Cart
Andy is greeted by this banner at the top of the Grandview Trail, Grand Canyon, Arizona.
On April 8, 2007, just shy of seven months ago, Andrew Skurka set out to walk around the American West. It is now November 3,2007, the sun is streaming down upon a small group of us, the sky is clear blue, and the scene at Grandview Point here in the Grand Canyon is as good as it gets. We are mere moments away from seeing Andy crest the rim wall and the anticipation has reached a fevered pitch. Family, friends, people who have been following Andy's progress through his audio updates, photos, and blog, a few from Golite, and myself cheer him as he comes into view on a switchback below. His journey is done and everyone shares in the moment. I am sure Andy did not expect the champagne shower he received. However, I feel certain that he was overjoyed to see not only his family but everyone else who was present for his arrival.
I wish I could share the full measure of the scene but Murphy had other plans and technical difficulties brought that desire crashing down. The time spent at Grandview Point in the waning hours of the afternoon is something I don't think people will forget soon. The additional time spent in Flagstaff at a lovely dinner at the Weatherford Hotel chatting about not only the hike but all manner of other things was icing on the cake.
|
|
| |
|
| . | |
| Champagne flowed freely at Grandview Point when Andy arrived, not all of it into cups. Their was no doubt that Andy was caught completely off guard as the champagne was showered all over him. | ||
However this is a companion article to the interview I conducted with Andy the following day at a quiet house in the woods just outside of Flagstaff. After hiking 6,875 miles through a dozen national parks and over 75 wilderness areas on both established trails and cross-country Andy has had plenty of time to think about many things. We scratch the surface of some of the favorite topics of backpackers and adventurers everywhere: gear, favorite place to spend time, most challenging event, how the trip has affected him, and so on.
A panoramic view from just below the rim at Grandview Point. The Grand Canyon is just one of the many awe inspiring places Andy visted over the past seven months.
Reader Comments
You must login to post comments.
Forum Index » Editor's Roundtable » The Great Western Loop
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
I have just uploaded 66 new photos covering the two week period of June 8 to 22.
More to come.
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
Even more photos. Another 2 week span tht takes us up to July 7th. Just think
( mattbrodhead )
Locale:
Michigan
Kenneth,
Just checked out your Web site and browsed through your Isle Royale pictures. I am 99% sure that I ran into you on the trail last year. I was taking a break with my brother and I on top of Mount Franklin. You briefly discussed your water craft.
It's a small world.
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
I'm sorry to say I don't recall. I'm lousy with faces, but I do recall a conversation like that lsat year. Yep, the Alpacka drew some attention during that trip. I'd planned on going back this year and checking some different spots but nether got the travel set up and now it's too late (well really just too expensive).
( dtaggart )
Locale:
Central Indiana
8/29/07
My dad and 2 friends were on a 5 day trip in the Wind River Range in Wyoming on a trip up to Squaretop mountain. We were resting in the shade when some dude came zipping by. By the size of his pack, I thought he was out for a dayhike. :-) We started asking him where he was headed and after a couple of minutes it was clear we were obviously dealing with some sort of nut who was trying to walk from Glacier down to the desert with hardly any gear. My dad, starting to get suspicious, asked his name and immediately recognized him, since my dad has been occasionally following Andy's journey. We had a good talk and Andy looked fit, happy, and was all smiles.
After he left us, we went through a variety of emotions. My dad informed me that he didn't actually start in Glacier, but that he walked up there from Arizona, up the PCT, and over from Washington. I felt dirty for having such a large pack. :-) We all felt inspired and legged out the next mile at record pace for our rag tag group. We also felt like total losers for only making 7 or 8 miles that day. The running joke is that everytime we talk to each other now (no matter what time of day), we say "Andy's still walking."
Good Luck Andy, Stay Safe,
Your pals laying under the tree in the Winds,
Don Taggart, Harvey Taggart, Craig Fitzparick, and Chris Pyle
Edited by dtaggart on 09/07/2007 08:30:16 MDT.
( plove )
Locale:
Northeast
Ryan:
I just wanted to thank you, Andy and all of backpackinglight staff for all of your effort in putting together one of the best podcasts I follow. I look forward to the updates that detail information on geological history, current conditions, and details of the trail. Also, it's so nice to get updates on Andy's mind frame and challenges he encounters and how he handles them.
Also, I love the song at the end of the Andy's podcasts. "I show them my backpack, walk away from the car, step on the dirt path on journey not too far." What song is that and who sings it?
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
Kelley, it's actually "I shoulder my backpacking..." but that's alright.
The group is Storyhill and you can find out more about them from their website here.
( plove )
Locale:
Northeast
Ha ha ha...That's too funny. Yeah, I typically don't get the lyrics right...The real lyrics make more sense. Thanks so much for the info.
I'm still looking for the song. I was also told that Chris Cunningham, one of the artists in Storyhill, might have done this song as solo work. Do you know the name of the song?
But thanks for the Storyhill link. I'm digging their sound...and of course downloaded their most recent album.
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
yes, that's right. The song lyric was composed, as I recall, jointly by Chris and Ryan.
( jshann - M )
Locale:
North Texas
Ryan said the song would be posted for free on this website during the summer, but I never saw it. I could be wrong.
( sharalds - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
Montana
Andy's still walking.
I think about that on a daily basis.( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
130 new photos covering five weeks from July 7 to August 11. More are on the way.
** Ken **
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
And the photos keep coming. 74 new photos take take you from Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness through fire shrouded areas, Yellowstone National Park, and into Teton National Forest.
** Ken **
( Jkrew81 - M )
Locale:
White Mtns
is it just me or does it seem like every time a new batch of Andy's photos come out it looks like his pack just keeps on shrinking?
( halfturbo - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
Northern Ka-Le-For-Nee-Yuh
Nah, he's still growing :-)
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
Over this period of time Andy shot his usual large number of photos. Looks like I selected about 25% this time around. The Wind River Range through Wyoming's Great Basin, and into Colorado.
** Ken **
( kenknight - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
SE Michigan
72 more photos for your viewing pleasure.
** Ken **
( fairweather8588 )
Locale:
The Desert
Met up with him today on the El Oso road here in az, just to chat about trail conditions etc. to be expected and to give him some water. Had a nice lengthy conversation with him, he's really a great guy and I'm glad I made the journey to see him
( sharalds - BPL STAFF - M )
Locale:
Montana
Andrew -
That's cool you went out there to say hello. I don't know how many folks he's been running into on this hike but when they're few and far between I know he likes the chance to chat.
I met up with him and camped a night this winter during his Icebox hike and he was very excited for some companionship - especially someone who liked chatting ultralight stuff.
- Sam
( fairweather8588 )
Locale:
The Desert
Well he ran into another group of AZ hikers that I know of a two days before, but I could imagine with the unforgiving area he just traveled through that he was having his share of solitude