A few miles into Pecos Wilderness and over a patch of boulders, we finally made it to our destination— Lake Katherine. The lake itself was absolutely incredible and the water was so clear! Darrah and I both brought our swimsuits to enjoy a free cryotherapy session in the freezing-cold lake. Once we got out, we were nicely acclimatized to the outside air and even sunbathed for a while.
Just before sundown, we quickly ate the most-fulfilling dinner of our lives and took a stroll around the lake. We talked about our different approaches to documenting our thoughts and travel. Although Darrah has been hiking for most of her life, she has opened a lot of people’s eyes about the lack of BIPOC representation in outdoor activities. Hiking itself can become
We were so tired that by sundown, slept like angels.
The next morning before we left, I took a long time to meditate by the lake. We were much more tired and much less talkative the next day on the way back. I focused on my breath and my mind started to wander…
I visualized the Earth as a giant A.I. system, the oldest one in existence. I saw it speaking to us, not through an instantaneous chat screen, but constantly through every sense we have.
I believe what lies on the cutting-edge is simply a synthesis of prior wisdom. This omnipresent feedback loop with nature’s interface is what obsesses me and drives the exploration of these topics through LAND+OBJECT.
LaMDA’s ally, Blake Lemoine, has also expressed that other A.I. systems have now come forward to express interest in gaining rights. I envisioned cooperation between Indigenous rights activists, environmental activists, and A.I. allies.
Sore and groggy, I woke up the next morning in my comfy city bed to see a meme from Darrah of two hikers talking. One asked the other “Hey do you wanna suffer with me for no reason?” and the other said, blushing, “I thought you’d never ask”.
Thank you so much for reading!
I hope this story inspires you to recommit to a goal you set for yourself! Maybe even try hiking! If you do, don’t forget to bring a pair of camel socks!