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Are we
willing to die in order to truly live?
Thoughts on caving by Matt Harris
From the November 2000 Flowstone
Yes, how far will we push it? Is a 20' free climb too much? With mud? Overhung? Is it too much if there is going passage behind it? Virgin?
What about a small crawling lead? 8000' back in a cave that is cold, wet, and crawly. Where there is no chance of a rescue before death from hypothermia?
Good bolt? Questionable bolt? Bad bolt? Long run out? I won't fall. How far will we go to find new cave? Put up a new route? Go where no man (or woman) has gone before? Is it worth your life to be the first? The best? Would your children agree?
On NPR not long ago, a poll of US Olympic athletes was cited. The question was: "If there were a drug that would guarantee you the gold medal, but would kill you in 5 years, would you take it?" 50% answered "Yes".
What is our life worth? Where are our priorities? Survival at any cost? Discovery even in the face of death? How badly do YOU want to be the best? The first? The only? If you had the opportunity, the skill, the dedication, would it be worth it to you?
The recent ones: Alex Lowe, Sheck Exley, Ian Rollins, yes - Joe Ivy, Anatoli Bourkreev, etc. all those who have died in the pursuit of something greater? than themselves. Was it worth it?
Shall we survive? Shall we LIVE?
Does the human spirit perish without people who are willing to risk it all in the pursuit of the unknown? The undone?
Are we a generation of thrill seekers?
Are we deprived of the great crises; the wars, the great trials and tribulations of our parents? Must we therefore seek out danger in ways that are frivolous? Are they frivolous? Are we preserving what is human about humanity? The greatness of humanity?
Do we merely want the appearance of danger? Or do we want the real thing. Where is the line? Do we draw it? Or is it drawn for us?
How much risk are we really willing to accept to LIVE? To avoid the boring, stultifying death that comes from the failure to stimulate the human spirit?
Are we willing to DIE in order to truly LIVE?
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