Andrew Skurka's Blog, page 2

Applications are NOW OPEN for our 2025 backpacking adventures

If you’re planning to join us on a guided trip in 2025, please apply during our open application period, Monday, December 9 through Sunday, December 22. All applications received during this window will be considered equally.

Apply during this time to lock in our 2024 prices (before they’re increased for 2025) and to get on the trip that interests you most.

The application form is here.

For information about our 2025 schedule, trip types, locations, fitness levels, pricing, and more, go here or use the top navigation bar.

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HMG/Skurka Giveaway: Win a 5-day trip AND a full Hyperlite kit

We have partnered with Hyperlite Mountain Gear on the outdoor giveaway of the season (and maybe the decade)! The winner will receive:

1. A 5-day guided trip with us

In 2025 we are running beginner-level Fundamentals 5-day trips and intermediate-level Adventure 5-day trips in four locations: southern Utah, the High Sierra, Greater Yellowstone, and West Virginia. The winner may also select a $1695 voucher that they can apply to our 7- or 11-day itineraries, technical canyoneering courses, or Alaska expeditions. Learn more about our trip types.

2. A full kit from Hyperlite Mountain Gear

This 7-piece Hyperlite Mountain Gear backpacking system will set up the winner very nicely for their trip with us. In fact, our primary loaner pack is the Southwest 55, and I used the Mid 1 exclusively last season in all of our locations. The exact items are:

Southwest 55 BackpackMID 1 Shelter20-Degree Quilt10L Side Entry Pod13L Pod9L Pod15L Food BagEnter nowFine print

Katie and I will help the winner select a trip that is suitable for their fitness and backpacking experience, in a location of their choosing. The winner will be responsible for their personal travel, personal equipment, daytime food, and park entry fees. To join they must submit a trip application, sign required forms, and participate in the 10-week online planning curriculum.

Eligibility: Must be 18 years or older and a legal resident of the United States. Our giveaways are currently only open to U.S. residents because of legal and logistical requirements. Thanks for understanding!

Entry Period: Starts December 3rd, 2024 and ends December 8th 2024.

How to Enter: To enter, simply fill out the form above and submit it by December 8th.

Winner Selection: One (1) winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries on Monday December 9, 2024.

Winner Notification: The winner will be contacted via email within four days of the winner selection.

Other Rules:

By entering, participants agree to the complete rules and regulations.Hyperlite Mountain Gear and Skurka Adventures reserves the right to modify or cancel the giveaway at any time.Void where prohibited.

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Tutorial: How to Choose Your 2025 Backpacking Trips

Before you can plan a trip, you have to choose it. On December 3 at 6pm MT, Andrew and I will host a livestream where we share a framework and tools for identifying and assessing your options.

Some of the topics covered will include:

Understanding your preferences and goals, including experience level, physical fitness, time commitment, and budgetFactors to consider when choosing your routeSelecting optimal trip datesHiking solo versus partneredTrip planning resourcesWatch the event:

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Guided Trip FAQ livestream on Dec 5

Do you have questions about our 2025 guided trips? If so, consider:

Scheduling an “office hours” appointment with Andrew or I from December 2-6; or, Joining us on December 5, 2025 at 6pm MT for a live FAQ, details below.

We’ll cover topics such as:

Different trip types (Fundamentals, Adventure, Expedition)Fitness expectations and how to determine your fitness levelOur 2025 itineraries, including the Signature Series tripsThe difference between an all-women or 55+ group and the “regular” groupsGroup sizes and demographicsAlaska: what’s it like? how competitive is it? am I fit enough? am I eligible?Applying for multiple tripsWant to submit a question?

Fill out this form. We’ll do our best to cover as many as possible during the livestream. If you’re unable to make it live, a recording will be provided.

Watch the replay:

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Guided Trip FAQ livestream on December 5

Do you have questions about our 2025 guided trips? If so, consider:

Scheduling an “office hours” appointment with Andrew or I from December 2-6; or, Joining us on December 5, 2025 at 6pm MT for a live FAQ, details below.

We’ll cover topics such as:

Different trip types (Fundamentals, Adventure, Expedition)Fitness expectations Our 2025 Signature Series tripsHow to sign up for an all-women or 55+ groupThe differences in each locationA typical day on one of our tripsWant to submit a question?

Fill out this form. We’ll do our best to cover as many as possible during the livestream. If you’re unable to make it live, a recording will be provided.

Watch the event:

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One-on-one: Office hours with Katie or me

Do you have questions about our 2025 guided trips, such as:

What trip level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) is most suitable for me?What is my fitness level?Am I qualified for one of the more advanced trips, like Alaska or canyoneering?How do I sign up for one of the 55+ or all-women groups?Can you help me select a location? or,Why should I join one of your trips instead of just doing one of my own?

If so, Katie and I invite you to chat with us one-on-one. Details:

Monday, December 2 through Friday, December 615-minute blocks

Please schedule an appointment only if you are serious about a 2025 trip. And, beforehand, please refer to the website to answer basic questions.

Book an appointment with Katie (11:00 AM to 12:20 PM MT)Book an appointment with me (3:00 PM to 4:20 PM MT)

We’ll see you next week!

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2025 “Signature Series” trips

With most of our 2025 trips, we assemble a route that is appropriate for the group. With our Signature Series trips, we reverse this: we assemble a group that is appropriate for the route. These itineraries, which are not offered each year, include thru-hiking the Overland Route or Kings Canyon High Basin Route, bagging Class 3-4 peaks in the High Sierra, and accessing the most remote point in the contiguous United States.

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Released: 2025 guided trip schedule

The first iteration of our 2025 guided trip schedule is now live, featuring locations, dates, and trip types. This version sets us up for the open application period, December 9-22. With the applications we receive in that time, we will finalize the schedule with fitness levels, guide teams, and other details.

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Now hiring: Program Manager

To help Katie Gerber and me with the guided trips, immediately after the New Year I plan to bring on a full-time Program Manager. If you’re interested in and qualified for this position, please apply by December 6, 2024.

Context

My goal in making this hire is simple: to delegate more of my responsibilities. The Program Manager will directly inherit some of my workload, and they will also take on some tasks currently performed by Katie (who can then take ownership of other things that I currently do). I will remain engaged with the program, but I will be investing more time in long-term initiatives and in developing related products and services.

Katie and I plan to tailor the position around the experience and skills of the final candidate. From our perspective, a long list of things must get done to run high quality trips and to maintain a successful business. We will divide this work amongst the three of us in the most sensical way.

ResponsibilitiesRequired

In a home office, the Program Manager will likely need to:

Manage the Planning Curriculum and a half-dozen instructors;Serve as one of the Planning Curriculum instructors;Coordinate trip logistics, like guide lodging, car shuttling, and bush flights;Submit commercial permit applications and use reports;Secure necessary wilderness permits;Assist with basic accounting and HR functions; and,Support marketing and content development efforts.

The Program Manager must also be a competent backpacking guide. They will need to:

Guide in most of our five locations, sometimes for just one session and other times possibly for all of them (refer to the trip schedule to set expectations);Oversee our operations and other guides, in rare instances when Andrew or Katie are absent.Extra credit

If they have experience with or a knack for it, we would love to involve the Program Manager with:

Developing our routes and printing maps;Creating and producing content, including writing, audio, and video for a blog, newsletter, podcast, social media, affiliate marketing, and/or online course;Launching consumer product good(s), such as packaged meals or backpacking clothing and equipment.Qualifications

Apply for this position only if you:

Have worked as a professional backpacking guide, ideally in some of our locations, and share the ethos of our program;Will function well in an organization that is very spreadsheet-driven and -dependent; and,Hope to remain with the program for multiple years (3+).

We would like the Program Manager to have prior experience with:

Managing projects and teams, and/orCreating or developing content.

I want a Project Manager who will be:

Reliable and independently productive, with regular but not extensive oversight;Entrepreneurial, by continually identifying opportunities to improve and grow the program;Attentive to detail, because small mistakes can have huge ramifications in this business; Task oriented, because hundreds of things must get done before each trip; and,Professional, with good communication skills, high emotional intelligence, willingness to give and receive feedback, and a client-first mindset.Management and training

The Program Manager will work directly with Andrew and Katie, and sometimes Alan (our Operations Manager), depending on the project.

Hours and seasonality

This is a full-time position. Expect a 40-hour workweek overall, with seasonal fluctuations of heavier and lighter workloads. It’s very busy January through July; it’s slower in August and September; and very quiet in October and November before it picks up some in December.

LocationIt’s best if the Project Manager lives within about an hour of Boulder, Colo., so that we could occasionally meet in-person and so that they could help Alan with some operational functions.It’s good if the Project Manager lives within a half-day of Boulder, Colo., so that I have an additional option for transporting trip supplies and equipment (besides me driving the van).It’s okay if the Project Manager lives in the western US, so that they’re close to some of our trip locations like Utah, California, and Greater Yellowstone.

If you live in the East or overseas, I would discourage you from applying.

Hiring timelineOct 31: Position postedDec 6: Application deadlineDec 9-11: InterviewsDec 13: Position offeredJan 13, 2025: Start dateCompensation and benefitsBase salary of $60,000-$65,000Performance-based bonus3 percent SIMPLE IRA matchPre-tax health insurance subsidyHome office subsidyFlexible vacation time

It’s intangible, but it matters: The Project Manager will be doing fun and meaningful work; the program is reputable and produces a high quality service; and Katie and I, and the guide team, are trustworthy, supportive, and cheerful co-workers.

To applyApply by Friday, December 6Apply using this form

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Breakfast Recipe: Cacio e Pepe

This Italian-themed breakfast recipe is a refreshing savory alternative to the typical overly sweet trail breakfast. The oats give it a creamy pasta-like texture and the addition of olive oil and Parmesan provide satiation and lasting energy that you won’t get from a packet of sweetened instant oatmeal.

Meal statsRecommended serving weight: 4.6 ozTotal calories: 611Caloric density: 137 cal/oz

Those wanting more calories or a higher caloric density should increase the quantity of olive oil, Parmesan, or almonds.

Ingredients

The ingredients for this meal can easily be found in most grocery stores. The dehydrated chives add great flavor. Don’t skip them. Use fresh if you’re feeling fancy.

At-home preparation

When solo, I bag all of the  ingredients together save for the olive oil and parmesan.

In a group, each member is given their own bag of oats, powdered milk, and dried chives. The olive oil and parmesan are communally carried, and distributed in the field.

To carry the olive oil, I recommend a Nalgene bottle (4 to 32 oz), which has a reliably tight screw-lid.

Cooking instructions

For perfect consistency:

Add the olive oil near the start, so that it gets absorbed by the ingredients.Bring 8 ounces of water to a boil.Add the bag of oats, milk powder, and chive mix.Simmer for at least 60 seconds. The longer it’s simmered (up to about five minutes for traditional rolled oats), the creamier it will get.Remove from the heat.Sprinkle the almonds and parmesan on top, and lightly mix. Enjoy.Have questions or an experience with this meal? Leave a comment.

Disclosure. I strive to offer field-tested and trustworthy information, insights, and advice. I have no financial affiliations with or interests in any brands or products, and I do not publish sponsored content

This website is supported by affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors like Amazon or REI, at no cost to the reader. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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