During the 1990’s, I built and sold one of the most profitable companies in the corporate housing industry.  I continued to run the business as a division of the country’s largest REIT, serving hundreds of employers from New York to Boston.

But after the 9/11 attacks, I began to reevaluate my life and realized I had a long list of things to do and places to go which I would never experience with a job that I loved.  I had an extremely competent GM, whom my boss agreed could run the business so on May 31, 2002, I retired.

The next day I was at Denali Base Camp learning the skills I would need to climb North America’s highest mountain three weeks later. I originally thought my training, confidence and perseverance got me to the summit, but now realize that knowledgeable guides, great teammates and fortuitous weather played a much more important role.

After reaching the summit of the highest mountain on five of the seven continents, I set aside my climbing ambitions after an aborted attempt to climb Cho Oyu in Tibet.  Aside from climbing, I have visited and hiked in three-dozen countries on six continents.  I have participated in disaster relief efforts in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami and here on the US Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita.

Sadly, on the five-year anniversary of 9/11, my niece’s 22-year old husband Harley, of whom we were all very proud, was killed while serving in Iraq.  This is their son, Ayden.

I’ve met fascinating people – most notably my wife Ying, whom I met on my first trip to China in 2002 and married in December 2008.  We are currently touring the USA.

This site includes the itineraries, journals and selected photographs of my adventures.  There are also links to other websites, containing additional information about some of the places I’ve been.  I hope you enjoy these places as much as I have.

                                         - Gary Bacon, Miami Beach, FL