Stories, Essays, Galleries and more
“It’s grown into something so much bigger—a space where people find community, where total strangers become friends, where we remember what it feels like to be a kid again…” by Randy McKinney
“Similar to Plomo, as we went up, the green disappeared and the world transformed. This already felt far more remote. Freezing cold river crossings became a common theme for this first day. Arriving at base camp which was reasonably named “Baghdad” due to the consistent rockfall from Marmolejos collapsing Wester Shoulder…” by Ethan Glanger, Ronnie Forslund, Santiago Cifuentes
“Riding a bike more often really helps put into perspective the environment and infrastructure that cars create. Wide roads, noise, fumes… U.S. roads cover land equivalent to the size of Wisconsin. And we’ve all heard plenty about the cancerous tributes of the gas and oil industry…” by Jared Nelson
“by the time it got dark outside we’d usually just stop what we were doing, relax, and listen to the radio. My siblings and I would always look forward to listening to music when it got dark on those 2-3 hour drives. We would normally listen to whatever station our dad (Papa) picked…” by Matthew Paez
“I’d camped plenty of times as a kid: load the car with gear, drive to the site, camp. “Let’s run that back,” I thought. But I didn’t bother to ask too many details about the trip, so I began packing like a man on a mission…” by Drake Shepard
“As artists who share our work, it’s important for us to be aware of how it affects our audience—not to cater to them, but to gain an understanding that helps us evolve and refine our craft…” by Comp Collective
“Our trip was planned during the shoulder season of tourism to allow for less crowds and cooler temperatures. This also meant the ridge-lines were still closed to hikers/bikers or required snow shoes. So last minute, our plans changed from hiking in Schywz to spending a few days in Thun…” by Raegan Nelson
“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
The process of fixing things like a canoe or a backpack in a sustainable way is as simple as it gets. Use materials to make your repairs that would otherwise go to waste.
“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…
