This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2600 of the world’s 3978 provinces, to every country on earth and to the summit of the highest peak on each continent (thank heaven for good weather!). In my travels, I learned to respect the intelligence and ingenuity of people of all races and callings both past and present. Come see the world as I see it: as a peaceful place, full of nature and beauty. With the right spirit and intent, we can make our world a virtual Garden of Eden.
DISTINCTIONS: BBC 2017 Travel Pioneer • Journal Articles • Explorer’s Club Flag Expeditions
World Parks Project • Walk Across South America • Jeff Shea Travel Map
Lhotse, 1983
Nepal, Bagmati Province (Zone), Solo Khumbu - 35mm Kodachrome film
Lhotse, as visible from the Solo Khumbu Valley. Everest is the mountain to its left in the back, appearing smaller than Lhotse because it is more distant. It is unclear to me whether the enormous face of Lhotse shown in this photograph has ever been climbed.
Lithuania, Panevezio Prov, Field And Hay - B W
Greece, Santorini, 1987 - When I arrived in Santorini on my way to Africa with my father in 1987, I took off for a long walk. I walked all day, sleeping at a small place along a black beach. I wandered, one of my favorite activities. Why rush through life, being busy, for what? Life's most precious moments are those when we stop and do nothing, allowing ourselves just to soak in the surroundings. I avoided tours with a passion. I also avoided preoccupying myself with dates and names of places. Guidebooks were helpful but sometimes it was better not to "know" anything about a place, but simply to revel in it without purpose.
Latvia, Dobeles Prov, Town Church -
Azerbaijan, Qobustan Rayon, Landscape
Seram, Cicada, 2006 - Of the cicadas in Seram, I wrote, "The sound of cicadas cutting the atmosphere in a continual shrill made me question what their purpose was, and I felt surprise at the notion that people are not more curious as to the ways animals and insects communicate. For my part, it is a certain fact that they indeed communicate in intricate ways, forging intellect into channels, atmospheres and realms that we cannot even imagine."
Turkey, Artvin Prov, Reservoir
Slovenia, Osilnica Prov, House
Slovenia, Brda Prov, Village
Slovenia, Brezice Prov, Town Tower