Beach camping in Baja, Mexico is dreamlike. Where else can you; wake up to the sound of waves crashing, making a cup of coffee, and taking it out to your chair planted in the sand to watch the sunrise for free? Yes, using “dreamlike” is over-done, but it fits, I promise. After 7 years of living on the road, I’ve realized there isn’t much out there which compares to Baja. More specifically, Baja Sur. While several beaches have become over-populated in recent years, Baja’s coastline is still relatively unpopulated. The beaches that are crowded are often close to a main road with easy access. My guess, if you just go a few turns north, or south, you will find something similar, if not better, without anyone. So, if you are on a road trip, or currently planning a road trip to Baja, Mexico, here are four beaches you should check out!
Read MoreAre you looking to stand on the summit of a mountain in the Eastern Sierra on your next road trip? Perfect! You found the right place for a tick list. Below you will find 10 peaks, some obvious, some not so much, that have been challenging, enjoyable, and made my list of “Must Summit” peaks. Most of these peaks can be done in a single day of hiking, but are often made more enjoyable if you have the time for a backpacking trip. Regardless, park your vehicle at the trailhead and get started, the Eastern Sierra is calling!
Read MoreThis past winter, I had the privilege of shooting a campaign on the Tamron to Sony e-mount lenses, ranging from 17mm to 500mm. In this photo project, the end result was an epic road trip from San Diego to Lake Tahoe to Santa Cruz to Cabo. Yup, you read that correctly, we road tripped for roughly 3,400 miles shooting from dusk until dawn, often late into the night to capture the stars. The result, an endless onslaught of stories to tell, a magazine piece, social media campaign, and an unexpected video.
Read MoreIn this episode, we chat with Ryan Lynch, the founder and head shaper at Timber Surf Co. Throughout this interview we chat about a wide variety of topics, but there is a theme; pursue your dreams. I know, this is cliche, but Ryan has embodied this mantra as he quit his corporate job working at Tesla, road tripped through Central America as a honeymoon—for several months—, and started his own sustainable surf board shaping business. Over the past few years, his shaping bay has transformed, as his goal of moving the shaping industry towards a scalable and sustainable endeavor. Check out his boards, give this a listen, and enjoy the video at the bottom!
Read MoreAs we flew, the Alaska Range skyline reviewed itself to us. Transitioning from green to white, we glided over glaciers, jagged peaks, and stared out upon our object. Thirty minutes passed and the descent towards the glacier began. Time had moved faster than ever before.
Read MoreHeading to the beach to escape the cold, in search of the best mix of surf swells, or for all around fun? I’ve been heading down to Baja during the winter for most my life. Living out of my van and walking distance from the ocean presents some pretty awesome opportunities to dive in for your own snack, especially ceviche.
Read MoreThe second episode of the podcast has dropped! In this episode, we dive into the world of dirtbag living with the Manager and Community Lead at Arc’teryx, Krista Coole. Personally, I met Krista through Beau Martino, about a year ago. Throughout that time, Krista has focused on building out the ambassador program for Arc’teryx Norcal.
Read MoreNo matter where you are in the United States, the West has captured our attention as a symbol of freedom, exploration, and awe. While the symbolism remains, the reality is vastly different. With the modern highway system, road trips can take you to almost anywhere. If you are planning a road trip to the west and want to see jaw-dropping landscapes, below is a list of seven landscape worthy to visit.
Read MoreFrom the outside looking in, travel photography is a dream. As a travel photographer, you get to hang out in cool places, do all the adventurous things, and see the world… for free. Right? Well, not exactly. The reality is, if something is happening, you have your camera to your face photographing. If nothing is happening, you are jocking for position to get the next shot, or, you are importing content, cleaning gear, etc. Yes, you get to be in the places, but you rarely have the opportunity to do the activities. For example, this was a 40(ish) day shoot. In the end, I got to play (surf, rock climb, snorkel, etc.) for six of them. That is less than if I worked a 9-5 job!
Read MoreI am super excited to announce that I will be co-hosting season three of the Occupation Wild Podcast with Courtney Condy. The season has already kicked off with a question and answer session around photography, van life, how to make money while living on the road, and so much more! Below is the link to the first episode.
Read MoreLooking for travel ideas in Baja, Mexico? Well, you are in the correct place. I have traveled through Baja, Mexico over 30 times in search of adventures. Throughout the experiences, there have been many take aways, but the most important is to be open. Traveling in Baja is much slower than the US, the people are friendlier, and the landscape is uninhabited in comparison. While you do not need to know Spanish, if you know the basics, you’ll be happier. Below you will find a bucket list of adventure travel ideas for your travels to Baja, Mexico.
Read MoreSucking it up, I put my big boy pants on— mainly to avoid being left behind by Kristin—and head to the hot spring. It was my first time here, I didn’t know what to expect and I was blown away. The landscape was cloaked in a orange glow as the light danced down the mountains and across the fields in the distance. Staring out from the warmths of the hot spring, I was proud that we persevered.
Read MoreThe time has come to pack your backpack, hit the trail, and sleep in the dirt. Backpacking is an adventure combining hiking with backcountry camping, so be ready for a deep thigh burn and dirt under your fingernails. Living out of a backpack combined with the lack of conveniences makes backpacking an enjoyable type two activity. In the moment, as you labor up a steep grade, you might question your decision to go on this trip, but as you roast a marshmallow for s’mores and stare out at the Milky Way you’ll cherish those steep grades like a badge of honor. If this is your first backpacking trip, or your 10,000th trip, I promise there will be a nugget of goodness in this article.
Read MoreGrowing up in a small town outside the city limits on the north shore of the lake, my family spent every opportunity skiing, hiking, swimming, and mountain biking around the blue waters. However, my parents were never keen on sleeping in tents, so backpacking was an activity I fell in love with during my time in college. When I returned home the summer after graduating and told my parents that I was going to thru-hike the 165 mile Tahoe Rim Trail, alone—to collect my thoughts before diving into a career—they rolled their eyes.
Read MoreHaving fun while living in a van can be simple, but the distractions of life are ever-present. Keep that in mind and prioritize the fun things. Make a list, check it twice, and fill your bucket with the experiences that help you grow.
Read MoreWe were hesitant, at first, as we got a lay of the land and understood how packed the sand was. Smashing corners felt a bit risky, as did putting the pedal to the metal, but we wanted to kick up some dust for the shots. In the back of our minds, we couldn’t shake the reality that breaking breaking down here had consequences. Running out of gas in Cataviña had smaller consequences, but it would not be ideal. Regardless, we were committed to fun and creating stellar images.
Read MoreI’ve lived on the road for seven years now, five of which have been in a van. While my first vanlife set up was not ideal— I couldn’t stand, it broke down a few times, and it was often referred to as a “creeper van”—my set up for the last two years has been great!… I missed out on showing you all several things, as this was an impromptu to van tour along the California coast. To address and answer other vanlife questions, check out the blog below:
Read More“Heyy Dalton, this is EPIC BILL BRADLEY here, um, give me a call. I am looking for a camera guy who is a bad ass. Can you climb mountains with camera gear?” Bill teases me with this voicemail back in February. Now, it is May and we have three more weeks until gear check in Talkeetna, Alaska. Bill and I had not met until this point, but I was intrigued to shake is hand, see if his height matched his energy, and get on a mountain with him.
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