Explorer Spotlight: Talia Touboul

Name: Talia Touboul | Age: 22 | Location: San Francisco, CA

What’s your day job?
Law School Student at University of San Francisco

What are your favorite things to do outside?
Camp, Hike, and without a doubt take pictures.

What first drew you to the outdoors?
The serenity. I missed the calming sense of feeling like life slowed down.

What’s your favorite hometown adventure? ...and, almost as important, where’s your favorite spot to get a beer after?
I grew up in Switzerland, so my favorite spot in the whole world is in Verbier; a fantastic skiing spot. Le Faniret is without a doubt in my mind the best place to after ski and grab a beer.

What’s your essential gear that never gets left at home?
My camera.

What’s your favorite trail snack?
Homemade Beef Jerky. (I even own a dehydrator)

Any go-to soundtracks when you’re hitting the road?
The Lumineers.

What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened while you were adventuring? And/or, the funniest?
I got lost once, backpacking in BC. After 22 KM in one day, it started getting dark and we knew our campsite was within .5 km away, but we kept walking in circles. When we came around a bush a grouse came out of no where and I’ve never screamed so loud in my life. We were in bear territory and I started getting exhausted and scared. We heard a yell back and took our next left. the scream helped us find our campsite. Sometimes you just have to let it all out before you can go to sleep.

Who’s your number one adventure partner-in-crime? Who inspires you?
My boyfriend John. We go through ups and downs, like a lot of couples, but we push each other to our limits. He’ll make me jump a fence and I’ll make him sit on the ledge, but at the end of the day, we thank each other for the courage to have done the things we did. I wouldn’t be the adventurer I am today without him.

What are your top destinations for adventure travel?
Iceland, Bali and South Africa.

What’s on the top of your must-do adventure list right now?
Hike a volcano in Iceland, without a doubt.

Show us your most memorable photo, and tell us about it!
This picture was taken at Latourell Falls, in Oregon. I spent about 2 hours around the waterfall trying to get a decent picture. Two hours into it, I gave up. Latourell 1 - Talia 0. The lighting was horrible, the amount of people was overwhelming and the wind was relentless. I could not get a single picture out of this place. I was about to walk away when I was asked to stay 2 more minutes. I sent my camera on its tripod and put a timer, interval and 9 photo shot to it. I stood there and hoped for the best.

Turn out to be ones of the best pictures of my trip. All because I was patient and gave into it. I had no expectations and just enjoyed what it had to offer for those two minute it felt free.

And last but not least…What’s your personal motto?
"We’ll find a road, or we’ll make one."

Check out more of Talia's adventures here.