Motivation

     Sometimes it seems like we can choose our fundamental calling, other times it seems that we are the whim of the universe. As pointless as it is philosophically to argue for or against the existence of free will, we are at a time in history where it is profoundly important to question the necessity of our seemingly inherent desire for societal progress. Will we ever be able to break the pattern of more? It would mean breaking our evolutionarily ingrained behavior in favor something else. I do not think we can be trusted with our current technological prowess, the 'something else' will never be as attractive as forging on, business as usual. Generally speaking, our children are raised to be as useful as possible within the ideological boundaries of modern civilization. At what point in the cycle is it possible to break? I cannot be alone in thinking that going along with the endeavor to perpetuate our society as it exists now is as empty as being on the outside and wanting in. What, then, is there to hope for? Our instincts force us to want to belong, to belong by being needed and wanted by other people. Ancient civilizations thrived because people started working together in an organized way, the people who became part of the group survived in greater numbers and as a result we are left with a burning desire to belong. What if we begin turning this desire to the natural world? Our long term survival depends on it, why do we not feel the need to belong on the earth? The evolutionarily derived traits necessary for this behavior have not had enough time to develop, nor will they. We will wipe ourselves out, the process will start over again, genetic diversity will bottleneck, and if there is a next time around the same mistake will more than likely not be made. 

     

     The nascent ideas growing and festering in the minds of people with a sapient connection to the natural world are only the beginning, and the only real hope. The future of our current societal model is guaranteed doom. We will keep burning it all down until there is nothing left. 

     

     Perhaps it would be best to encourage the practice of destroying the hand that feeds us, so the mass extinction comes more quickly, like peeling off a band-aid, or shooting a dying animal. Too gruesome? We could continue to believe and invest in sustainable energy in the hopes a miracle will happen along. All in the face of the fact that there is simply not enough earth to go around. 

Sam and I had a great day climbing Dreamweaver on Meeker. We chose to simul-solo, but despite this it felt like we were tied in together. Weather that was just bad enough, snow that was just consolidated enough, the steep and narrow couloir got my attention just like it did when I soloed it alone. We took a really really long time, some 13 hours car to car. But we were able to talk, take pictures, hang out and actually enjoy the experience. Our original plan was to link up Dreamweaver with Eighth Route on Longs, I have no doubts that we are capable of the link-up, just didn't happen. With experience I have realized that there are times to push and times to simply enjoy and accept what is happening around you. We had such a good thing, there was no point in ruining it by pushing too far. There will be another time for that, with a different kind of reward. 

A Nile Fedewa picture from a day at Lincoln falls. Remind me to go back and run up the ridge above this area to the top of Mt. Lincoln. The accessibility and crowds in the area is belied by the position.