Yikes, this kid is the real deal.

chinooktrail · Feb 22, 2011

Article in National Geographic on Andrew Skurka and his 176 day ski/hike/paddle.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/03/alaska-trek/koeppel-text

This kid likes to suffer...

Tom Rankin · Feb 22, 2011

I like this line:

"But Alaska wouldn't be managed."

erugs · Feb 22, 2011

I wonder what he did to "regroup" in Slana? That's an amazing journey.

MindlessMariachi · Feb 23, 2011

I met this guy on my AT thru hike in 2002. We hiked together for a day or so before he blew by me in Vermont. He was hustling to do the whole trail in just the amount of time his Duke summer vacation gave him - in fact he had to be back early because he said he'd been selected for some sort of resident assistant program (or something) that was a real honor. At the time, I thought he couldn't have been getting much out of his thru hike - it seemed like he was just doing it to say he'd done it, and add it to his resume. He seemed to be missing out on the experience - he wasn't really meeting a lot of hikers for much time, and he couldn't have been finding much "fellowship with the wilderness," like the Springer Mountain plaque advertises.
However, I now give him credit though for turning that hike into something much different - basically his own unique way to experience the outdoors.

MindlessMariachi · Feb 23, 2011

oh - and as one who now spends all my time staring at a computer, Andrew has me beat!

Snowflea · Feb 27, 2011

I have never had the good fortune to meet Andrew but have two friends who have hiked with him - one joined him for a fast Colorado Trail thru hike, the other the FKT for the Sierra High Route. Both described him as "intense"

but a great guy who is, yep, The Real Deal.