Posts by Andrew Skurka
Livestream || The Overland Route, Steve Allen’s definitive tour of the Escalante
Later this week I will be hosting a livestream about the Overland Route, a low-profile backpacking route down the watershed of the Escalante River in southern Utah. I will be joined by Katie Gerber and Eric Volk, who completed the route last spring. Event details: Scant information is available about the Overland Route. Its origins…
Hiring for 2025: Lead Guide and Junior Guide
For the 2025 season I am looking to hire a: Both positions are short-term and seasonal, and need to be augmented with steadier full-time work or a broader freelance portfolio. At most in 2025, we’d assign you to one location (Utah, Alaska, California, or Yellowstone) and between one and three trips, with the specifics being…
Reminder: Open application periods ends on Sunday!
The open application period for 2025 trips ends this Sunday, December 22. Apply this weekend to: Starting Monday, December 23, we will still accept applications. However: As a practical matter, it will take us the entire week of December 23 to finish reviewing all applications, especially with the holiday and holiday travel. Until we form…
Looking back: My guiding program turns 15
Next season will my fifteenth year in operation. Join us live on Thursday, December 19 at 6pm MT for a history of the program — my motivations, learnings, evolutions, challenges, and favorite memories and people. Katie and I will be hosting the event, and we’ll have three special guests — Alan Dixon, Mary Cochenour, and…
Alumni panel: What are our guided trips really like?
Last night Katie and I hosted an an alumni panel with Conor, Eric, Kaylor, and Lisa to discuss their experiences on our trips. Conor and Kaylor were first-time clients in 2024; Conor had hiked the Pacific Crest Trail previously, while Kaylor was a never-ever backpacker. Eric and Lisa are multi-time clients (five trips for Eric,…
HMG/Skurka Giveaway: Win a 5-day trip AND a full Hyperlite kit
One-on-one: Office hours with Katie or me
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…
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.
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…