hi in the remote desolate borderlands of Nepal and Nevada there is this ancient
Nepal and Nevada there is this ancient
Nepal and Nevada there is this ancient kingdom far beyond the reaches of the
kingdom far beyond the reaches of the
kingdom far beyond the reaches of the modern world it feels like it has this
modern world it feels like it has this
modern world it feels like it has this great expansive spiritualness to it
great expansive spiritualness to it
great expansive spiritualness to it this is Mustafa my love affair with the
this is Mustafa my love affair with the
this is Mustafa my love affair with the Himalaya came from climbing and I
Himalaya came from climbing and I
Himalaya came from climbing and I started going to the Himalaya only about
started going to the Himalaya only about
started going to the Himalaya only about three years ago now and since then with
three years ago now and since then with
three years ago now and since then with Pete and with Mark I’ve been 12 times
Pete and with Mark I’ve been 12 times
Pete and with Mark I’ve been 12 times and most of it was climbing but
and most of it was climbing but
and most of it was climbing but naturally when you go to these places
naturally when you go to these places
naturally when you go to these places you start to be immersed and have this
you start to be immersed and have this
you start to be immersed and have this affair with the things that you’re
affair with the things that you’re
affair with the things that you’re seeing and the people that you’re
seeing and the people that you’re
seeing and the people that you’re meeting and the cultures that you’re
meeting and the cultures that you’re
meeting and the cultures that you’re really becoming a part of and it gets
really becoming a part of and it gets
really becoming a part of and it gets under your skin and initially when I
under your skin and initially when I
under your skin and initially when I went it was all about adventure and then
went it was all about adventure and then
went it was all about adventure and then it became more about what I was seeing
it became more about what I was seeing
it became more about what I was seeing in the cultures I was experiencing and I
in the cultures I was experiencing and I
in the cultures I was experiencing and I was actually in Nepal working in this
was actually in Nepal working in this
was actually in Nepal working in this village this is a guy named Carmen
village this is a guy named Carmen
village this is a guy named Carmen searing and it’s a village named Forte
searing and it’s a village named Forte
searing and it’s a village named Forte and Pete and I were teaching a group of
and Pete and I were teaching a group of
and Pete and I were teaching a group of Sherpas climbing techniques safe
Sherpas climbing techniques safe
Sherpas climbing techniques safe climbing techniques so they can work on
climbing techniques so they can work on
climbing techniques so they can work on Everest and Pete asked me if I would be
Everest and Pete asked me if I would be
Everest and Pete asked me if I would be interested in being a part of this
interested in being a part of this
interested in being a part of this project and moose Tom and it’s Pete
project and moose Tom and it’s Pete
project and moose Tom and it’s Pete Athens he’s like one of my heroes and
Athens he’s like one of my heroes and
Athens he’s like one of my heroes and I’m like yeah that sounds great wait
I’m like yeah that sounds great wait
I’m like yeah that sounds great wait where’s moose time what are we doing
where’s moose time what are we doing
where’s moose time what are we doing again
again
again not really sure what’s going on but
not really sure what’s going on but
not really sure what’s going on but you’re Pete so it’s fine I’m I trust you
you’re Pete so it’s fine I’m I trust you
you’re Pete so it’s fine I’m I trust you and he started telling me about this
and he started telling me about this
and he started telling me about this place that we were going and sort of the
place that we were going and sort of the
place that we were going and sort of the words he was using you know I feel like
words he was using you know I feel like
words he was using you know I feel like I come up after these two guys and I’m
I come up after these two guys and I’m
I come up after these two guys and I’m like are you guys ready for the
like are you guys ready for the
like are you guys ready for the inarticulate part of the presentation
inarticulate part of the presentation
inarticulate part of the presentation cuz that’s you know that all of the
cuz that’s you know that all of the
cuz that’s you know that all of the words the adjectives and everything I’m
words the adjectives and everything I’m
words the adjectives and everything I’m just like it’s rad you know this place
just like it’s rad you know this place
just like it’s rad you know this place is amazeballs you know and people are
is amazeballs you know and people are
is amazeballs you know and people are like wow you are really not very smart
like wow you are really not very smart
like wow you are really not very smart but he the words he was using were so I
but he the words he was using were so I
but he the words he was using were so I mean they were they just conjured these
mean they were they just conjured these
mean they were they just conjured these images that I of a place that I couldn’t
images that I of a place that I couldn’t
images that I of a place that I couldn’t really imagine and quite honestly when I
really imagine and quite honestly when I
really imagine and quite honestly when I got there it was even bigger and and
got there it was even bigger and and
got there it was even bigger and and more grand than anything I ever could
more grand than anything I ever could
more grand than anything I ever could have imagined talking about something
have imagined talking about something
have imagined talking about something that reminds us of the Grand Canyon that
that reminds us of the Grand Canyon that
that reminds us of the Grand Canyon that reminds us of the desert Southwest but
reminds us of the desert Southwest but
reminds us of the desert Southwest but then has this incredible history to it
then has this incredible history to it
then has this incredible history to it you see the caves
you see the caves
you see the caves you know carved into the rock and now
you know carved into the rock and now
you know carved into the rock and now they’re completely inaccessible and
they’re completely inaccessible and
they’re completely inaccessible and getting assigned this article was it was
getting assigned this article was it was
getting assigned this article was it was it was huge but I kind of didn’t
it was huge but I kind of didn’t
it was huge but I kind of didn’t actually realize what my job was at
actually realize what my job was at
actually realize what my job was at first but I got the job and I was like
first but I got the job and I was like
first but I got the job and I was like okay well we’re going on this incredible
okay well we’re going on this incredible
okay well we’re going on this incredible adventure and we’re gonna go you know
adventure and we’re gonna go you know
adventure and we’re gonna go you know into this incredible region and
into this incredible region and
into this incredible region and naturally landscapes and things like
naturally landscapes and things like
naturally landscapes and things like that okay I get that but but what am i
that okay I get that but but what am i
that okay I get that but but what am i what am i tying together what are the
what am i tying together what are the
what am i tying together what are the elements of storytelling that I need to
elements of storytelling that I need to
elements of storytelling that I need to address here and naturally the first
address here and naturally the first
address here and naturally the first thing I gravitated to was culture
thing I gravitated to was culture
thing I gravitated to was culture because it’s in your face it’s
because it’s in your face it’s
because it’s in your face it’s everywhere it’s so rich and and the
everywhere it’s so rich and and the
everywhere it’s so rich and and the texture of this culture is so deep and
texture of this culture is so deep and
texture of this culture is so deep and so varied and so full and so immediately
so varied and so full and so immediately
so varied and so full and so immediately you hit the ground running and I started
you hit the ground running and I started
you hit the ground running and I started just immersing in that part of the story
just immersing in that part of the story
just immersing in that part of the story how do I tell the story the backstory of
how do I tell the story the backstory of
how do I tell the story the backstory of the culture that surrounds us and I and
the culture that surrounds us and I and
the culture that surrounds us and I and I focused on some things that I thought
I focused on some things that I thought
I focused on some things that I thought were really unique that’s actually a
were really unique that’s actually a
were really unique that’s actually a human skull that’s been cut right here
human skull that’s been cut right here
human skull that’s been cut right here and used as a skull Cup and this is an
and used as a skull Cup and this is an
and used as a skull Cup and this is an abundance am oniy in a village called
abundance am oniy in a village called
abundance am oniy in a village called lubra and what they do is they they use
lubra and what they do is they they use
lubra and what they do is they they use the local alcohol Chong and they fill it
the local alcohol Chong and they fill it
the local alcohol Chong and they fill it fill
fill
fill the skull Cup and they decorate it with
the skull Cup and they decorate it with
the skull Cup and they decorate it with yak butter and then they melt yak butter
yak butter and then they melt yak butter
yak butter and then they melt yak butter into it and it’s a divination process
into it and it’s a divination process
into it and it’s a divination process where they’re basically telling the
where they’re basically telling the
where they’re basically telling the future for the next year and to witness
future for the next year and to witness
future for the next year and to witness this was sort of mind-numbing you know I
this was sort of mind-numbing you know I
this was sort of mind-numbing you know I mean I had been climbing and I thought
mean I had been climbing and I thought
mean I had been climbing and I thought it was all about mountains and then I
it was all about mountains and then I
it was all about mountains and then I start to get this you know these
start to get this you know these
start to get this you know these backwoods stories of the culture that’s
backwoods stories of the culture that’s
backwoods stories of the culture that’s existed there for I mean as Mark pointed
existed there for I mean as Mark pointed
existed there for I mean as Mark pointed out and who knows how old one is we
out and who knows how old one is we
out and who knows how old one is we talked about eighteen thousand years we
talked about eighteen thousand years we
talked about eighteen thousand years we don’t know how old this animistic
don’t know how old this animistic
don’t know how old this animistic cultures existed but here it is in
cultures existed but here it is in
cultures existed but here it is in living form alive and well so I really
living form alive and well so I really
living form alive and well so I really really started to focus on that and I
really started to focus on that and I
really started to focus on that and I thought to myself well how do I like
thought to myself well how do I like
thought to myself well how do I like what
what
what you know I’m shooting for National
you know I’m shooting for National
you know I’m shooting for National Geographic now I have to kind of step it
Geographic now I have to kind of step it
Geographic now I have to kind of step it up how do I tell the story of what I’m
up how do I tell the story of what I’m
up how do I tell the story of what I’m smelling how do I tell the story of what
smelling how do I tell the story of what
smelling how do I tell the story of what I’m hearing how do I tell the story of
I’m hearing how do I tell the story of
I’m hearing how do I tell the story of what light looks like coming through an
what light looks like coming through an
what light looks like coming through an ancient monastery window and hitting
ancient monastery window and hitting
ancient monastery window and hitting little pieces of dust what a like how do
little pieces of dust what a like how do
little pieces of dust what a like how do I do that and I remember feeling very
I do that and I remember feeling very
I do that and I remember feeling very very overwhelmed not only because of
very overwhelmed not only because of
very overwhelmed not only because of sort of the scope of what I had to tell
sort of the scope of what I had to tell
sort of the scope of what I had to tell but because of the experiences going on
but because of the experiences going on
but because of the experiences going on right in front of me and watching mark
right in front of me and watching mark
right in front of me and watching mark and Pete sort of operate in this
and Pete sort of operate in this
and Pete sort of operate in this environment very seasoned very
environment very seasoned very
environment very seasoned very respectful moving seamlessly throughout
respectful moving seamlessly throughout
respectful moving seamlessly throughout it I felt like this you know Bowl in a
it I felt like this you know Bowl in a
it I felt like this you know Bowl in a china shop where I’m like just knocking
china shop where I’m like just knocking
china shop where I’m like just knocking stuff over and like often people’s face
stuff over and like often people’s face
stuff over and like often people’s face with my camera and and and it was a
with my camera and and and it was a
with my camera and and and it was a really steep steep learning curve it
really steep steep learning curve it
really steep steep learning curve it took a while for me to figure out how to
took a while for me to figure out how to
took a while for me to figure out how to gel into it and be like okay I get it I
gel into it and be like okay I get it I
gel into it and be like okay I get it I don’t maybe I shouldn’t put my camera
don’t maybe I shouldn’t put my camera
don’t maybe I shouldn’t put my camera right next to the llamas face but I can
right next to the llamas face but I can
right next to the llamas face but I can I can figure it out I can you know and
I can figure it out I can you know and
I can figure it out I can you know and and then we started getting deeper into
and then we started getting deeper into
and then we started getting deeper into it and when I say deeper I actually mean
it and when I say deeper I actually mean
it and when I say deeper I actually mean geographically deeper we we went up more
geographically deeper we we went up more
geographically deeper we we went up more towards the Tibetan border and I started
towards the Tibetan border and I started
towards the Tibetan border and I started seeing sort of the magic of what we were
seeing sort of the magic of what we were
seeing sort of the magic of what we were what we were approaching because now I
what we were approaching because now I
what we were approaching because now I was seeing the culture in practice
was seeing the culture in practice
was seeing the culture in practice basically a 12th century village
basically a 12th century village
basically a 12th century village underneath the caves that they used to
underneath the caves that they used to
underneath the caves that they used to live in caves that are now Forgotten
live in caves that are now Forgotten
live in caves that are now Forgotten caves that are maybe used for grain
caves that are maybe used for grain
caves that are maybe used for grain storage for for hay for whatever the
storage for for hay for whatever the
storage for for hay for whatever the crop is they’re just sort of they don’t
crop is they’re just sort of they don’t
crop is they’re just sort of they don’t even think about it and we ask the
even think about it and we ask the
even think about it and we ask the questions like Pete said how do
questions like Pete said how do
questions like Pete said how do people used to get into those and they
people used to get into those and they
people used to get into those and they say well you know the llamas fly you’re
say well you know the llamas fly you’re
say well you know the llamas fly you’re like cool I wish I wish I could do that
like cool I wish I wish I could do that
like cool I wish I wish I could do that because this is scary
because this is scary
because this is scary I don’t like climbing this it’s like
I don’t like climbing this it’s like
I don’t like climbing this it’s like dumpster diving of climbing it’s just
dumpster diving of climbing it’s just
dumpster diving of climbing it’s just like groveling up vertical mud but we
like groveling up vertical mud but we
like groveling up vertical mud but we got to these places and I and I I
got to these places and I and I I
got to these places and I and I I started realizing okay I’ve got it’s not
started realizing okay I’ve got it’s not
started realizing okay I’ve got it’s not just culture now it’s it’s starting to
just culture now it’s it’s starting to
just culture now it’s it’s starting to take on the scope of archeology and now
take on the scope of archeology and now
take on the scope of archeology and now I started to really engage with mark a
I started to really engage with mark a
I started to really engage with mark a little bit more okay what is it more
little bit more okay what is it more
little bit more okay what is it more like what’s the most important thing or
like what’s the most important thing or
like what’s the most important thing or maybe what’s the best thing that could
maybe what’s the best thing that could
maybe what’s the best thing that could happen here and he he basically expanded
happen here and he he basically expanded
happen here and he he basically expanded on what he was talking about a little
on what he was talking about a little
on what he was talking about a little bit earlier that what we were looking
bit earlier that what we were looking
bit earlier that what we were looking for was not necessarily habitation cave
for was not necessarily habitation cave
for was not necessarily habitation cave some of the people in most on still live
some of the people in most on still live
some of the people in most on still live in caves seasonally we weren’t
in caves seasonally we weren’t
in caves seasonally we weren’t necessarily looking for that Pete and
necessarily looking for that Pete and
necessarily looking for that Pete and Mark had done a ton of exploration
Mark had done a ton of exploration
Mark had done a ton of exploration previously exploring those caves and
previously exploring those caves and
previously exploring those caves and what we were really looking for and in
what we were really looking for and in
what we were really looking for and in the exploration I mean was real
the exploration I mean was real
the exploration I mean was real exploration you’re climbing up into
exploration you’re climbing up into
exploration you’re climbing up into these things it’s dangerous it’s loose
these things it’s dangerous it’s loose
these things it’s dangerous it’s loose rock it is scary on every level I
rock it is scary on every level I
rock it is scary on every level I haven’t done actually any Himalayan
haven’t done actually any Himalayan
haven’t done actually any Himalayan climbing that was really nearly as scary
climbing that was really nearly as scary
climbing that was really nearly as scary as climbing in moose Don because
as climbing in moose Don because
as climbing in moose Don because everything’s loose everything around you
everything’s loose everything around you
everything’s loose everything around you feels like it’s crumbling everything
feels like it’s crumbling everything
feels like it’s crumbling everything feels like it’s very as P pointed out it
feels like it’s very as P pointed out it
feels like it’s very as P pointed out it mirrors sort of the sentiment of the
mirrors sort of the sentiment of the
mirrors sort of the sentiment of the culture a large of impermanence and you
culture a large of impermanence and you
culture a large of impermanence and you feel like when you’re climbing
feel like when you’re climbing
feel like when you’re climbing everything’s going to collapse and and
everything’s going to collapse and and
everything’s going to collapse and and that was part of the story all of a
that was part of the story all of a
that was part of the story all of a sudden okay so now I’ve got culture I’ve
sudden okay so now I’ve got culture I’ve
sudden okay so now I’ve got culture I’ve got you know sort of the archaeology
got you know sort of the archaeology
got you know sort of the archaeology aspect of it I’ve got adventure and I
aspect of it I’ve got adventure and I
aspect of it I’ve got adventure and I started to get the idea of what I was
started to get the idea of what I was
started to get the idea of what I was actually doing there this is you know
actually doing there this is you know
actually doing there this is you know halfway through it and then we started
halfway through it and then we started
halfway through it and then we started getting into the science of it finding
getting into the science of it finding
getting into the science of it finding the things that the artifacts that we
the things that the artifacts that we
the things that the artifacts that we needed to be finding that helped piece
needed to be finding that helped piece
needed to be finding that helped piece things together that help tell the story
things together that help tell the story
things together that help tell the story of trade through the region and I
of trade through the region and I
of trade through the region and I started really really getting excited at
started really really getting excited at
started really really getting excited at that point and I was taking these
that point and I was taking these
that point and I was taking these photographs and I’m showing them to mark
photographs and I’m showing them to mark
photographs and I’m showing them to mark and he’s like that’s great you know
and he’s like that’s great you know
and he’s like that’s great you know that’s cool
that’s cool
that’s cool and you know these these kind of
and you know these these kind of
and you know these these kind of artifacts really help us piece this
artifacts really help us piece this
artifacts really help us piece this together but what we really need to find
together but what we really need to find
together but what we really need to find what what I want to find to really
what what I want to find to really
what what I want to find to really qualify to quantify ever
qualify to quantify ever
qualify to quantify ever the science that we’re doing here is
the science that we’re doing here is
the science that we’re doing here is human remains I was like well that’s
human remains I was like well that’s
human remains I was like well that’s pretty rad I think all right not sure
pretty rad I think all right not sure
pretty rad I think all right not sure and we walked up into Samsung and I
and we walked up into Samsung and I
and we walked up into Samsung and I remember looking up onto the the wall
remember looking up onto the the wall
remember looking up onto the the wall above us and seeing that and it was a
above us and seeing that and it was a
above us and seeing that and it was a really interesting moment for me because
really interesting moment for me because
really interesting moment for me because it’s like okay I mean that we’re on we
it’s like okay I mean that we’re on we
it’s like okay I mean that we’re on we are going to make a significant
are going to make a significant
are going to make a significant discovery here this isn’t sort of a shot
discovery here this isn’t sort of a shot
discovery here this isn’t sort of a shot in the dark anymore
in the dark anymore
in the dark anymore yes there’s amazing ancient architecture
yes there’s amazing ancient architecture
yes there’s amazing ancient architecture here yes they’re artifacts and caves yes
here yes they’re artifacts and caves yes
here yes they’re artifacts and caves yes it’s adventure but now now there’s
it’s adventure but now now there’s
it’s adventure but now now there’s science and then it all started to
science and then it all started to
science and then it all started to really make sense to me the kind of
really make sense to me the kind of
really make sense to me the kind of archaeology that I was doing for mark
archaeology that I was doing for mark
archaeology that I was doing for mark under his direction is basically rescue
under his direction is basically rescue
under his direction is basically rescue archaeology we’re going into these caves
archaeology we’re going into these caves
archaeology we’re going into these caves that are falling apart underneath us and
that are falling apart underneath us and
that are falling apart underneath us and we’re trying to be as ginger as possible
we’re trying to be as ginger as possible
we’re trying to be as ginger as possible and recover as much as we can without
and recover as much as we can without
and recover as much as we can without disturbing too much dirt and I can’t
disturbing too much dirt and I can’t
disturbing too much dirt and I can’t really explain what it feels like to be
really explain what it feels like to be
really explain what it feels like to be in a cave that hasn’t been visited for
in a cave that hasn’t been visited for
in a cave that hasn’t been visited for 1,500 years that smells of decay that
1,500 years that smells of decay that
1,500 years that smells of decay that smells of death that also smells of
smells of death that also smells of
smells of death that also smells of rodent droppings and bird poop and all
rodent droppings and bird poop and all
rodent droppings and bird poop and all sorts of other great things that I
sorts of other great things that I
sorts of other great things that I shouldn’t be breathing and to slowly
shouldn’t be breathing and to slowly
shouldn’t be breathing and to slowly dust off something in the dirt dust it
dust off something in the dirt dust it
dust off something in the dirt dust it back a little bit more dust aback a
back a little bit more dust aback a
back a little bit more dust aback a little bit more and then you realize
little bit more and then you realize
little bit more and then you realize that it’s an eye socket that to me was a
that it’s an eye socket that to me was a
that it’s an eye socket that to me was a moment where everything sort of it was
moment where everything sort of it was
moment where everything sort of it was illuminated this is what this is about
illuminated this is what this is about
illuminated this is what this is about this is what National Geographic is
this is what National Geographic is
this is what National Geographic is about this is the bridge between science
about this is the bridge between science
about this is the bridge between science culture and adventure that makes us care
culture and adventure that makes us care
culture and adventure that makes us care about this world that we keep exploring
about this world that we keep exploring
about this world that we keep exploring that that we have this idea this this
that that we have this idea this this
that that we have this idea this this need to go see to go continue to look at
need to go see to go continue to look at
need to go see to go continue to look at and find out about and the final piece
and find out about and the final piece
and find out about and the final piece for me in storytelling was trying to
for me in storytelling was trying to
for me in storytelling was trying to figure out how do I give people a visual
figure out how do I give people a visual
figure out how do I give people a visual like how do i how do i light up their
like how do i how do i light up their
like how do i how do i light up their imagination to make them think about
imagination to make them think about
imagination to make them think about what it might have looked like thousands
what it might have looked like thousands
what it might have looked like thousands of years ago when caravans were rolling
of years ago when caravans were rolling
of years ago when caravans were rolling through here people were still living in
through here people were still living in
through here people were still living in the cliffs people were burying their
the cliffs people were burying their
the cliffs people were burying their dead and burying their dead in the caves
dead and burying their dead in the caves
dead and burying their dead in the caves and that was my final challenge how do I
and that was my final challenge how do I
and that was my final challenge how do I why give people that that imagination
why give people that that imagination
why give people that that imagination and one of the ways we did that was by
and one of the ways we did that was by
and one of the ways we did that was by lighting up the caves going into him at
lighting up the caves going into him at
lighting up the caves going into him at night spending the night in caves and
night spending the night in caves and
night spending the night in caves and using using lights to light them up and
using using lights to light them up and
using using lights to light them up and strobes and everything and trying to
strobes and everything and trying to
strobes and everything and trying to give people the feeling that this is a
give people the feeling that this is a
give people the feeling that this is a very ancient place this is a place that
very ancient place this is a place that
very ancient place this is a place that has so many stories to tell us so much
has so many stories to tell us so much
has so many stories to tell us so much more than we can ever really imagine in
more than we can ever really imagine in
more than we can ever really imagine in our lifetime but it’s all very very
our lifetime but it’s all very very
our lifetime but it’s all very very important one of the things that I think
important one of the things that I think
important one of the things that I think we forget when we’re talking about
we forget when we’re talking about
we forget when we’re talking about adventure and adventure and science and
adventure and adventure and science and
adventure and adventure and science and exploration is that it gets dangerous at
exploration is that it gets dangerous at
exploration is that it gets dangerous at times one of the reasons it’s so
times one of the reasons it’s so
times one of the reasons it’s so exciting is because there’s actually
exciting is because there’s actually
exciting is because there’s actually consequences and big consequences this
consequences and big consequences this
consequences and big consequences this is a cave system outside of town called
is a cave system outside of town called
is a cave system outside of town called say lay and on my first trip there I was
say lay and on my first trip there I was
say lay and on my first trip there I was trying to climb in up over here and a
trying to climb in up over here and a
trying to climb in up over here and a foothold broke and I fell about I don’t
foothold broke and I fell about I don’t
foothold broke and I fell about I don’t know 15 feet 15 20 feet and I landed on
know 15 feet 15 20 feet and I landed on
know 15 feet 15 20 feet and I landed on my on my butt and I broke my back and it
my on my butt and I broke my back and it
my on my butt and I broke my back and it was it was it was an eye-opener because
was it was it was an eye-opener because
was it was it was an eye-opener because it’s like okay this hold on this is
it’s like okay this hold on this is
it’s like okay this hold on this is really exciting this is really engaging
really exciting this is really engaging
really exciting this is really engaging and I want to tell this big story but I
and I want to tell this big story but I
and I want to tell this big story but I just broke my back
just broke my back
just broke my back I brought maybe this isn’t as important
I brought maybe this isn’t as important
I brought maybe this isn’t as important as I thought and that was sort of the
as I thought and that was sort of the
as I thought and that was sort of the first thing that came to mind and then
first thing that came to mind and then
first thing that came to mind and then Pete gave me prescription pain their
Pete gave me prescription pain their
Pete gave me prescription pain their prescription strength painkillers and I
prescription strength painkillers and I
prescription strength painkillers and I forgot everything and then the next year
forgot everything and then the next year
forgot everything and then the next year we came back and we decided to let’s try
we came back and we decided to let’s try
we came back and we decided to let’s try again let’s try again
again let’s try again
again let’s try again and I took this shot and my friend
and I took this shot and my friend
and I took this shot and my friend Lincoln else was filming right next to
Lincoln else was filming right next to
Lincoln else was filming right next to me and he decided okay I’ve got that
me and he decided okay I’ve got that
me and he decided okay I’ve got that shot I’m gonna I’m gonna go and I’m
shot I’m gonna I’m gonna go and I’m
shot I’m gonna I’m gonna go and I’m gonna go up the line and I’m gonna get
gonna go up the line and I’m gonna get
gonna go up the line and I’m gonna get sort of the discovery sequence when they
sort of the discovery sequence when they
sort of the discovery sequence when they actually start going in the caves and so
actually start going in the caves and so
actually start going in the caves and so I started packing up my cameras and
I started packing up my cameras and
I started packing up my cameras and Lincoln was ahead of me and the next
Lincoln was ahead of me and the next
Lincoln was ahead of me and the next thing I heard was Liesl
thing I heard was Liesl
thing I heard was Liesl Pete’s wife scream and and she said oh
Pete’s wife scream and and she said oh
Pete’s wife scream and and she said oh my god oh my god and I ran over and
my god oh my god and I ran over and
my god oh my god and I ran over and Lincoln was laying on the ground
Lincoln was laying on the ground
Lincoln was laying on the ground blood excuse me for getting a little
blood excuse me for getting a little
blood excuse me for getting a little graphic here but blood pouring out of
graphic here but blood pouring out of
graphic here but blood pouring out of his head and convulsing and a rock had
his head and convulsing and a rock had
his head and convulsing and a rock had come from above and hit him and giving
come from above and hit him and giving
come from above and hit him and giving him a 21 centimeter skull fracture
him a 21 centimeter skull fracture
him a 21 centimeter skull fracture and it completely depressed his skull
and it completely depressed his skull
and it completely depressed his skull and again it was it was a point of
and again it was it was a point of
and again it was it was a point of realization that what we’re doing yes
realization that what we’re doing yes
realization that what we’re doing yes it’s very important but it also is very
it’s very important but it also is very
it’s very important but it also is very dangerous and when you talk about
dangerous and when you talk about
dangerous and when you talk about adventure there are sides to it that are
adventure there are sides to it that are
adventure there are sides to it that are unpleasant Lincoln made a full recovery
unpleasant Lincoln made a full recovery
unpleasant Lincoln made a full recovery Lincoln I thought for certain I think we
Lincoln I thought for certain I think we
Lincoln I thought for certain I think we all thought when that happened that
all thought when that happened that
all thought when that happened that Lincoln was going to die but essentially
Lincoln was going to die but essentially
Lincoln was going to die but essentially at the end of the trip at the end of the
at the end of the trip at the end of the
at the end of the trip at the end of the experience coming home working with the
experience coming home working with the
experience coming home working with the magazine working with Mark working with
magazine working with Mark working with
magazine working with Mark working with Pete what was illuminated to me is that
Pete what was illuminated to me is that
Pete what was illuminated to me is that the marriage of science and exploration
the marriage of science and exploration
the marriage of science and exploration and culture is the ultimate in how we
and culture is the ultimate in how we
and culture is the ultimate in how we bring the world to everybody in this
bring the world to everybody in this
bring the world to everybody in this room we have to make it exciting we have
room we have to make it exciting we have
room we have to make it exciting we have to make it digestible but we also have
to make it digestible but we also have
to make it digestible but we also have to give people the knowledge of what’s
to give people the knowledge of what’s
to give people the knowledge of what’s out there and there is so much more in
out there and there is so much more in
out there and there is so much more in the ground out there and for me I think
the ground out there and for me I think
the ground out there and for me I think the most special part of all of this is
the most special part of all of this is
the most special part of all of this is is the people that you end up engaging
is the people that you end up engaging
is the people that you end up engaging with the people that you end up meeting
with the people that you end up meeting
with the people that you end up meeting along the way the people that you can’t
along the way the people that you can’t
along the way the people that you can’t communicate with except with hand
communicate with except with hand
communicate with except with hand gestures the people that you hug at the
gestures the people that you hug at the
gestures the people that you hug at the end of the day when you’re covered in
end of the day when you’re covered in
end of the day when you’re covered in dirt and they don’t know why you’re
dirt and they don’t know why you’re
dirt and they don’t know why you’re hugging them it’s awkward the friends
hugging them it’s awkward the friends
hugging them it’s awkward the friends you make Pete and Mark everybody here
you make Pete and Mark everybody here
you make Pete and Mark everybody here because really I think it is about
because really I think it is about
because really I think it is about everybody in this room that’s that’s
everybody in this room that’s that’s
everybody in this room that’s that’s what makes the Geographic tick it’s it’s
what makes the Geographic tick it’s it’s
what makes the Geographic tick it’s it’s the curiosity it’s the drive to go back
the curiosity it’s the drive to go back
the curiosity it’s the drive to go back to continue to explore and it’s the it’s
to continue to explore and it’s the it’s
to continue to explore and it’s the it’s the need to tell those stories to
the need to tell those stories to
the need to tell those stories to understand to want to know what the dirt
understand to want to know what the dirt
understand to want to know what the dirt smells like to want to see through a
smells like to want to see through a
smells like to want to see through a photograph what it sounds like in a
photograph what it sounds like in a
photograph what it sounds like in a monastery to feel by turning a page what
monastery to feel by turning a page what
monastery to feel by turning a page what it feels like to pull a skull out of the
it feels like to pull a skull out of the
it feels like to pull a skull out of the dirt and I just want to say thank you to
dirt and I just want to say thank you to
dirt and I just want to say thank you to all of you for being here tonight for
all of you for being here tonight for
all of you for being here tonight for coming for having that curiosity and for
coming for having that curiosity and for
coming for having that curiosity and for giving that to us and allowing us to do
giving that to us and allowing us to do
giving that to us and allowing us to do the things that we’re doing because
the things that we’re doing because
the things that we’re doing because without you we wouldn’t be here so thank
without you we wouldn’t be here so thank
without you we wouldn’t be here so thank you guys so much for being here
”
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