Posts by Andrew Skurka
Boston 2022: Setting high expectations
5 thoughtful tips for home shopping
Earlier this week Amanda and I went under contract for a 1962 ranch in Boulder, less than a mile away from our current home. We’re excited about its potential and also intimidated by the work ahead — it’s like a time capsule, complete with its original intercom system, whole house vacuum, mid-mod hallway sconces, and…
Reader Q: Female bidet advice
A reader, AnnaJoy G, recently wrote me: I’m a ciswoman and looking for bidet advice for folks with vaginas. Conventional bidet methods seem to involve dirty water trickling down the butt and towards the vulva, the perfect recipe for a UTI. Online advice columns presume the hiker is a cisman and seem oblivious to the…
Video tutorial: Finding historical temp & precip date from NCEI
Last year the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) updated its website and launched two new tools for researching historical temperature and precipitation data. The good news is that the website is now more user-friendly; the bad news is that my older tutorial, posted in March 2021, is obsolete, so it’s time for a new…
Last call: Apply for a scholarship
I’m hiring: Backpacking Guides and Operations Assistant
My guiding program continues to grow, and I must make several new hires this season to keep up. I am now accepting applications for three roles: Operations Assistant (one) Lead Backpacking Guide (at least two) Junior Backpacking Guide (one to three) Applicants can apply for just the Operations Assistant position, just the Backpacking Guide positions,…
Garmin inReach Mini 2: Incrementally improved, still fundamentally flawed
Today Garmin released the second generation of its smallest and lightest satellite messenger. The inReach Mini 2 offers incremental improvements over the original inReach Mini, while maintaining the same size, weight, and form factor. Upgrades include: Longer lasting battery in tracking mode; Quicker GPS acquisition by using four satellite networks; An automatic track-back feature, helping…
Apply now: Needs-based scholarships
Today I’m excited to launch a new needs-based scholarship program. In 2022 recipients will be eligible for up to ten spots on intro-level Backpacking Fundamentals courses in Colorado, California, and West Virginia, as well as up to sixteen spots on the online Plan Like A Pro course. We are accepting applications through Friday, February 21.
Contest: Submit your favorite recipes, win a bidet
For the 2022 guiding season we’re looking for a new breakfast and new dinner recipe to replace two of our longstanding meals, the Coconut Chia Oatmeal and the Backcountry Chili. The two winners will be entered into a drawing, and the first chosen will have their option of taking the Plan Like A Pro online…
New program: Certify in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) during a 5- or 7-day trip
In partnership with the University of New Mexico International Mountain Medicine Center, we are offering Wilderness First Aid (WFA) courses at select 2022 locations. The courses are open only to participants on our guided trips. The in-person skill instruction can be completed the day before or after your trip, or it can be integrated into…