Chris Brinlee, Jr.

Storyteller | #CelebrateDiscomfort

SCROLL DOWN

Chris Brinlee, Jr.

Storyteller | #CelebrateDiscomfort

Chris Brinlee, Jr. Is a Storyteller.

Stories, however, are not best-told from inside the walls of a cubicle, so in August 2014, Chris left his behind—quitting his fancy advertising art director job to go experience something more.

Since then, Chris’s adventures have led him around the globe—he’s paddled remote fjords in Greenland, ridden motorcycles through Vietnam, sailed with a crew to Antarctica, and climbed 6,000m peaks in Nepal.

Chris #CelebratesDiscomfort—a theme at the core of each adventure, and each story he tells.

As a contributor for publications such as Red Bulletin, IndefinitelyWild, Outside, Huckberry, and Gizmodo—his words, photos, and videos have inspired millions; his strong presence on social media provide daily doses of inspiration.

Home Base

Lyons, Colorado

FAVORITE TRANSPORT

Motorcycle

FAVORITE FOOD

Thip Samai Pad Thai in Bangkok

Chris Brinlee Jr

One time, Dillan Brinlee let me beat him up and then take pictures of it. Clearly, he had a great time. https://t.co/EOslrlnU0i
about 10 hours ago

Follow @ChrisBrinleeJr on Instagram

As it is the home base for @cotopaxi (and soon-to-be the former home of @outdoorretailer,) I've been to Salt Lake City a handful of times in the past couple of years - but for various reasons, I've rarely gotten to explore much outside of the city.

That has been changing with my last couple of visits here; and the pinnacle, for me, was this morning when my new BFF @melissa_hartwig and I met at 5am for a #dawnpatrol hike up to Lake Blanche - the trailhead of which is only about a 30 minute drive from downtown SLC.

We were met with the most stunning alpine terrain, with the shortest imaginable drive and approach that I have seen in the States. Literally, #urbanalpine.

The more rad stuff that my friends expose me to here, the more unwilling to leave I become each time. Well-played. 👏🏼 📷: @melissa_hartwig

Adventure, by its very definition, is an experience characterized by the unknown. So much of our lives, my own included, are predictable - even while seeking so-called "adventure." There's a general understanding of what the final outcome of these experiences will be: we'll summit the peak; we'll ski the line; we'll make it back to town in time to grab burgers and beers while trading tales that glorify our fears.

I make my living off "living" adventure - but even for me, so much of it is predictable. Very rarely, is the outcome totally uncertain. While there are exceptions to that (most notably, when @lanleyc and I tackled the first traverse of the Endless Chain Ridge) so often, so much of it feels "safe" or "predictable." As someone who lives by the mantra #CelebrateDiscomfort, am I lying to and cheating myself if I understand the outcome of these (totally selfish) endeavors?

In just a few short days, I will have the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, and truly venture into the unknown on what could be the first documented, self-supported, single-kayak crossing from Cuba to Key West, paddling @orukayak Coasts for 110 miles and 40+ hours straight, through the open ocean.

I have no idea what this endeavor holds in store for me and the ragtag team of paddlers who will be to my stern and bow; and as such I am filled with feelings that I don't feel very often: nervousness, apprehension, and excitement.

Part of me is weary; and that part would rather watch from the sidelines - but the only part of me that I ever listen to sees the opportunity to do something historic: not just for myself, but for the sake of a greater story that needs to be told.

@andrewfitts @wessiler @wyattomimg @peteramend #cubacrossing #fortunefavorsthefold

When @lanleyc and I were out on the Green River, having access to clean drinking water was definitely an issue. The river is made from water, but on its own, it is not safe to drink. It's also heavily stilted, which makes the use of traditional filters all but futile.

So, instead of loading up our kayaks with nearly a week's supply of water carried in lots of plastic jugs, we relied on the @lifestraw Mission, which was created using the same technology as their Home filters for use in the developing world such as those found in Africa (capable of filtering bacteria, protozoa, and viruses) because it could handle the silt with its backwash capability and burly filter tech.

We used the filter all week and it never clogged (despite plenty of forums saying that all filters would) - providing Christian and I with cool, safe, and clean drinking water for the entirety of our journey.

What gets me about LifeStraw though is their commitment as a company to doing good in the world. For instance, by next year, they'll have brought safe and clean drinking water to over a million school children in Kenya - in a locally supported, sustainable way. That has a monumental affect on those childrens' futures. The best part is that those programs are enabled by our consumer purchases of their products.

In times that seem so dark, its reassuring to know that individuals and companies are still committed to making a positive impact on the world, when it seems like our very own governments are turning their backs on we the people. It's for those reasons that I endorse and support brands like LifeStraw.

Happy 4th.

#wastenot

Upon reaching the top of Arapaho Pass (somewhere in the neighborhood of 11,xxx' - also the highest land elevation she had ever been,) she exclaimed against the howling wind, "This is the greatest thing after child birth!" Considering that she birthed me and my three incredibly awesome siblings, that was quite the compliment of the lifestyle that I have chosen; I was so stoked to share it with her - and even more stoked that she was so incomprehensibly overjoyed by the experience.

This was also the first time she has slept outside in over a decade - and as you can see by her endless smiles, she loved it and was a total champ. Thinking that she (and I both) need more of this in our lives.

@bigagnes_ #sleepinthedirt

Took my mom on her first-ever backpacking trip yesterday. It was awesome; she did great.

My mom took this picture of me on an early childhood camping trip. She and my dad had always made sure that I was exposed to the outdoors - even though I didn't develop a backcountry-oriented skillset until two decades after this was taken.

Tomorrow, I'm taking my mom on her first-ever backpacking trip in the Indian Peaks Wilderness just up the road from my place in Colorado. She hasn't been camping in over a decade. So excited to reintroduce her into this world that I now call home.

Happy birthday, Canada 🇨🇦! I 💙 you (and your people.) #canada #canada150

Photos

They say a picture's worth a thousand words.

Photos

They say a picture's worth a thousand words.

Adventure

Travel

How We Got There

Stories

Some stories are best told with words. Lots of words.

Stories

Some stories are best told with words. Lots of words.

Featured

An Everyman's Guide to Planning an Epic Adventure

How to start from scratch and expand your horizons.

How to Live Out of Your Car

Professional vehicle dwellers share their tips for making the most out of life on the road.

How to Conquer the Mountains of Your Life

An explorer's guide to making the most out of New Year Resolutions.

Gear Talk

We're gonna need gear. Lots of gear.

Gear Talk

We're gonna need gear. Lots of gear.

Featured

We Traveled from Greenland to Antarctica to Find the Best Glacier Glasses

Need sunglasses for climbing, mountaineering, or traveling through snow and ice? We tested three pairs across three continents and two hemispheres to find out how they stack up.

Learn More /// IndefinitelyWild

Rain, Snow, Humidity or Dust: Tips for Protecting Camera Gear

In order to get great shots, you have to go where the photos are. Sometimes it’s as simple as a stroll round your local neighborhood, but at other times it can involve navigating challenging environments and harsh weather. Wherever you are, protecting valuable camera gear is a priority.

Learn More /// Carryology