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
Cambodia, Kampong Thum Prov, Roasted Duck
Tanzania, Cheetahs with Kill (far view), 1984 - This photograph was taken in Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. These two cheetahs had just killed a wildebeeste. They had had their fill and sat panting, unable to eat more.
Slovenia, Lukovica Province, Horse Eye, 2006, IMG_6142 - This horse has a blue eye.
USA, AZ, Grand Canyon, Cactus Hair, 1988 - This is a close-up of the purple cactus shown in another photograph on this site. Nature small and large is amazing.
Turkey, Kastamonu Prov, Landscape
Haiti, LesCayes, Haitian Nefertitti, 2008 - I was in an administrative office when this woman sat waiting. I asked her if I could take a photo of her, as the lighting coming in through the door was wonderful. She refused. But the government man helped me to convince her. To the ordinary eye, she was plain, I would imagine. But in her I saw great beauty, as illustrated here.
Vietnam, Lao Cai Prov, Blue Tent
UK, Salford Prov, Police And Street Person
Slovenia, Rogatec Prov, Suspicious Slovene
Tibet, Everest Summit, Lhakpa Gelu, Cornice Taken At 8830m, 1995 -
Lhakpa Gelu reached the summit first. I took this photograph of his second ascent of Mount Everest and his first ascent from Tibet. I was standing at about 28950 feet. We all used oxygen that day. But my oxygen bag was often blocked with ice! If you look closely in the lower left quarter quadrant of the photograph, you can see the old summit pole. Because the jet stream drops down on the summit, the cornice rolls over, over time. Once you reach the summit plateau from Tibet, it is a gentle walk to the top of the world. Nevertheless, you cannot let your guard down. Two days after I reached the summit, a climber lost his balance here, slid backwards and upside down and caught his hand on a rock just before plummeting 10,000 feet down the North Face.