The Great Western Loop takes in sections of the Pacific Crest, Pacific Northwest, Continental Divide, Grand Enchantment, and Arizona trails. "Anytime I was off trail it would drive me nuts," he said.

Although the Great Western Loop reaches some of the highest elevations in the U.S.—Garmire chose to summit 14,505-foot Mount Whitney—it’s not the terrain that makes it so daunting.

Andrew Skurka, the iron-legged dude who hiked across America in 2005, is off on another wild adventure. This time the lightweight backpacker is making a loop through the West - appropriately ...