January 25, 2007

Ultralight in the Nation's Icebox - A Success!

Last week I completed a 380-mile 16-day hike through northern Minnesota, from Duluth to Ely. This region of the country routinely cooks up the most frigid conditions in the Lower 48 -- the average temperature in January in Duluth is about 8 degrees F and in Ely it is about 5 degrees F -- and, combined with some excellent scenery and an extensive trail network along the North Shore and in the Boundary Waters, it makes for a great testing laboratory for lightweight winter backpacking and for a memorable backcountry experience.

The conditions were not exactly what I had envisioned (and, admittedly, somewhat dreaded) for the first half of the trip - the low temperatures were "only" in the low-10's and the trails were snow-free but ice-covered -- but I definitely got my fill of the Nation's Icebox during the second half: nighttime temperatures dipped as low as -12 F, daytime highs sometimes never exceeded 5 degrees, and 18" of snow created route-finding issues in the northern lake-dotted and wolf-filled wilderness.

Visit the Ultralight in the Nation's Icebox section for more information.

My next BIG hike: The Great Western Loop

The numbers tell half the story: 7,000 miles, 7 months, 12 national parks, 75+ designated wilderness areas, 5 existing long-distance trails, 2 desert traverses, and zero attempts or completions to date.

The other half other half of the story is less quantifiable: the Great Western Loop connects many of the most prized wild lands in America's West, and as such it reflects the health of and dangers to these places, and it is a shared and tangible entity among them that beholds value in excess of the sum of its parts, like the chain of a pearl necklace.

In early-April I will begin the Great Western Loop, in a location and direction that will depend on this winter's snowpack (I'm leaning towards going counter-clockwise, starting near California San Gorgonio Pass). This is going to be an awesome trip! And, to a greater degree than ever, those who wish to will be able to share in the experience via a soon-to-be overhauled AndrewSkurka.com website, Podcasts, and more frequent postings of photos and updates. With this enhanced trip interactivity, I'm hoping to help others develop a stronger connection with the outdoors, which I think is a key component in a much-needed, more eco-friendly lifestyle that emphasizes doing more with less and minimizing one's impact on our planet.

More details will be forthcoming over the next 2 months.

November 2, 2006

Your questions needed!

In 2007 Backpacking Light Magazine will be featuring an "Ask Skurka" column in their online and print magazines. I am looking for good backpacking/thru-hiking related questions. Get more details!

October 13, 2006

I have decided to call off the "How Far? How Fast" Challenge. Read why

Andy

October 5, 2006

The "How Far? How Fast?" Challenge will begin on October 15th.

October 4, 2006

Long Trail attempt aborted: Trip Report

September 18, 2006

Tomorrow I'll be leaving the comforts of "home" to start my next hike: an unsupported Long Trail Yo-Yo. I am bringing 16 days of food (minus one dinner) for the 545-mile trek (552 miles with the approach walk). As far as I know no one has ever done an unsupported Long Trail Yo-Yo, and I presume that I'll set a new "unsupported speed record" on the return trip. Whatever -- I'm just excited about the opportunity I have to get out on America's oldest long-distance trail in the peak of leaf season. Pictures galore! I am hoping that the weather is drier this fall than in 2004 when I was coming through during the Sea-to-Sea; the rain really dulls the colors.

Through my other hikes I have hiked a little less than half of the Long Trail, and from what I understand I have not yet seen the "good" stuff, which resides mostly in the north. I am looking forward to a thorough butt-kicking after having spent the summer months in the relative comforts of California, Colorado, and Montana, where "rock staircases" and "bog logs" are unheard of.

This hike will put me in good standing for the grand finale of the year. In mid-October I'll be heading down to Georgia's Spring Mountain with about 70 pounds of gear, supplies, and food. My plan is to hike north on the Appalachian Trail as far as I can go before needing to re-enter civilization. I am hoping to stay out there for about 25 days and to cover 750-950 miles.

September 16, 2006

Kevin Sawchuck and I finished up our hike around Yellowstone yesterday afternoon: Trip Report.

August 23, 2006

Unsupported Colorado Trail attempt aborted: Trip Report

August 10, 2006

Krissy and I finished up the Colorado Trail in Durango on Tuesday, 14.5 days after starting from Denver. We took the Greyhound back yesterday ("This may be our most difficult day yet," Krissy remarked after hearing that we'd have to wait 90 minutes for another bus because they oversold ours.) and this morning are leaving for Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City.

I plan to start back up on the Colorado Trail again on August 16th or 17th. This time, the hike will be unsupported (i.e. I'll start with all the food and gear I'll need to finish) and I'll be trying to do it in 10-12 days, which would be an average of 40-48 miles per day. I'm not sure how my body will react to starting with a 30-lb load (4 lbs of gear and 26 lbs of consumables, mostly food); and the unusually wet weather we've been having introduces a large variable. This will be the most intense trip that I've ever attempted -- Ready, Set, Go! It really is a race to Durango.

June 1, 2006

This Monday, the 6th, I’m starting up on the Pacific Crest Trail. Can’t wait! It’s been way too long since I went for a good hike -– it’s crazy to think that 11 months ago I was shin-deep in the Pacific. I’ll be on the PCT for about 45 days and I’m hoping to reach Castle Crags State Park (1,505 miles) before getting off the trail in order to go do the Colorado Trail with a friend in July. After that I should be in good enough shape to take on some of the awesome hikes I’ve got planned August through November.

Mom agreed to maintain the website again. She’ll be posting bi-weekly updates, plus pictures whenever I send home a memory card.

May 31, 2006

The 2 Seas 2 Feet slideshow road tour concluded last Friday at Andover High School, where I presented to the 400-student freshman class. If you were unable to attend one of the tour's 92 slideshows, or if you just want to hear it again, here's your chance: a 75-minute narrated version of the slideshow is now available on CD.

I recorded it as a PowerPoint Show - you don't need any software, just a computer, speakers, CD drive, and a comfy chair and bowl of popcorn.

If you are interested, please request a copy. A donation of $5 is recommended.

May 5, 2006

Between June 5th and July 20th I will be hiking the California section of the Pacific Crest Trail in order to get back into shape after living out of a Pontiac Vibe for 5 months and getting a metatarsal stress fracture in mid-April.

Click here for PCT-CA 2006 updates, photos, and gear lists

After my 45 days on the PCT, I have some pretty neat hikes planned for the remainder of 2006 and early-2007. They currently include:

• Hiking the Colorado Trail in 13-15 days with stud ultrarunner Krissy Moehl
• Breaking the Colorado Trail speed record without a support crew (50+ miles per day)
• Hiking 140+ roadless miles through Greater Yellowstone
• Completing the Long Trail Yo-Yo during leaf season, maybe with a cool twist (TBD)
• Walking from Springer Mtn to Harpers Ferry via the AT (1,010 miles total) without a resupply
• Snowshoeing Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail, Border Route Trail, and Kekekabic Trail in January

The first part of this schedule is notably different from the schedule that I had been planning and talking about since Fall 2005 -- I had been planning to break the 66-day speed record on the Pacific Crest Trail, but without the use of support crew. Unfortunately in mid-April I came down with a metatarsal stress fracture, with the obvious cause being the 60-80 miles I had been running per week since the end of February, often while wearing a pack that weighed 10-20 pounds. In light of the injury and the necessary recovery time, I determined that I would not be able to adequately train for a PCT speed record.

When training to achieve peak fitness, the risk of injury is high -- and I seem to be a little more injury prone than most. Sometimes these injuries are blessings in disguise (my failed C2C Flip-flop attempt in February 2004 comes to mind); and they always have made me more appreciative of my talents and have strengthened my commitment to maximizing them.

My goals in getting on the PCT this summer are: to get back in shape, to scope out the trail for a possible attempt next summer, and (perhaps more than anything else) to enjoy being a hiker again after a fairly exhausting 5-month slideshow road tour in which I drove 23,000 miles and made 93 presentations in 135 days. (In many respects the road tour about my C2C hike was more difficult than the C2C hike.)

I expect to cover 1,400 to 1,600 miles of the PCT. Depending on how I'm feeling and on the snow conditions, I may try to blitz the 218-mile John Muir Trail when I get there.