On 10 September 2011, Skinner set off from mile marker 283 on U.S. Route 2, before Devil's Lake, North Dakota and walked to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park, California. The walk took him through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and into California. Skinner snow-shoed over Tioga Pass and camped in a tent in the Sierra Mountains for several nights, but was forced to stop walking after suffering from frostbite in both feet. On the journey he appeared on television, radio and in newspapers and encouraged support for hospices taking care of people with serious illnesses. Skinner is now writing a book about this journey, entitled America- 12000 miles on foot, a wing and a prayer.