Paititi and the world of adventure

Thank goodness there are still Indiana Jone’s real adventures in the world. The world is still big enough to have some mysteries and unsolved legends that might be true. Paititi is one such mystery and legend. As the legend goes the Incas retreated into the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to evade the Spaniards and hide their wealth. And then the legend expands to ancient stories from accounts in Peru and even the Vatican.

To add to the mystery, explorers who search enter the most inhospitable terrain in the world today, and maybe in history. I should be careful here because there are other very harsh places in the world. All would make a Marine or Ranger proud if he could accomplish the mission given the inhospitable circumstances. And for the high tech guys, the overhead photos from Google and earlier going back to 1975 and even the 1985 infrared photos have only added to the mystery. Best of all, this is all done on a shoestring budget in the old fashioned way. Want a HIND helicopter, hire it and pay for it. And then the weather and misty clouds may not cooperate. And of course there is no place to land. Get sick or injured and need to get to a hospital; it is about a lone trip back out the way one came in and it will take days.

We are talking about real adventurers here. They still exist, thank goodness. How they survive financially, I do not know. Do they represent the best in humanity, yes.

Are they experts about the third world where they explore? Yes. Going local has advantages, and frustrations. What’s new?

Even back in the 60’s I could go to a lecture by them, with movies and slides, at Constitution Hall in D.C. and learn. Now that is gone, but the Internet replacement is not too shabby. What’s missing though is the excitement about attending the event, and being able to try ask questions, and really hear an answer.

So adventurers still follow their dream. Not all is known in the world. There may be surprises. And the physical requirements and dangers and just plain hard work is something we should honor and respect.

Most will only read about them if they succeed. Some will just enjoy reading about the journey.