In 2026, we’re running one session of the Plan Like a Pro course, starting June 15.
Can you plan all aspects of your first trip, next trip, or dream trip — and without making errors, taking too long, or forgetting key parts?
Successful backpacking trips are typically planned, not improvised. A thoughtful approach towards gear, food, maps, permits, travel, fitness, and skills will increase your safety margin and trip quality, and will actually create more potential for adventure — by solving foreseeable problems beforehand, you can respond fully to the true unknowns.
In the Plan Like A Pro course, we’ll guide you through a comprehensive planning framework that is applicable to every location, season, group size, style, and experience level. It’s most relevant to self-sufficient itineraries, the outer limit of which is about two weeks; but the steps can be repeated for multi-month trips. Our instructors provide detailed and thorough feedback for deeper learning and interaction.
The origins of the curriculum go back to my groundbreaking hikes like the Alaska-Yukon Expedition, Great Western Loop, and Sea to Sea Route. I built it out further to help prepare clients for our guided trips and then to offer this standalone course.
When are the dates?
We are offering one session in 2026. It will start on Monday, June 15.
What’s the format?
The course curriculum follows a set schedule, with one topic being covered most weeks. The PLAP curriculum is almost identical to our guided trip curriculum.
The course is comprised of reading materials, assignments with in-depth feedback, discussions and three virtual meetings. To communicate with students and distribute materials, we use Google Classroom.
Early on you will be asked to identify a “goal trip” that will serve as a foundation for later topics and assignments. The learning is not merely hypothetical — by the end of the course, you should be fully prepared to undertake this itinerary.
The course culminates with a shakeout trip so that you can test your gear, practice newly acquired skills, and identify room for improvement.
Who are your instructors?
Perhaps the most standout feature of this course is the regular engagement with instructors. It will help ensure that you learn the information, not just read or watch it; and they will help keep you accountable.
In 2026, Mikaela Osler is overseeing the curriculum and will be the primary instructor. From time to time, she may call in assistance from another instructor on our team. Instructors will check all of your work, thoroughly review your gear list, and host virtual meetings with your group. All instructors also guide for us.
Mikaela will be your primary point of contact and support. You may occasionally receive communications from Co-Director Katie Gerber, as well as from Andrew.
What will you learn?
You will learn to:
- Research likely environmental and route conditions like the weather, bug pressure, water availability, and problem animals;
- Select appropriate gear for the conditions and your backpacking style;
- Plan meals, including dinners that go beyond Ramen noodles or expensive freeze-dried packages;
- Assemble a navigation system of maps, resources, and tools; and,
- Acquire requisite skills and fitness for your itinerary.
In many of the modules, we will share helpful resources, tools, and tips that you can replicate and use on your future trips.
To hear what past students say, read over 100 reviews from the first two years of this course. Here are three of our favorites:
- “Thank you I went into the course relatively confident in my backcountry abilities. I received individual attention from expert instructors and was able to fine-tune my gear list and pack for the actual conditions of my hike rather than for my fears.” — Jason B.
- “Excellent course and worth every dollar.“ — Carmen S.
- “Nothing is left out. No doubt I will be running through these materials again and again as I get ready for my summers in the Sierra…and beyond.” — Dan F.
What is the time commitment?
The course includes twenty-six posts, including fifteen lessons and eleven assignments, divided into nine sections. The anticipated total time commitment is 8 to 24 hours, depending on your existing knowledge and your level of engagement. Like most things, the more time and thought you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. When we last collected this data:
- 12 percent of students spent 10 hours of less
- 44 percent of students spent 10-19 hours;
- 44 percent of students spent 20+ on the course.
The curriculum schedule is purposefully designed to keep the workload roughly even. It’s best for students to stay on track, but it’s not catastrophic if you are occasionally late — the assignments will remain available to you, and we will review any submitted work while the course is running.
The course includes three virtual meetings at the beginning, middle, and end of the course, that are opportunities to meet others in your group and to discuss involved topics like gear selection.
The meetings are not mandatory and they will be recorded if you can’t attend live.
How much does it cost?
The course costs $175, which is an exceptional price in consideration of the content quality, instructor engagement, and perks. This is a premium product, but we’ve intentionally kept its price accessible.
This course is an investment in your backpacking future, and it saves you both time and money. Learn from experts who have figured it out already; avoid buying gear that doesn’t ultimately suit your needs; and maximize the full potential of every trip.
What’s included?
Your course fee includes:
- a free download of one of my high route guides ($25 value).
- a 2-month Pro subscription to CalTopo for new users,
- discounts to select cottage industry vendors (see below), and
- if you decide to join us on a guided trip in the future, we’ll credit 50% of your course fee to your trip cost.
FAQs
Watch this first:
What is an appropriate ‘Goal Trip’ for this course?
At the beginning of the trip, we ask you to identify a goal trip. You will apply the Plan like a Pro curriculum around your goal trip – researching conditions, creating a gear list, and more – to be fully prepared to take on this trip by the end of the course.
Our experiences and feedback from previous students have helped us establish guidelines for an appropriate trip. These include:
- The goal trip should challenge your skills and/or fitness.
- Plan to complete the goal trip in the next 12 months.
- A trip length of four to twenty-one days is ideal.
- For thru-hikes, pick a seven to twenty-one day section of that trip to focus on as your goal trip. For example, if planning for the PCT, the 209 miles between Kennedy Meadows and Red’s Meadow is appropriate.
- Our course is not structured to suit multi-modal trips (packrafting, bikepacking, etc).
Is the course relevant if you don’t live in the US?
Since the instructors are most familiar with US locations and since most of the students are US-based, the course is biased towards backpacking in the US. However, the framework applies equally well outside the US, like to Canada and Europe. Personally, I’ve used it for planning trips in the Yukon and Iceland, and for running events in the Alps and Chile.
Our international students have not reported difficulties that were exceptional compared to their US counterparts. You may have to do some extra legwork to find relevant resources like climate data and public maps.
What if I miss an assignment or am behind schedule?
You need not be always online while the course is running, and being gone for an entire week usually isn’t catastrophic. But you need to have 8 to 24 hours available during the live curriculum, and it’d be better to dedicate a little bit of time each week rather than letting the work stack up. Instructors will continue to review work for up to a month after the class is finished.
Can you gift this course?
Yes. Please get in touch with Mikaela, [email protected] about how to gift this course.
Will you retain access to the materials?
For as long as Google keeps Classroom live, you will retain access to the materials. However, a month after the course is over, it will be archived. This means that you can still access the materials and your submitted assignments, but no new comments can be posted and instructors will no longer review assignments.
What are the vendor discounts and perks offered to participants of the course?
In 2026, our partner brands are generously offering the following discounts:
- 40% off AndrewSkurka.com
- 25% off Astral Designs
- 10% off Durston Gear
- 25% off Gossamer Gear
- 15% off Hyperlite Mountain Gear
- 30% off running coaching with Joe McConaughy
- 15% off Katabatic Gear
- 20% off nutrition coaching with Katie Gerber
- 10% off Mountain Laurel Designs
- 10% off limited products at Simblissity UL Designs
- 15% off Ultralight Adventure Equipment (ULA)
These discounts are provided in addition to 2-month Pro subscription (for new CalTopo users), and a free download of one of Andrew’s High Route Guide.
Finally, if you decide to join us on a guided trip in the future, we’ll credit 50% of your course fee to your trip cost.
Still have questions?
If you have questions that are not covered in all of the above material, contact me.