- Meet Josh -

Here at Sceen'ry we desire to share the story of people in the world in different ways. We may share about someone through their travels to exotic places, a travel guide from someones hometown, or an interview that tells you about their hobbies or work. In this blog piece we want to share with you the life of Josh Morris, a man who travels around the world as a photographer and does winter and summer sports along the way.

Q - Tell us your story. How you got to where you are today and how you ended up doing snow sports and being in the outdoors so much?

A - Sure. It started when I was young. My parents would take us out kayak camping in the islands surrounding Vancouver Island. These camping trips, sometimes two weeks long, instilled a desire to explore new places and see what was around the corner. They also started me skiing when I was just over a year old, they would stand me up on skis and let me slide down to the other parent, who would catch me. Starting skiing that early didn’t help me become a great skier as much as it made me enjoy being on the snow. I also got into running as a way of exploring nearby trails and mountains. The trails kept getting bigger and the destinations more grand, but it all stemmed from a desire to be out in nature and being physically active. At this point, I love activities that allow travel through nature and get the heart pumping, as I love the endorphins of pushing my body physically.

Q - We encourage our readers to go beyond their back fences and discover beauty beyond their usual spots. How do you find out about the places you go to and how do you prioritize adventure in your busy schedule?

A - I would much rather run on a trail I have never seen before than somewhere I have been many times. This partially stems from my desire to orienteer, which refers to looking at a map and trying to find your way with just a map and compass. As I started running I would look for new trails in town or ways to link up different trail networks. Now I often see photos of neat places on instagram which leads me to checking them out. I keep a list of different new places that people recommend so I can have options when I have the opportunity to go somewhere new instead of having to research something before leaving when I get the time for an adventure

Q - If you could choose beaches, mountains, or forests, what would you choose and why?

A - Mountains are where my passion is, I feel drawn to explore them. They hold as much of a challenge as you are willing to undertake. I do love the forest and the abundance of life it holds. Beaches provide access to open water which is somewhere I’ll always feel at home because of kayaking as a kid.

Q - You do a lot of different outdoor sports and showcase the photos you take from your travels on your instagram and new website. Tell us about the reason you choose the sports you do and what your vision is for your photography?

A - Many of the sports I do are a mode of transportation to take me to beautiful places. They allow me to see wonderful sights and landscapes. What inspires my photography is bringing home photos of those landscapes I get to see on a run or skiing adventure to share with friends and family in a hope to have them get out there as well.

Q - You travel around America for sports and other events. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in traveling constantly and what are your biggest rewards?

A - One of the bigger challenges is getting all the right gear and equipment to the place you are looking to ski or climb. The way I have solved that is by building a bed and storage space into my Nissan Xterra 4x4 so that I can drive my base camp to interesting places, then head out on these adventures. The ability to travel and be flexible with a camperized car opens lots of opportunity to meet like minded people.

Q - If you had to choose between sports or photography, which would you choose and why?

A - I would choose the sports I do over photography as it is the places I get to see out on these adventures that inspire my photography.

Q - What are 5 pieces of gear that you always take with you when you adventure to the places you do?

A - Emergency blanket; Spot device (this allows me to send preset messages to those at home that I am okay or potentially in need of help); small first aid kit; an extra clothing layer in case the weather changes; and water with water treatment, I always include water treatment tabs in my small first aid kit that way I can use any water source I find.

Q - What are some words of advice you would give to someone who looking to start outdoor sports?

A - The first step is just getting out there. You don’t have to take a big step and do something crazy and way beyond your comfort level. If each time you go on an adventure you stretch your boundaries a little and learn new skills before you realize you will be doing things you thought were impossible.

Q - What is your favorite sport and favorite gear you would recommend for this sport?

A - If we are talking winter then skiing, for summer running up in the mountains. Both are ways to move quickly through the mountains in different seasons. Finding ways to carry the essential gear without it affecting your ability to move quickly would describe my favorite gear. In my opinion the one piece of gear that affect your ability to move quickly is a quality backpack. A good running vest can make it easy to access food and water without stopping. On the flipside a good touring pack keeps the things you need quick access to available and the other dry and protected.

Take a look at what Josh does and the beauty of nature he captures:

For the dreamer - For the adventurer

Meet - Josh Morris