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Flattering: 179 testimonials about our 2021 guided trips

By Andrew Skurka / December 14, 2021 /

Since 2014 I’ve asked our clients to complete a post-trip survey to gather feedback about our guides, locations, meals, and curriculum, plus their overall satisfaction. Reviewing the results is a multi-day project but entirely worthwhile: they confirm what we’re doing right, and they give me a checklist of improvements for the following year. Among our 2021 client…

76 testimonials about our 2020 guided trips

By Andrew Skurka / December 2, 2020 /

Since 2014 I’ve asked our clients to complete a post-trip survey to gather feedback about our guides, locations, meals, and curriculum, plus their overall satisfaction. Reviewing the results is a multi-day project but entirely worthwhile: they confirm what we’re doing right, and they give me a checklist of improvements for the following year. Among our…

110 testimonials from our 2019 guided trips

By Andrew Skurka / November 12, 2019 /

Since 2014 I’ve asked clients to complete an online trip evaluation at the conclusion of their trip. It gathers feedback about their satisfaction, goals, guides, preparedness, location, physical difficulty, and meals. The results have helped me understand what we do best and how we could further improve, and to ensure that the quality of their…

Standout gear for cold-and-wet conditions in the Appalachians

By Andrew Skurka / May 19, 2019 /

Last week my guiding season kicked off in the beautiful — but soggy and unseasonably cold — mountains of West Virginia, with four 3-day/2-night learning-intensive Backpacking Fundamentals courses, split between two guide teams. Based on the conditions assessment that we performed during the Planning Curriculum, we expected rain and cool temperatures. But I was hoping for…

In my pack: Six items for rain & ticks in West Virginia

By Andrew Skurka / April 28, 2019 /

Next month I am guiding two 3-day overnight backpacking trips in West Virginia, which has all the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains but a fraction of the backcountry traffic versus the range’s more eastern destinations like Shenandoah National Park. I’m being joined by Alan Dixon, Joe McConaughy (“Stringbean”), Ron Bell, and Matt Bright. This week…

Video: Adventure trip with Clelland & Magnanti in the Colorado Rockies

By Andrew Skurka / January 14, 2019 /

Last year Chris G. and his brother Phil joined one of our Adventure trips in Rocky Mountain National Park. The 5-day session was guided by Mike Clelland and Paul Magnanti, and included parts of the Pfiffner Traverse and the Continental Divide Trail Loop. For those interested in one of our 2019 trips, it will give you some…

A first-timer’s perspective on Alaskan adventure

By Krishna Dayanidhi / November 1, 2013 /

My name is Krishna Dayanidhi and I’ve gone on two trips with Skurka — one in the Yosemite high country and the most recent this past June in the Eastern Alaska Range. Both trips were out-of-this-world. Fantastic. If you haven’t signed up for any of his trips, drop what you are doing, including reading this…

Bugs, blisters, and bears: Video documentary of 7-day Alaska Adventure

By Andrew Skurka / July 29, 2013 /

Albert and Ashley stitched this video together with photos and videos from the second Alaska Adventure session, June 24-30. It’s a rough production, but it documents the trip well and gives a sense of what it was like. Enjoy.

Pre-Alaska water cooler conversation with a co-worker

By Andrew Skurka / July 25, 2013 /

Albert Kim, who joined me last month for a 7-day backpacking and packrafting trip in Alaska, put this video together using xtranormal. If you’ve ever tried to talk with a skeptical co-worker about your adventurous backpacking plans, you’ll especially enjoy this one!

Associated Press story about “hardcore hiking” in Yosemite’s remote backcountry

By Andrew Skurka / April 24, 2013 /

The Associated Press released a story earlier today about one of my guided trips from last year: “Hard-core hiking on Yosemite backcountry adventure.” It was written by John Pain, a member of the group who works for the AP, though not as a journalist; it wasn’t a press trip, though I suppose I should think about…