Skurka looking for expedition ideas

George –

With all do respect, are you kidding? The advice to get a "real job" makes no sense to me — not only am I doing exactly what I want to be doing right now, but I'd like to think that I'm having a much greater impact than I would be if I had taken up residence in an office cube, which has been done by so many of my friends, classmates, and former teammates — who interestingly are telling me to keep on doing what I am doing.

Environmental research — and research, in general — is a very worthwhile and admirable occupation, as is being an educator or serving in public office. But we all need to determine for ourselves what we are most passionate about and how we can help best achieve the greater good. The way I look at it, there are many qualified individuals (including myself) who can take on some of the roles listed above — but there are very few who are able to do what I'm doing, namely sharing my outdoor experiences in the hopes of educating and inspiring people to develop their own connection with the outdoors, which I think we can agree is an admirable cause itself.

My long-distance trips were initially motivated by personal experience and challenge (e.g. AT 2002 and even C2C 2004-05), but they have taken on a much bigger purpose now, as I've looked around and developed growing concern with the world today: unsustainable and inappropriate use of natural resources, immoral neglect of wildlife and vegetation, and emerging cultures (both here in the US (i.e. the youth) and internationally) that prefer exploitation over conservation, and that have a decreasing appreciation/respect for and connection with the natural world.

The reality is that you can pour ridiculous amounts of money into environmental research, but unless you have a constituency (the general public, a bureaucracy, and lawmakers) who actually care about the environment, the research is worthless, except to further depress those who aren't ignorant to it. I think a great example of this would be the tag-team between Al Gore and the IPCC: it was not until Al Gore took the climate change message to the public via a film that the IPCC's work really gained any traction, especially here in the US.

Poor trail maintenance is a result of there not being enough interest in hiking and the backcountry. Even if your lobbying efforts to get the AZT on par with the AT were successful, that doesn't necessarily mean that "if you build it they will come," though certainly it would lead to a small uptick because the AZT in some places is so bad that it prevents people entirely from hiking it (e.g. the Matzatzal's).

Work on the source of the problem: that people generally and decreasingly aren't interested in hiking or the backcountry. How? Give presentations at schools (you don't need to be a hiking stud to do this — kids will worship anyone who has seen a rattlesnake in the wild or pooped in the woods on more than one occasion). Offer skill-based clinics at local outdoor retailers. Foster partnerships between for-profit companies and the AZT association, so that there are ample people available for work groups and for membership dues. And get the AZ hiking community behind the effort — you guys have lots of web groups, but I don't get the impression that the community ever steps outside of itself.

Andrew – The AZT is a grassroots AZ-based issue.

Ryan –

That map excites me too, especially that red line that spans the continent north-south. I'd thought about this trip before but I never got excited about doing the entire CDT over again — but that's unjustified, since the CDT constitutes only about 25 percent of the entire trip.

Boy, that's a mother of a trip. What's the recommended timing? Some of the northern sections will have to be in the winter — there's no way you can hike from the San Juan's to the Seward Peninsula between the months of May and October.

Agree with Andy – he's living the life I'd give my eye teeth to live. And he's come closer to making it a job than most. AND he's look at ways he could be making a difference while doing so.

What is it with gear companies, by the way, that they fall over themselves to make yet another climber their sponsored "athlete", when the greater bulk of their sales are to hikers – who are far better represented by Andy than by a climber who would probably baulk at the thought of having to walk more than a mile from his car to the foot of a climb!

Full marks to GoLite for backing Andy, fuller marks to Andy for raising the profile of hiking and those who hike. All power to him; I wish gear companies would see the light and make sure there were a few more like him!

Now, about the TGO Challenge…

A few thoughts:

1- Gear companies and sponsorships. I've been fortunate to have had the backing of some wonderful companies that have allowed me to do what I've done, and I certainly thank them for their support. But the reason that the resources (and impact) is limited is because the companies themselves are very small. It's hard for us to believe because we live and breathe outdoor sports, but even the largest companies in the outdoor industry (e.g. North Face) is tiny compared to more mass-market companies like Nike. (In 2007 Nike's sales are $10+ billion while VHF Corp's Outdoor group, which includes TNF, Jansport, Vans, and Reef, was $1.5 billion.)

The other thing to factor in is "image." Mountaineering, climbing, and extreme skiing are easily romanticized, while backpacking is ho-hum in most people's view…boring. However, what the other sports do not offer is backpacking's biggest advantage: accessibility. Nearly everyone can go for a walk in nature without having to drive far or buy any gear.

2- There's been a little bit of talk about my "impact," and how I can have the biggest one. I'll be the first one to admit that my impact has not been as big as I have wanted it to be (but I think everyone can say that — Wouldn't the world be perfect if you were God?). But let's also remember that I'm just 26 and that I graduated college 4 years ago as an absolute nobody. I would hope that my impact will continue on the same trajectory it's been on (that is, up) over the next 4 years and beyond, perhaps even at a quick rate since I have way more opportunities right now than I did 4 years ago.

Just don't get an addiction to snorting instant mashed potatoes and you should be good ;-)

"I would hope that my impact will continue on the same trajectory it's been on (that is, up) over the next 4 years and beyond, perhaps even at a quick rate since I have way more opportunities right now than I did 4 years ago."

Howdy Andrew,

In fact, my last sentence was kidding i.e., the : )

You are without doubt one of the top twenty-somethings living on the planet based on your past adventures. I was just wondering why you were continuing along your same path. From your response, I now have a better idea.

I'm a parent of two 20-somethings that fortunately are doing what they love to do. Every now and then I give both of them reality checks, too. I love it when their response is passionate as yours was.

I believe it is important to have a vision and to work hard. A vision without hard work is a dream, and hard work without a vision is a waste of time. The vision and hard work combination thrives when one finds that thing he or she is here to do. Looks like you found it.

George –

Well put.

It does not surprise me that you are a father of twenty-somethings. Before I responded to your earlier post I checked to make sure that you could not be an alias for my own father…he has said many things along those sames lines.

How long is the Te Araroa? It's very difficult to determine from the website.

I was told recently by a guy who attempted to hike the length of North and South Islands that the Te Araroa steers clears of the real mountains for much of its way; he gave up on it and devised his own higher level route, until he got injured. I believe Te Araroa is about 1550 miles – not 100% sure.

.

"The AZT is a grassroots AZ-based issue"

Well put

OK, there are 3 big trails so far in the U.S.

There should be a fourth: The Great Basin Watershed Trail.

This route would pass along the crest of the mountains and desert that outline the Great Basin and would pass through the High Sierra, Mojave Desert, lower Nevada, the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, southern Idaho and Oregon, and back down to the High Sierra.

Its length would be comparable to the Continental Divide Trail, and you would be faced with dryness and heat for large stretches of the route. You would have to stitch the route together from existing trails and roads.

Admittedly, it would be a bit similar to your GWL adventure, but shorter. Also, I believe no one has done it before (at least I've never heard of such a route).

Issues: water use in the West. The western deserts.

Skurka said "there are very few who are able to do what I'm doing, namely sharing my outdoor experiences in the hopes of educating and inspiring people to develop their own connection with the outdoors…"

Greyson said "You take pictures and video, I think taking that further and becoming something of a documentarian could expose your message to more people…"

I would love to see more backpacking adventure DVDs on the market. Each of Andy's past trips filmed and edited into a full length movie would be better than any hollywood junk for my entertainment dollar. And that IS INSPIRING me about the outdoors. Andy's life purpose fullfilled. Done.

Have you ever tried to teach a kid something by whipping out the textbook and reading the lesson verbatum? Snooze fest. Instead you make it FUN, ENTERTAINING and NOT like WORK! Then lo and behold when it's over they have actually learned something without knowing it. I think adults are the same way. Teach me while making it fun, please!

Sure if he wants to squeeze a "message" into it fine, many movies try and do that, but that is secondary in my opinion. I don't think trying to overtly express a message ever did much good. (oh no, I feel flames burning already :)

Andy's passion is (quote) "sharing my outdoor experiences". Messages and whatnot are implicit in and of themselves, without searching for one and using that as the banner and reason for doing something. For example, on Andy's last trip the environmental issues popped up during the trip naturally, because Andy was just sharing with us and the issues and message developed themselves because that's what it was actually like out there.

Andy, my advice to you is to just keep "sharing" and follow your passion. If you try too hard, you fall out of the natural flow of things and start making decisions with the mind instead of the heart.

You have and are doing exactly what you should be doing, all is well.

Of course this is just my 2c.

Rick –

This is cool. Yes, similar to the GWL in that it's a loop, but it's a very different backcountry experience in terms of both terrain (more deserts, less mountains) and primitiveness (more remote, and an ad hoc route). I could definitely see this being a fun little 3-month adventure.

Andy

Jhaura –

With a long-distance hike, the dog has to wag the tail — the environmental messages are developed after committing to the hike, which has the effects of making sure that you truly are committed to completing it (it's really hard to put yourself through an experience like that if you aren't enjoying it) and of being able to use specific local arguments, rather than something big and vague.

As you said, some of the messages would come up naturally; but I think it's more effective to talk about them directly, because it may take quite a while for the trail conditions to raise the issue in its own. E.g. It was not until mid-June, 2.5 months into my hike, when I was in Three Sisters Wilderness, that I witnessed the first long-term sign of human-accelerated climate change: the size of the glacier on South Sister now compared to what it was like in the late-1970's, when the photo in the guidebook was taken. Plus, there are a lot of messages that may come up, and it's useful to target in one a specific group. Heck, in the West you could talk about so many things (sprawl, water, public land use, conservation, etc.).

Jhaura –

It's funny that you bring this up. We'll see what happens, but my hope is that you can just turn on your TV to watch a program like this. I'll keep you all posted.

Andy

>>But let's also remember that I'm just 26 and that I graduated college 4 years ago as an absolute nobody.

Ah, but the real expedition starts from within. And it leads – with fortitude, perseverance, and a bit of luck – to the realization that our true worth cannot be measured or altered by others, but is innate and untarnishable as the universe itself. This is when at last we find the wings we've dreamed for and fly.

Brett –

Wholeheartedly agree. And I've found those wings already.

But unless I'm a trust fund baby (which I'm not), even with "wings" I can't be a "nobody" and except to keep doing this.

Now that Gov. Bill Richardson has some free time, maybe you could bend his ear over the Rio Grande Trail. (Texas wants in, too, I hear.)

http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/preserving-nm/the-rio-grande-trail

The Rio Grande is the lifeblood of New Mexico, providing water for ranchers, farmers and city dwellers alike. For many, however, the Rio Grande conjures up images of dams and concrete ditches rather than scenic vistas and majestic wildlife. New Mexicans have lost their connection with this important waterway. It’s time for this to change.

Although it’s still in the early stages, the Rio Grande Trail will be a multi-use recreational trail running alongside the length of the Rio Grande through New Mexico. Bikers, hikers, joggers and bird-watchers would have hundreds of miles of new trail to explore and enjoy. The trail would provide New Mexicans more access to the beauty of the Rio Grande, while connecting visitors to a significant piece of the state’s cultural and environmental heritage. The trail will also promote good stewardship of the Rio Grande, which is essential if we hope to revitalize the river and restore the bosque for future generations to enjoy.

…..

Stretching the entire length of New Mexico from the pueblos in the north to the beautiful desert landscapes of southern New Mexico’s borderlands, the Rio Grande is the heart of the state. Although often neglected and overlooked, the Rio Grande delivers water to local farmers, shapes New Mexico’s magnificent landscapes like the Rio Grande Gorge in Taos, and weaves throughout New Mexico’s culture and heritage.

The river and its bosque attract and sustain a wide variety of recreation—from hunting, fishing, and river rafting to hiking, biking and horseback riding. In many ways, human recreation in the river corridor also provides a vital connection to experiencing and appreciating the river, and educating the public about its past, present and future.

Trails provide a multitude of benefits to local communities, including economic development, increased tourism, conservation and health and fitness. Trail-related recreation is the most popular, outdoor activity in New Mexico. Nationwide, long-distance trails have never been more popular and outdoor enthusiasts seek them out as destinations in and of themselves. If completed, the Rio Grande Trail would be one of the longest multi-use trails in the United States.

In 2006, the New Mexico Legislature appropriated $4 million to begin the planning and development of the trail. The New Mexico State Parks Department is responsible for trail development between Belen and Sunland Park. The Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) is working on the trail segment between Bernalillo and Belen. Numerous demonstration projects, public meetings and corridor studies are in progress.

Although the planning process and some pilot projects are underway, the realization of the trail will require a long-term, concerted effort from local, state and federal entities, citizens and the private sector. Many issues such as route location, access points, trail design, trail construction, and trail maintenance still need to be addressed, but perhaps the biggest obstacle is the lack of a dedicated source of funding.

During the 2007 legislative session, the New Mexico House and Senate passed a joint memorial to support the completion of the Rio Grande Trail but appropriated little money toward the actual construction of the trail. If we are to see the vision of the Rio Grande Trail realized, there needs to be a sustained source of funding to complete construction of the trail and ensure its continued maintenance.
Environment New Mexico will be working during the 2008 legislative session to build support for a dedicated funding source for the trail, while working with the Governor’s office and individual legislators to set aside necessary capitol outlay funds.

Sorry to offer more 'general advice' as if I'm old enough to have the right to :) As I understand it, you're looking for a new physical challenge comparable to your previous adventures, with the same degree of novelty and record-setting. Sure, educating and sharing your experience with others is important and will probably become more so as time goes on, but it's the physical challenge and the landscapes experienced that probably are the real drive.

If I were in your position, I would keep doing what you're doing, looking for more stimulating challenges, and try to [continue to] hone and market some auxiliary skills such as:

– professional nature photography
– adventure journalism (think Nat'l Geog.) and writing in general
– making video records and getting them aired
– knowledge of land management and environmental policy and things like that
– guiding and training others in your area of expertise

Some people have found ways to earn a stable living through their love of nature and trekking with skills like these.

Was reading an article about the US population's Great Plains drain. It used a US Census map. Interesting to not only note where we're leaving, but also where we're going.

Maybe add global 'swarming' to your generation's list of things to think about : )

I grabbed the pic from the source…
http://www.census.gov/popest/gallery/maps/chg0006.html

Andy,

other thoughts, more for beyond 2009;
how about a trans-globe (Ran Fiennes) style expedition, where you traverse the planet in some way, using a variety of methods. Of course, you would need a rather large exedition "team", and would do each section with other adventurers who have skills appropriate to the section, so that you don't need to be an "expert" at everything. The idea being of course that at least one expedition member does the whole lot.

I can think of a couple of different ways of doing "the globe" that are relatively new, or at least haven't been done in their entirety by any one person.

Adam

You've already had an earful, but how about tracing the route of the Colorado River from its source to the sea? Traveling its course on foot and, where allowable, by raft, tell the modern-day story of one of the West's most important rivers, geographically, historically, and culturally, in the process revealing and critiquing the water use issues now threatening this great river, its ecology, and the human populations who depend upon it.

Greenland.
There are some huge Yosemite type cliffs getting a tiny bit of exploration, so an UL backpack up there would be absolutely stunning. Maybe do some easy walk-up peaks too, possible first ascents.