Guided trips
In 2018 I am offering 3- and 5-day trips. Learn about critical gear and supplies, master advanced skills, and enjoy the wonders of the Colorado Rockies and High Sierra.
Pfiffner Traverse
A 77-mile high route through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains with thru- and section-hiking opportunities
In the Shop
In The Blog
-
Not bear- or idiot-proof: Documented canister failures At least most of the time, hard-sided canisters like the BearVault BV500 successfully protect food from bears and “mini-bears” in // More -
Retirement Today my father, Robert (“Bob”) Skurka, finishes a 44-year thru-hike of the banking services industry. Like most long walks through // More -
Are Garmin’s inReach Units Accidentally Calling SAR? By applying normal pressure to the SOS button on my inReach, I can initiate a SOS message despite the lock // More -
Buyers guide: Bear canisters || Comparison of volume per weight & cost During the day, properly protecting food is as simple as not leaving it (or a backpack full of it) unattended. The conversation // More -
Garmin inReach deep dive: Default & downloadable maps & imagery Overnight I received this question from reader Bob B.: This question — and just about any other that you can // More -
Tutorial: Methods to purify backcountry water || Pros, cons & my picks How to purify water from backcountry sources There are four basic techniques for treating water: Boiling Filtration Chemicals Ultraviolet light // More -
Heart rate monitor troubleshooting: Suunto Smart Sensor & Ambit3 Peak Last November my heart rate monitor was not working properly. Readings were regularly inconsistent and inaccurate during training runs. I use // More -
Review: Sierra Designs Animas Pillow || Comfortable 2.1-oz inflatable for $25 Last summer I used a prototype of the new Sierra Designs Animas Pillow ($25, 2.1 oz) for about 30 nights. It // More -
PSA: Secure your permit now for Pfiffner Traverse Public Service Announcement If you have not already, you should apply for your backcountry permit for Rocky Mountain National Park // More -
It’s the vertical, stupid: How many days should I budget for a high route? Last week on r/Ultralight, member u/TeddyBallgame1999 asked multiple questions about the Wind River High Route, including: The essence of this // More