The Wide Eyed World

Photos + Maps + Stories

[thewideeyedworld]

Coming Soon! Every so often I get inquiries about my travels, especially the things I take with me. I thought it might be fun to gather my go-to gear and essentials into a series of blogs and videos. The first bit of fun drops on YouTube this week! @sonyalpha #dreamnowtravellater #travelessentials #dontforgetthecoffee @hydrapak @bose @designworksink (at Denver, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAagapnHpXe/?igshid=1pdtfff6jmxwl

[thewideeyedworld]

Thanks to all of the trailbuilders in the world! . . Here’s an excerpt from a story about why mountain biking continues to be so great. . . “The Northwoods Trails project is a great example of the future of mountain biking. You have trails for all ability levels, a well-planned layout of the trail network and the incorporation of modern-day flow and jumps trails. The City of Hot Springs support to build jump trails is a major win for the community. As mountain bikes and riding have progressed, so too has the desire for trails that allow you to ride the type of terrain that is the next step in the progression of the sport.” . . @sonyalpha @imba_us @imbatrailsolutions @j.o.trails #mountainbike #trailbuilding #dreambig (at Northwoods Trails - Hot Springs) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAXvHZonxc1/?igshid=1k2rnu2dskprd

[thewideeyedworld]

It’s Monday and you know the drill. There’s something really thrilling about riding through a city or a village. You have to keep your wits about you, making sure to stay safe while soaking up a unique experience other than the typical walking tour or sortie in a taxi. And if you're @chente1092, your skill and style will make it all the more fun. @bigmtnglobal #itsmondaydontforgettobeawesome #dreambig #dreamnowtravellater (at Cusco, Peru) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVIZZFH3rm/?igshid=ndt0td32yyl0

[thewideeyedworld]

“You cannot do anything great without aggressively courting your own limits.” —Aisha Tyler . . #sundayvibes #dreamnowtravellater #quotes #getinspired #instainspiration (at Vieques, Puerto Rico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CASzynyn0yV/?igshid=1b3i0etfdzgs

[thewideeyedworld]

At Home in a Sea of Loam and Stone . . From the hardwood forests to the high-alpine slopes, trailbuilder Valerie Naylor welcomes any challenge in any terrain. . . Check out the latest issue of @mountain_flyer for a story about Val’s trailbuilding adventures in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. @sonyalpha @sonyalphafemale @allegratourismus @bikerepublic.soelden @arosalenzerheide #mountainbike #trailbuilding #artoftherideable (at Arosa, Switzerland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQD8pZnnQi/?igshid=8ollob5o5ns2

[thewideeyedworld]

Coffee. It goes everywhere with me. I’ve been working on some fun new projects, and of course they include coffee! Stay tuned for info about the gear I travel with so I can have coffee anywhere, anytime. @sonyalpha @corvuscoffee @aeropress @msr_gear @topodesigns @rootadventures #iheartcoffee (at Denver, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CANh3Man8vD/?igshid=mlhf2om7lphp

[thewideeyedworld]

Cultural Fusion. Building Bike Parks in Beijing. Spring 2014. In 2014 I traveled to China to document the construction of a bike park near Beijing. It was an east meets west mashup of culture, sport, and innovation. #seetheworld #dreamnowtravellater #bikeparks #mountainbike #trailbuilding (at Beijing, China) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAK65ZEnLdS/?igshid=rupueiibx754

[thewideeyedworld]

"Life is open now, we have to be agile and flexible. It’s the only way to survive." - Pierre-Alain Renfer Today I’m excited to share a analog Coffee with COVID interview with my good friend Pierre-Alain Renfer. He’s a mountain bike guide and pioneer in Morocco - the guy you want to seek out when planning adventures there. Pierre-Alain knows the riding in the Western Atlas Mountains like the back of his hand. On two extended trips, I sense that I have barely scratched the surface of what is possible. Although future trips are on hold, it was fun to chat with Pierre-Alain and hear what’s going on in his part of Northern Africa. . . @marrakechbikeaction @sonyalpha #stayhome #coffeewithcovid #armchairtravel (at Marrakech) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAFynO_H8Nq/?igshid=6hyidnjsvo1t

[thewideeyedworld]

Snapchat for the Win! My trip to Peru last fall was all time. It had all the elements of my favorite travel experiences - bikes, food, coffee, and local interactions. On this particular day we had lunch with a local family in a village. @koelthomae started having fun with Snapchat and the kids...hence the jumping and big smiles. @bigmountainglobal @sonyalpha #snapchat👻 #dreamnowtravellater #experiencetheworld (at Denver, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CADN_jOnpVu/?igshid=vrmj3ie00y0j

[thewideeyedworld]

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms! . . @sonyalpha #mothersday #wedbelostwithoutyou #iloveyoumom (at Denver, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAAmsi1H1Ks/?igshid=1cabowd7rrire

[thewideeyedworld]

A vacation + a disaster = an adventure. . . I stumbled upon a collection of quotes called “68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice” from Kevin Kelly. Hit up my bio for the link and give it a read. . . @sonyalpha @patagonia_mtb #chooseyourownadventure (at Ouachita National Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-KwGyHVgg/?igshid=h7kqdjxxi4ix

[thewideeyedworld]

Details. . . I’m using my extended time at home to deepen some skills and continue experimenting with detail shots. I’ve got a @sony FE 90 mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens to play with for the next week. It’s going to be fun! . . @rideshimano @evilbicycles @wildernesstrailbikes #explorebeyond #shimanogrx (at Denver, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_7lDlDHZ8y/?igshid=1s56sbu1qirks

[thewideeyedworld]

New World Vultures Somewhere between La Paz and the Cape, along the Sea of Cortez, we found ourselves in a mystical and rugged landscape. It was a surprise wilderness, devoid of the creeping development found in other parts of Baja California Sur. We made a remote camp on the beach under a cluster of palm trees. It was a dream come true, sleeping under the stars, at the edge of the ocean. The following morning we crawled out of our damp cocoons and into the sun under the watchful eyes of turkey vultures. A bit startling at first, we saw the birds were sitting peacefully on the tops of the surrounding forest of cacti, fanning their wings to dry in the sun. @sonyalpha #bajadivide #turkeyvultures #dreamnowtravellater #sleepunderthestars https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5WlunHwqQ/?igshid=swb98d6agaqv

[thewideeyedworld]

That time I smoked cigarettes with a Chinese man near Beijing . . ...for me, this was a time in my travel and photography career when I wanted to go a bit deeper. I had this feeling like I was on the outside looking in and I was ready to cross that invisible barrier and be more interactive with my subjects and surroundings. In the spring of 2014, I traveled to China, to document the construction of a bike park outside of Beijing. Curious about the locals and everyday life, I explored the area to see what I could find, ended up smoking a cigarette with a man collecting bricks. #storiesfromthefield #portraits #bellcoll #getlocal (at Beijing, China) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2aAzQhHrO/?igshid=1hu3u3lax44p9

[thewideeyedworld]

A Transcendent Experience I learned a lot about coffee in this latest episode with Sam Higby, an outdoor adventurer and part owner of First Ascent Coffee. He reminds us that coffee is more than just a beverage that gets us going each day. It is in fact something that engages all the senses, a transcendent experience. Sam takes us on his coffee journey which landed him in the outdoor paradise called Crested Butte. There, he works alongside his business partners Mark and Allison Drucker, to bring delicious coffee to the world. One exciting thing from this episode is the story of First Ascent's instant coffee. Skeptical? I was too, until I had some…I can’t wait to take it on my next adventure! @firstascentcb @boxcarcoffeeroasters #coffeewithcovid #stayhome #drinkcoffee #instantcoffee (at Crested Butte, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0uemBnmRu/?igshid=mmx12q1j9stx

[thewideeyedworld]

Antarctica - Another World Traveling to Antarctica was a significant experience for me. It was the completion of a long-term quest to visit all seven continents, a dream I shared with my dad. He and I made the trip together, along with my sister and a dear family friend. The journey was that much sweeter, sharing it with people that I love and admire. As a photographer I took the opportunity to learn a new genre, focusing solely on being a student. I had never really worked in cold conditions with bright snow, surrounded by water. Shooting wildlife was also something completely new to me. With the guidance of expedition photographer @adelineheymann, I had an enlightening experience. @sony_alpha #travelstories #dreamnowtravellater (at Antarctica) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zzxVCHj0N/?igshid=8l5ixdpygxiv

[thewideeyedworld]

Iceland Interior. September 2014. The remote highlands of Iceland are remarkable. In September of 2014, I rode The Laugavegur Route, a 54 mile, hut-to-hut adventure, supported by @bigmountainglobal, where we pedaled through geothermal fields, across lava beds, and over glaciers. One surreal moment happened during the last day while crossing Fimmvörðuháls Pass when we dropped our bikes to hike to the top of a volcanic cone. There, we cleared the black rocks and soil away to lay down for a quick nap. Through the layers of our clothes, we felt the heat from below the surface of the ground. Knowing that the Eyjafjalljökull volcanic eruption had happened here in 2010 made the experience all the more memorable. #dreamnowtravellater #armchairtravel #bellcoll (at Fimmvörðuháls) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_xWVJen5z-/?igshid=s8lmw7l7w5vn