Posts by Andrew Skurka

In talking recently with my parents and friends I gather that not everyone is familiar with the lingo I’ve been using to describe the current springtime conditions. I’ll attempt to define a few of the most important terms now. “Variable conditions” In the winter and summer, conditions are relatively predictable. Winter: cold temps, dry snow,…

Delta Junction, Alaska In an earlier post, “Becoming a Lean, Mean Adventuring Machine,” I identified a “go big or go home” moment as part of the hardening process. I finally had that moment, a few weeks ago in the western Alaska Range (as predicted), and I’ll share it now. The western Alaska Range between Roan…

What’s been the most intense moment of the trip?—Matt Shaw I had a few tense moments last week after a spring snowstorm dumped almost three feet of snow up high just before I was about to ski over two steep passes. Both passes had unavoidable avalanche slopes (i.e. I had to cross slopes that are…

Spring has arrived in Alaska, at least by local standards. It may have been zero degrees this morning, but at least the days are getting really long, the weather is warmer and more stable, and the snow and ice are melting in the mid-day sun. This means the roads are getting muddy and the trails…

Nikolai, Alaska April 11, 2010 I think about this expedition in three major legs: Kotzebue to Nikolai (mile 757), Nikolai to Dawson (mile 3,091), and Dawson to Kotzebue (mile 4,720). Leg one is now over. It’s been characterized by flagged snowmachine trails, frequent resupplies (two per week), few days without seeing another person (just three…

Takotna, Alaska April 7 , Day 25 From Unalakleet I followed the historic Kaltag portage route, an 80-mile connector between the the Bering Sea and the Alaskan interior. I was greatly looking forward to heading inland—the bitter temps and winds combined with a shortage of naturally sheltered areas had really worn on me. The landscape…