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
Papua New Guinea, Jeff Shea On Raft On Sepik, 1983 - Standing at the helm of the raft allowed me to steer it by paddling, pole our way out of shallows or push it away from overhanging obstacles.
Seram, Poisonous Snake Whose Head I Unwittingly Stepped On, 2006 - On my last day in the forest of Seram on my Search For The Little People 2006 expedition, me and my three guides from Mosso were walking from Kanikeh to Jalan Lintas, or, the Asphalt Road, via Roho. It was a long day. We started walking at about 10 a.m. and arrived at about 930 p.m. on the side of the road. Midday, I was in the lead when I heard a sound. I turned around. Memet, the lead guide, was slashing about with his parang (i.e., machete). He cut this snake in three pieces. Memet, Edi and Saiful all agreed that this snake was so poisonous that if I had been bitten, I would have been dead within an hour unless I'd been given the anetedote: little likelihood out here in the middle of nowhere. They said I was lucky to step on its head - it couldn't bite. Had I stepped on its tail, it would have been a different story, and I would be history.
Slovenia, Metlika Prov, Ants On Flower
South Georgia, Gritviken, Looking Down From Peak Above Gritviken, 2006 - I had carried my pack to the base of the last buttress on this peak but gave up when I ran into unstable shale. I descended and noticed a gully off to the right. I soon saw the easy way up. I was very late on returning to the ship, but I convinced myself I could get to the top and back down in fifteen minutes. I dropped my pack and tromped up the loose volcanic rock. I crawled through the arch visible in the lower right of the photograph. The last few feet required me to lay down and climb up on my belly, grasping for any hand hold I could find. The wind blew. The harbor and a Zodiac are visible below.
UK, Cheshire Prov, Cheshire Dog
UK, Gwynedd Prov, Rock Wall Up Mountainside
UK, Pembrokeshire Prov, Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber 500 BC
Chile, Antofagasta, Jeff Shea Reaches Argentina
Bangladesh, Kishorenganj Prov, Coal
Thailand, Khon Kaen Prov, Flooded Plain