Great Western Loop

April to November 2007 I take the further-faster-lighter mantra to its extreme: 6,875 miles, 33 miles per day for 208 days, and an average base weight of about 6 pounds.

On November 3, 2007, Andrew Skurka became the first person to complete the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, an ambitious journey that links the American West’s great long-distance hiking trails to traverse 12 National Parks and over 75 wilderness areas.

Skurka, 26, completed his expedition by walking an average of 33 miles per day for 208 straight days, covering a distance equivalent to 262 marathons or twice the distance between Boston and San Francisco. In addition to experiencing many of the most pristine and beautiful landscapes in America, Skurka surveyed the toll that global warming is taking on them. Skurka’s accomplishment is landmark in the sheer athleticism he displayed, the pinnacle outdoor experience he had, and in the sobering observations he made along the way.