Stories, Essays and Galleries
“Venturing into the BWCA is more than just paddling. It’s about taking time to reset to a time where responsibilities of modern life can be turned off. It’s a place where fishing isn't just about casting a line; it’s about patiently waiting and trying to convince a hungry walleye or lake trout to take your lure…” by Jamie Cooper
“And there it stood, just barely. With my head down watching my step, I almost walked right past the cabin. It had seen better days, and by days, I mean decades. That thing was rougher than 30 grit sandpaper.” by Zach Duncan
“What are your biggest Phobias. Acrophobia: fear of heights? Trypanophobia: fear of needles? Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed spaces? For me it is the ocean and the dark.” by Matt Hume
“We landed around 2pm and had our bulky backpacking bags in the trunk of our rental car by 3pm. The urban landscape didn’t last long on our way to the first trailhead. An hour and a half drive to a section of the Rogue river was on our gps.” by Jared Nelson
“There is something special about being on the road, particularly when you have no expectations and try to be present in that time and place. This is the story about how I met Dave and Bob.” by Alejandro Lau Regidor
“Moving light and fast in the mountains has never been an anomaly when speaking of objectives for climbers, skiers, runners and others, but there is something invigorating and energizing about moving like this. It seems every week whether it’s a friend, long-lost acquaintance or professional, people are squeezing things that seem to be multi-day adventures into the small 24-hour time frame we have in a day.” by Mitch Milbauer
“My life was changed when I quit my job in corporate finance and set off on a 2,650 mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail (“PCT”) in 2019. After major burnout at work in 2018, I was left with many questions such as “why am I doing this?” and “is this what life is supposed to look like?” by Carol Coyne
Comp Collective came to life as a result of our own experiences on the road and the raw emotion we’re constantly pursuing. That’s why we’ve come together and taken the time to hand pick our favorite stories from real people we’ve connected with across the globe…
Photo Essay: Images made from a roll of Portra 160 and Kodak Gold shot through a Yashicaflex 6x6 medium format film camera while backpacking along a creek near Camp Verde, Arizona… by Jared Nelson
“It was a painful half run, half walk, around the neighborhood, but at the end of it I didn't feel as anxious as I did before. That small feeling of relief was enough to get me to lace up my shoes every morning to try to experience it again…” by Laurie Bullock
“I started surfing at a young age and fell in love with the sport and culture. The connection to nature is my favorite aspect of this lifestyle and has been with me since birth. It is something that extends far beyond anything I could write…” by Sean Jones
“Mount Huntington is arguably one of the most strikingly beautiful mountains in Alaska, and it does not yield its summit easily. Standing 12,241 feet high, it’s technical walls of ice, rock, and snow attract world class climbers from every corner of the globe…” by James Barkman
“There are so many ways to look at and perceive imperfection. Some see imperfection as the antagonist; the thing they want to conquer in life. It makes sense. Not too long ago, I had a very similar view on imperfection and a desire to achieve this idea of perfection…” by Jared Nelson
“Walk, skin, boot-pack, climb or basically do whatever the hell you want to summit. That’s ski mountaineering. The two mountain disciplines of skiing and mountaineering go hand-in-hand and are also a perfect recipe for a nice day, or multiple days of suffering…” by Mitch Milbauer
“Then out of nowhere on a perfect bluebird early January morning, I had an accident on a snowboard that left me with a fractured fibula, tibia, a couple fractured ribs and a horizontal tear in my meniscus. In this article I’m going to explain why this is the best thing to happen to me and why you should be grateful while navigating injuries and life…” by Josiah Cherniss
“A 2am wakeup call had us, or me, terrified as we drove to meet Jon and Jim at the bottom of the climb. Sub sandwich taped to my top tube; we set off up the climb trail, eventually leading to “Into the Mystic”, 8.5 kilometers long and 913 meters up…” by Tabias Croteau
“Growing up in Buckeye Country, I’ve always had a desire to see more of our beautiful nation, “from sea to shining sea,” and at 20 years old, my adventures are just beginning…” by Blake Swingle
