What is Borderlines Magazine? And how did you come up with the idea for it?
- About a year ago, I got a motorcycle license and rode around Ecuador for about 6 days.
- A few months later, I rode a few thousand miles through Patagonia. I was traveling by myself, but I’d meet bicyclists, rock climbers, and other adventurers and I’d hear their amazing stories! People out there by themselves. I came back to work but this idea has brewed in my mind. Borderlines is about sharing those stories!
What’s the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?
- I try to stay away from strange foods.
Describe the time when you felt most alive.
- When I was in Otava, Ecuador on this old dirt road. I’d gone to check out these lakes and I was trying to take a short cut. I’d only had my motorcycle license for a week. The road I was riding on was washed out, so I tried to go off-road, but I wrecked the bike and got stuck in some mud.
- There was no one around for miles. It was dark, cold, and only 40 degrees outside. I didn’t know when I was going to run out of fuel. Then the road ended and ran into another washed out section. I was stuck between two washed-out sections of road with nowhere to go. I was mad at myself for even trying to do this. I turned the bike off and sat there. Then I decided if it takes me all night I gotta get through this. There was no one else to help me, no one else to call. It was all on me, and I made it out alive! That was greatest feeling ever!
If you could be the best in the world at anything, what would it be?
- Magazine publishing.
Where did you grow up?
- Western North Carolina, Franklin. It’s a little mountain town in the great smoky mountains. Now I’m living in DC.
What’s the strangest advice you’ve ever heard?
- “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”
Where is your favorite place on Earth?
- Puerto Tranquilo, Chile. Southern Chile is like a different planet. Easily the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Words don’t even do it justice. It’s on the Chilean side of Lago Buenos Aires. Right by the marble caves of Chile. I took a little boat through there, the marble caves weren’t that amazing. But the area surrounding it is unbelievable! It’s in the middle of nowhere but it’s worth it once you get there. Simply stunning!
What is the most uncomfortable you’ve ever been while traveling?
- I was in the Dominican Republic and we were going to backpack around to all the different surfing towns. We met this guy in Santo Domingo outside of a club. He offered to drive us to the other side of the island for $200. He said, “We’ll take you and stop by all these towns to see the REAL Dominican Republic.” He took us to all these shady places, then his car started failing, we thought he was going to rob us. We disappeared in Boca Chica and jumped on a bus to get away.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
- Letting your laziness inconvenience others.
What’s the best food you’ve had in the last month?
- I got some chicken on a pre-made rotisserie from the grocery store. It was probably the best chicken I’ve ever had in my life! It was from Giant. I’ve probably had 30 chickens from Giant in my life, but none of them tasted like that. My roommate and I have been talking about that chicken for the past few weeks!
What’s your biggest fear?
- My biggest fear is that this magazine is going to be a disaster and I’m going to waste a lot of people’s time. That’s what keeps me up at night.
When did you start working on the magazine full-time?
- I started August 1st on the magazine full-time. I spent a couple weeks with the idea that I could at least do the initial issue for low cost. I emailed all kinds of people from blogs I like. I didn’t get a single response from anyone for a few weeks. Then all of the sudden, I started getting a flood of emails back from people! Last week, I went from not really knowing if this was a feasible idea. Now I’ve got the printer done and I’ve got distribution done.
How has Borderlines changed from the initial idea?
- I initially thought it was going to be a cheap magazine on cheap paper with I don’t know what kind of material I was going to get. Now it’s grown and I’ve got so much material I don’t know what to do. It’s not really what I’ve done. People have loved the idea and if it goes well it’s all thanks to them! Lots of amazing people I’ve been in touch with.
Check out Borderlines Magazine and support Mark and his awesome dream to share amazing adventures through photography and storytelling.
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