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Guide profile: Mary Cochenour

By Andrew Skurka / December 21, 2020 /
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I live in Helena, Montana, with my husband Matt and our two kids, Kennedy (12) and Cameron (10). We are outdoor fun hogs, spending most of our time skiing, mountain biking, and backpacking in the Northern Rockies. I work for Gaia GPS, which is a new and exciting career — in late-2019 I resigned as…

Update: What 2021 trips will be full before it’s even 2021?

By Andrew Skurka / December 20, 2020 /
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The open application period for our 2021 trips has been open for a week, and I’d like to share some numbers that will help to set the expectations of those who have already applied and those who are considering it. Overall Demand for next season has been even stronger than I’d hoped. Honestly, I’m delighted,…

Guide profile: Alan Dixon

By Andrew Skurka / December 18, 2020 /
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I’m 60 years-old and live in Washington, DC, with my wife and adventuring partner, Alison. I have two children and two grandchildren. Five years ago I retired as an environmental engineer, and now focus mostly on Adventure Alan, one of the oldest and most respected sources for ultralight backpacking. Since joining Andrew’s program in 2012, I…

Guide profile: Joe McConaughy (“Stringbean”)

By Andrew Skurka / December 17, 2020 /
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I live in Seattle with my wife, Katie and Australian Shepherd, Crash Bandipooch. I work as an ultrarunning coach and Andrew’s Program Manager for both his guided trips and the online planning course. I’ve set Fastest Known Times on the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail (52 days, supported in 2014), the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail (45 days, self-supported in…

Apply now: Our 2021 guiding season has started

By Andrew Skurka / December 14, 2020 /
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Yesterday I switched on the Application Form for our 2021 guiding season. Each year I do this, part of me still wonders, “Will anyone even sign up?” Thankfully, there’s been no basis for this concern — some new applicants always find us, and some alumni always return. The more significant challenge usually is finding everyone…

Guide profile: Jessica Winters

By Andrew Skurka / December 11, 2020 /
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This will be Jessica’s fourth season with us. She’s a full-time yoga teacher, and also organizes whitewater-and-yoga expeditions on the Colorado, Salmon, and Tatshenshini Rivers. After completing the Triple Crown of thru-hiking in the early-2000’s, she’s gone on to traverse Iceland, complete the Arizona Trail, and climb dozens of peaks in the Cascades and Olympics,…

Guide profile: Scott Christy

By Andrew Skurka / December 10, 2020 /
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Scott has taught backpacking skills for over 20 years with NOLS, where he helped develop the NOLS lightweight backpacking program. In that capacity, he’s backpacked and trained a diverse range of participants including NASA Astronauts, MBA students, US Marines, and Google directors.

Our Covid-19 protocols for 2021 trips

By Andrew Skurka / December 9, 2020 /
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This pandemic has been dynamic since spring 2020, and I expect it to remain so in 2021. As the circumstances change throughout the season, our protocols will also change. I’m optimistic that mass vaccinations, widespread rapid testing, and effective therapeutics will destroy this virus in 2021, but until real progress is made I’m looking at…

Guide profile: Christy Rosander

By Andrew Skurka / December 9, 2020 /
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Christy was new to our program in 2020, and an instant hit. She lives in Tehachapi, California, the gateway to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with her husband of 32 years, Dan, and has three children and two grandchildren. In 2021 she will be guiding trips in Colorado and Yosemite.

Apply for 2021 trips starting December 14

By Andrew Skurka / December 7, 2020 /
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Next Monday, December 14, 2020, I will start accepting applications for our 2021 trips. Initially, it’s an open process, and all applications received will be considered mostly equally. The open application period closes on Monday, December 28 for Utah and Alaska trips; and on the following Monday, January 4, for our trips in Colorado, California,…