This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2450 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
Slovenia, Naklo Prov, Drying Rack Cross
Bangladesh, Kishorenganj Prov, Kettles Drink
Tibet, Everest, North Ridge Route, Camp 3, Showing Second Step, Summit Pyramid, 8200m, 1995 -
This photograph is taken from 8200 meters (26,800 feet) high on Mount Everest at the site of Camp 3 on the North Ridge route, adjacent to the North Face. The summit pyramid of Everest is shown at the right hand side of the photograph, about 2000 feet above. About two-thirds of the way across the photograph from the left to right is a bump on the ridge. This is the famous "Second Step." I arrived at Camp 3 May 23, 1995 without the use of oxygen. There, Lhakpa Gelu, Tsering Dorje and I slept and departed at midnight for the summit, reaching it in 9 hours. One of the tents is visible at the far left of the photograph. The rope holding the tent down runs across the foreground of the photograph from right to left.
Azerbaijan, Qobustan Prov, Mushrooms For Sale
Bed with Guitar, circa 1976
Jeff Shea - A drawing of my bed and guitar at home, California
Turkey, Canakkale Prov, Coastal Village
Slovenia, Kranjska Gora Prov, Rock Spires
Indonesia, Pulsating Rock, 2005 - This is the most incredible thing I have ever seen. But trying to explain it to people, let alone convince them that this was nature in its rarest form, or magic, is likely to bring thoughts that I am naive. The white stone, dropped in water, became all these brilliant colors, pulsing with life from the inside out, illuminating the glass, seething like a magic cauldron. When taken out, it returned to white.
Greenland, Constable Pynt, View From Plateau, 2006 - When we flew into Constable Pynt from Rekjavik, Iceland, I was surprised that it looked more like a desert than what I'd expected Greenland to be. In fact, this is an arid area, yet still, as the mountains across the channel show, covered in snow much of the time. The village of Illoqqqortoormiut (Scoresbysund) is reachable by an hour and a half away by speedboat.
Slovenia, Smartno Pri Litiji Prov, Smartno Next To Litija