An Extropian Backpacking Trip
Max More, Peter C. McCluskey, Steve Petri, Leslie Aimone and Greg Burch made up the trekkers on Expedition 97. As Mars Pathfinder and the Sojourner rover began exploring the Martian landscape (July 3-7, 1997), we hiked and camped under the stars in the Pecos Wilderness. Good exercise, good conversation and a good time was had by all.
The trailhead was at Iron Gate campground (see the map link below). Base camp was just above the Pecos River, near "Beatty's Cabin". We day-hiked from there up to the falls on the upper Pecos River as a group. Peter hiked a little further, and also went solo up to Pecos Baldy Lake, just below the peak of Pecos Baldy mountain.
PHOTOS
You're invited on the next EXpedition (99?). Ideas for the next trip include a rafting trip (perhaps in the Grand Canyon) or a SCUBA trip (perhaps to Cozumel). Ideas for EXpeditions a little further in the future that were discussed on the Pecos trip included backpacking Valles Marineris on Mars and SCUBA on Europa. Your ideas are welcome: Send me an e-mail with the header "EXpeditioNext" with any suggestions for our next outing.
Extropians and Backpacking
Why an extropian backpacking trip? One good reason is that we're looking for new opportunities to get together in person. A few days in the wilderness together away from the distractions of our daily lives was a great opportunity to trade current ideas and develop new ones. Another reason is that backpacking is a very extropian sport. You can backpack alone or in small groups that form spontaneously around a specific goal. Backpacking is also an activity that blends self-reliance and self-improvement with an involvement with technology (even the "greenest" backpackers are inveterate "gear nuts"): The sport encourages an active approach to intelligent technology.
EXpedition Personnel?
The following list is of folks who expressed at least some interest in going, and will be prime candidates for future EXpeditions:
Links
