Chris Brinlee, Jr. is a Problem Solver.
In 2014, however, Chris realized that the only problems that should be solved in a cube were Rubik’s, so he left his behind to seek something more.
Chris's journey has led him to the furthest and most remote reaches of the globe: He's paddled fjords in Eastern Greenland in search of un-climbed alpine rock; summited 6,000m peaks in Nepal; sailed to Antarctica with Mike Horn; ridden a motorcycle across Vietnam; and crossed New Zealand's Southern Alps using skis and a packraft.
Each of those projects was realized as the result of problem solving: from the development of big ideas; to their execution through meticulous attention to complex details in a logistical sense; to the creation and launch of supporting content campaigns designed to connect and engage with a global audience through the use of influencer marketing, PR, and editorial outlets.
Chris’s exhaustive range of capabilities: creative direction; producing; photography; writing; video direction and editing; interactive and traditional design; and influencer marketing—as well as the insights and inspiration that he has drawn from his illustrious adventure career—make him a true force to be reckoned with. No project is out of his depth.
Additionally, as an editorial contributor for publications such as Outside, The Red Bulletin, LUXURY, Wilderness, Huckberry, and Gizmodo—Chris’s words, photos, and videos have inspired millions; his strong presence on social media provide periodic doses of inspiration.
Home Base: Front Range, CO | Age: 30 | Favorite Season: Autumn
Projects
“Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress: Working hard for something we love is called passion.”
― Simon Sinek
Expanded Perspectives
In September 2018, Chris and team set out on a multi-sport expedition to cross New Zealand's rugged Southern Alps. Technical mountaineering enabled exploration of the vertical realm; packrafts enabled the discovery of expanded lateral perspectives; and ski touring connected the two together creating perspectives that were as wide as they were tall—revealing the relationship between mountains, glaciers, and rivers; and how those realms connect us all.
Stepping Out: A Celebration of Discomfort
In March 2017, Chris and his partner Christian Lanley set out on a campaign to #CelebrateDiscomfort through a series of epic adventures in Alberta. How far did they go? Find out.
Pole 2 Pole: An Expedition to Antarctica
In November 2016, Chris flew approximately 11,000 miles over the course of four days from an assignment in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Cape Town, South Africa, where he rendezvoused with Mike Horn to embark on what would be a seven week sailing journey to the world's southernmost continent.
Zee Alps
Upon arriving in Chamonix, one will immediately come to realize why that particular village is the birthplace of Alpinism. Chamonix is a place where language is not defined vocalized communication, but rather by a mutual understanding of what each person seeks: a connection with the mountains.
It would make sense then, that an epic campaign through the European Alps should begin there; and that partnerships be forged there.
Edge of the Earth: Discovering the Remote Reaches of Eastern Greenland
There are few wild place left in the world. Eastern Greenland is one of them. In August 2017, Chris and his friend Andrew Yasso set out in search of adventure - paddling 100 miles through a remote fjord system in search of climbable rock and first ascents.
Photography
Photography and adventure are inherently linked—the essence of each is discovering new perspectives. Both of the world, and within.
Alpinism
Noun. Oftentimes used synonymously with "mountaineering," but implies climbing routes with minimal equipment in high and often snow and ice-covered mountains such as the Alps, where technical difficulties frequently exceed environmental and physical challenges.
Adventure
Noun. A: An undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks. B: An exciting or remarkable experience.
Travel
Noun. The act of traveling; journeying, especially to distant places.
Impact
Verb. To have an impact or effect on; influence; alter.
Chris’s Journal
Chris’s personal stories from the globe, useful how-to guides, and more.
Featured
Features
Sometimes, people tell stories about Chris, too.
The Escape: Chris Brinlee, Jr.
\\\ Cotopaxi
Clients
Commercial
Honda
GoPro
Eddie Bauer
Icebreaker NZ
OtterBox
GNARBOX
Favre-Leuba
Alpacka Raft
Salewa
Cotopaxi
LifeStraw
Revo
Mike Horn x Mercedes
Oru Kayak
BioLite
Tourism
Travel Alberta
Visit Greenland
I Love NY
Visit Rapid City
Get in Touch
Interested in partnering on a project? Want to meet up abroad? Have questions about adventure travel? Chris would love to hear from you.
Contact Chris
Follow @chrisbrinleejr on Instagram
![One of the greatest experiences of my life was riding a 110cc motorcycle, that set me back a whopping $425 (most of which I reacquired,) for 2,000 miles from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Vietnam for a month, nearly five years ago.
Motorcycles have been engrained into my life since birth. My parents used to haul me to Harley Davidson rallys in Yosemite when I was one-year old. As soon as I could walk, my parents got me a Little Tykes that I affectionately dubbed "mut-mo" because I couldn't pronounce "motorcycle." Dad built us mini-bikes when we moved to Arkansas; upon a family visit in California during my 11th summer, my uncle taught @dillanbrinleesound and me how to ride dirtbikes. We got our own for Christmas two years later; and riding those around our 25 country acres defined the next few years of my life. Then we moved into town and those experiences became nothing more than distant memories.
Eight years later, after graduating college, I struck out West to start my career; and immediately found myself spending 3-4 hours per day commuting to work by bus. For four months, it was sleep, work, bus, eat, repeat. Nothing more. Cars were expensive, and besides, traffic sucked. At least the bus was cheap. But, I wanted to reclaim my hours. Motorcycling revealed itself as the obvious solution. Weather was always great, and I could split lanes. My 4 hour commutes became an hour. Total.
I had discovered a literal time machine; I am certain that incorporating a motorcycle into my life became a sort of salvation that set me upon a totally new trajectory. One that flew at a rocket's pace. Chains were broken. Time was gained. Motivation was discovered. Energy reacquired. Life began to flourish. All because of motorcycling.
Everyone around me though, in car-centric LA, thought that I was literally crazy. Coworkers questioned my means of transportation weekly. But over the course of three years, I rode that Triumph Street Triple for 25,000 miles around the streets of LA; and gained back 100 days--DAYS--counted by hours saved from the bus. [continued in comments]👇🏼](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53110e74e4b0d7a86d4e9a4f/1564785925851-T9QBAU0IQKFFGPB8CMXQ/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kKmw982fUOZVIQXHUCR1F55Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpw5XnxLBmEFHJGf_0qFdDpmIncOw4kq9OpCHNTYqzGO-E1YJr-Thht9Tdog4YtCwrE/image-asset.jpeg)
![This was my first time on a significant north face alpine climb. The route, Contamine-Mazeaud on the Triangle du Tacul, is supposed to be pretty easy; at 300-ish meters, it's not very long. The approach is short; it's quickly reached from the Aiguille du Midi, high above Chamonix.
It was mid-May; I caught the first cable car up on one of the first days of perfect conditions that followed a two-week period of storms ever since we arrived in Chamonix. Solo hiked down the famous snow arete; and jaunted across the well-trodden glacier to meet @thekiwiapproach and @moisescastrolepe, my partners for the climb.
From afar, the face of the Triangle looked imposing and steep, but it seemed to be in good condition. Closer inspection revealed that the angle was less dramatic than originally anticipated--but the entire route was comprised of hard blue ice instead of the usual neve.
This meant that instead of moving quickly as one, we'd have to pitch the route out, one 60m rope length at a time. I stepped out on lead and swung into the frozen surface with my right tool. It bounced back. I swung again. It gained purchase, but not enough to trust: in ice climbing, especially in the Alpine, a condition is that you never fall. I swung again. My pick finally lodged itself deep beneath the surface; I could weight it at last.
I repeated the process. The difficulty continued. Each proper stick required 3-4 swings 4 out of 5 times. The endeavor was painstakingly slow and a total waste of energy.
Ultimately, I led three pitches of steeper-than-expected hard ice (in composition, not necessarily difficulty;) with the rope stretched out, I had gained about 180m--a significant portion of the line. Unfortunately, it had taken more than four hours to make it that far; when the entire route, if in condition, shouldn't take more than three. [cont. in comments]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53110e74e4b0d7a86d4e9a4f/1564451773832-SCGI7G7JT13ZBFQRV2V2/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kHem505q6McQd8XRhQc9zkRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpxpEURhgSBEh9ILe0HKIG3CcOCklsxWwam3CdWF6Xw7jwVv5P97BEtB5XaVnmvMtTA/image-asset.jpeg)
![This summer has been filled with numerous, wondrous, beautiful moments, learnings, and lessons. Slivers of time defined by intimate connections with an oftentimes serendipitous and dynamic flow of people into and out of my life.
Full-on adventurous and professional endeavors have been starkly contrasted by the ultimate lethargic movie marathons; @thewildindiangirl and I have watched nearly every Marvel movie that's on Netflix or available to rent.
Amidst those opposites, I've wrestled with great introspection, searching for solutions on how to spend seconds that leave me fulfilled. The answers continue to elude me; each mental lap around the topic presents a new struggle to grasp nuances of the question.
The past two months have proven to be a worthy distraction from the battle that rages inside me, however; it's been an absolute joy introducing Priya to my favorite places in the world. We've galavanted through the Alps at our own great leisurely pace; she has come to love it here, maybe as much as I do. Researching new ways to spend more time here, aspirationally in our own abode, has become a fulfilling past time and maybe something that is someday within reach.
Back to the cage match.
Ever since I have done *this* (which is quickly approaching five years, though sometimes it feels like 20,) I've used this platform to share my own stories of personal growth--whether told through the lens of outdoor and travel experiences, or from life lessons flavored by insights garnered from those bouts.
When I quit my LA desk job in August 2014, I launched myself out into the world. And I got way, way out there. I slept under park benches and weathered off-season storms under a tent in Iceland. I puked my guts out after summiting a 6,000m peak in Nepal--just eight months after climbing my first mountain.
Things ramped up. I epic'd in the Alps, time after time after time, on my first trip to the birthplace of Alpinism. Then I sailed with a crew from Cape Town to Antarctica on assignment for a magazine--spending seven weeks on a boat, which was 49 nights more than my previous record. [continued in comments]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53110e74e4b0d7a86d4e9a4f/1564022487876-95K6U6C6ZRCO5SBXYUPU/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kHem505q6McQd8XRhQc9zkRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpxpEURhgSBEh9ILe0HKIG3CcOCklsxWwam3CdWF6Xw7jwVv5P97BEtB5XaVnmvMtTA/image-asset.jpeg)
Everything that you need to know to learn how to become a ski mountaineer.