Synopses & Reviews
Lightweight backpacking is safer, more comfortable, less expensive, and more fun than conventional/heavy backpacking. This engaging, colorful book demonstrates how and why. It is written by Andrew Skurka, the charismatic adventure athlete who has defined the light-and-fast style of backcountry travel and who was described by National Geographic Adventure as a "Gen Y version of Henry David Thoreau or John Muir." Skurka is a sponsored athlete, paid speaker, and writer who has created his own platform and is making a living doing it. He gives dozens of lectures a year, maintains a website and facebook page, and has thousands of followers.
The guide begins with a big-picture discussion about lightweight backpacking: why go light, core principals, steps to lighten up, etc. A show-and-tell of lightweight gear follows, including an assortment of packs, shelters, stoves, clothing, and more. The author's personal vignettes are sprinkled throughout the book, making this is an intimate, inspiring, educational tome that might very well be worth reading for the stories alone.
About the Author
A graduate of Duke University, ANDREW SKURKA is a sponsored long-distance backpacker, paid speaker, and writer. He has hiked 25,000-plus miles since 2002, most recently on a 4,700-mile loop around Alaska and the Yukon. Named "Adventurer of the Year" by National Geographic Adventure (describing him as "a Gen Y version of Thoreau") and "Person of the Year" by Backpacker Magazine, he was also featured in Outside and Men's Journal. Skurka has appeared in numerous newspapers and television broadcasts.