Beyond Urumqi

At this moment in time there are six Russian adventurers lost in this remote area of China

Two are known to be dead the others have disappeared in an extremely hostile environment

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They had no expectation of rescue when they set off to traverse a tough unexplored river by catamaran

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They were well equipped and experienced

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The river set amidst highly intimidating very deep canyons and gorges

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The surrounding area remote from anywhere

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High plateaus with only a few yaks alive on it

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No human settlements for hundreds of miles

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The search party of Chinese and specially trained Russians are still searching for them

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The story having gripped the public the Russian government has sent in a large plane carrying helicopter and rescuers with appropriate equipment

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Question

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Why do men do this?

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Risk life to cross some hostile unexplored area of the globe

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To put themselves at extreme risk

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Mothers are left with memories of the sons they raised year after year

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Gone never to return

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For what?

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It has always been this way

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This urge to explore, to see over the hill

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Men are inspired by the idea of being the first

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Challenging themselves

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Being in a team together

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Going into the unknown

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And the women in their lives can leave them or accept the situation

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This has also always been the way it is

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Maybe all there is to say is that some die that others may learn

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That the death of some will happen so that we can move our knowledge forward

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That mothers and partners will always grieve

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That to some it is unacceptable

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To others a restless urge

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Should we not have the right to choose?

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Should we have the right to endanger others?

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Questions to which the answers change according to our consciousness

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When one of us does something incredible then psychologically it gives us all a lift

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Like the first man to climb Everest or stand on the Moon

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Just maybe we need to remember that there are other ways to look at life

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Not just seeking security

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Living life to the max whatever the consequences

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Maybe our understanding of life needs re-examining

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Just maybe we value security too highly

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Many questions

No simple answers
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May the others be found alive