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
Indonesia, Bali, Uluwati Dancer
Thailand, Udon Thani Prov, Temple Figurines
Slovenia, Ljubljana Prov, River Night
Slovenia, Polzela Prov, Insect In Flower
USA, Alaska, Jeff Shea On Denali Summit, 1993 - I climbed Denali, that is, Mount McKinley, with Fred Zalokar and Sean Crom of Reno, Nevada. Denali is the highest peak in North America. It was the third of the Seven Summits that I climbed. We were up and down off the mountain in nine days. Fred and Sean were ultra-marathon runners. Sean was rated as one of the top twenty in the world, maintaining a pace of about 6 minutes per mile for 100 kilometers. Fred had qualified for the Olympic marathon when he was younger. Sean and Fred summited a day earlier than I did. Sean came back to climb it a second time with me, but he was descending while I was still trudging up the final summit slope. I reached the summit alone. While Denali is difficult because of the potential for horrendous storms, when I arrived on top, the air was so still, I could have lit a match.
Slovenia, Sentjur Prov, Drying Corn
Peru, Jeff Shea Looking At Andes Mountains, 1979 - On my trip to South America in 1979, I saw the Andes for the first time. My impression was that they were jagged and austere. I walked to Macchu Piccu with Debra, an American woman I met in Cuzco. We walked over a pass of 14,000 feet. I was exhausted. I don't think at the time I could have imagined I would one day go over twice that altitude. (Photo 110 format from Jeff Shea Travel Archives)
Papua New Guinea, Tree Kangaroo, 1983 - Among the many surprising sights that I saw in New Guinea was the tree kangaroo. Here, one wrestles with a dog, while children look on delighted. I didn?t even know that such a creature existed. I suppose in truth it is a form of possum.
Seychelles, Seychelles, Zil Elwwannyen Sesel Beach
Philippines-Pampanga - Awning, 2007 - If you look at the world through the eyes that you have been taught to judge things by, this old ragged awning might seem a shame. But if you look at the world through eyes that see the world without judgement, like a child, this old ragged awning becomes something of beauty. Ruth Bernhard said to me to wake up every morning and see the world as if you are seeing it for the first time.