What kind of explorer are you

I was really very lucky weather-wise — unfortunately it is vrtually impossible to avoid parasites in the water so other parts of the journey were not as pleasant…. If there is one trip I will take with my kids when they get old enough its to Nepal. It defies words. However, the German imprint on Annapurna region is still evident in the amazing variety of apple pies and strudles made in local bakeries all along the trek. I guess that was more or less accepted in those times; you needed to be ruthless and spiteful to win or did you?

Many sources point to Peary even viewing the native Greenlanders as below him, despite sleeping with women up there and fathering children. I think attitude mattered less in those days, and it was more of a hardcore race against time and rivals.

Again, more of an all-or-nothing fight. I think as time goes on attitude begins to matter a bit more in exploration. I see a passion to win in Peary, but not a passion for the north or its people. It seems that half of Arctic explorers just went to win, the other went to learn or to retrieve vital information.

I appreciate the attention to collaboration you foreground here. It is a bit comforting to know that those fears are shared by others. But it is more comforting to know that many scholars start with the intention to help each other out, rather than view each other as competitors racing for that finish line.

You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Contributing Author. ErikaFatland talks about traveling in the Central Asian republics thirty years after the fall of the Soviet Union. Pega … 2 months ago ChionWolf I'm so sorry Chion.

Thinking of you. Big hug. A … 5 months ago jaivirdi That sucks Jai. I gave my older brother a hug yesterday. First time in 18 months. Beth Taylor talks about science, running, and the extreme. Email Address:. What Kind of Explorer are You? Charles Darwin. Share this: Email Reddit Twitter Facebook. Those who are driven to explore, Vanmeter explained, may have more activity in the limbic system.

Smith is not alone in feeling rewarded by exploration. Do you thrive on positive reinforcement? The positive reinforcement that follows this sense of achievement is fuelled by dopamine, which causes a natural high and creates a state of euphoria.

And according to Paul Phillips, associate professor of psychology and pharmacology at the University of Washington, the greater the pay off, the higher the surge of dopamine. There is a direct correlation between high levels of dopamine and risk taking behaviour. We all have different levels of dopamine in our systems, and other impulses — like the need for safety and security — affect the way we respond to positive reinforcement. As such, your normal levels of dopamine will dictate your natural choice to stay close to home or want to explore.

For some people, the drive can be satisfied from simply dropping into a new place and pushing the limits of what they know. Take Andrew Evans, travel writer, digital nomad and TV host. He never had a desire to bungee jump or push the limits of his own body. Instead, he chooses to go outside his comfort zone psychologically.

Evans simply loves the thrill of being in an unknown place. Safe and predictable. Once we understand one horizon we keep walking to the next and then to the next.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. American Natural History Museum. Choose your exploration attire. Which of these would you choose as your "Explorer Moniker"? Choose the banner under which you would travel:. Choose your favorite fictional explorer. Indiana Jones. Steve Zissou. Inigo Montoya. Captain Kirk. Lara Croft. What is your purpose in exploration? To become in-tune with Nature.

Power, wealth, and prosperity. To better society and further knowledge. To discover the undiscovered - to breach frontiers. Ferdinand Magellan c. Neil Armstrong Marco Polo c. Hernan Cortes Sacagawea c. Jacques Cousteau Leif Ericson c.