My trip to Lake Tahoe was about me overcoming my fear of jumping off this cliff. When I got to the top, the way down looked much higher than I thought. That I was there by myself and far off the trail only added to the eeriness of the moment.

I have always been a big action sports fan because they require you to push past your comfort zone and through moments of hesitation–I think this is what has always attracted me to skateboarding. I got to test my mettle in this department when I traveled four hours north from the White Mountains to Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada border. I had heard about a popular rock for cliff jumping, and I did a little research and hiked out to it in the hopes that I would find some people I could photograph jumping. Unfortunately, the place was abandoned and the jump looked gnarly, so I talked myself out of doing it. For the next two days I took some cool sunset and scenic shots, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the jump and how I had chickened out. Nevertheless, I got ready to leave and began driving away. Suddenly, it dawned on me that this trip through California is about creating life experiences and living without regrets. So I stopped my car, hiked an hour back to the rock, and pushed past my comfort zone. The photo above, which I shot by triggering my camera with a wireless remote, is the final result. I hope you enjoy this photo and all the others I took while in the Lake Tahoe area.

Me scouting out a spot for a sunset shot near Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. At this point the clouds look like they’ll cooperate.

The sunset over Emerald Bay

Another sunset shot, this one near Sand Harbor

Me making breakfast on my last day in Tahoe; my failed attempt at cliff jumping is weighing heavily on my mind.

Part of a hike in D.L. Bliss State Park

Me hiking out to the cliff jumping spot. I couldn’t believe how blue Lake Tahoe’s water was. It was unlike anything I have ever seen before.

I found another, smaller rock to do a back-flip off of after I had overcome my fear of the bigger cliff.

More Travis’ Travels on GrindTV:

Time traveling through Randsburg, California

Exploring past and present in Palm Springs

Thrilling new sport fostered above Lake Tahoe

Visiting the White Mountains and the oldest creatures on Earth