Cart
Features
Congratulations, Andy!
On November 3rd, 2007 at approximately 3:40PM Mountain Time Andy poked his head, then body, and finally feet above the rim wall at Grandview Point, Grand Canyon. A good-sized group of people were there to greet him including family, friends, representatives from GoLite and Backpacking Light Magazine, and people who had avidly followed Andy's progress throughout his trip. It was a fantastic moment. In the next few days we will have much more to share, but for now a very heartfelt congratulations to Andrew Skurka from everyone here at BPL.
About the Trek
On April 9th Andrew Skurka began an attempt to complete the Great Western Loop, a 6,875-mile footpath over a network of five existing long-distance hiking trails as well as an unrecognized route through the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. He began from Grandview Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with an intent to return there seven months later, after having passed through 12 National Parks and over 75 wilderness areas. The Great Western Loop highlights the cumulative magnificence of America's West, its long-distance trail system, and its National Parks, while also highlighting environmental and ecological threats to the wild lands of the West.
Learn more at Andy’s website.
Follow Along
Follow Andy's progress using the interactive map below.
Interview Podcasts
Ryan Jordan interviewed Andrew about several aspects of the Great Western Loop hike. Throughout the course of Andrew's trek Backpacking Light will release these interviews via both the Andrew Skurka Great Western Loop and Backpacking Light Magazine podcast feeds.
Subscribe to Backpacking Light Magazine podcasts via:
Podcasts are also syndicated through BackpackingLight.com's Main RSS Feed along with other online content.
 iTunes. |
 RSS. |
Subscribe to Andrew Skurka’s Great Western Loop Podcasts via:
 iTunes. |
RSS. |
Great Western Loop - Overview.Andrew Skurka is at it again: 6,875 miles of backpacking through the American West. Ryan Jordan learns what his overall plans are.
Download MP3
Companion article: The Great Western Loop, Part 1
Great Western Loop - Gear.Ryan Jordan continues his interview with Andrew Skurka about the gear he will use throughout his Great Western Loop Hike.
Download MP3
Companion article: The Great Western Loop, Part 2
Great Western Loop - PhilosophyAndrew Skurka discusses his philosophy about backpacking as well as the connections between the wilderness and the rest of the country with Ryan Jordan.
Download MP3
Companion article: The Great Western Loop, Part 3
Great Western Loop - The Loop is Closed.After seven months and 6,875 miles Andrew Skurka has completed the Great Western Loop hike. Ken Knight talks with Andy about the highs and lows, notable gear, remarkable events, and much more.
Download MP3
Companion article: The Great Western Loop, The Loop is Closed
Audio and Video Updates
From time to time Andrew is sending us audio and video postcards from his hike. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes feed. The entries are also listed here sorted newest to oldest.
Audio UpdatesNovember 2, 2007.Calling from Tusayan Museum and Ruins, AZ. October 31, 2007.Calling from somewhere on the Coconino Plateau, AZ. October 29, 2007.Calling from Flagstaff, AZ. October 25, 2007.Calling from Pine, AZ. October 18, 2007.Calling from Mammoth, AZ. October 14, 2007.Calling from Safford, AZ. October 11, 2007.Calling from Alma, NM. October 6, 2007.Calling from Pie Town, NM. October 4, 2007.Calling from Grants, NM. REPOST: October 1, 2007.—Special Thoughts.Some thoughts on major issues including global warming, the nature of wilderness, and what's next. October 1, 2007..Calling from Cuba, NM. September 25, 2007.—Mailbag.Andy talks about a torrential Colorado storm and how he dealt with it. He also answers some listener mail. September 25, 2007.Calling from Pagosa Springs, CO. September 18, 2007.Calling from Salida, CO. September 13, 2007—Mailbag.Andy answers listerens questions. Tips on fording rivers, dealing with being alone in the wild, how many breaks does Andy taken, and more... September 13, 2007.Calling from Silverthorn, CO. September 10, 2007.Calling from Grand Lake, CO. September 4, 2007.Calling from Rawlins, WY. September 1, 2007.Calling from South Pass City, WY. AUgust 27, 2007.Calling from Brooks Lakes Lodge (Dubois, WY). August 24, 2007—Part 2.Calling from Old Faithful Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY. Some general thoughts and themes. August 24, 2007—part 1.Calling from Old Faithful Village, Yellowstone National Park, WY. August 13, 2007.Calling from Anaconda, MT. August 5, 2007.Calling from Lincoln, MT. July 31, 2007.Calling from East Glacier, MT. July 28, 2007.Calling from Polebridge, MT. July 26, 20007—Mailbag.More answers to listerners questions about dealing with injury and what a typical day is like. July 26, 2007.Calling from Eureka, MT. July 23, 2007.Calling from north of Bonners Ferry, ID. July 19, 2007.Calling from Northport, WA (day 102, mile 3,394). July 13, 2007—Mailbag.Andy answers questions from listners about water, trekking poles, and hiking solo. July 13, 2007.Calling from Oroville, WA. July 7, 2007.Calling from Stehekin, WA. July 2, 2007.Calling from Snoqualmie Pass, WA. June 30, 2007.Calling from White Pass, WA. June 26, 2007.Calling from Cascade Locks, OR. June 19, 2007.Calling from Willamette Pass, OR. June 16, 2007.Calling from Crater Lake National Park, OR. June 15, 2007.Calling from Medford, OR. A talk with Ean Nelson of the PCTA. June 12, 2007.Calling from northern, CA. Mile 2112 of the trek. June 8, 2007 - Navigation.Some thoughts on trail navigation when it's covered in snow. June 8, 2007.Calling from Castella, CA. Mile 1956 near Castle Crag State Park. June 4, 2007.Calling from Old Station, CA. Some thoughts on foot care in wet conditions. June 1, 2007..Calling from Belden, CA. Andy interviews Scott Williamson and Justin Lichter while staying in Truckee, CA. May 29, 2007.Calling from Truckee, CA. May 21, 2007.Calling from Yosemite Valley, CA. May 13, 2007.Calling from Kennedy Meadows general store (south end of High Sierra), CA. May 8, 2007. Calling from Hiker Town Hostel, CA. later May 6, 2007. Calling from Agua Dulce, CA. May 6, 2007. Calling from Jeff and Donna Saufley's Hiker Heaven, Agua Dulce, CA. An interview with Donna. May 2, 2007. Calling from Cajon Pass, CA. April 28, 2007. Calling from Morongo Valley, CA. April 23, 2007. Calling from Parker, AZ. April 18, 2007. Calling from Bagdad, AZ. April 16, 2007. Calling from Seligman, AZ. April 12, 2007. Calling from Grand Canyon Village, AZ. April 10, 2007. Calling from Grand Canyon Village, AZ. |
Video UpdatesSeptember 15, 2007 through September 29, 2007.>From Colorado's Collegiate Peaks, to the southern tip of the Colorado Rockies; wonderful wildlife encounters; proof of the old saw that a through-hiker will eat anything; and, so much more. September 7, 2007—Elk Show.>A quick slideshow (yes we know it's blurry) of wonderful life. August 28 through September 10, 2007.From Anaconda, MT and the Bitterroots, throuogh Lemhi Pass, past wide spaces with big skies and cows (Idaho and Montana), and into Yellowstone National Park. August 13 through August 24, 2007.From Anaconda, MT and the Bitterroots, throuogh Lemhi Pass, past wide spaces with big skies and cows (Idaho and Montana), and into Yellowstone National Park. July 22 through August 6, 2007.The last of the Pacific Northwest Trail, Glacier National Park, fire in The Bob, food, and wandering. July 7 through July 19, 2007.The Pacific Northwest Trail and more. June 22 through July 7, 2007.Snow fields, whiteouts, fierce winds, rushing rivers, and river fords in the Pacific Northwest. June 8 to June 22, 2007.From Castle Crag in California to McKenzie Pass in Oregon. June 8 to June 22, 2007.From Castle Crag in California to McKenzie Pass in Oregon. May 21 to June 5, 2007.See northern California's snowbound trails, steaming geysers, water falls, and some fun as Andy did. May 14 to 20, 2007.Week 3 on the Pacific Crest Trail. April 29 to May 14, 2007.Videos from Andy's first two weeks on the Pacific Crest Trail. April 12, 2007 2:30 PM.Walking along the Boundary Trail of the Grand Canyon. At over 7,000 feet the South Rim does get snow this time of year. April 11, 2007 1:03 PM.Water can be scarce in the Grand Canyon. Sometimes you use what you find. April 9, 2007 11:06 AM.A typical walk along the Tonto platform of the Grand Canyon. |
Selected Photos
Some of our favorite photos that Andrew has taken along his hike so far. They are listed in reverse chronological order. Click the thumbnail photos in the list on the left to see the larger versions.
 |
|
Interactive Map (BETA)
Click a link to display a map. You may have to scroll the page to view the entire map.
Reader Comments
You must login to post comments.
Forum Index » Editor's Roundtable » The Great Western Loop
( bugbomb - BPL STAFF - M)
Locale:
South Texas
Companion forum thread to Articles(s):
Great Western Loop Portal Page - An entry point for all things related to this trek.
Podcast: The Great Western Loop, Part 1 - Overview
Podcast: The Great Western Loop, Part 2 - Gear
Podcast: The Great Western Loop, Part 3 - Philosophy
Edited by bugbomb on 05/29/2007 22:36:50 MDT.
( JHC88@MSN.COM - M)
Locale:
Maryland
Ryan -- is there any way of posting how long the podcasts are, so that we know the amount of time to listen to them? I enjoy them, so keep up the good work. Thank you! John
( richard295 - M)
Locale:
San Francisco Bay Area
I couln't find any podcast link for interview 2. The only thing I could access was the text from Andrew's site.