Andrew Skurka – Circling Alaska and Yukon Slideshow

Becky and I are excited to announce that National Geographic and Outside Magazine Adventurer of the Year Andrew Skurka will visit Pack & Paddle for a very special two night event.  Andrew is an adventurer we’ve always followed with interest – but never dreamed we would be able to bring to Lafayette for a slide show.  March 16th and 17th are the dates to mark on your calendar for this exciting adventure free event!  Come to one night 0r both nights to be inspired and then learn the tips, trips and techniques that only the masters of the craft know.

Andrew is the author of the new book “The Ultimate Hikers Gear Guide” just now being released by National Geographic.  Andrew will host a book signing after the talks on both evenings.

Night 1:  Friday, March 16th – 6pm
Circling Alaska and Yukon – A 4,700 mil 6 month journey through Big Wilderness
For six months Andrew Skurka skied, hiked, and packrafted 4,700 miles in a giant loop around Alaska and Canada’s Yukon. His route passed just beneath Mt. McKinley, descended famed rivers like the Copper and Yukon, and traversed the entire Brooks Range. During the most remote and committing stretch of the trip, across the Yukon Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, he went 657 miles and 24 days without crossing a road or seeing another person – an immersion in Big Wilderness that he found profoundly humbling.

In this program Skurka shares the journey’s most powerful stories and entertaining moments, complemented with stunning photos and emotional videos. He also reflects on the broader significance of this experience and of his other adventures – which cumulatively measure 30,000+ miles – with particular attention to setting goals, stepping outside comfort zones, and seizing life’s opportunities.

Night 2:  Saturday, March 17th – 7pm
Ultimate Hiking Gear and Skills Clinic
A backpacking trip consists of two distinct activities: hiking and camping. In this instructional clinic, renowned long-distance backpacker Andrew Skurka will discuss the gear, supplies and skills necessary to make hiking fun, not an arduous chore between campsites.

It begins with a discussion about how to define trip objectives and how to assess the environmental and route conditions that are typically encountered on a backpacking trip, like temperatures and precipitation. Then, Skurka explains exactly what he would bring on a hypothetical multi-day trip in a nearby and familiar location of the audience’s choosing. He focuses not just on his footwear, shelter, food, and other gear and supplies, but also on critical skills like foot care, campsite selection, and food protection techniques.

Questions from and discussions with audience members are highly encouraged, and are in fact critical to maximizing the value of this clinic.

Skurka is one of the most accomplished backpackers in the world, most well known for his 4,700-mile 6-month Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile 7-month Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile 11-month Sea-to-Sea Route. He has been named “Adventurer of the Year” by the National Geographic Society and by Outside, and “Person of the Year” by Backpacker. He is the author of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide.