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
Ascension, Woman Mountain, 2006 - I dubbed this mountain Woman Mountain because her shape resembled that of a woman. The cinder cone resembled the head. Then there were the breasts, followed by a large belly . Leaving Comfortless Cove on foot, I spied the mountain. I became enchanted. Ascension was dubbed the ugliest place by some on the Bouvet trip. But for me, I found incredible beauty in the austere landscape. I later wrote, "The woman, she stood over me, austere and gentle by the sea, that is where I longed to be, under her breasts and majesty."
Palestine, Jeff Shea Writing Love Letter While Floating In Dead Sea, 1984 - I was impressed by the fact I could float effortlessly in the Dead Sea because of the heavy salt content. I wrote a love letter laying on my back, supported only be the density of the salt water. Eighteen years later I went to Lake Asal in Djibouti, which is even saltier and provided even more buoyancy!
St. Kitts, Bobby Daley, 2000 - While circling the beautiful island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean, we met an old Rastafarian. I wrote, "Continuing on to the north, we attempted to get close to the mountain on a track. There we met Bobby Daley, a chattery old Rasta with white and blonde dreadlocks. The was one of the most amiable people I ever met. We shook hands, and I felt his warmth. He didn't want me to take a photo, because he said he couldn't see it. But I said he could see it in my video, so I shot a digital video."
South Sandwich Is, Chinstrap Penguin Leaping Out Of Water, 2006 - The chinstrap penguins propelled themselves out of the water, leaping like dolphins.
Argentina, Jujuy Prov, Night Walk On Way To San Lucas - Near the end of my 2010 walk across the South American Altiplano, I decided to do a night walk on the ridge which eventually led down towards San Lucas, a village in the mountains. I traveled for some distance until I finally found a place on the side of the path. About two days later, I reached civilization as we know it.
Tibet, Everest, North Face From Rongbuk Base Camp, Fall, 1998 -
This photograph was taken from Rongbuk base camp in the Fall of 1998. It shows the mountain after the monsoons. See other photo on this site in the spring, when the same view is much more rocky. In the center foreground is Changtze. The North Ridge route begins from Rongbuk, winds left around Changtze, then up the North Col. In this scene, the route is hidden from view until it emerges in the left middle of the photograph at about 8000 meters.
Slovenia, Postojna Prov, Home Gardening
Bangladesh, Ricksha, 1983 - On my first visit to Bangladesh in 1983, I was amazed by the colorfulness of their rickshas and buses. Although gaudy by American standards, this type of decoration is common not only in Bangladesh but in Pakistan as well. 
Bangladesh, Habiganj Prov, Country House
Norway, Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen, 2000 - This is the settlement of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen (Svalbard) off the far north coast of Norway. Spitsbergen is home to an immense amount of wildlife. I took this picture from the plateau above the village. I followed the local advice, which was to carry a gun, in the event of polar bears. A woman had been killed there by one some years earlier.