Adventure As I See It

Adventure as a planned activity stimulates the senses, engages the brain and often tests physical limits.  It often requires intense focus and concentration in situations where a mistake can result in injury or death.  Adventure demands that all one’s worries and concerns as well as hopes and aspirations are put aside to enjoy the moment.  This enjoyment can be felt as fear and exhilaration, pure freedom, or even a sort of personal transcendence.  For some people, adventure exists in a flow state where “a level of involvement such that consciousness at hand and the doing of it blend, that action and awareness become indistinguishable” (Mitchell, 1983, p.154). 

In the case of sensation seeking, adventure usually involves the release of adrenaline, which triggers a feeling of tremendous thrill and release that can become addictive to some people. In today’s culture, these activities are seen as challenges and escapes, and that is why adventure has become a highly regarded and sought after aspect of society.             

However, adventure is not solely dependent on unique sensations and physical strain, as raising children and maintaining a marriage are certainly included.  In this respect, adventure is an experience that goes beyond the norm of everyday life into the area where ”complete confidence and competence (do not) reign” (Quinn, 6).  These types of adventures may be just as difficult as a physical test, but the challenge lies not so much in one’s strength and corporeal ability, but in one’s spirit and intellectual proficiency.

Ecopsychology - How and Why

As part of my homework for Amped Up, I read the article Ecopsychology: Where does it fit in psychology? by John Scull because I thought that it relates to the hike and search for moose that my group will be doing next month.  This article describes what meant by the term ecopsychology and suggests that there is a spiritual or psychological crisis resulting from today's ecological crisis and separation from the natural world.  It looks at the roots and effects of these problems with the moral goal of discovering ways that people can connect with the natural world in ways that are healthy for both the people and the planet.  

I felt that this article has a strong connection to the adventure that we will be doing, as it describes the need people have to experience the natural world, and the need that people do this in a way that will not damage the environment; which is exactly what we are doing.  By hiking through a section of the White Mountains, we will be accomplishing this very objective: to experience some of the most pristine environment around while doing so in a way that willl have minimal impact on that environment.   

I also picked the article because I thought it would be interesting to explore the human need to connect with the natural world.  Is this need psychological and stemming from a genetic trait of the mind?  If so, what has caused this trait to be imbedded in us?  How does it affect the functions of our mind?  Has it played a part in our evolution contributing to survival of the fittest?  Why is it still with us today?  If it is not genetic,  is it a result of modern society?  Is there some sort of physical need to experience the natural world?  Does it result from awe of the balance of the natural world?  While there may be no definite answers to be found for these questions, I find them to be very interesting and certainly thought provoking.  I will certainly keep them in mind throughout the adventure just to realize what I may.

Personality - Results and Reflection

After taking a series of surveys for Amped Up, I was able to put test results to traits that I already believed about myself.  

In a sensation seeking test, I found that I rated an 8 out of 10 for thrill and adventure seeking, a figure which I agree with as I enjoy an adrenaline rush, but am not obsessed over getting one.  I scored a 7 in experience seeking, which is close to what I expected, but I love memorable experiences so I would have thought the figure to be higher.  I scored a 7 in disinhibition, which seemed just a little high for me as I am not a huge party animal, although I do like to rebel to some extent.  I also received a 6 in boredom susceptibility, which fits me because a have patience, but hate to feel that I'm wasting my time by doing such activities as watching TV, and I rarely feel like I have nothing to do.  

In a political quiz, a tested as an 8 out of 40 meaning that I am quite liberal.  Despite flaws in the quiz tool, I feel that this number really suits me as I do not trust the government to do what is best for the people, and I consider myself a liberal, especially right now.

In a personality survey, I received a 28 compared to an average of 19 for my openness to new experience.  This definitely fits me as I greatly enjoy new experiences, and I try hard to find more and more of them.  I also tested as a 31 compared to an average of 23 in conscientiousness.  This score fits me well because I read people well, and am always careful not to be particularly mean or rude.  I received a 30 compared to the average of 21 in extraversion, which sort of fits me as I can be a very outgoing person, but I also keep tabs on my own feelings so in some respect I am also an introvert.  I scored a 25 compared to 20 in agreeableness, which fits me as I am a friendly and agreeable person, although I will stick up for what I believe, even when it means to disagree.  I received a 2 compared to an average of 15 in the category of neuroticism because I am very chill and will go with the flow, but I do feel like it is good to have a plan and to worry just a little, so I feel like this rating is a little too low. I scored a 144 compared to the average of 98 in the overall personality score category, which is interesting because it means that I have a lot more 'personality' than most people, and I feel like this may be true.  I also believe that is a good thing because I really like interesting people, and feel that spending time with someone interesting is far better than with a boring, one-dimension person.

The Third Meeting

The Moose Group had a brief third meeting with Rachael on Thursday, October 9.  Not much happened at this meeting except the date was changed again to the second weekend of November, the 8th and 9th, as I have a fencing tournament on the first weekend.  This was an easy change though, as everyone is free, and it is far enough in advance that equipment needs are not effected.  We also reported to Rachael whether we would be needing a winter sleeping bag, as it's going to be cold, and a special hiking backpack, in which to fit everything. 

The Noreaster

(This is a poster I got from the Noreaster.  I then preceded to draw on it the horse insignia of the featured group: State Radio)

On September 27th, I went with two friends to see a series of concerts a Tenney Mountain, and to participate in some of the climbing and conservation activities taking place.  We did not know exactly what was planned for Saturday, but we know that State Radio was playing at 9:00, and that we might find some new talented groups that were previously under the radar.   Against my personal desire to sleep in on Saturday, we agreed to leave at 7:00 so that we would get there early as my friends, Sam and Laura, wanted to do some of the morning climbing offered.  However, when we arrived, we discovered that the climbing had been canceled due to the rain, and that the other activities were quite expensive.  Instead, we went downtown to get lunch and chill before the bands started playing at 1:00.  

When we returned, the air was heavy with the upcoming rain and Laura felt faint so Sam took her to her car.  She soon called me to say that she was going to take Laura home, and asked whether I needed a ride back with them.  The music was just beginning and I definitely did not want to head back to UNH yet, so I asked my roommate, Ben, if he would be able to take me back.  He had come up with some friends, but he said that I could catch a ride with them.  

I was glad not to be missing all the music, but rather confused at the same time as to why Laura had needed to get back to UNH so urgently.  She should have just drunk some water, and waited for the feeling to pass instead of wasting both she and Sam's time and money.  Maybe there was more to it, or maybe she was truly worried about her health?  I doubt I'll ever know.

Throughout the evening the music was incredible, and the bands better than I had expected.  By the time State Radio came on, it was absolutely pouring, but everyone was in high spirits, and having a great time.  That final concert was awesome, and afterwards everyone retired to the ski lounge for some heavy beats and chill dance music.  

Ben and his friends had some disagreements as we planned on when to leave because some of them wanted to spend another night, whereas Robbie needed to get home that night.  He wanted to leave around 10:30 to drop off people at UNH, and then precede to his school.  However, Ben wanted to see Glue play later that night, so the compromise was to leave at 11:30.  

The trip home was tough as we were all so exhausted, but the Noreaster event had been well worth it, and I was sure glad that I did not leave early.  As I reflected on day, and all that had led up to its successes and disagreements, I realized that it had been an adventure for all of us.  From first hearing about the EMS sponsored Noreaster from Ben, to arriving back at my Serc B at 1:30 in the morning soaked, drained, and happy, it had been an experience to remember.  

From a more formulated take on adventure, this trip certainly fit in the category.  According to Mitchell and his book Mountain Experience, an adventure requires planning, equipment, companions, conditioning, travel, technical points, talk, and debriefing, which were almost all encompassed in some form by the trip.  

In brief, I spread the word about the Noreaster three weeks in advance, bought tickets with Sam and Laura over a week ahead of time, and planned to take Sam's car.  We looked at the forcast and accordingly packed warm clothing and rain gear. We also brought detailed directions and a phone number, to ensure we could get there, and our ticket receipts just in case.  We also tried to keep our costs to a minimum by not participating in the expensive activities offered.  When I saw Sam and Laura again the following day, I described to them what they had missed and gave them some of the CD's I had brought back so they could get a taste of some of the groups.  

Looking back, there were areas where our planning could have been better, but at least for me, the trip was a success.

The Second Meeting, (now of more to come...)

Well, we had our second meeting with Rachael last Tuesday night, September 30th, and there has been a major change in plans.  She told us hesitantly that we would probably not be able to go on the trip this coming weekend as had been planned, but would need to set a new date and rethink our adventure.  This came as somewhat of a surprise to all of us who were excited to be going on the search for moose this weekend, not entirely as we did not know if the necessary equipment would be available for us.  This was indeed the factor preventing us from leaving this Saturday as Rachael did not have enough time to secure the trailer for the canoes, or the tents and warm gear that we would be needing.  We took time to discuss in detail if there was any way that we could pull the trip off even without the missing supplies, but after much scrutiny, we reluctantly concluded that it could not happen.  We then decided to move the moose quest to the first weekend of November, October 31 - November 1 , as this was the first weekend that everyone in our group was available.  After further discussion, we also ended up changing our plans for the trip as we felt it would be rather cold to be on the water in November, and because Rachael suggested a route in the White Mountains where we could sleep in a cabin.  Personally, I still thought we had better chances of finding a moose along a river, but as a group we decided to either go backpacking in the Zealand area and spend the night in a hut, or contact UNH about renting the university's cabin.  We are not sure yet in which area we will be hiking, but our goal is still to see moose and have an adventure.