Welcome to my Epic Quest of Awesomeness*!

I’m based in Portland, traveling all over the world, going on crazy adventures, and trying to encourage others to do the same along the way.

Every time I cross something off my bucket list, I gain 20% (unless marked) experience towards my next “level” of awesomeness. Thanks to some lucrative credit card deals and frequent flyer offers (learned from Chris Guillebeau’s Frequent Flyer Master), I have earned over a million airline miles (not an exaggeration) and I’m using them to see the world.  I’ll be using any travel-hacking skills I’ve acquired to accomplish this quest without breaking the bank.

So far, I’ve traveled 403,497 miles to 182 locations in 38 countries on 6 continents, including Indonesia, Germany, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Australia, Fiji, Chile, Iceland, and more.

Jason’s Epic Quest of
Awesomeness

Here are the things I hope to accomplish over the next years – it’s a work in progress and subject to change based on future circumstances. If I’m coming to your neck of the woods and you want to meet up or join me on an adventure, please let me know so we can meet up!

Completed Quests

Level 24

• Go to the Philippines (Completed 5/2018)
• Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras (Completed 2/2018)
• Go to Cuba (Completed 1/2018)
• Experience Christmas on a Hawaiian Beach (Completed 12/2017)

Level 23

• Go to India (Completed 12/2017)
• Bring back shells from a beach in Nicaragua (Completed 4/2017)
• Beat a local playing pool (Completed 4/2017)
• Hike a volcano in Nicaragua (Completed 4/2017)
• Sleep in hammocks on the beach in Nicaragua (Completed 4/2017)

Level 22

• Go to Nicaragua (Completed 4/2017)
• Swim in bioluminescent waters in Costa Rica (Completed 4/2017)
• Adventure park in Costa Rica (Completed 4/2017)
• Overnight flying trip to the Oregon Coast (Completed 3/2017)
• Zelda and Resident Evil Room Escapes (Completed 3/2017)

Level 21

• Ski the alps in Switzerland (Completed 1/2017)
• Go to Switzerland (Completed 1/2017)
• Drink monk made beer in Belgium (Completed 1/2017)
• Go to Belgium (Completed 1/2017)
• Check out the “red light district” of Amsterdam (Completed 12/2016)

Level 20

• Go to the Netherlands (Completed 12/2016)
• Officiate Brant and Eileen’s Wedding (Completed 12/2016)
• Concert on an airplane (Completed 10/2016)
• Fly myself into Burning Man (Completed 8/2016)
• Pilot across the US (Completed 8/2016)

Level 19

• Buy an airplane (Completed 8/2016) (100%)

Level 18

• Get under 200lbs (Completed 10/2016)
• Go to a Cirque De Sole show in Las Vegas (Completed 7/2016)
• Attend SXSW (Completed 3/2016)
• Navigate the Icelandic Ring Road (Completed 4/2016)
• Walk on a glacier in Iceland (Completed 4/2016)

Level 17

• Soak in Icelandic hot springs (Completed 4/2016)
• Hike around Patagonia (Completed 1/2016)
• Party in Valparaiso for New Year’s (Completed 1/2016)
• Go to Chile (Completed 12/2015)
• Portland Bridge Pedal (Completed 8/2012, 8/2013, 8/2014, 8/2015)

Level 16

• Go to Mayan Ruins (Completed 7/2015)
• Hike to the top of Dog Mountain (Completed 5/2015)
• Hike to the top of Mt. St. Helens (Completed 5/2015)
• Go to New Orleans for Jazz Fest (Completed 4/2015)
• Ski in The Rockies (Completed 1/2015)

Level 15

• Go to San Juan in Puerto Rico (Completed 12/2014)
• Receive my Private Pilot License (60%) (Completed 10/2014)
• Bicycling Crater Lake (Completed 9/2014)

Level 14

• Attend Burning Man (Completed 8/2014, 16, 17, 19)
• Drive a real race car (Completed 6/2014)
• Hike to the top of Mt. St. Helens (Completed 5/2014)
• Go to New York (Completed 3/2014)
• Dive with sharks (Completed 1/2014)

Level 13

• Go to Fiji (Completed 1/2014)
• Go skydiving (Completed 1/2014)
• Van ride around the south island of New Zealand (Completed 1/2014)
• Go to New Zealand (Completed 1/2014)
• Snorkel and/or scuba the Great Barrier Reef (Completed 1/2014)

Level 12

• Have Christmas on a beach (with hot weather, Completed 12/2013)
• Road trip the Great Ocean Road (Completed 12/2013)
• Hold a koala (Completed 12/2013)
• Pet a kangaroo (Completed 12/2013)
• Go to Australia (Completed 12/2013)

Level 11

• Go to Bali (Completed 11/2013)
• Go to Indonesia (Completed 11/2013)
• Go to Singapore (Completed 11/2013)
• Check out the beach from The Beach movie (Completed 11/2013)
• Go to a Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan (Completed 11/2013)

Level 10

• Receive my scuba certification (Completed 11/2013)
• Go to Bangkok (Completed 11/2013)
• Go to Thailand (Completed 11/2013)
• Ride an elephant (Completed 11/2013)
• Go to Laos (Completed 10/2013)

Level 9

• Go to Angkor Wat (Completed 10/2013)
• Ride a Tuk Tuk (Completed 10/2013)
• Go to Cambodia (Completed 10/2013)
• Get a custom-tailored suit made (Completed 10/2013)
• Go to Vietnam (Completed 10/2013)

Level 8

• Play on the great wall of China (Completed 10/2013)
• Eat snake meat (Completed 10/2013)
• Go to China (Completed 10/2013)
• Go to Asia (Completed 10/2013)
• Hike to the top of Mt. St. Helens (Completed 8/2013)

Level 7

• Hike to the top of Mt. St. Helens (Completed 5/2013)
• Go to London (Completed 4/2013)
• Go to the UK (Completed 4/2013)
• Go to Morocco (Completed 4/2013)
• Go to Africa (Completed 4/2013)

Level 6

• Go to Portugal (Completed 4/2013)
• Go to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain (Completed 4/2013)
• Go to Barcelona (Completed 4/2013)
• Go to Spain (Completed 4/2013)
• Hold a monkey (Completed 12/2012)

Level 5

• Hold a sloth (Completed 12/2012)
• Go to Costa Rica (Completed 12/2012)
• Portland World Naked Bike Ride (Completed 6/2012, 13, 14, 15)
• Go to a music festival (Completed 5/2012)
• Go to Denver (Completed 4/2012)

Level 4

• Vacation in Mexico (Completed 12/2011, 7/2015)
• Drink a Guinness at the top of the Guinness Museum (Completed 10/2011)
• Kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland (Completed 10/2011)
• See the Cliffs of Insanity (Cliffs of Moher, Completed 10/2011)
• Go to Ireland (Completed 10/2011)

Level 3

• Climb the Eiffel Tower (Completed 10/2011)
• Use couchsurfing.org to actually couchsurf (Completed 10/2011)
• Go to the Notre Dame Cathedral in France (Completed 10/2011)
• Go to France (Completed 10/2011)
• Go to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria (Completed 9/2011)

Level 2

• Go to a real castle (Completed 9/2011)
• Go to the real Oktoberfest (Completed 9/2011)
• Go to Germany (Completed 9/2011)
• Go on a Eurotrip (Completed 9/2011)
• Compete in the Warrior Dash (Completed 9/2011)

Level 1

• Go hang gliding (Completed 9/2011)
• Swim with sea turtles (Completed 3/2011)
• Swim with dolphins (Completed 3/2011)
• Go to Hawaii (Completed 3/2011, 2/2014, 3/2015)
• Fly an airplane (Completed 8/2010)

What’s Next

North America (The Starting Zone)

• Hike to the top of Mt. Hood
• Hike to the top of Mt. Adams
• Hike to the top of Mt. Rainier
• Go to Disney World
• Drive the long way across the US
• Go to Old Faithful
• Swim in the US Pacific and the Atlantic on the same day
• View a US east coast sunrise and a west coast sunset in the same day
• Go camping and rafting in the Grand Canyon
• Go to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
• Go to the Statue of Liberty in New York
• Be an extra in a Hollywood movie or TV show
• Be in a commercial
• Play in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, NV
• See the Northern Lights while in Canada
• Go fishing in Newfoundland
• Go fishing in Alaska
• Ski at Whistler
• Watch a musical on actual Broadway
• Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras
• Overnight flying trip to the Oregon Coast
• Zelda and Resident Evil Room Escapes
• Officiate Brant and Eileen’s Wedding
• Concert on an airplane
• Fly myself into Burning Man
• Pilot across the US
• Attend SXSW
• Go to a Cirque De Sole show in Las Vegas
• Hike to the top of Dog Mountain
• Go to New Orleans for Jazz Fest
• Ski in The Rockies
• Portland World Naked Bike Ride
• Hike to the top of Mt. St. Helens
• Attend a music festival
• Go to Denver
• Go to Hawaii
• Swim with sea turtles in Hawaii
• Swim with dolphins
• Compete in the Warrior Dash
• Go hang gliding
• Attend Burning Man
• Bicycle Crater Lake

Central/South America (The Jungle/Forest Level)

• Go to Buenos Aires
• Go to Brazil
• Go to Argentina
• Go to the Galapagos Islands
• Attend Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
• Go to Christ the Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• Dance the tango in Argentina
• Go through the Panama Canal
• Go to Machu Picchu in Peru
• Go river rafting in Southern Chile
• Bring back shells from a beach in Nicaragua
• Beat a local playing pool
• Hike a volcano in Nicaragua
• Sleep in hammocks on the beach in Nicaragua
• Go to Nicaragua
• Swim in bioluminescent waters in Costa Rica
• Hike around Patagonia (try and get a discount at the clothing shop!)
• Party in Valparaiso for New Years
• Go to Chile
• Go to Mayan Ruins
• Go to San Juan in Puerto Rico
• Hold a sloth
• Hold a monkey
• Go to Costa Rica
• Vacation in Mexico

Europe (The Ancient City Level)

• Have a madelaine in La Madeleine in Paris
• Go to Loch Ness in Scotland (maybe find the monster?)
• Drink scotch from 3 distilleries in Scotland
• Take a bagpipe lesson in Scotland
• Play golf at St. Andrews in Scotland
• Attend a castle rave in Scotland
• Attend an English Premier League match, singing cheers and drinking with the hooligans
• Go to Stonehenge in England
• Spend a night in a castle
• Dance all night on the island of Ibiza, Spain
• Go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa, Italy
• Go to the Duomo in Florence, Italy
• Go to the Parthenon in Greece
• Go to the Statue of Leonidas in Thermopylae, Greece
• Go to the Blue Domed Church of Santorini, Greece
• Eat some turkey in Turkey
• Go to Eastern Europe
• Go to the fjords in Norway
• Go to Denmark
• See the Northern Lights
• Enjoy a mushroom shake in Amsterdam
• Ski the alps in Switzerland
• Go to Switzerland
• Drink monk made beer in Belgium
• Go to Belgium
• Check out the “red light district” of Amsterdam
• Go to The Netherlands
• Walk on a glacier in Iceland
• Soak in Icelandic hot springs
• Navigate the Icelandic Ring Road
• Go on a Eurotrip
• Go to the UK
• Go to London
• Go to Spain
• Go to Portugal
• Go to France
• Go to Germany
• Go to Ireland
• Go to a real castle
• Go to the real Oktoberfest in Munich
• See the Cliffs of Insanity (Cliffs of Moher)
• Drink a Guinness at the top of the Guinness Museum
• Kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland
• Go to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain
• Climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
• Go to the Notre Dame Cathedral in France
• Go to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria

Africa (the Desert Level)

• Go to Dubai
• Go to South Africa
• Play football with some locals
• Go on a safari
• Ride a zebra
• Go to Morocco

Far East (the Hidden Temple Level)

• Go to Nepal
• Climb to Mt. Everest Base Camp
• Go to Taiwan
• Go to Japan
• Go to Korea
• Go to Malaysia
• See (and hopefully touch) a real Komodo Dragon on Komodo Island, Indonesia
• Go to the Philippines
• Go to India
• Go to China
• Play on the great wall of China
• Go to Vietnam
• Get a custom-tailored suit made
• Go to Cambodia
• Go to Angkor Wat
• Ride an elephant
• Ride a Tuk Tuk
• Go to Laos
• Go to Thailand
• Go to Bangkok
• Go to Chang Mai
• Go to Koh Tao
• Go to a Full moon Party on Koh Phangan
• Check out the beach from The Beach movie
• Go to Singapore
• Go to Indonesia

South Pacific (the Water/Beach level)

• Go to Tasmania
• Go on an outback road trip
• Check out Uluru
• Go on a walkabout
• Go to Kakadu National Park
• Go to the Daintree Rainforest
• Check out Fraser Island
• See/hold a Platypus
• Go to Australia
• Go to New Zealand
• Go to Fiji
• Pet a kangaroo
• Hold a koala
• Have Christmas on a beach (with hot weather)
• Dive with sharks
• Go skydiving
• Van ride around the South Island of New Zealand
• Snorkel and/or scuba the Great Barrier Reef
• Road trip the Great Ocean Road

Antarctica (the Snow Level)

• Set foot on land
• Make an Antarctic snow angel
• High-five a penguin!

Personal Level Up Goals

• Stay under 200lbs for at least three months (40%)
• Go on a cruise
• Go sailing for a weekend
• Go sailing for a week
• Fly a glider
• Go Paragliding
• Create a continuously profitable business (40%)
• Learn another language
• Receive a master’s degree
• Go to all 7 continents (6/7 complete) (40%)
• Fly completely around the world (in one direction)
• Pay off all my student loans – $4k to go (40%)
• Learn to play a musical instrument well
• Spend an afternoon playing that instrument as a busker on a street corner
• Get under 200lbs
• Receive my Private Pilot License (60%)
• Receive my scuba certification
• Drive a real racecar
• Fly an airplane

Business Goals

• Create an aerial adventure tourism company (60%)
• Make a full time living from my own business (100%)

Jason Bourne/James Bond Goals

• Become conversational in a 2nd language (French) (40%)
• Become conversational in a third language (Spanish) (40%)
• Become conversational in a fourth language (TBD) (40%)
• Obtain dual citizenship (60%)
• Create and keep a WTSHTF bag ready (google the phrase)
• Take a Krav Maga course and become proficient (60%)
• Pass a civilian firearms training course
• Pass a SWAT class
• Learn how to become a proficient locksmith (20% complete)

Master Quests

These are all worth 100% experience or more due to their complexity or difficulty

• Earn a million dollars
• Get photographed walking down the red carpet at some epic event
• Be a guest on a prime time talk show
• Go into outer space
• Get in the Guinness Book of World Records for something
• Live like James Bond in Monaco
• Be a guest lecturer at Google HQ
• Buy an airplane

So, what am I missing? What are some of the places I need to see or things I need to do that aren’t on this list?  If you live in a place I plan on Go toing and you want to meet up, please let me know.

I can’t wait to hear your suggestions on what to add to my Epic Quest.

Just don’t get me killed, okay?

– Jason

_{*The idea of the leveling up and original Epic Quest of Awesome was learned from NerdFitness author, Steve Kamb.}