Nothing To See Here

Advice from Christian McLeod on finding new places and experiences.

By Peak Design

about christian mcleod

Christian McLeod is an adventure and surf photographer from Sligo, Ireland, who spends pretty much all of his time on the road. If you’re looking for him right now, maybe check the South Island of New Zealand. Or perhaps he’s already off to the US West coast for his upcoming Land & Ocean project. It’s tough to say, because Christian keeps moving—always on new assignments, always in search of novel experiences.

Nobody is born an adventure photographer—it’s your experiences, opportunities, and in Christian’s case, attitude that leads you to find your place in the world.

Adventure is outside your doorstep. It’s not as far-fetched as you would think, it’s really easy to get outside and have an adventure. That’s the whole reason I’m doing what I do now.

Christian told us this in an interview about a year ago when we brought him onto our Pro Team. His simple, matter-of-fact approach to finding extraordinary experiences is one of the many reasons we freaking love the guy (his beautiful work is another reason). So, we sat down with him recently to get his 2 (or as it were, 8) cents on how to find newness, even in the places right outside your doorstep. Below is Christian’s advice in his own words.

make a half-assed plan

Don’t plan so much. Just wander and wonder. Sure, you can put together a rough plan around some rough ideas—places that pique your interest, spots you know you want to hit up—but don’t try and predefine every last moment of your trip. You can scribble out your route, just make sure you do it in pencil.

carry less

Take what you absolutely need, and leave the rest in your car or tent. Gear weighs you down, literally and figuratively.

Having less gear on your back lets you tramp further off the beaten path. You’ll be less tired at the end of long journeys, and when you arrive at camp you’ll have more energy to explore. You’ll have an easier time reaching hard-to-access places.

If you’re hoping to catch a lift somewhere, having less with you makes you a more attractive pickup. If you’re in a new town and befriending new people, having less baggage means you’re more likely to be invited to tag along with other groups of people.

Take the rules that you apply to your office desk, or your home, and apply those to your pack. A tidy and organized setup gives you a tidy and organized mind…the clearer, the better.

Lastly, when you finally stumble upon a special new place, having less gear in tow makes you a less obtrusive guest in your new environment.

expect nothing

High expectations make bad travel companions.

My mother said that. But I have to say if you‘re anything like me, any expectations can lead to disappointment, so I reckon that any expectations make for bad travel companions. Make the most of where you are and who you‘re with, and try and look at everything in a new and positive light.

Talk to everyone

Strike up conversations with everyone around you, and be an attentive listener. Be open with them…tell them what you like and dislike. Ask them point blank what they like to do, and what their recommendations are. Then be entirely open to trying that, whatever it is.

Don’t be influenced by stereotypes and preconceived thoughts of who you’re meeting and what they might say or think. If you’re hoping to find new experiences, don’t mention the places and activities that you have in mind…this tends to restrict their thought process to the ideas that you just planted in front of them.

Don’t think of a pink elephant.

Ask, then Listen

I can’t stress this enough. When you meet people…when you talk to people…when you ask questions…listen.

It’s great to be inquisitive and hungry for new experiences, but all of your probing is fruitless if you don‘t listen. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a dumb question. One way or another, any question will either teach the “quizer,” or the “quizee.” I wish those were words.

embrace change

Spend a few extra days here, a few less days there, and just go with the flow. How hippie do I sound right now? When you find a spot you love, stay there for awhile, but know that there you’ll always find a better place somewhere down the road. Soak things up, then wring yourself out so you can absorb something else.

take online advice lightly

Lonely Planet and other travel recommendation sites are heavily biased by previous reviews. The result is that you’ll see a handful of sights, places and activities recommended over and over again, with very little commentary on newer or less-traveled spots.

And those “top 10 things to do” blog posts? Take those with a big pinch of salt. Most of them are compiled from a hodge-podge of other similar posts, and what that blogger has read on the Internet. Not to say that they’re all bad, untrue, or not worth reading…just take them lightly.

look at places in a different light

Just because a place is known for a specific activity, doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed in an entirely new way. When somebody recommends a great cliff jumping spot or paragliding takeoff point, consider treating those places as a camping spot. Likewise, if you’re recommended a chill spot for a retreat, consider it as launch point for a crazy adventure.

When you spend enough time living somewhere, it’s natural to view your surroundings as mundane. But if you can get past that—if you can take an outsider’s perspective on your home turf—you’ll find newness and adventure no matter where you are.