Author: James Edward Mills

Adventure Activism, Adventure Film, Charitable Giving, Climbing, Healthy Living, Life Out Loud, Madison, People with disabilities, philanthropy / 20.02.2013

The Joy Trip Project is pleased to present a free screening of the film High Ground by Michael Brown at the Marquee Theater in Union South on the UW Madison Campus on March 5th at 7PM. This inspiring feature follows the true story of 11 wounded Iraq and Afghan war veterans who overcome their injuries to climb a 20,000-foot mountain peak in the Himalaya. Recovering from the catastrophic effects of blindness, amputation and post-trauma stress these fallen heroes rise up to reclaim their lives and overcome a great...

Life Out Loud, Skiing, Travel / 18.02.2013

A few weeks before surgery to replace my left hip I got a call from an old friend. The Colorado-based ski journalist Rachel Walker had just taken a job as the editor of new blog from the snow sports apparel brand Stio. She wanted to give me an assignment. Telling stories about mountain culture across the United States the Town Hill Chronicles is a fun read that profiles favorite ski resorts from the perspective of area locals who love them. Even though I haven't been able to...

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Environmental Protection, Life Out Loud, National Parks, Photography, Politics, Social Media / 15.02.2013

The National Park Conservation Association wants to impress upon members of Congress the enduring value of America's federally preserved wild and scenic places. As part of a board campaign to end cuts in government spending meant to protect and maintain our national parks the NPCA wants ordinary citizens across the country to share their favorite pictures of themselves at play in the parks they love most. Armed with these snapshots gathered together into a compelling video the association aims to demonstrate that in spite of these tough economic...

Adventure Activism, Diversity, Fly Fishing, Influencers, Interview, Life Out Loud, Outdoor Recreation / 12.02.2013

Like many servicemen returning from war, Chad Brown found himself in a dark and troubled place. A graphic designer from Portland he struggled with deep emotional scars that made it difficult to find meaningful work and make worthwhile contributions to his community. It wasn't until a ex-girlfriend introduced him to the sport of fly fishing that Brown discovered a way express himself and begin an amazing journey to explore not only the natural world but the urban environment in which he lives. "Walking into a fly shop for the...

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Afghanistan, Africa, Art, Charitable Giving, Influencers, Interview / 10.02.2013

Following up her 2012 "Streets of Afghanistan" project social activist Shannon Galpin has launched a new initiative to raise awareness for the plight of women and girls in Central Asia. Afghan Dreamers is a new book now in production with the help of Make Stuff Sharp that aims to further incorporate art as a powerful vehicle of change meant to transform one of the most violent and politically charged regions of the world. "Art has a power to reach people viscerally in a way that other work doesn't," Galpin...

BASE Jumping, featured, Life Out Loud, Magazines, Moab, National Geographic / 08.02.2013

Throw yourself off a cliff and you only have yourself to blame for what happens next. The consequences of adventure sports are brought most clearly into focus when you think about what could go wrong in a pastime as dangerous as BASE jumping. Defined as a parachute leap from a building, antenna, span (bridge) or the earth (cliff), it’s among the most life threatening of all human endeavors. Though preparation, training, and skill can mitigate many of the incredible risks involved, there’s always the possibility of severe injury...