Posts by Andrew Skurka
Spring ’12 lectures & clinics: Help give me a nudge!
For the last two weeks I’ve been pounding the phone trying to schedule presentations and book signings for this Spring. I’m excited that confirmations are really starting to come through, as seen by the list at the bottom of this post. But first, some events need a “nudge.” And you can help. The venues below…
Creating and printing a custom mapset with TOPO!
Are you planning a trip that is not addressed specifically and perfectly by an existing guidebook or mapset? Then you should learn to use TOPO!. Among this program’s shortcomings is the inability to export and print multi-page custom mapsets, so in this post I’ll explain an alternative and efficient technique.
My sock systems for backpacking in 3-season conditions
Interview: Bob Skurka
Those who have seen one of my presentations or who have read trip reports know that I depend heavily on my parents for logistical and emotional support. They might also be my two biggest fans. This interview was an opportunity for my dad to better share his thoughts and feelings. Also, read the interview with…
How I Make a Living as a Professional Adventurer
When I began long-distance backpacking, I never thought it would eventually become my occupation. To the contrary, I was simply drawn to the idea of hiking from Georgia to Maine—that, somehow, an effort on that scale probably was an experience worth having. My motivations for taking on the Alaska-Yukon Expedition, my most recent adventure, were very…
Vapor Barrier Liners: Theory & Application
Occasionally during the FAQ portion of my slideshows, and frequently at the start of every winter, I receive questions about vapor barrier liners (VBL’s). The content and tone of these questions suggest a general misunderstanding of and slight mystery about them, so in this article I’ll attempt to offer a comprehensive review of VBL’s based…
Product Review: SPOT Satellite Messenger
My mother is not a backpacker or a hiker, and “outdoorsy” is definitely not among the Top 10 adjectives I would use to describe her. But, as a mom, she gets gravely worried and concerned when her hyper-outdoorsy son goes into the backcountry, usually alone, regardless of the season, and almost always with the intention…
Make your own: Fancy Feast Alcohol Stove Windscreen
Alcohol stoves are more susceptible to wind than conventional backpacking stoves, and therefore a good windscreen is a critical part of the system. I make my wind stoves from aluminum foil (e.g. Reynolds Wrap). Advantages It is ultralight, at just .3 oz. It is very inexpensive, costing just pennies to make. It can be made…
Food protection techniques in bear country
Disclaimer. Ultimately you need to make your own decisions on how to protect your food in bear country. And you are fully responsible for the outcomes of those decisions. In this article I have tried to be candid and realistic, and to cut through some of the BS, red tape, and conventional wisdom that surrounds…
Bear Canister Basics
Bear canisters are hard-sided plastic or carbon fiber cylinders with a removable lid that is designed to protect its contents (namely, food and other scented items) from bears. The canister’s shape, hardness, and lid seal mechanism (which require opposable fingers to open/close) make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for bears to access the canister’s…