Alaska-Yukon Expedition: A Few Words on Finishing – Chocolate, Bears, Feeling Humbled (Photo Gallery)

On Monday Andrew Skurka finished his epic Alaska-Yukon Expedition, covering 4,700+ miles and finishing a few weeks early, even! We'll hear more from him later in the week. Until then, here are some of his initial thoughts on finishing. Check out our photo gallery with highlights from the expedition.

THOUGHTS ON FOOD?

After six months of eating the same stuff, my favorite food items during this trip were anything that contained chocolate. My least favorite items were anything that didn’t contain chocolate. Next time I go on a long trip, I’m only bringing chocolate, at least for breakfast, snacks, and desert. The sesame sticks, Bear Valley bars, peanut butter-filled pretzels, and summer sausage will not find a way into my pack.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT BEARS?

Number of bears that I scared the crap out of, literally: 1. Quick story: It charged from across a braided river, I saw it last-minute and threw my trekking poles at it because I didn’t have time to reach for my bear spray, it was so rattled by the throwing and the yelling that it took a 90-degree turn and ran away. It pooped itself as it went.

CAN YOU SUM UP THIS TRIP IN ONE WORD?

The most appropriate one-word wrap-up of the expedition is…humbling.