"Hi, Peter. What's happening? We need to talk about your TPS reports."
When I began long-distance backpacking, I neverthought it would eventually become my occupation. To the contrary, I was simply drawn to the idea of hiking from Georgia to Maine—that, somehow, an effort on that scale probably was an experience worth having.
My motivations for taking on the Alaska-Yukon Expedition, my most recent adventure, were very similar to those from eight years earlier, despite having much more to gain from a successful finish. Again, I just believed that the experience would be worth the effort. I’d see amazing landscapes. I’d meet great people. I’d have an ambitious goal to pursue each day. And I’d be pushed far outside my comfort zone, which is when personal growth really starts to happen. The trip never could have been justified on the “fame and fortune” that might realistically result from it.
It’s great that my motivations have remained true, but that doesn’t necessarily help to address the economic realities of my trips, or of just breathing. So slowly and purposefully I have developed adventure-related income streams to enable my pursuits.
I have a few intentions in explaining how I make a living as an adventurer. First, I want it known, instead of just letting others speculate. Second, I want to offer a model for someone with similar aspirations to potentially replicate. And, third, frankly I’m proud of my success—which I credit to hard work, good planning, intense focus, and some audacity—and I’m comfortable sharing my secrets.
1. Lectures and clinics
My first paid presentation was the ALDHA Gathering keynote in Fall 2005. I was stoked to make $200 even though my plane flight cost twice that. Since then I have given 234 presentations, including 56 in 2011. At the peak of last year’s speaking schedule, my life replicated Ryan Bingham’s, George Clooney’s character from Up in the Air. My parents have stopped trying to remember where I am. This year should be equally busy. The venues at which I present are usually outdoor-themed, like outdoor retail stores, university outdoor recreation programs, and trail association meetings. Now that I have a few wrinkles and gray hairs, I am doing more corporate presentations.
2. Guided trips
I started guiding for Backpacking Light’s Wilderness Trekking School in 2008. Now, I offer my own trips, guided by yours truly and world-class assistants. I am offering 15-18 trips in 2012, which will put me in the field for about 90 days. I have ”a few” spreadsheets to track these trips’ infinite details like commercial permits, personal and group gear, route distances, breakfast and dinner menus, and accounting.
Since my personal trips are almost always solo and abide by the theme, “further, faster, and lighter,” initially it was tough to adjust to group objectives and a group travel style. But I learned to, and I now love guiding: by spending a few days or a week with someone in the field, I can help fuel their passion for the outdoors and empower them with wilderness travel know-how, which is good for them and good for our planet.
3. Content
Books, photographs, mapsets, videos and website articles demand an upfront investment of time and resources, but after developing them they produce “fish wheel money”—24/7/365 these products are catching salmon for me, regardless of whether I’m around or not. It’s a perfect situation for someone who likes to completely and regularly check out like I do.
My most promising product is my forthcoming book, The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide, which focuses on backpacking gear, supplies and skills. It will be released by National Geographic Books on February 21st, but you can pre-order a copy now. If you want to know how much work went into it, ask my girlfriend—she broke up with me at least twice while I was trying to reach deadlines because it completely took over my life.
How I do not make a living: Sponsorships
I have a handful of sponsors that make good products and that are owned and run by great people. But intentionally these are product-only relationships, as I’ve determined that my time is better spent on building a business that is independent of and more sustainable than marketing budgets, which are notoriously small in the outdoor industry.
If the right sponsor came along, I would certainly consider a relationship that included a financial component. But I wouldn’t let it distract me from my “core” revenue streams.
Q: What is just as effective as making money? A: Not spending money.
I live on little. When I first became a full-time adventurer, my finances dictated that I do. Now, I’m stuck firmly in my frugal ways. I only buy what I need, usually only when it’s on sale. I rent month-to-month so I can avoid paying rent when I’m gone for extended periods. All of my possessions can be transported in my Pontiac Vibe (with roof rack and box). And I have intentionally avoided costly “grown up” responsibilities like mortgages, a spouse, kids, and pets.
Because I don’t need much to be comfortable and happy, I don’t need to earn much either.
The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Techniques to Hit the Trail 
Thanks for your honesty! It’s awesome to hear how someone can live their dream, even when so many people arrogantly look down upon their career path!
“And I have intentionally avoided costly “grown up” responsibilities like mortgages, a spouse, kids, and pets.”
Hahaha, that one kinda cracked me up. I think it’s good to put out there the lack of sponsorship money. That’s something that I think people assume you survive on. This also helps people understand where you make your living, and thus if they want to support you in their own way they know how to do so…attend a class…buy a map set..etc.
Great read. Thanks for sharing how you make a living as an adventurer. It’s always interesting to learn this type of stuff when it involves an “untraditional” occupation.
Your life is awesome but you deserve it, you work hard to accomplish your goals, you truly are an inspiration, thx for that…
As a fellow adventurer, it’s interesting to see someone else’s strategy. I’m totally with you on the cheap living, the books, etc… revenue stream, and the gear only sponsorships. Instead of presentations (don’t want to travel that much), or guiding, I go with the “sporadic consulting work” approach for most of the rest of my $. (I also run a small nonprofit that I work my butt off for, but usually for free).
But I feel I have to correct one HUGE misconception in your post. Spouse and kids are NOT necessarily high-cost, and do NOT prevent adventures. (the mortgage thing I agree with). Bringing kids means we may go slower than you do (I was slower than you before kids too!), but having a two toddlers doesn’t prevent me from getting out for months-long expeditions into remote wilderness where few people ever set foot. I hate it when people perpetuate the misconception that a family means the end of a fun and adventurous lifestyle!
Here here Erin! I agree 100% I think that kids can actually be an asset to adventuring. When people see a family out doing expeditions, it says something different, and potentially speaks to people in a different way than when a single person is doing it.
I have nothing against being single and adventuring. But as you, I also think that it is a myth that having a family prevents you from living frugally and having an adventurous life.
My comments re spouse and kids pertained only to their expense, not to their affect on one’s adventuring.
If I were to get married, my expenses would absolutely increase, especially since I always have been attracted to women who are not as frugal as me, and who are less footloose. No longer is it acceptable to rent month-to-month, to go without health or life insurance, to never go out for nice dinners or a performance at the theater, etc. Sure, I suppose I could find a sugar momma, but I wasn’t raised in such a way to be okay with that.
Kids, I think we would all agree, are a significant expense. (And, unlike a spouse, they never will bring their own income to the table.) I could easily see my adventuring funds erased entirely by their medical, education, clothing, food and housing expenses.
Too bad you cannot train yourself to be attracted to a different type of woman! Throughout our relationship, my fiancé and I have spent our hard-earned cash on adventures or gear. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“And, third, frankly I’m proud of my success—which I credit to hard work, good planning, intense focus, and some audacity..” – you should be very proud of your success.
Your living the dream (for many of us), but it’s very interesting and refreshing to read about the things that you have gone without, even though it sounds as though you are more than happy with you decisions.
Thank you for putting this out there for us to read and, as you say, use it as a model for those of us that want to follow in your footsteps. I have to ask though, do your foresee a time when this lifestyle will change and your take on the very trappings that you’ve managed to avoid?
Eagerly looking forward to the new book, thanks!
Andrew, thank you so much for this amazing response to all those who were curious about the mechanics of your lifestyle! I have the highest regard and respect for you accomplishments; that you so honestly bare the bones of how you make it work only increases my admiration. Keep up the awesomeness
Andrew, great article. Most people don’t realize how relatively easy it is to “free” themselves to live the outdoor dream. I’m not proposing that anyyone should pursue your lifestyle, but they can take steps to strip down their lifestyle in order to free up more of their time to enjoy the outdoors. First and foremost, stay out of debt! Do you really need a big house? Do you really need two brand new SUVs in the garage? Do you really need the latest IPhone, or all those cable channels? So many people waste so much money on status symbols, and then find themselves in debt, thus becoming slaves to their jobs. Start young and stay out of debt, save your money, and you’ll have the funds to pursue your adventures.
Andrew. Delightful read. Glad to know you are doing what you are and making a living of it. I tried. But was tough. So my corporate life funds my adventure life. Try and balance both as much as I can. But there’s always the yearning to head out more often to the Himalayas than I do, to gain the experience and indulge in the activities that you’ve mentioned. How I wish I had more time. : ) Keep it going mate. All the best.
Everyone knows that TPS reports need a cover sheet. I bet your spreadsheets have cover sheets. I like the scene where he guts the fish on his desk. I thought of that scene when we cleaned our trout this past summer. I still think you should actively solicit for a beer sponsor- that’s “core.” If Pontiac still existed, you would make a great Vibe spokesmodel. No one has gotten more out of that 39 mpg tomato can than you have:) Hope to see you soon, friend.
When I die, I want to come back as you. But if you ever want to try out having a spouse, mortgage, awful and stressful job, and more crap than you could put under a circus tent, let me know.
Andrew-
Excellent blog post. It is awesome to see that you are able to make a career as an adventurer. I am striving to make a living as a part time adventurer, and so for me the first step was to leave corporate life and start my own company. For me, the goal is to display to my two boys (3rd on way) that life is what you make of it, not what is earned, or perceived by others whom are often misguided.
http://www.heystac.com is the company that i started if you want to check it out.
Andrew,
As a fellow full time adventure traveler who has also completely simplified my life, I thought this was an excellent post. I think the most often asked question I get is how do I afford my lifestyle. Most people naturally assume that you must have money to spend, while forgetting that the other side of the equation is to actually reduce and eliminate the need for large amounts of money. I am a huge fan of renting when necessary; making my own gear out of oddball things; and the occasional gear sponsor when it is a win/win situation for both of us.
I am heading to the arctic this winter on Fat Bike and have been reading and re-reading your accounts of the last trip you took. It has been invaluable information and I greatly thank you for sharing.
Best of luck with your future pursuits.
Cheers,
Glenn