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
Ireland, Kilkenny Prov, Home On Water
PH, Kalinga Province, Tombiangan Pasil Road With Arch At Night, 2008, IMG_2183 - To the left of the car there is a hole in the wall, which marked the road. I stood back in the dark to take this photo. I heard breathing. I stopped and listened again. I heard it again. I ran! Animal or man, I wanted no part of it. I was told the anti-government forces inhabited these mountains - although I was told they were friendly to the ordinary citizen.
USA, Wake Island, Air Port Worker
Australia, Kosciusko Meadow, 1996 - When I climbed Kosciusko, my friend, great Australian adventurer, Jon Muir, told me of a nice route to climb it by, which started at -- if I recall -- Kangaroo Flat -- or some such place, and went up through a eucalyptus forest. I wrote: \"about 16 km up 1800m ascent of Mt Kosciusko, my fifth of the 7 summits, took 5 hours exactly from the 15.5 sign, and somewhat over 4 hours back, darkness delayed me, slipped, sprained my ankle many times!, great alpine territoty\". This photo was taken near the top.
Myanmar, Tanintharyi Prov, Portrait Of A Woman
Philippines, Basilan Prov, Fish In Market
Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov, Drying
Cambodia, Kampong Chaam Prov, Cow Drawn Logging Cart
Peru, Lilly, Gary Cappa, Monyo And Jeff Shea, 1979 - In 1979, I went on my second great adventure: travelling mostly by land from the USA to Argentina. Gary and I met Lilly and Monyo from Lima. Lilly was his girlfriend and Monyo was mine. They treated us like kings. The only problem was that, being a good Catholic girl, I never "knew" Monyo in the 'biblical sense.' Gary complained of the same problem with Lilly. They were affectionate but it only went so far. After I returned to the USA, Monyo's letters seemed to indicate a greater willingness, but I never saw her again. Monyo's name was really Mono with a tilde over the n. (Photo 110 format from Jeff Shea Travel Archives)
Tibet, Dropuri, Medicine Rock, 1991 - The first time I visited Tibet was in 1991. At that time, the ground in front of Dropuri, or Medicine Rock, was natural earth, as shown in this photograph. I returned in 1995 on the way to Everest, disappointed to find that the ground had been paved with asphalt, a completely inappropriate material for this site. This rock wall was once contiguous with a ridge that led to the Potala Palace. In their enthusiasm for wanton progress, the government blasted a hole in the ridge to make room for an asphalt road. Is there no respect?