Spend half your life walking around the world.

JR Harris, a New Yorker, has traveled to over 50 countries around the world. He has also ventured to remote places like Patagonia (part of Argentina and Chile) and the far reaches of Australia. Harris uses airplanes or public transportation to travel between countries. Upon arrival, he begins hiking to explore the remote and wild areas of those countries. "I'm curious about everything," Harris says about his preference for being alone in the wilderness.

The beginning of a passion

His first adventure as a child was at a Boy Scout camp in the Catskill Mountains, southeast New York. Young Harris was thrilled. "I was jumping and shouting." And that trip helped change his perspective on life.

During his time at the camp, Harris was taught many survival skills such as how to read maps, use a compass, pitch a tent, build a fire, and identify animal tracks to detect predators or wild animals in his surroundings.

"I was taught how to survive in the wild. I was trained in survival skills using the supplies I had in my backpack. These were completely unfamiliar things, very different from the comfortable life in New York," Harris said.

In the 1950s, he began making numerous trips around the United States by train. Harris's father sold food on a train, so the family received discounted fares. After his father lost his job as passengers gradually switched from trains to airplanes, Harris's trips had to stop.

Harris realized his desire to become an explorer when he drove his Volkswagen alone for two weeks to the Arctic Circle in Alaska. During this journey, while gazing at the mountains, Harris wondered what lay beyond the surface. Upon returning, Harris began acquiring equipment for hiking.

Even after starting a family, Harris didn't stop pursuing this passion. He inspired his daughter and son. His children all love to travel, but they "would rather go to southern France to sip wine than to Iceland to sleep in a tent." Sometimes, Harris travels with friends, and enjoys those trips. However, for the most part, he travels alone.

Solo travel

Over the following years, Harris hiked through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Andes in South America, and the Alps in Europe. He traveled to the Pyrenees, bordering France and Spain, and then to New Zealand. Driven by a desire to hike on glaciers, he visited Greenland, Baffin Island in the Arctic (part of Canada), and Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. He also loved vast deserts, Death Valley in California, USA, and the Sahara in Africa. Harris undertook at least one hiking trip each year, lasting several weeks and covering tens of thousands of kilometers.

Harris is particularly drawn to the lives and people of those living in remote areas. He often chooses to approach Indigenous Australians or Quechua people in the Andes Highlands to learn about their history, traditions, and way of life. "I'm curious about their culture, and I want to see it firsthand."

The most challenging journey was across the southwestern wilderness of Tasmania, Australia, in 1992. However, he persevered, walking all the way there, each step considered a great effort. "I had a tough trip. But the lessons I learned there are still useful today."

To fund his travels, Harris established a marketing research and consulting firm. His younger brother would run the company whenever Harris embarked on his exploration trips.

Harris also emphasized that whether you enjoy exploring the wilderness or traveling alone, safety must always come first. Harris's usual travel gear largely consists of mountaineering equipment, hiking gear, cookware, a first-aid kit, and a water filter. Nowadays, he also carries a rescue device equipped with an SOS button so that in case of trouble, he can press it and wait for help. Fortunately, Harris has yet to use the button.

In 1993, with his impressive achievements, Harris was invited to join the Elite Adventurers Club. Currently, Harris also serves on the club's board of directors. Harris often visits schools in the area where he grew up or lives to inspire children. He hopes that they will grow up to "go out into nature and become explorers," live with dreams, and pursue their passions.

Anh Thi