Mark Jenkins (1) (1962–)
Author of Off the Map: Bicycling Across Siberia
For other authors named Mark Jenkins, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Mark Jenkins lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with his wife and two daughters. The adventure columnist for Outside magazine, Jenkins journeys to the most difficult and dangerous places on the planet every month. Formerly the investigative editor for Men's Health, Jenkins has also written for GQ, Playboy, show more Conde Nast Traveler, Backpacker, Reader's Digest, and The Washington Post show less
Works by Mark Jenkins
Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Travel and Adventure from National Geographic (2006) — Editor — 118 copies, 1 review
Amundsen Schlepped Here 1 copy
Conquering an Infinite Cave 1 copy
Associated Works
Adrenaline 2000: The Year's Best Stories of Adventure and Survival 2000 (2000) — Contributor — 54 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Jenkins, Mark
- Birthdate
- 1962
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Wyoming, B.A., philosophy
University of Wyoming, M.S., geography - Occupations
- freelance journalist
adventurer - Awards and honors
- American Alpiine Club Literary Award for excellence in alpine literature, 2003
McGaw/Hull Endowed Chair in Literature, University of Wyoming, 2002
W.A.C. Literature Fellowship, 1986, 1989
Polartec Explorers Award, 1990, 1998 - Short biography
- Mark Jenkins (1) is a critically acclaimed author, internationally recognized adventurer and the monthly columnist for Outside magazine .
For the past six years, Jenkins' column, The Hard Way , has explored the meaning and joy of the physical, outdoor life. From clandestine journeys across Tibet to mountaineering in Bolivia, sea kayaking around Turkey's Gallipoli peninsula to canyoneering in Australia, Jenkins covers the globe in search of adventure, history and human understanding. Jenkins' story about his secret journeys into Burma, “Ghost Road,” was selected by Pico Iyer for inclusion in The Best American Travel Writing of 2003. ( Outside magazine, circulation 700,000, readership 2.2 milllion, is the only magazine in history to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence.) A resident of Wyoming since the age of seven, Jenkins does expeditions into the world's last remote regions. Hallmarks include the 2nd American ascent of Mt. Xixabangma, Tibet (1984), the U.S. Everest North Face Expedition (1986), the 1st ascent of the highest peaks in the Arctic Circle (1988), the 1st coast-to-coast crossing of the former Soviet Union by bicycle (1989), the 1st descent of the Niger River headwaters, West Africa (1991), the 1st ascent of the Peak Rawu, Tibet (1993), first ascent of the South Face of Mt. Waddington, Canada (1995) and the first ascent of the West Face Direct of Margherita, the highest peak in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda.
Mark Jenkins lives in Laramie, Wyoming with his wife, Sue Ibarra, and two daughters, Addi and Teal. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Laramie, Wyoming, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Wyoming, USA
Members
Reviews
Have you ever read any travel/adventure and thought, "Wow this would be amazing if half of it were true!" I mean no disrespect to the author; this book is that good (and all true, I'm sure). It is macho, maudlin, sappy, gutsy, inspirational and exciting.
The stories start out slowly (the chapter on hitchhiking however, was particularly good) and seem to pick up in intensity. Then the last story involves the author taking children (some barely past toddler stage) rock climbing. Upon show more interview, they come up with some sage advice: Go fast. Don't whine. Do your best.
Great advice. show less
The stories start out slowly (the chapter on hitchhiking however, was particularly good) and seem to pick up in intensity. Then the last story involves the author taking children (some barely past toddler stage) rock climbing. Upon show more interview, they come up with some sage advice: Go fast. Don't whine. Do your best.
Great advice. show less
I enjoyed some descriptions of homes and towns and people in West Africa. I was less interested in the story of 4 guys from Wyoming seeking adventure. The gratuitous sexualized descriptions of women are odd and dated.
Jenkins is one of the greatest "outdoor" writers I've come across. He used to write a column for Outside magazine called "The Hard Way," so now you know where he got the title.
I think "Ghost Road," which is about some of his experiences in Burma/Myanmar, is easily one of the top ten most affecting things I've ever read.
I think "Ghost Road," which is about some of his experiences in Burma/Myanmar, is easily one of the top ten most affecting things I've ever read.
Everything post-Siberia (ie - the rest of Russia) is given a single chapter. The prose overshadows the events relayed.
Lists
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 7
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 446
- Popularity
- #54,978
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 7
- ISBNs
- 82
- Languages
- 3
- Favorited
- 1















