As someone who studies economics, I’ve wondered whether an economist would consider Polar Vision ‘rational’?
One of the core tenets of neoclassical economics is that people are fundamentally rational, meaning they make decisions to maximize their own best interests. For example, according to most economists good food, avoiding physical suffering, and staying warm are all things a rational person seeks out.
Polar Vision entails a two-month trek in Antarctica, which is generally considered one of the most inhospitable places on earth. On our way from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole my team mates and I will each be dragging 100+ pound (45 kilo) sleds while battling fierce winds and -50 F degree (-45 C) temperatures. The fuel to keep ourselves going will be dehydrated vacuum packed military rations, which taste about as good as they sound.
What would an economist say about seeking out these hardships? Is my participation in Polar Vision economically rational? My friends and family, particularly my mom, tell me that they don’t need an economist to know that Polar Vision is most definitely irrational!
Then Why Do It?
I recently had the great pleasure of attending an LSE talkgiven by Professor Dan Ariely. Professor Ariely is a behavioral economist and bestselling author of Predictably Irrational.
During his talk Professor Ariely showed a picture of a mountaineer standing on the summit of a remote, icy mountain. He asked the audience why would anyone want to put themselves through the tremendous pain and suffering which mountaineering entails? According to Ariely, it’s not simply for the beautiful view (which I can attest is often clouded over on the summit). Ariely says that a big part of the answer is how life-long memories and the storytelling value of the experience outweigh the short-term suffering.
Personally, I found Professor Ariely’s description to be a rather polite way of describing what actually motivates mountaineers. Throughout history perhaps the key driving force behind mountaineering – and all epic adventuring for that matter – has been prestige and ego. The seemingly selfish desire to impress – whether others or just oneself – has played on the consciousness of adventurers.
Of Mountains and Men
For me, ego and prestige were certainly a part of my own early mountaineering motivation. But after successfully ‘bagging’ numerous harder and higher summits, I began to ask myself where was this heading? Was my goal to become a proficient enough mountaineer to pioneer a new route and be the first? Or was my end goal to one day stand on the highest mountain top, which while not a first ever would still be a first for me? The real underlying question, however, was whether there was something fundamentally troubling about my motivation behind achieving either goal.
Thinking about these questions distracted from my motivation to climber higher and more challenging mountains until I became involved with Big City Mountaineers (BCM). I discovered BCM at a talk American mountaineer Ed Viesturs gave on his successful Endeavour 8000 campaign. BCM partners with the outdoor industry to provide wilderness and backcountry exploring opportunities for at-risk urban teens.
I’m a big fan of Viesturs approach to high-altitude mountaineering, and especially his membership in the “10 Fingers, 10 Toes” club. When I learned that BCM was one of Viesturs charitable partners, I decided to check it out. And it was my experience of guiding kids through the Sierra wilderness where I discovered just how much more rewarding outdoor adventure can be when it is combined with something much bigger than my own personal goals.
The Beauty of PolarVision
Polar Vision is attempting to set a first. My teammate, Alan Lock, has been left partially sighted through a condition called macular degeneration. When Polar Vision successfully reaches the South Pole in early 2012 Alan will become the first visually impaired person to have trekked from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. And I, and my team mates, will be trekking alongside our friend every step of the way.
But beyond Alan’s accomplishment, Polar Vision is also raising awareness and optimism for a very important cause. Our two charitable partners– Guide Dogs for the Blind and Sightsavers International – will both receive valuable publicity and all remaining proceeds from the Polar Vision expedition. Polar Vision is also working to raise awareness of visual impairment in the hope that we can see continued scientific progress, such as the recent “science fiction” like vision chip which restored sight for someone.
The opportunity to do something hard and to make a first –for your friends and partners, for yourself, and for the world.
For me, that is the beauty of Polar Vision.
- Garrick