About Me And This Blog
It all started in my early 20’s when, during a dream on a random night, I found myself exploring Amsterdam. Before that, I hadn’t seen pictures of Amsterdam or thought much about traveling, but I woke up with an intense desire to explore the world. I bought a Lonely Planet Western Europe guidebook right away, and a year later I took my first solo backpacking trip to Europe.
That Europe trip was a 3-month crash course on culture, history, and backpacker and social life. It took me out of the college student bubble, and made me realize that I didn’t have to necessarily follow the conventional life path that my friends were on back home.
Later on in my early 30’s after I got my finances in order, I decided to start saving for a 1-year trip around the world. I didn’t want to see the world in 2-week chunks once a year. I wanted the freedom to travel as much as I wanted, without hurry and without worries. The planned 1-year trip eventually became a 4-year trip. I finally realized my dream in 2014, when I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Peru. In total, that trip took me to 33 countries from 2014 to 2018, including 9 months of living in Sydney, Australia. These were the happiest years of my life.
In addition to long-term travel, I also enjoy multi-day hikes where I camp and carry all my food and gear. Over the past few years I have hiked the John Muir Trail, the West Coast Trail in Canada, the Waitukubuli National Trail in Dominica, Mount Roraima in Venezuela, the “W” at Torres del Paine in Chile, 8 Great Walks in New Zealand, and Mount Fuji in Japan.
I also enjoy photography, which I started to take more seriously a couple of years before my long trip. I now travel with a Nikon D5300, and always carry at least 3 lenses: a Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8, a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, and a Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6.
This blog is more of a personal journal than something I build for an audience. I don’t write articles to generate clicks or sell ads (you won’t find any ads here). I’m humbled by the few visitors I get each day. I hope you will find here some useful information or some inspiration for your future travels.
Comments (18)
Hey Kevin,
Are you the guy that Mark and Misty met on the JMT? If so, I’d love to hear from you. We will be passing through the Los Angeles area a couple of times in the next months and thought we might cross paths if that is where you are?
How was the rest of the hike. We had an amazing time and you can check out our travel blog on travelpod.
Anyway, if this is the guy we met, get in touch, if not, enjoy.
Much Respect,
Mark Schieber
Hi Kevin,
…Prefer emailing but could not locate your email address.
I am also a SoCal guy. Plan a one-week solo trip on JMT — section Tuolume toward Reds Meadow — in coming late July. Maybe, you can answer a question for me: what is the temp at night on those mountains? (I assume it’s windy.)
Regards,
-Albert
Hi Albert. The temperature will depend on what altitude you decide to camp. In that section you mentioned (which is very beautiful by the way) I camped mostly below 10,000 feet, most nights were between 32 and 40 degrees. Not really that windy at this altitude because you’ll most likely be surrounded by trees. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.
Thank you for the info Kevin! You are actually the 3rd person answering my same question about the weather. One guy said temp is ~60 degrees – maybe, he meant at lower altitude. A few days ago, the second guy said I need a 20-degree sleeping bag to sustain the cold temp overnight. I think I’ll prepare for the 10,000ft-level temp then because I heard bears are usually between 3000-7000ft level. I have little experience backpacking in the U.S. (started in 2009); never been at JMT before, and I am kind of aging too now (mid 50s already) for this upcoming trip but I bet I will enjoy it.
-Albert
Kevin – great journal, photos, and video. Thanks for posting it. I enjoy all of these types of journals – a way for me to live vicariously ‘on the trail’ while I’m at work! I will be hiking the trail starting Sept2, 2010. I hope to do it at about the pace you did. It seems reasonable, but I realize it is physically demanding. Thanks again for a great journal and I’ll look forward to other journals of yours.
Peter
Kua!! felicitaciones por el emprendimiento y por el coraje de dejar las posesiones y el confort. Te voy a estar siguiendo este a?o en el pre-viaje y una vez en la ruta m?s a?n. Abrazo grande y no olvides poner en la lista de to do things mucho disfrute y recreaci?n.
hi Kevin,love your say ‘life is travel,travel is life’
so can i post my travel blog in your website?
Hi Kevin, my name is Mimi and I really enjoyed reading your articles. If you don’t mind, can you give me your email address? I would prefer to send a personal email. Thanks!
Hi Mimi, I just sent you an email with my contact. If you didn’t get it, you can try using the contact form: http://kevinstravelblog.com/contact-me
Keep up the good work, Kevin.
I really enjoyed reading your posts on the WCT and New Zealand. Brought back some good memories of my trip to NZ.
Thank you for reading and for your comment!
Hey man! You need an Instagram!
I do have one!
http://www.instagram.com/kevinstravel/
Hi Kevin, I happened across your blog when researching Abel Tasman National Park, NZ. Planning 4mths in NZ 2022/2023. I really enjoyed your no nonsense description of the walk. And your photos are really very good. Thank goodness for no advertisements, meaning you actually love travelling and aren’t trying to be something else. I don’t know if you are still travelling but I hope whatever you are doing you are happy, kindest regards, Barbara (Scarborough Beach, Western Australia, NZ born and bred)
Thank you for your kind words! I hope you’ll enjoy your trip in NZ. Yes, this blog is mostly just for myself as a way to record my travels. I do provide some info that I hope others find useful. I make no money from this and I like keep that way to avoid tailoring content just to sell ads.
Great articles about Somaliland. I traveled to Africa several times years ago, and every country was so different. Always good to be generous with locals – a little bit means a lot. But as a guest in their country, sometimes you don’t get to choose how much!
Yeah, I really enjoyed my trip there. I look forward to returning to Africa in future trips.
Just want to thank you for your blog. It made my day. I really like it.