He has been adventure racing, expedition paddling, climbing, and packrafting for 15 years.
Prior to that, Jason spent time working as a rocket scientist, fire fighter, physics teacher, model, actor, yoga teacher, and acrobatic coach.
Based in Oregon, Jason barely balances family life with the demands of being the oldest athlete and captain of Team Bend Racing, as well as coach to his wife – a world-champion mountain biker. He is the event director of Expedition Oregon: America’s Toughest Race, and perhaps one of the most active endurance athletes with two artificial hips.
Title: Contributor Email: jason@gearjunkie.com Location: Bend, OR Social Media: @bendracing @americastoughestrace
Expertise
Topics of Expertise: General outdoors, climbing, Endurance sports (MTB, trail running, mountaineering, paddling, packrafting, ultralight camping, bikepacking adventure racing, family adventures, yoga, slackline)
Years in This Expertise: 20+
Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested: 1000s, and been testing gear and consulting with brands for nearly 2 decades
Education & Certifications
Education: Bachelor in Physics
Years of Writing: 20+
Previous Publications: Paddler Magazine, Rock and Ice Magazine, American Alpine Journal, and others. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Outside Magazine, Climbing Magazine, Men’s Journal, ABC, ESPN, Weather Channel, Amazon Prime, and more.
A Word from Jason
I began my fascination with gear as a climber and mountaineer during high school in Alaska, and quickly became fascinated with ultralight gear as I traveled deeper into the mountains. During my 20’s I pushed hard (with my twin brother as a primary partner) to establish primarily alpine first ascents and first free ascents in the USA, Canada, Alaska, and Scotland in iconic areas like the Bugaboos, Valhalla Provincial Park, Chugach mountains, and the sea cliffs of Scotland.
A random entry into a half marathon sparked my interest in endurance racing – but I hated the monotony of road running. Another random entrance into an “adventure triathlon” found me on the podium of my first-ever adventure race, and began a deep and long-lasting love affair with that sport and all its various forms. It was a perfect marriage of my four core passions – endurance, exploration, teamwork, and gear. A sleep-deprived meeting during the 2006 Primal Quest Adventure Race with GearJunkie founder Stephen Regenold sparked a lifelong friendship that has included many questionable choices in the remote areas of Patagonia as well as a deeper dive into my writing.
When a 40-year-old outdoors athlete requires a hip replacement, he travels from Oregon to India. This is his first-hand experience with the burgeoning world of…
The Minipresso is a human-powered machine that makes delicious espresso anywhere. We put it to the caffeinated test winter camping and hiking far from civilization.
