while, take a guided trip with Skurka adventures. You will not regret it.” -Chris

“The scenery was jaw-dropping and the food was incredible. Our route took us over slickrock passes and in and out of massive canyons, and the day spent getting our feet wet as we hiked down Death Hollow was unforgettable. Never experienced anything like it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” Michael M.

“This was my second Skurka Adventures trip, and both were outstanding in every way.  Not only have I learned skills that would have taken years of trial and error on my own, but the locations, guides, and other clients were all five-star+.  Andrew’s trips are a great value, and I can’t wait for my next one with Skurka Adventures.” -Aubrey B.

“If you’re interested in gaining skills in the backcountry with awesome people and stellar guides then run don’t walk and sign up for a 2021 trip with Andrew Skurka. My vacation time and my money go to Andrew and his exceptional guiding team, which includes awesome women with mad skills.” -Kim R.

“My goal for taking a trip with Andrew was to learn how to navigate using a compass and map. Well after a five-day backcountry trip in Southern Utah I now feel more than comfortable navigating without GPS and look forward to developing my new skills further. Oh, and I had a blast too!” -Anonymous

“Skurka Adventures never disappoints!  Great location, great guides, great training.  Looking forward to attending more trips in the future.” -Paul W.

“The location and route planning were perfect. We saw almost no other people for all five days. The off-trail navigation and travel knowledge learned on this trip is going to be very valuable. As a thru-hiker, I was used to staying on-trail, but this trip made me very comfortable traveling off-trail and using just a map and compass to travel to interesting and remote locations.” -James C.

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West Virginia Fundamentals

“The pre-trip coursework prepared me well to head into the backcountry. I learned the appropriate gear to bring and basic navigation skills using GPS, a topographic map and a compass. Going out into the field and having further instruction has now given me the confidence to go out on my own trips for longer. Best of all, I enjoyed the people and the mountains of West Virginia. The group was well matched and that allowed us to be able to enjoy the backcountry. The trip was professionally run and a good mix of learning, hiking and camping.” -Larry G.

“You will definitely gain knowledge and confidence regarding backpacking trips. From how to lighten your pack, how to pack your pack, what clothes to bring and how to picking a campsite.  All done with knowledgeable and friendly guides who genuinely have your best interest at the forefront of their teaching.” -Steve H.

“A fantastic introduction for those interested in gaining & improving their  hiking & camping skillset. Done in a group, participatory style with a focus on learning in the field.” -Veronica T.

“I feel so much more confident in my skills to take on longer solo trips after taking the Fundamentals course and I really enjoyed hiking with Andrew, Matt, and my group.” -Danielle P.

“Great way to get the skills and gain confidence for backpacking.” -Anyonymous

“Choosing Andrew Skurka’s guided fundamentals trip in West Virginia was one of the best decisions I made this year. I was wanting to gain confidence and learn new skills as a beginning female backpacker and I came away with way more than I ever could have imagined. The expert guides were humble, respectful, kind, extremely knowledgeable, and created a fun, relaxed, and safe learning environment for everyone in our group. World-class, top notch guides, extremely organized curriculum, beautiful and challenging routes, and perfect group placement made this a priceless, unparalleled adventure. Thank you so much!” -Amy G.

“I joined this trip because I was struggling to make the jump from day hiking to solo backpacking trips. I was hoping to gain some knowledge and confidence to push myself further in the outdoors. Well I can honestly say that my goal was met and exceeded. Within a day of getting home I’m already poring over maps planning for my own trip. And what’s great is that I can study a map and understand what I’m looking at while before I would struggle to grasp the information in front of me. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and experienced but also just as important, they were easy going, humorous individuals and spending several days with them was a blast.” -William M.

“I really liked the trip and the experience I got from it. I will use the knowledge I learned for future backpacking trips.” -Anonymous

“The fundamentals course exceeded my already high expectations! It’s not every day that you get access to this level of experience and knowledge. I would very highly recommend this to anyone interested in picking up the basics of light backpacking.” -Wesley T.

“If you want to quickly amp up your hiking skills, knowledge, and gear, there is no better way than learning from those that have hiked thousands of collective miles.  Professional, friendly, and sharing – the entire team rocks!”  -Mark F.

“I joined a guided Fundamentals trip hoping to gain the confidence to take more trips on my own, and am now excitedly planning a couple of long weekend trips without fear! While everyone will have their own risks to consider this year, I was really impressed with the way the guide team openly discussed and handled COVID precautions. I left feeling grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time in nature and meet a group of interesting and like-minded people in a safe environment during such a challenging year.” -Lauren W.

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West Virginia Adventure

“I was moved by the each of the guides’ obvious respect and reverence of the outdoors and by their willingness to share their hard earned wisdom.  I loved the variety of disciplines that were covered by the curriculum and the guides; from navigation, to biology, to local history, to geology, from ultralight, to ultra practical, there was something for everyone.” -Colin S.

“If you are looking to develop your confidence and skillset for backpacking both on and off trail this unique service from Skurka Adventures will give you a solid primer and true backcountry experience in some amazing locations!  I have done and loved Yosemite and southern Utah.  I feel confident in my skill to go it alone now. But, I am excited to do another trip just to share another great location with them and their upbeat guides and local knowledge of the locations they guide in.” -Anonymous

“I started backpacking late in life and pretty much all I know about trip planning and backpacking has come from my trips with Andrew Skurka. My goal was to  be able to plan and do trips on my own. This year I’ve done three mutiple day trips on my own thanks to what I’ve learned on his trips. If you have the same goal as I had I would recommend doing one of his trips.” -Anonymous

“This is a MUST DO!  Learn from the best!  In addition to reducing my base weight by more than 15 pounds, I improved my knowledge in all aspects of backpacking, from trip planning to bushwacking.” -Tim S.

“Skurka Adventures did a stellar job throughout my West Virginia Dolly Sods trip. I gained immense knowledge about off trail navigation, ultra light backpacking and group dynamics. My guides – Alan, Joe and Matt – enthusiasm for the outdoors permeated my entire experience. It helped me realize that it truly can be spectacular no matter where you are in the world. I would recommend Shurka Adventures to any backpacker seeking some adventure.” -Anonymous

“I have traveled the world for the last 13yrs, I have visited 10 different countries, one of them including Santorini Greece. Never before have I experienced something so memorable as my guided backpacking trip to Dolly Sods, West Virginia. Allow me to elaborate, there have been many adventures in my life that were risky and intense but never made me feel queasy. This guided backpacking trip was my first ever trip away from my family, surrounded by strangers and in the wilderness. Upon first arriving, I was sick to my stomach with fear and anxiety, but soon after meeting my guides and the group of strangers I’d be spending the next five days with I was immediately put to ease. The week I spent in Dolly Sods has become my number one favorite adventure ever taken. The guides are patient and quick to help you learn, the people I hiked with grew to be my trail family. It’s been 5 days since my trip ended and I miss all of it already.” -Kayla C.

“If you are looking to transition from a beginner backpacker to being confident in your abilities in more remote/ tough areas, this is the trip for you. I am significantly more prepared to tackle longer trips on my own, and had a hell of a good time learning these new skills. I’ll be back next year.” -Sam Y.

“My trip opened up a new world for me to explore. I feel prepared to challenge myself and push my limits ever upwards and onwards.” Jason L.

“Do you want to take your backcountry confidence to the next level? Andrew’s curriculum and guided trip with him and his top-notch guides, Matt Bright and Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy will do it. The 5-day WV adventure was simply awesome and I cannot wait to put what I learned into practice!” -Jeff D.

The post 76 testimonials about our 2020 guided trips appeared first on Andrew Skurka.

Major redesign: Salomon X Ultra 4 preview

The Salomon X Ultra is the favorite hiking shoe of fellow guide Dave Eitemiller, and it’s one of my recommendations for high routes, early-season conditions, and Alaska. It stands out for its durability, traction, support, and protection, all in a reasonably lightweight package.

The X Ultra 4 will be released in spring 2021, and it has undergone significant changes from the third-generation X Ultra 3.

Styles

The X Ultra 4 will be available in three styles:

X Ultra 4 ($120, 12.6 oz in size men’s US 9)X Ultra 4 GTXX Ultra 4 GTX Mid ($165)

Salomon rightly expects that that the GTX Mid will be the top-seller in this family, because most hikers and backpackers still think that they need a waterproof shoe to keep their foot dry (even though they don’t work) and a mid-top to prevent ankle sprains (which isn’t really the best solution). But for nearly all three-season backpacking, I’d recommend the basic breathable low-top version — it’s the lightest and least expensive, will be the most comfortable in mild or warm temperatures, will dry out most quickly, and will provide about as much stability as the mid version.

X Ultra 4 breathable low-cut, men’s



One of the women’s colorways



What has (not) changed?

Most visibly and perhaps most superficially, the aesthetics have been updated, with a cleaner, sleeker and more streamlined look. Salomon’s trail running shoes have undergone a similar transformation in recent years, and this look is now migrating to its hiking/backpacking footwear.

The most significant structural change is the new ADV Chassis, which according to Salomon “maintains the stability, control, and protection in the heel while cutting weight.” The shoe is lighter (by 0.5 ounces), but I can’t yet verify if this is a game-changing feature, marketing hype, or (probably) something in between.

The outsole retains its aggressive lug pattern, but the rubber compound will be a slightly stickier Contagrip MA (Mixed Adhesion), for better performance on rocks and trails, and in wet settings. Typically, stickier rubbers are also less durable, though I don’t think this is a reason for concern here — the X Ultra 3 outsole is very hard-wearing.

The lug pattern of the X Ultra 3 (in photo) will carry over to the X Ultra 4, but the compound will be slightly sticker (and presumably slightly less durable).

Importantly, the fit has not changed, with no difference in the last or volume. So if you liked the fit of the X Ultra 3, you will probably also like the fit of the X Ultra 4. Salomon reports that some wear-testers have said that the toebox feels roomier, and suspects this is due to the overlays/structure of the upper and how it rests on one’s foot. The X Ultra tends to fit average-sized feet — hikers and backpackers who can’t comfortably wear the small-volume La Sportiva Bushidos or the large-volume Altras.

The X Ultra 4 still has QuickLaces, which are convenient but which can be a liability in gritty environments.

Questions about the X Ultra 4?

Leave a comment. I can inquire with the media rep, and may have some first-person experience by March 2021.

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I’m hiring: Backpacking guide position(s)

For the 2021 season I plan to hire up to three additional backpacking guides. If you would like to join our team, read on.

Position description

The work will be short-term and seasonal, and should be considered a supplement to steadier full-time work, an additional contract in a larger freelance portfolio, or a fun and rewarding retirement project.

In 2021 our existing guides will each lead trips in up to three locations and spend 8 to 44 days in the field.

I currently have three slots still open, listed below. In all cases, you would be a junior guide and would assist a lead guide who knows the program better and who probably is more experienced. We typically run concurrent sessions (i.e. two trips at a time, each with two guides), and you’d be part of a four-guide group.

San Juan Mountains, Colorado (12 days)Yosemite National Park, California (5 days)Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia (8 days)

For specific trip dates, refer to the 2021 schedule.

I will need to hire at least one new guide, but I may hire three depending on respective skill sets and geographic locations.

Qualifications

Hiring is an opportunity for me to both double-down on and to broaden the strengths of our team. We offer learning-intensive and adventure-rich courses and trips, and specialize in long-distance backpacking and off-trail travel. I am looking for candidates that match this profile, while perhaps also bringing new perspectives and life experiences.

Minimum qualifications

1. Extensive backpacking experience. Have you slept on the ground (or between trees) for hundreds of nights and in a variety of seasons and ecosystems? Do you have a practical understanding of backpacking gear, and have you developed a robust backcountry skill set?

2. Good physical fitness. On average per day, at a minimum can you hike 15 miles (at sea level) or climb 3,250 vertical feet (at altitude), and occasionally hike 20 miles or climb 4,250 feet? Are you comfortable hiking off-trail, on uneven and loose surfaces, through talus and scree, and at elevations often up to 12,000 feet?

3. Interpersonal skills. Do you enjoy working with people? Can you effectively communicate your thoughts? Are you comfortable managing groups and group dynamics?

Preferred qualifications

4. Teaching experience. Have you guided, taught, instructed, or mentored others, including students, adults, colleagues, teammates, and classmates? Do you have any professional credentials (e.g. degrees, wilderness medicine training, workshop or course certificates)?

5. Relate-ability. Nearly all of our clients are adults; most are working professionals or recently retired; and many have children and spouses. What experiences do you have in relating to this audience?

6. Community credibility. Do you have a significant following on your website or social media channels? Have you written a book, developed a route guide, or submitted content to a popular backpacking blog? Are you an ambassador for an outdoor brand? Do you give public talks or clinics?

Compensation

In addition to a day rate, you be compensated for trip preparation and travel, and you will reimbursed for training and travel expenses.

Application instructions

To apply, complete this form. You will be asked to:

Enter basic biographical information;Provide links to your personal or professional website(s) and/or social media channel(s);Indicate your experience level in specific environments;Upload a Letter of Interest as a PDF or document file (e.g. docx, txt); andUpload a professional resume (optional).

Note: To upload a file in Google Forms, you must be logged into your Google account, if you are not already.

In your letter of interest, address the hiring qualifications — all or most of them, depending on your background. You need not answer the specific questions — they’re more meant to guide the general direction of your letter. Please do not exceed 750 words.

Application deadline: on or before Friday, December 11. However, I will review applications periodically and may schedule some interviews before this deadline.

Andrew Skurka Adventures LLC is an equal opportunity employer.

Questions?

If you have general questions about this position, leave a comment below. I will answer it there, to avoid multiple private answers to the same questions.

If you have a question that pertains specifically to your application, please contact me directly.

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In Oden’s best interests

Amanda and I have long known that our fur baby Oden would not outlive us, and in 2020 we began to acknowledge that he probably had only months left, no longer years. The ultimate timing or cause was unclear, but his trajectory was visibly downwards — his weight was dropping, his arthritis was worsening, his bathing was becoming less regular, his energy level was declining, and his senility was progressing. In essence, was looking and acting like you’d expect of a 17 year-old cat.

In the meantime, Amanda and I committed to making everyday his best day, lavishing him with lap-time, sunbathing, heated corn bags, premium food and treats, and neighborhood walks. In at least one respect, the pandemic was fortuitous — with Amanda working from home, he’s had two full-time caretakers, or at least one during the weeks when I was away on trips.

In return, Oden continued to give us unconditional love, adorable company, and a tireless post-long run napping buddy.

Sunbathing on the front porch

The first red flags appeared in June, when a blood draw by our home-visit veterinarian revealed elevated white blood cells. Then in October he had a mild seizure. And two days ago he came down with an apparent UTI, which in older cats is often secondary to a less treatable underlying issue. In these two recent cases, he’s had to be taken to a clinic, which is wickedly stressful for him and which we’ve resolved not to do again.

Euthanasia will be a dignified and respectful conclusion for him, but it’s tearing Amanda and me up, literally and figuratively. He’s been Amanda’s lone child since he was two-hands size, and mine for a decade, and we’d both relish several more months with him.

But is that also in Oden’s best interests? Most days, probably yes — including right now, as he sleeps soundly on dryer-warmed blankets while Amanda works feet away, and later today when he’ll likely migrate to the fireplace. But what about the day or days when it’s not, when our selfishness results in unnecessary pain — or worse, being put down at a clinic while we bawl outside, denied from entering the facility because of Covid.

I expect the next week or two will alternate between sorrow and joy, knowing that his time has arrived but that he’s living and has lived his best life. Please do me a favor by keeping him in your thoughts and giving your own fur child an extra long squeeze.

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Trip Report: Wind River High Route, Loop 6 || An extraordinary trip for an ordinary hiker

I’m not an elite endurance athlete, a long-distance thru-hiker, or a climber.  I respect those things tremendously, but that’s just not me. That probably puts me with most others who visit this website: I love backpacking and keep in reasonably good shape, and I enjoy chasing spectacular scenery and the challenge that it provides.

Let’s just say I’m an “ordinary” backpacker.

Here then, I offer some reflections on my recent Wind River High Route (WRHR) loop for others who may be considering such a trip, particularly if your background is similar to mine. 

Should you do a trip like this? What is unique about the WRHR loop after all? 

I will tell you at the outset that this trip pushed my son Peter (22) and I (60) hard. It was also some of the most spectacular hiking I’ve ever done. We tackled Loop #6 from July 29 through August 1, 2020.  This was our second WRHR foray, the first being loop #2 through the Cirque and over Wind River Peak three years ago.  For those who have tasted the Wind River Range, its pull as a raw and spectacular wilderness is hard to resist. 

General Reflections

Although it’s easy to run out of adjectives to describe the natural beauty and wonder of the WRHR, this trip was significantly challenging and potentially dangerous, so I’d like to offer some general reflections on the trip to help those who may be considering it. 

First and foremost, this is not “normal” backpacking on groomed trails. By comparison, I just completed a 75-mile section of The Colorado Trail, and the experience was vastly different from this challenging WRHR loop.  Hopefully, my insight into some key elements will help explain why.

Erik at Dinwoody Lakes



Fitness

The more you suffer before a trip, the less you suffer during the trip.  At least that’s my adage.  I’ll add to that, for a WRHR loop in particular, the more you suffer before the trip, the more likely you are to complete it safely, and in one piece. 

The demands a high route puts on the body are very different than that of an established trail.  You should be in great shape at a minimum before taking on a trip like this.  I worked hard, alternating street running, trail running hills, and hauling a 30lb pack up and down a steep hill.  This got me there, but not by a lot. If I were to add anything, I’d say do squats. Lots of them. 

Navigation

You need good navigational skills to do any high route, but especially the WRHR. Not only are you walking without a trail, but you have much less margin for error.  You are already tired, and potentially wet and cold too.  Plus, going back the way you came may literally not be possible depending upon your level of exhaustion and how challenging the ground you have already traversed is.  Finally, there may be no bailouts and no other hikers to ask for help either. 

Don’t make navigational decisions based on what you see or what intuitively ‘feels right’ either.  Always include in your decisions what the map, compass and GPS are telling you.  I’ve made two big navigational errors in the last few years, and both times I went with my gut and didn’t check a bearing or GPS coordinate before making a critical turn.  No matter how much you read about navigation skills, there is no substitute for experience in real-life conditions, and factoring in things like fatigue, mentality, etc.  In short: You need to be really confident with your navigational skills before attempting any part of the WRHR.

Weather

Take the weather deadly seriously in this area.  Again, you have little margin for error, you are very exposed, and camping spots are limited.  Peter and I got up-to-date weather reports from my wife via satellite messenger, and this helped our planning greatly.  We hunkered down for day #3 and knew we would likely have just a few good hours before weather events on day #4.  This was essential information for safe route planning.

Gear

The best piece of gear you can bring is a well-trained body and a head full of useful knowledge and experience. That said, here are some specifics:

Most shoes will get shredded on this course, even in a couple of days.  They need tough uppers that can handle frequently scraping against sharp rocks.  They must be nimble, yet also fit securely, particularly in the forefoot. Good traction on rocks, wet or dry, is also critical. 

The Bushido II’s Peter wore were literally “rock-stars.” I highly recommend them in this type of setting if they fit.  Unfortunately, they are too narrow for my wider forefoot (despite having a low volume foot overall) so I went with Salomon X Alpine Pro’s, which handled it well. 

Microspikes are essential.  I would not have wanted to cross sloped snowfields or glaciers without them.  I’ll address ice-axes under safety/danger below. 

My Suunto Ambit3 was very helpful with contouring and route finding.  

A pyramid shelter helps guard against monsoons in exposed areas. 

Don’t forget bread-bags for camp footwear, your feet will be soaked! 

Gorilla gloves are very light and help the palms when grabbing sharp rocks (which will happen). 

A quarter-zip lightweight fleece is a fantastic addition to any clothing kit.

Pace

This, of course, is a personal thing and will depend on your experience level and fitness.  For “ordinary” backpackers like me, I would not plan on more than 7-10 miles per day on more challenging sections of the WRHR.  It takes so much longer than just pounding out miles on an established trail.

Editor’s note: The most reliable method of predicting your pace is by accounting for vertical feet, not horizontal miles.

Psychology

I am hardly an expert on this. However, I’ve seen enough to know that, while exhilarating, this route can also be bleak, austere, and lonely.  We didn’t see a soul on the WRHR, despite it being in peak season.  The isolation can be a good thing for many, but it is definitely something to factor in.  Parts of the route were spectacular, and yet foreboding at the same time. Nature is indifferent to your presence, and you should venture into this area with tremendous respect and humility. 

Danger/Risk

How do you weigh the risks of a trip like this to see if it is appropriate for you?  It’s not my place to decide that for anyone, but this trip pushed me hard, especially physically.  Peter, a 22-year old track athlete, who is cool-headed and tough as nails, was tired but did well. 

The climb up “Bastian Pass” was uncomfortable for both of us.  One bad slip there could have been fatal.  I don’t have experience with ice axes, but it seems like having one, and the ability to self-arrest before sliding down a slope would have been well worth the weight penalty.  Speaking with locals in Lander, it seemed typical to bring an ice axe on similar ventures, depending on conditions.

A “Double View” at Double Lakes



Chronological trip report



“A Tale Of Two Trips”

Loop #6 represents the crux of the Wind River High Route.  It is a 48-mile “Tale of two trips”, so to speak.

Trip #1 is a 23-mile hike up the Glacier Trail, from Trail Lakes trailhead to the foot of West Sentinel Pass.  At this point, one scrambles up the pass and enters a whole different world of glaciers, rocks, and the Continental Divide-The High Route!  This part is trip #2, but more on that later.

First, I’ll give an overview: 

Day #1

Day #1 consisted of a 10-mile hike to the Dinwoody Lakes.  We shouldered our packs on a Sunday morning at the Trail Lakes Trailhead and took off.  Notable is a 3,000 foot climb out of the East Torrey Creek basin to the high point of the day at about mile 7 on Burro Flat (10,900 ft.). 

While somewhat of a grind, the switchbacks are well-graded and it’s a tolerable effort.  I’d suggest doing this in the cool of the morning, as this section of the trail can be very hot.  A 3-mile rocky descent then took us to Double Lake where we enjoyed a beautiful campsite near the water.  The mosquitos (while numerous in some locations) were easily managed throughout the trip.

Day #2

While the trip up to this point was lovely, the true beauty began on day #2, with a 13-mile walk to the base of West Sentinel Pass.  With the morning sun we enjoyed unbelievable views of the peaks surrounding the glass-like Dinwoody Lakes.  Following a short climb out of the Dinwoody Lakes Basin, the trail adorned by wildflowers, we made our way to Dinwoody Creek continuing south toward Dinwoody Glacier and Gannett Peak.  We splashed through the Down’s Fork crossing, which was flooded over by water. 

The Dinwoody Creek basin is the most beautiful river basin hiking I have ever done.  Turns of the trail would often bring breath-taking sights, with Gannett and partner peaks enticing us in the distance.  We were often stunned by what we saw and just had to stop and savor it a few times.  Dinwoody Creek became an intense roiling mass of green, milky glacial runoff the further south we traveled.  The appearance of the creek alone declared something wild and untamed was ahead!

The expected weather soon arrived as we made the final climb to the terminus of the Glacier Trail.  We were lashed by waves of wind, rain and hail, and so we quickly threw up our pyramid shelter in a partly walled-off site about a ¼ mile from the terminus.  With a break in the weather, we came out and surveyed our surroundings.  In 23-miles we had traveled from a green, forested trailhead to what looked like another world.  Snow-shrouded peaks and bleak, rock walls surrounded the Dinwoody Glacier and terminal lake. 

This was a taste of things to come: an awesome, yet somewhat forbidding atmosphere.

Dinwoody Glacier as seen from West Sentinel Pass



Day #3

This was a pre-planned zero-day, as we knew bad weather was coming for the next 24 hours.  We hunkered down as waves of rain, wind, and hail assailed us throughout the day. 

Day 4

As dawn broke, we were boulder-hopping from our campsite to the base of West Sentinel Pass.  Setting the stage for what was ahead, it took us at least an hour to make our way to the Pass, hopping and scrambling around suitcase to refrigerator-sized boulders.  Of note, there are several flat campsites at the base of the pass.  These were occupied by people climbing Gannett Peak or surrounding edifices.  We paused and had a brief, friendly chat with the climbers, who were the last people we saw until we rejoined the Glacier Trail late the next day.

This is a fairly steep, partly snow-covered pass with talus and rock on either side.  We chose to go up the right side.  In retrospect, I might have followed climbers’ steps right up the snow rather than staying to the right of it, kick-stepping the final steep portion. But we made it!  As we crested the top of the pass, we got our first glimpse of the High Route with Gannett Glacier stretched out before us, and clouds swirling about the peaks above the glacier. 

Across the glacier in the distance was the target peak 12,025 and the gully just to the west of it.  Donning our microspikes, we crossed the glacier to the gully, the snow equal parts crusted and slushy.  I scrambled up the rocks on the east side of the gully, which was a stiff little climb.  Arriving huffing and puffing at the top, I found Peter already there, having kick-stepped up diagonally across the snow.  In hindsight, he made the better choice!

Gannett Glacier & “The Gully”

Cresting this gully, we appreciated for the first time some of the big challenges of this loop.  The descent from this pass to the north was long and steep!  Examining the map, we had planned to contour to the left and try to maintain some altitude.  No way!  The slope to the left was way too steep and rocky, so we ended up kick-stepping and sliding (in my case) down the snow nearly to the bottom.  The ground along with the snow to the right of the pass was saturated and felt like liquid concrete.  After a scramble northwest across a mixture of snow and rocks, we got to the bottom of what I will call Bastian Pass, with Bastian Peak to the left. 

This was one of the most harrowing points of the trip for us, on another fairly steep snow-covered slope.  We elected to climb along the rock edge of the pass to the left about 2/3 the way up, and then traversed by kick-stepping diagonally across the snow to the top.  On our way across the snow, we looked over our right shoulders down a fairly steep, 300-foot slope that ended in a small blue lake of ice-cold water and slush.  Choosing not to dwell on the worrisome potential outcome of a slip, we focused on our steps and made it safely to the top.

After a brief rest atop Bastian Pass, we made our way across rocks, boulders, snow, and tundra to the area south of Grasshopper Glacier.  We traveled to the east of three lakes in succession. The first having a small island in it, and the third being the terminal lake. The other lake was listed on Andrew’s maps as ‘no longer here’, but it apparently had been reformed since then. The sloped snowfield and ice shelf above the terminal lake were awesome and intimidating. 

We had climbed up three snow-covered passes, come down another steep one, hopped over countless boulders of various sizes, and plowed our way through snow, rock, and ice.  Our feet were wet, and freezing and the skies were darkening above us.  Navigation was a bit confusing here too, as we had initially not reckoned on the middle lake and could not see the terminal lake from where we sat.  NOTE: The GPS map, ‘Wind River Range North’ overview map and Andrew’s maps did not completely agree regarding the lakes. That’s backcountry navigation: thinking on your feet!

We got ourselves quickly oriented, and after a quick snack break, we circled east and north of the terminal lake and zig-zagged our way up Grasshopper Glacier to the Continental Divide, just in time for the weather to cut loose on us at 12,400 feet.  The usual mix of rain, wind, and hail thrashed us again, but fortunately, there was not much lightening and the temperatures were moderate. 

With forward movement, we stayed warm until this monsoon passed after 30 minutes or so.  Crossing the Divide going west, just south of peak 12,705, we were met with stunning, but bleak views of Sourdough Glacier, Iceberg Lake, and Baker lake.  Peter nudged us north toward Iceberg Lake Pass.  He pointed down toward Sourdough Glacier and said, “We don’t want to end up on that.”  The ice shelf above the lake looked at least 15 feet high and forbidding, with large chunks of ice floated atop the lake’s surface.

Sourdough Glacier

We contoured west of peak 12,705 and it rained on and off as we descended several hundred feet over the boulders we were becoming accustomed to, towards Iceberg Lake Pass.  The rocks were wet and slippery on the way down, and I fell twice.  Luckily, I suffered no damage other than a bruised ego and backside. 

At the pass, there were flat areas suitable for camping so we threw up our shelter in a lull.  The weather prohibited further progress, and I was spent anyway.  We had gone 7 miles, but it felt like 20!  The usual alternating rain, wind, hail, and blue skies persisted for 2-3 hours and then the weather cleared up.  A beautiful rainbow formed to the east, spanning the vast canyons and jagged peaks in the distance.

Day 5

We began the last day by making our way up Yukon Peak.  We knew we had 17 miles to do that day, with nine of it off-trail scrambling like the day before.  The weather was gorgeous, and we were thankful for that!  We feasted on views of Sourdough Glacier on the way up and contoured to the east of Yukon Peak. This climb and the next few miles to the lunar flats were some of the most jaw-dropping, sublimely beautiful hiking I have ever done.  It was like walking in the clouds. 

On both the west and east sides of the Divide were spectacular views of pristine alpine lakes, jagged peaks, and canyons stretching as far as you could see. There were lots of photo ops, and we took the time to just savor this rare opportunity.  We then dropped to the saddle between peaks 12,702 and 13,062, contoured to the east of 13,062 at about 12,400′ and arrived at the edge of the lunar flat.  Then, we ascended up the lunar flat to the base of the shoulder to the south of Down’s Mountain, where we found human footprints, which was strangely encouraging in this austere setting.

Expansive views from The Continental Divide

The path to the top of Down’s Mountain goes over large boulder fields, so you can count on more rock hopping and scrambling.  There are actually three peaks at the top, and we crossed between peaks two and three (numbered south to north) as we went over.  We were at about 13,200′ at this point.  Needing to keep moving, we did not savor the views long.  We went all the way over Down’s to get to the top of the slope lower the east side of Down’s Mountain.  This slope was long, fairly steep, and snow-covered.  “No-Man’s Pass” could be easily seen in the distance. 

For the last time, we donned our microspikes and began a long diagonal kick-step traverse across the snow face.  Tired, with ice water-soaked feet, we took a breather at the flats below the slope, where there were partially walled sites for camping.  Mentally, I mistakenly felt like we were done with the off-trail portion of the trip at this point.  True, the steep climbing and descending was finished, but we still had several miles to go across Goat Flat until we reached the Glacier Trail.

So, we crossed No-man’s Pass and continued to ascend, soon reaching Goat Flat where we actually did see some goats!.  From this point, it was an interminable, fairly flat walk across a lunar landscape, of course with its share of rock-hopping, going northeast.  We finally reached the high point of Burro Flat and the Glacier Trail around 5 pm. 

The 17-mile day was finished with a downhill dash to our car, arriving just after dark.

Summary

So, would I do it again?  Absolutely! With an ice axe, perhaps…  The time with my son under these challenging conditions was priceless. 

But should YOU do it?  You need to decide, of course, but I hope my narrative and insight will help those of you who are considering such a trip.  With limited experience and less-than-ideal fitness, this trip (and others like it) can be downright dangerous, so evaluate yourself honestly.  I would suggest getting lots of experience backpacking on traditionally established trails and practicing navigation first.  If you’re set on the WRHR, consider starting with one of the more moderate loops, though none of them are easy.  Loop #6 is much tougher than loop #2, for example.  Finally, going with someone who has experience in this area is always a good strategy. 

With proper planning, preparation and experience, the WRHR loops are arguably some of the finest backpacking anywhere on Earth.

Peter at Dinwoody Basin

The post Trip Report: Wind River High Route, Loop 6 || An extraordinary trip for an ordinary hiker appeared first on Andrew Skurka.

Trip Report: Wind River High Route || Just wow!

The Wind River High Route is measured at 97 miles, with 65 miles of off-trail travel and over 30,000 vertical feet of climbing. Like other high routes, the general idea is to maintain the highest line of travel through a given area without involving technical climbing.

For an overview of the route, make sure to check out Andrew’s full description. I bought his guide and studied it religiously for several months in preparation for this trip, which was crucial.

About Me

I’m 46 years old, and an avid backpacker; I’ve done over 8,000 miles of backpacking in the last decade. I work full time but go out almost every weekend (44 trips last year out of 52 weeks!). For the last 6 years, I’ve averaged about 1000 miles of backpacking per year. The majority of my experience is on-trail but over the last few years, I’ve been doing solo off-trail trips in the Southern Appalachians. These types of trips often involve following old, overgrown, and faded routes (known as “manways” locally) or using creeks as handrails and hiking in the creek while climbing falls and cascades, or bush-whacking through heinous rhododendron (my least favorite).

I live in East Tennessee and so the southern Appalachians are my go-to, but I usually go out to the western US about once a year to backpack in some new area or mountain range. Importantly, I’m not a rock climber or mountaineer.

As far as navigational skills, I’ve done years of terrain association with topo maps, I’m proficient with dead reckoning, and I’ve done quite a bit of route-finding in my home terrain. I know compass basics, but have not used these skills extensively. I did quite a bit of practicing for this trip though.

Prologue

I partnered with an experienced backpacker that I had never met: trail name “Notbad” (Jerry). He had pulled a 70-mile loop in the Winds with another group led by hiker Dune Elliott, took one day off, then met me in Lander for our trip. Super tough guy! Many thanks to Dune for providing a shuttle for us between trailheads.

At the last minute a cold front blew in from Canada and the local towns were abuzz with news that we could be hit with 4-8 inches of snow above 9,000 feet (99% of our route was above that). This forecast caused us to load up with extra insulation that we had not originally planned to carry. Oh well, better to be prepared. Spoiler: the weather was perfect, and never even got below freezing. I did not use my extra base layers and only used my puffy a few times.

Data Notes:

I tracked this trip with a Suunto Ambit Peak 3 GPS watch and came up with some variance from Skurka’s data. I can only account for some of the variances through two alternate sections but I’ll just list what I have while knowing it may not be 100% accurate. I show that we finished with 115.28 miles, 33,817′ of ascension, and 32,008′ of descent.

Day 1: Middle Fork Trailhead to Deep Creek lakes

15.42 miles / 4,032′ ascent / 627′ descent

That’s me on the left. Yeah, “Notbad” (Jerry) is 6’4 and I’m 5’7.



We found the nice protected camps in the Krumholtz about over 10,000′ in elevation per our guide. Jerry has the Z-Packs Duplex and I’m using a Tarptent Stratospire.



Sunset over Deep Creek lake and the cirque silhouette.







Day 2: Deep Creek to Wind River Peak

6.71 miles / 4,787′ Ascent / 4,245′ Descent

More specifically: Deep Creek camp to Tayo lake near the Coon Lake junction after the summit, West Gulley descent, summit again, and then descent off the south side of Wind River Peak.

Here, we’re starting up the east side of Chimney Rock after leaving the trail behind for the first time. I took great joy in shooting our first compass bearing to follow as we ambled up the broad mountain slope!



This is me on the summit of Wind River Peak at over 13,000 feet! What an incredible view and feeling to hit the first one!



This is where things turned a bit in our execution…

I only made a couple of navigation errors but this was a significant one. In my rush of adrenaline I had trouble associating the terrain properly and led us down the West Gully too low too soon and right to this icy cliff with ball bearing rocks underneath. It was a scary moment and a total spazz out on my part. The guide even lists that you won’t miss this traverse because cliffs will force you over, but we did.

Knowing this was one of the routes hardest features we decided that maybe we should use the Coon Lake alternate instead. I did stop to map check and realized that we should have traversed to the west more before heading down but didn’t realize how far down we had dropped (maybe 1,500 feet). It was exhausting to climb all the way back up to the summit to tackle the impossibly long traverse down the south side of Wind River Peak. By the time we got near the junction of Tayo Lake and Coon Lake trails, we were whipped and found an off-trail camp on a little knoll near a waterfall.

Day 3: Tayo/Coon junction to Cirque of the Towers via Temple Pass

14.68 miles / 4,350′ Ascent / 4,495′ Descent

The route finding from Coon lake down to Little Sandy Creek was a blast. My second real navigational error happened here too since I could not find the trail up to Temple Pass. I saw some natural ramps on the right and even said out loud “If I were a trail, I would go up that way” but didn’t trust my gut enough to investigate closely. Instead, we wound up shooting straight up the mountain on unstable talus, but luckily stepped right on the trail near the top. We could see the trail from up there and my gut was right. Live and learn.

This is me mugging on Temple Pass (which was awesome!).



Jackass Pass above the Cirque of the Towers. We had a nice night camped below Lonesome Lake (legally more than .25 miles away).







Day 4: Cirque of the Towers to near Raid Peak Pass

12.26 miles / 2,936′ Ascent / 2,448′ Descent

We had decided to go over Texas Pass instead of the primary routes New York pass, not to avoid the feature but because Texas Pass had sentimental value to Jerry. A friend of his had camped at Texas Pass and shown him the photo some years before and that’s what had captured his imagination and drew his attention to the Wind Rivers in the first place.

Pingora Peak as seen from the grassy area just below Texas Pass.



Dudes mugging at the actual pass.



One of my favorite sections was the off-trail traverse of the East Fork river up towards Mount Bonneville and Raid Peak. It has such a great vibe to it. This picture is looking downstream towards the back of the cirque. Fantastic!



Good tent spots were at a premium up there. We found this cool sandy pit about a mile or so below Raid Peak Pass. Rain would have puddled us out, but we thought it worth the risk.







Day 5: Below Raid Peak to South Fork Bull Lake Creek on the Reservation

Appx. 11 miles / 1,916′ Ascent / 2,028′ Descent

I had issues with hitting the pause button on my watch this day so the data is skewed a bit. I only tracked six miles, but I’m sure it was closer to 11. I am also sure there was more elevation gain than what is listed.

This pic of Jerry may be my favorite from the trip. He did this 10 day trip with a 38 liter pack!



Sentry Peak pass: I really liked the quick hitting combo of Raid Peak Pass, Bonneville Pass and Sentry Peak pass; super cool!



We chose to spike-up and walk the snow field down from Sentry Peak.



Here is Jerry getting his form just right for the descent.



And me with our route behind me as seen from Photo Pass.



Finally, our camp on the Reservation (by permit!) which was thick with elk and trout.

We heard the elk bugling and one almost walked right into camp but I accidentally scared it away while returning from the creek. The trout were so thick in one part of the creek you could have scooped them up with a net. I was too exhausted to fish sadly.

Day 6: South Fork Bull Lake Creek to Golden Lakes

11.2 miles / 3323′ Ascent / 3,422′ Descent

This day was something. One of the harder navigational exercises was finding a tarn through a dense forest; I relied on the GPS app more than I wanted, but I’m glad I brought it. We also got to climb Europe Peak which was really neat!

Here is Jerry about to scramble over the knife edge to Europe Peak, our mid-route summit.



A dual summit pose for posterity.



I love this pic of Jerry but his wife may not.



Approaching Golden lakes from the Divide.



My camp at Golden Lakes. I cast my line four or fives times here but was just too whipped to fish still. This route was brutal!







Day 7: Golden Lakes to North Fork Camps

10.08 Miles / 3,963′ Ascent / 3,287 Descent

This was a big, brutal day. Alpine Lakes was tough and beautiful.

Douglas Peak Pass looks undoable (our route is the shadowed wall on the right) but it’s actually a really great route; the distance throws you off. It was a simple walk-up. The other side was much more difficult though.



Me, posing at the top of Douglas Peak pass.



Look at the thickness of that ice…wild!



Infinity pool!



At the top of Alpine Lakes pass we met the only other “Skurka Route Guy” on the whole trip.



Day 8: North Fork to Gannett Creek



The next morning I waited for the sun to hit my tent. What a spot!



An early view of our next pass: Blaurock! The monster. The dip on the right.



Just wow.



And wow some more.



Groups of big horn sheep kept us well entertained on the long grind up Blaurock Pass.



On top of Blaurock with Gannett Peaks broad snowy top visible over my shoulder.



Jerry on the Gannett Glacier after our exhausting ascent of West Sentinel.



Our desperation camp at Gannet Creek.







Day 9: Gannett Creek to Downs Mountain northern base

9.39 miles / 3,684′ Ascent / 2,533′ Descent

Getting close to the Grasshopper Glacier



Mmmm, glacial melt water!



Infinity and beyond!



Or just beyond…..



Happy me!



We kept joking about how Alan Dixon seems to be reclining in many of his photos.
This was Jerry’s Alan impersonation!



Our final Summit Pose: Downs Mountain!



View from Downs.







Day 10: Downs Base to Glacier Trailhead, DONE!

13.88 Miles / 646′ Ascent / 5,203′ Descent

The long walk out across Goat Flats, looking back from whence we came.



We hit more mellow tundra as we rejoined a trail for the first time in many miles.

If you read all this, God Bless You! Good luck with your planning!

Like others have written, you just cannot overstate the difficulty of this route. Words fall short of the beauty, the remoteness, and also the pure, total, exhaustion. I’ve done a lot of backpacking in a lot of places in my lifetime but this was the hardest and the most incredible route I’ve ever done.

I feel like thanks are in order:

Thanks to Andrew Skurka for publishing this route and guide.

Thanks to my tough-as-they come partner Jerry for suffering it with me!

And thanks to my wife for holding down the home-front while I disappeared for two weeks!

Happy Trails!

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Why is the West on fire?

My fire season started in August, when our views were badly obscured on a seven-day trip in the San Juan Mountains by smoke from the Pine Gulch Fire, which briefly became the largest wildfire in Colorado state history. In September, I cancelled five trips in Yosemite because of toxic air quality due to the Creek Fire, which burned almost 400,000 acres in the upper San Joaquin watershed. The situation was only marginally better at home, since Boulder was contending with smoke from the Cameron Peak Fire, which would later surpass the Pine Gulch Fire in size. Then while guiding out-of-state trips in October, I watched the wind-driven East Troublesome Fire torch 100,000 acres in a night, bound over the Continental Divide at 11,700 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park, and threaten the gateway town of Estes Park; while the Calwood Fire destroyed a subdivision just six miles from Boulder city limits.

In an era of anthropogenic climate change, this is the new norm, some will say. If you live in the West, get used to hotter, drier, and longer summers — and worse wildfires.

That’s partially true, but it’s more complex than that.

For a more thorough explanation, I’d strongly recommend this TED talk by forest ecologist Paul Hessburg:

Over the past two decades, I’ve hiked tens of thousands of miles in the American West, and most summers I spend about one month in both the High Sierra and Colorado Rockies. So I’m intimately aware of what Hessburg describes as “the epidemic of trees” in our modern forests, a result of our disastrous Smokey the Bear fire-suppression efforts that have dominated forest policy for more than a century. In large parts of the West, this extensive carpet of mature trees is ready to burn, and has often been primed by deadly insects and disease.

Bettle-killed spruce in Little Squaw Creek, Rio Grande National Forest

I regularly hike, run, and guide in Rocky Mountain, and I didn’t want it to burn. But I also recognized that it was unavoidable and necessary — only 29,000 acres of it burned this summer, yet it was the largest fire event since the park’s inception 105 years ago.

We should feel lucky that only Tonahutu Creek, North Inlet, and Spruce Canyon burned before a winter storm arrived, because the fire easily could have spread into adjacent drainages like Onahu and East Inlet — and perhaps migrated into nearby areas like the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the foothills of Boulder County. Instead, this new mosaic of burn zones will help protect the spread of future fires.

The restoration of forest health is a painful process to watch, but it’s necessary now and will be better for the long-term.

Hiking off-trail through thick stands of beetle-killed spruce in lower Onahu Creek.

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Race and privilege in the outdoors

In this series we have covered a wide range of topics meant to help aid and educate women in preparation for backcountry travel. It was brainstormed a year ago and designed to add to this website a woman’s perspective on some fundamental outdoor topics.

Our final post was to be about “Giving Back” and would have suggested ways to improve the outdoor community with meaningful action. It was an important subject and still is, but then George Floyd’s murder happened. And Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. And Breonna Taylor’s, and so many more. 

So, I reconsidered this subject and discussed more timely options with Andrew. Right now it seems more important to talk about how to open up, create space, and acknowledge the closed doors in the outdoors to BIPOC (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color). Recent conversations about privilege in the outdoors are merited, and they’ve forced many people to address their privilege in ways that we hadn’t before.

This topic is not just for women but for all humans, and particularly for the white folks that follow this blog. It may make you uncomfortable at times but I encourage you to read this with an open heart and mind.

Photo: Kat Patterson



Looking inward

My presence in nature has never been seriously questioned, and odds are that yours has not been either. I grew up in a mountain community in the Rockies where everyone around me was both an outdoor enthusiast and white. As a teenager I was uninterested in outdoor activities, which felt more like an obligation than something to be grateful for, but the access was still always there if I wanted it. 

As I reacquainted myself with the outdoors as an adult, I became guilty of trail judgment. For example, when I saw someone on the trail hiking in non-technical shoes like Converse or Vans, I would think they were ill-equipped, because they didn’t have the right gear. There is something to be said about the right gear for safety purposes, but people should not be judged on whether they have a rain shell from Walmart or Arc’teryx — the elitism needs to stop. 

I never understood that white wealth played a dominant role in how my family and the people around me recreated. We could afford to buy the necessary gear to camp, climb, ski, or hike, or anything else we wanted to do in the outdoors. I never considered having access to the outdoors as a privilege because it was a way of life for my family and our friends. I genuinely thought that I didn’t see BIPOC in the outdoors because they just didn’t want to be there. I know now that that way of thinking is wrong and that recreating in the outdoors and having access to gear is a huge privilege. 

I currently live in Portland, Oregon, which has become a hub for Black Lives Matter protests. In early June I attended several, and felt an overwhelming sense of community and support for my Black neighbors. I felt safe the whole time and it was a very positive experience for me. The protests in Portland have since changed with small groups of people taking advantage of the movement to be violent and cause destruction. Yet, the fight for racial justice goes on, as I believe it should, in cities across America. But as writer and historian Nikki Brieggeman notes in Why Black People Don’t Go Camping, “The battle for equality does not stop in the streets of Seattle, Portland or Minneapolis; it is also happening in the campgrounds of America.”

Photo: Alexandra Lev



History speaks for itself

To understand and actually acknowledge that access to the outdoors is a privilege that most white people have always had, it’s necessary to first look at the history of BIPOC in the outdoors.

Almost all U.S. national parks were originally home to Native American tribes that were forced out with ethnic cleansing to create the pristine appearance of untouched land. Our National Parks have a history of segregation that dates back to 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the creation of the National Park Service and the policies of Jim Crow segregation were widely accepted and promoted within the Parks. 

Even with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, BIPOC have avoided National and State Parks, explained by racial and ethnic discrepancies in income, education, and employment that persist in the US. Entry fees and outdoor equipment are expensive, and have increased significantly over the years, making it difficult for lower income families to visit and play.

Most of us that grew up in the outdoors learned skills from our parents — the appreciation for the outdoors was passed down to us. White Americans that are outdoor enthusiasts not only taught their kids about the outdoors but also vacation with them in national parks and other outdoor spaces. Without formative experiences, people lack the skills, knowledge, and the appreciation of the great outdoors in general. The absence of these learned skills often means that many people of color see the outdoors as white spaces that are off limits to them.

In addition, about 85% of park service employees are white, which can give off the impression that nonwhite populations are not as welcome in parks. There have also been several reported incidents over the past decade of racial discrimination amongst park employees suggesting that employees may be contributing to this problem, instead of minimizing it.

Sign advertising the Lewis Mountain Negro Area in Shenandoah National Park, 1930’s



What is the solution?

Why should we care about diversifying the outdoors? For starters, when you have generations of people of color that haven’t had a fair chance to recreate and enjoy the outdoors you have a lack of overall appreciation for the outdoors. Less people caring about the outdoors means less people taking care of wild spaces and being responsible outdoor stewards. Additionally, as our society becomes increasingly dependent on technology we see an increase in nature deficit disorder, a term coined to describe how people, especially children, are spending less time outside resulting in a wide range of health issues and a disconnect from our natural world — this disconnect will affect all of us negatively in the long run. 

As a straight, able bodied white person I do not know that there is one solution but what I do know is that staying silent is no longer acceptable. Having uncomfortable conversations needs to happen and redirecting your support for diverse business and organizations is also key.

1. How do you spend your money?

Addressing how we spend our money is also important. Does your favorite outdoor brand reinforce systems of racism or are they actively helping to break it down? Beyond their marketing, do they have diversity in their staff? Do they have a statement or commitment to diversity, equity, and/ or inclusion on their website? Have they signed the The Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge? Don’t stop asking these questions.

When we talk about representation in regards to media and marketing it’s important to note the difference between representation and tokenism. I have learned there is a fine line between the two. Being inclusive means everyone feels comfortable and that their thoughts and ideas can be heard from within a company. Are you trying to add a black person to your next advertising campaign just to check a diversity box? That is not diversity. Outdoor brands and businesses need to focus on enhancing representation throughout their staff and executive teams, not just in their advertising campaigns.

2. Follow & support organizations

There are a number of awesome organizations that have been working tirelessly for years to increase diversity and representation of BIPOC in the outdoors. This is just a short list but I recommend learning about and supporting the following organizations: 

Melanin Base Camp Outdoor AfroBrown People Camping NativesOutdoors Latino Outdoors Get Out, Stay Out Green Youth Foundation Outdoor Asian 

Uplifting the voices of these groups and many others through social media and marketing campaigns can help send a message that people of color are not only welcome but are already here, in the outdoors, recreating and enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer. 

3. Get educated

So, businesses have work to do, that is obvious, but what about individuals? Each and every one of us has a responsibility to be better. It takes work and it doesn’t end with just reading a book or two or attending a protest. Part of that work is acknowledging your personal privilege, being consciously aware of it, and acting on it by working to correct the inequalities of the past.

While you may think that you have good intentions in saying that you don’t see race or that you are color blind what you are really doing is ignoring the lived struggles of BIPOC. Learning about our racist history is a crucial part of the work and the resources are endless. Here is some suggested online reading:

Untold Stories from America’s National Parks by Susan Shumaker Ethnic Cleansing and America’s Creation of National Parks by Isaac KantorHow to Be An Ally in The Outdoors by Danielle Williams What it Means to be Anti-Racist by Anna NorthWhite Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh Dispossessing the Wilderness by Mark David Spence

Being anti-racist will not happen overnight. I’ve often asked myself why almost all of my friends are white. Is it because of the community I was raised in? I’m not entirely sure. What I do know is that I wasn’t seeing many BIPOC in my life including on my social media, so I changed that. I diversified my social media feeds, I started reaching out to people different than myself in the outdoor women’s group that I am a part of, and I have passed up social media collaborations telling brands that it was time for them to reach out to non-white influencers. Every move we make or choose not to make matters. 

4. Vote

As white people, if we want to preserve our wild outdoor spaces for future generations we need to listen to the voices of BIPOC, however, it is also not their job to educate us. Take responsibility for your privilege, do the work, and have conversations with your racist family members. Stand up against racist policies that you see happening in your communities and for the sake of everything, vote like Mother Nature’s life depends on it, because it does. 

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Tutorial: Smoke forecasting in Yosemite & the High Sierra

For five of the past eight years, we’ve guided trips in Yosemite or Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks in September. Wildfires have occasionally affected us — like with trail closures and hazy air — but we’ve typically found ideal conditions: comfortable days and crisp nights, no bugs, and low backcountry traffic.

September 2020 has presented us with conditions that I’d always feared but that had never materialized. Across the state, multiple large wildfires are burning unconstrained and generating LOTS of smoke, and fall-like weather has not yet arrived with cooler temperatures and meaningful moisture.

How have I determined if we can (or should) run our Yosemite trips this month as scheduled? In this tutorial, I’ll explain my process; the framework can be replicated for your own trip and a different location.

So far, we were able to run two intro-level courses September 11-13, but I cancelled two seven-day trips that were to start on September 14. The fate of upcoming five-day trips on September 21 has not yet been decided.

An obvious decision: When we pulled into Yosemite and saw these conditions, cancelling was undoubtedly the right call.



Decision-making criteria

What are the primary considerations in making a go/no-go decision? I’m looking at:

Land access: Is Yosemite open and is backcountry use permitted? What roads or trails have been closed? What is the status of adjacent lands?Wildfire activity: Do wildfires within or near Yosemite present a safety risk to our groups, like if they grew or jumped a containment line?Air quality: What are current and forecasted particulate levels? How will the smoke be affected by forecasted weather?Trip quality: Can we achieve our trip goals under the current conditions?

If it’s helpful, you can apply “red,” “yellow,” and “green” ratings to these criteria, as I did with Covid conditions. For example, unrestricted use of Yosemite would be “green”; partial road or trail closures in or near Yosemite would be “yellow”; and closure of Yosemite would be “red.”

I make my decision based on my overall assessment, not on some type of number scale. “Red” lights are often deal-breakers, but not always.

A helicopter drops water on a fire in the Middle Fork of the Kings River.



Resources

The media sensationalizes wildfires, like many other things, and it will not provide the information that I need and want. Instead, I rely on:

Land agencies

The National Park Service and US Forest Service websites will have official and updated information about what’s happening within their bounaries.

Yosemite National ParkSequoia-Kings Canyon National ParkInyo National ForestSierra National ForestSequoia National Forest

The National Forests in California are part of the Pacific Southwest Region, which manages eighteen separate units.

Wildfires

For official fire information, use Inciweb, which is an interagency all-risk incident information management system.

To view wildfire locations and their size, I use CalTopo and I turn on the “Fire activity” layer.

Air quality

AirNow.gov provides point-specific air quality ratings and a more helpful interactive map with current and forecasted air quality levels.

What defines an “acceptable” air quality level? It varies by the person, but I’d generally be weary of recreating for any extended period of time when levels are above 150, which is defined as “unhealthy” for all groups.

A second resource is the NOAA HRRR-Smoke map.

Weather

The smoke forecasts are only for the next 24-36 hours. So it’s necessary to look at the weather to predict beyond this.

I rely mostly on the National Weather Service, specifically their point forecasts (like for Tuolumne Meadows at 8,500 feet and for southern Yosemite at 11,600 feet) and also their “Forecast Discussion,” which is a narrative that explains the larger weather patterns at play.

In the weather forecast, I’m paying most attention to:

Temperatures,Precipitation amounts,Wind speed, andWind direction.

Right now, southerly winds are catastrophic for Yosemite, since they will blow smoke from the large Creek Fire directly into the park. North winds are best, but rare; east and west winds are okay.

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What’s for lunch? 40+ favorite ideas

As a hard-charging thru-hiker — when I would hike sunrise-to-sunset, take very few breaks, and cover 30 to 40 miles day after day — food was simply fuel. I carried items that were calorie dense, required minimal or no field preparation, and could be eaten on the go. So I ate a lot of bars back then — energy bars, candy bars, granola bars, cereal bars, and Pemmican bars. And to keep my energy level sustained, I ate precisely on two- to 2.5-hour cycles.

With many more of my backpacking days now in a guided trip setting, my approach has evolved. Our trips are more about smiles over miles, and both clients and guides appreciate a dedicated “lunch,” when there’s enough time to prepare a meal, rest, and maybe tend to things like laundry and bidets.

I’ve found two personal lunch favorites:

Ham sandwich on a bun with cream cheese, for the first day or two; and,Avocado with a salty and crunch carbohydrate, like Pringles or Fritos, for later in the trip when the safety of deli ham is more questionable.

But there are many other options, and I recently asked on Instagram for additional favorites. Here are the responses:

View this post on Instagram

As a hard-charging thru-hiker my attitude was that food was simply fuel. And it worked, because hunger is the best seasoning and I was always hungry. But with more casual trips, a dedicated lunch item is a real treat. Avocados are one of my go-to’s, usually in combination with something salty and crunchy like pringles, corn nuts, or in this case #goldfish (not my favorite, but not every idea is a winner). What are some of your favorite trail lunches? . #backpacking #hiking #lunch #food #backpackingtrip #avocado #thruhiking

A post shared by Andrew Skurka (@andrewskurka) on Sep 4, 2020 at 8:55am PDT

What’s your backpacking lunch? Leave a suggestion below.

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