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 management how the Brooks Range is notable within Alaska the prime backpacking season there and what to expect each month logistics of how to ac ..read more

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 attention Tips for hiking solo Mensturation Peeing and pooping in the woods Skin and hair care Women-specific gear and whether you need it Training and fitness Additional Resources https://andrewskurka.com/section/for-women/ Watch the event: The post Video Tutorial: 8 reasons backpacking is different for females than males appeared first on Andrew ..read more

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 information Schedule and current availability Prices To apply, go here. If have questions, contact me. The post Remaining Utah spots: now 30 percent off! appeared first on Andrew Skurka ..read more

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, and The 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 i ..read more

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 attention Tips for hiking solo Menstruation Peei ..read more

Last night Andrew and I hosted a 55-minute tutorial on trip planning. If you joined us, thank you. If you didn’t, you can watch the replay below. Please join us for our next discussion at the end of the month about the ways in which backpacking is fundamentally different for women than men. Topics we discussed included: Why trip planning matters Defining trip parameters: where, when, with who, and why? How to research likely conditions, such as temperature and bug pressure How to select gear Planning an itinerary Food and resupply planning Creating and collecting navigational resources Assess ..read more

For about twenty years and almost exclusively I have used Aquamira ($15) to purify backcountry water sources. And it’s been the only purification method used by the guided trip program that I started in 2011 and that has over 1,000 alumni. Last month two of these alumni emailed me separately, asking for a written explanation of our Aquamira methods. Alfredo wrote, “I am leading a group of ten new backpackers on a three-day trip in central Florida. I normally use a gravity filter but want to change to Aquamira after using it in the High Sierra.” And David wrote, “Please explain how your guides ..read more

Join Andrew and I on March 6 for another tutorial livestream. The focus of this conversation is a deep dive on how to plan a backpacking trip. Join us on March 6 at 6:00pm MT here. Topic covered will include: Why trip planning matters Defining trip parameters: where, when, with who, and why? How to research likely conditions, such as temperature and bug pressure How to select gear Planning an itinerary Food and resupply planning Creating and collecting navigational resources Assessing and gaining the appropriate skills and fitness Completing a final systems check Andrew draws from exper ..read more

Yesterday, Andrew and I hosted a livestream focused on the foundations of backpacking in the desert. Topics we discussed included: Leave No Trace in the desert Trip planning: seasonality and daily flow Hazards Water: how much to carry, how to find it, carrying capacity, favorite bottles, treatment, electrolytes Footwear: ideal characteristics, favorite models Clothing: tops, bottoms, accessories Camp selection: best and worst desert camps Dry camping Best shelters for the desert Pitching shelters on slickrock and sand Gear care and special gear Desert navigation In terms of the desert experi ..read more

Join Andrew and I on January 30 for another Ask Us Anything livestream. The focus of this conversation is desert travel and backpacking. Join us on January 30 at 6:00pm MT here. Topic covered will include: Water planning Trip planning: seasonality and daily schedule Overland and canyon travel: navigation Footwear Clothing Hazards: wildlife and weather Camping and shelter setup Gear care Special gear considerations LNT & Etiquette In terms of the desert experience we’ll be drawing upon, here are the highlights: Andrew backpacked 800 miles across the Colorado Plateau from Arches to G ..read more