Andrew Skurka's Blog, page 3

Breakfast Recipe: Cacio y 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.

Clockwise from top: Olive oil, parmesan, peppers, tomato powder, polentaAt-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.

Individual serving, left: one bag of ingredients + bottle of olive oil. Group serving, all other bags and containers.Cooking instructions

For perfect consistency:

Add the olive oil at any time. Bring 8 ounces of water to a boil.Add oats, milk powder, chives, and return to a simmer for 30 or 60 seconds.Remove from the heat.Add the olive oil (if you have not already), almonds, and Parmesan, and 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 I have no financial affiliations with or interests in any brands or products, and I do not publish sponsored content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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Tutorial: Plan a Backpacking Trip to the High Sierra

The High Sierra is probably our favorite backpacking destination in the lower 48. The range is huge and intricate; the towering mountains are majestic; the off-trail travel is both blissful and exciting; road access is very limited; and the crowded, high-use areas are easy to leave behind. These are just a few of the reasons we run trips every year in areas like Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings, Emigrant, and Inyo.

Yesterday evening, Andrew and I hosted a livestream tutorial about how to plan a backpacking trip to this spectacular location. We fit in as much as we could in one hour, covering topics such as:

The appeal of backpacking thereThe challenges of backpacking thereAn orientation to the rangeWhat to expect during each month of the Sierra backpacking seasonHow to know what conditions to expect for your upcoming tripGear considerationsPermitting and regulationsDeciding whether to take traction for early season conditionsHigh creek detoursResources for planning an itineraryWhen to expect mosquitoes and how to prepareResources mentionedCalifornia snow water contentPlanning logisticsDetouring the San Joaquin RiverHazardous High Sierra creeks: list, map, and alternatesConditions assessment templateTrip planning: go-to resourcesBackpacking the Sierra in a high snow yearWatch the event:

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Two open Alaska spots: Now discounted

Due to recent cancellations, I have two spots available on our upcoming trips to Alaska’s Brooks Range. Starting now I’m offering a staggered discount on both. Trip details:

Alaska 1C (June 20-26, 7 days): High fitness with me/Andrew and Brandon ChaseAlaska 2A (June 26-Jul 6, 11 days): High fitness with Scott Christy and Richard ForbesLocation informationFitness information

Due to the travel complexities of the Alaska trips, I share a dedicated planning spreadsheet with the groups instead of posting trip information online as I do for the other locations. But, generally, the schedule is:

1C: Arrive in Fairbanks on Wed, June 19, ideally in time for a 4pm gear check. Fly home on a late-evening flight on Wed, June 26 (or a red-eye on June 27).2A: Arrive in Fairbanks on Tue, June 25 for the 4pm gear check. Fly home on a late-evening flight on Sat, July 6.

The discount for these trips will be staggered. Full price for the 7-day trip is $3175; for the 11-day, $4,425. The discount does NOT apply to the flight surcharge pass-through expense, which is $1,325 and some of which normally get refunded.

10 percent, today through Wednesday end of day,20 percent, Thursday-Friday/24th30percent, Saturday-Monday/27th40 percent, Tuesday-Wednesday/29th50 percent, Thursday-Friday/31st60 percent starting June 1

The discount is based on the date of your application (or, if we already have a 2024 application for you, the date of your email telling us you want one of the spots). 

Actions to take:

If you have questions, contact me or leave a comment belowIf you want to apply, submit an application (skip the application fee since it’ll spare us from refunding it later if it doesn’t work out)If you have already submitted an application this season, you can email me back and I’ll manually duplicate your existing application for one of these spots.

We hope that two of you will take advantage of this opportunity!

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Limited spots: Backpack with us in the High Sierra

We have a limited number of spots available on our High Sierra trips in July and August. Nearly all the trips had been full, but we recently added two new sessions. As I write this post, we have spots on:

Adventure 1G (July 18-22): Median fitness in Sequoia-Kings (2 spots)Adventure 2A (July 23-29): Moderate fitness in Emigrant (6 spots)Adventure 2C (July 23-29): Median fitness in Yosemite (1 spot)Adventure 3D (Jul 30-Aug 3): Median fitness in Inyo (1 spots)

For travel and logistics information for these locations, go here.

For updated trip availability and the full schedule, go here.

Top reasons to join a trip

If you are an alumnus or have been eying our trips for a while, you probably know what to expect. For those wondering why you might join one of these trips, I will share some oft-cited reasons:

Backpack with experts. Our world-class team specializes in modern gear and technique, long-distance thru-hiking, mountain high routes, and off-trail travel.

Learn to properly plan this trip and future trips with our 10-week pre-trip curriculum. Assess likely conditions, select appropriate gear, plan your meals, and prepare your maps.

Expand your backpacking skills and knowledge. Blogs, books, and YouTube are helpful, but you will learn more and more efficiently with us. We tailor our field curriculum for each group, meeting clients wherever they are in their backpacking journey.

We thoughtfully match you with other hikers who have similar physical abilities and experiences, because well-matched groups are safer, easier to manage, and more fun.

Locations and itineraries

In the High Sierra we operate in four units:

Emigrant Wilderness has the alpine lakes and polished granite slabs for which the High Sierra is known, but none of the crowds.Yosemite National Park needs no introduction. Our trips leave from the quieter Tuolumne Meadows, heading both north and south.Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park is home to the highest peak in the contiguous US, the deepest canyon, and the largest tree.Inyo National Forest would be a National Park in any other state, but instead it’s mostly managed as a Wilderness Area.

We do not do “tours” with set itineraries. Instead, we assign each group a starting point and ending point (usually the same location) and a “Core Route” that we think will be appropriate. Guides are expected to make adjustments as they go, based on the group’s abilities and goals, and on the actual conditions. Read more about our itineraries and routes.

Temporary discount

Apply by Thursday, May 9 for a 10 percent discount.

Katie and I are both guiding in southern Utah next week, May 6-10. If you apply on or before this Saturday, we will review your application before we head out. If you apply Sunday-Thursday, we’ll get back to you May 10-11. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

If you are ready, apply now.

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Video tutorial: How to plan a backpacking trip to Alaska’s Brooks Range

The Brooks Range offers arguably the greatest wilderness trekking in North America. But it has no trails or bridges; it’s the subject of no guidebooks and few online trip reports; it’s crossed by only one road; and it’s home to a gazillion tussocks and mosquitoes — So how do you plan a successful backpacking trip there?

Last night, I moderated a discussion with Andrew in which we covered:

an overview of the Brooks Range, including location, size, and managementhow the Brooks Range is notable within Alaskathe prime backpacking season there and what to expect each monthlogistics of how to access the rangepermits and regulationsroute planning and navigationwhere to find the best walkingthe unique challenges of backpacking in the Brooks Rangespecific gear considerationswildlife encountersphysical preparationother prime backpacking locations in AlaskaWatch the event:

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Alaska trip planning tutorial: Join us April 9

Alaska is home to arguably the best backpacking in North America and planning a trip there requires careful consideration of factors that are unique to that location. Join Andrew and I on April 9 for a discussion on how to plan a backpacking trip to places such as the Brooks Range, Wrangell-St. Elias, Denali National Park, and other esteemed Alaska locations.

Join us on April 9 at 6:00pm MT here.

Topic covered will include:

How trip planning in Alaska is uniqueDestination selectionTrip duration and seasonPermits and regulationsRoute planning and navigationGear considerationsFood and resupplySafety and emergency preparednessWildlife awarenessPhysical preparednessEnvironmental considerations Questions?

If you would like to submit a question for this event, complete this form. Or leave a comment below. During the broadcasts we try to answer all questions received.

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Video Tutorial: 8 reasons backpacking is different for females than males

Last night Andrew moderated a discussion between guide Kat Weyland and myself about all the ways that backpacking is inherently different for women than it is for men.

Topics we discussed included:

Dealing with potential harassment or unwanted attentionTips for hiking soloMensturationPeeing and pooping in the woodsSkin and hair careWomen-specific gear and whether you need itTraining and fitnessAdditional Resourceshttps://andrewskurka.com/section/for-women/Watch the event:

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Remaining Utah spots: now 30 percent off!

Our first guided trips of the season in southern Utah start in about four weeks, wahoo!

We still a limited number of open spots on 5-, 7-, and 11-day backpacking trips and technical canyoneering courses. All remaining spots are now available at 30 percent off full price.

Program and trip informationSchedule and current availabilityPrices

To apply, go here. If have questions, contact me.

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Recommended footwear for deserts and canyons

Footwear is consistently the most discussed topic among the clients on our guided trips in southern Utah during the planning phases. It comes up in our online discussion board, during gear list reviews, and on our virtual group calls. Why? I think it’s due to:

This region’s unique conditions, andThe outsized repercussions of wearing inappropriate footwear on these trips.

This post should be helpful for any reader who is planning a backpacking trip in a desert, including but not limited to southern Utah and northern Arizona. For years I’ve been wanting to write it; going forward, I’ll keep it updated as existing models change and as new models are introduced.

TLTR

My list of recommended footwear is very intentional. But if you don’t care to read my reasonings, start shopping based on this list:

The La Sportiva Mutant (men’s, women’s) is my overall pick for backpacking and light canyoneering, and my personal favorite. Katie Gerber, the co-director of my guiding program, prefers the Astral Loop (women’s only) for the same applications.

For more technical trips, consider the more robust La Sportiva TX3 (men’s, women’s) or TX4 (men’s, women’s).

The Altra Lone Peak (generations 4-8; not 1-3) and Salomon Speedcross (men’s, women’s) are okay for backpacking trips with light technical terrain only. If you can still find them, the Topo Ultraventure Pro (men’s) is probably a better choice. Also consider the La Sportiva Wildcat and possibly the Ultra Raptor (which is closely related but about which I don’t have a recent first-hand report).

La Sportiva is the most prominently featured brand on this page, because they make excellent outdoor footwear. I have no affiliation with them.

Expected conditions

Decisions about clothing, footwear, and equipment should account for the conditions that will likely be encountered. In the desert, footwear selection is most driven by these three to five conditions:

Warm to hot daytime temperatures, low humidity, and abundant sunshineExtensive bare rock, like slickrockPokey and scratchy vegetation

Fine-grained blow sand is a hallmark of trips on the Colorado Plateau (e.g. Grand Canyon, Moab, Escalante). Its significance is most acute when off-trail; on established trails, the sand becomes somewhat compacted by the traffic. In deserts with different geological origins (e.g. Anza-Borrego in southern California, which has more metamorphic rocks), sand may not be a concern.

Periodic water crossings and wading is the final consideration, with the frequency and depth depending on the route, time of year, and recent weather events. In Escalante, our groups are in water on most days, ranging from ankle-deep creeks that can almost be hopped across to full-on swims in deep canyons.

Thigh-deep ford of the Escalante, which is an hourly occurrence when hiking up or down the canyon.Characteristics of good desert shoes

For desert locations it’s critical that shoes are:

1. Breathable. Problems arise when feet are wet and/or hot for extended periods. Versus “waterproof” shoes, breathable models dry out more quickly and trap less heat.

2. Durable. The desert is hard on shoes, particularly the uppers. They come into contact with scratchy sage, prickly cacti, and sandpaper-like sandstone; and they are regularly getting wet and drying out. Durability is model-specific; universal rules about various classes of materials (e.g. meshes, leathers, rubbers, adhesives) do not exist. My best advice is to use models from brands that have a good track record, at least based on online reviews; better yet, stick with brands with which you have a good track record.

Depending on the location and your activity, it could also be critical that your shoes are:

3. Sand-resistant. Sand-filled shoes are uncomfortable; they lead to blisters; and they necessitate regular time-consuming stops in order to dump them out. To determine if shoes are sand-resistant, it’s best to field-test them (or have someone else field-test them). If you can’t do that, start with the tongue. Gusseted tongues, which connect to the upper on both sides, will keep out more sand. Then perform the “flashlight test” on the upper:

If direct light passes through, keep looking — these models are definitively not sand-resistant.If some ambient light passes through, performance will likely be so-so. Double-layer meshes will block direct light, but will still allow sand to filter through them.If no light passes through, you have a winner, at least in this regard.

Breathability and sand-resistance are somewhat mutually exclusive. Ideally, find the most breathable shoe that is still sand-resistant. But if you must favor one characteristic over the other, err towards greater sand-resistance for trips in sandy locations.

I’m not overexaggerating the importance of sand-resistance. Would you want to do this every hour?

4. Sticky (rubber). High performance rubber compounds are more capable and confidence-inspiring when hiking, scrambling, or climbing on rock. Good purchase is exceptionally important on slickrock, which has good grip but few features like ledges, pockets, and knobs. All things being equal, stickier rubber will be less durable. Manufacturers like La Sportiva that make hiking shoes and climbing shoes seem to have higher performing rubber compounds; we also like Vibram Megagrip.

5. Stiffness and lateral stability. Hiking across angled slopes (“side-hilling”) and up/down steep terrain places different pressure on footwear. Shoes that fit loosely, that have mushy midsoles, and/or that are high off the ground will perform poorly in these scenarios. Determine a model’s lateral stability by wear-testing it in a store, by twisting it linearly (holding the toe in one hand, the heel in the other), and finding the stack height spec.

Recommended shoes for desert backpacking

I have been guiding trips in southern Utah for almost ten years, and these recommendations are based on my first-hand experience and that of hundreds of clients.

La Sportiva Mutant

I’m placing the Mutants (men’s, women’s) first in this list, even though it’s otherwise alphabetical, because they check all the boxes and are my personal pick for backpacking. Breathable, sand-resistant, durable, sticky, and stable. They fit average-sized feet, but can be tightened down for people like me who would otherwise prefer the Bushido. For pure technical canyoneering trips, other models with more lateral stiffness and more durability could be a better pick, though the Mutants can play in this realm, too.

La Sportiva Mutant, my personal favorite and probably the overall best pickAltra Lone Peak (4 and up)

If your feet are paddle-like or if your planned route is mostly on high quality Pacific Crest Trail-like trails, the Lone Peak 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 could be an option. Starting with the fourth generation, Altra began using the same upper as in the (very sand-resistant) Salomon Speedcross to remedy their notoriously poor durability. They also improved the upper, to the respectable MaxTrac.

For normal-sized feet and for more challenging terrain, the Lone Peak is a tough sell. The fit will be too sloppy and the midsole is too soft.

Altra Lone PeakAstral Loop

These are Katie’s favorites. I’ll post a photo and endorsement of them when she sends me both.

La Sportiva TX3 and TX4

The La Sportiva TX3 (men’s, women’s) and TX4 (men’s, women’s) are closely related and are top contenders for technical canyon travel because of their durability, stability, and sticky rubber. They are too much shoe for pure backpacking trips, and their sand-resistance is only so-so. The TX3 is probably a better choice if most of your trips are wet; the TX4, if most of your trips are dry.

The primary difference in these approach shoes is their respective uppers: TX3 uses heavy-duty mesh; the TX4, real leather. The TX3’s mesh drains better, dries faster, and has better longevity with repeated soakings; while the TX4’s leather is more sand-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and foot-conforming. Neither model has a gusseted upper, which is the entry point for sand.

The TX line has expanded with time and popularity, and now includes the TX2, TX2 Evo, TX4 Evo, TX4 R, TX Guide, and TX Canyon. If readers would like to share their experience with these models, leave a comment below.

TX-3 with mesh upperTX-4 with leather upperLa Sportiva Wildcat and Ultra Raptor

The Wildcat and Ultra Raptor have been in La Sportiva’s lineup for more than a decade and they serve a similar niche to the Mutant. Despite its large-holed mesh upper, the Wildcat is very sand-resistant, according to alumnus Randy who wore them for two consecutive years in Escalante. Their durability is a little suspect though — I’ve seen them get thrashed by one hard week in Alaska’s Brooks Range.

The Wildcat is built on the same last and has the same outsole, but it has a more reinforced upper. I don’t have a first-hand account of their sand-resistance, but I think they may do well — the mesh is tightly woven, and the tongue is gusseted.

Ultra RaptorWildcatSalomon Speedcross

The Speedcross has a very sand-resistant upper and reasonably sticky lugs; and many people like its fit. For backpacking trips without extensive scrambling, it’s a good choice. However, its lug shape and pattern are not optimized for uneven or steep slickrock: it’s missing lugs around its perimeter, and the lugs tend to bend under pressure.

Salomon SpeedcrossTopo Ultraventure Pro and other Topo models

The Pro has been discontinued, but select sizes were still available on clearance when this post was first published in March 2024. If you like other Topo models, scoop this one up because it’s a good choice for desert backpacking. Breathable, sand-resistant, durable, sticky, sufficiently stiff. It’ was more on par with the Mutant than other models in this list like the Lone Peak and Speedcross. It’s probably most akin to the Wildcat and Ultra Raptor; it is not as capable as the Mutant.

I cannot recommend any current Topo models, however, based on feedback from one of our guides Brandon Chase who is very familiar with this brand:

The Ultraventure 3 has morphed into a high-cushion, low-technicality shoe that’s best for smooth trails and gravel. Its upper is very porous.The Terraventure 4 and MTN Racer 3 perform so-so in the “flashlight test” and worse than earlier iterations like the Terraventure 3 and MTN Racer 2. They may be worth consideration if they are perfect in every other regard and if you can’t find a more sand-resistant option.The Pursuit and Traverse have the same mesh upper as in the Terraventrue 4 and MTN Racer 3. Topo Terraventure, a so-so pickNOT recommended for backpacking in the desert

In the process of finding shoes that perform well in the desert, we have found many that don’t. The aspect in which they most often fail is their sand-resistance — most users aren’t concerned about it, so most manufacturers don’t design for it.

Especially for trips in sandy environments, I would advise against the models below.

Altras besides the Lone Peaks, due to lacking sand-resistance, soft midsoles, and high stack heights. Can anyone attest to the Superior 6? My generalization may not apply to that model.Brooks Cascadia, which also has a soft midsole and high stack height, and which historically has not been sand-resistantHokas, for identical reasons as the Altras, though I’d want to field-test the most recent Challenger La Sportiva Bushido, which is my favorite shoe for any other location but which is not sand-resistantSalomon XA Pro 3D, the least sand-resistant shoe on this entire pageSaucony Peregrine, which performs like the CascadiaAny model that fails the flashlight testAny model with marshmallow-like midsolesQuestions, corrections, updates, or additions?

Leave a comment below, particularly if you:

Disagree with my assessmentHave field experience with an updated modelThink that I missed a shoe worth consideration

Thanks!

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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Women-specific backpacking tutorial: Join us March 26

Join Kat Weyland and I on March 26 for a discussion, moderated by Andrew, about considerations for female backpackers that are different than those for males. Kat is based in West Virginia and has worked in outdoor education since 2004. She has thru-hiked the Appalachian and the Continental Divide Trails as well as backpacked through the Swiss Alps, the West Highland Way in Scotland, and the Routeburn Track in New Zealand. 

Join us on March 26 at 6:00pm MT here.

Topic covered will include:

Dealing with potential harassment or unwanted attentionTips for hiking soloMensturationPeeing and poopingUTIsSkin and hair careWomen-specific gearTraining and fitnessQuestions?

If you would like to submit a question for this event, complete this form. Or leave a comment below. During the broadcasts we try to answer all questions received.

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