Want the opportunity to be a professional explorer? Please read.

[pmuggs]

Now thats interesting. Because being a professional, having a degree in archaeology, would be extremely helpful. I just didn't know where I'd get the money, but if i attended trade school while studying online I could hit two birds with one stone; finish my education quicker with more money in my pocket. Then I'd head down south, earn some cash, and start pursuing my dream. Oh, and if anyone has any suggestions as to a good skilled trade, speak up! I'm only familiar with the basic, plumbing, electrician, welder kind of jobs, and it would be nice to be enlightened, ahahaha. I'm interested in history, social sciences, and physical health. I also enjoy business and politics, though I can't see them overlapping with trades at all. So yeah, if you've any information that you think would be helpful or that I'd be interested in, please post! Oh, and Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp, more information on the online courses would be very helpful. Thanks a tonne!

 

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[Alaskan Adventurer]

Mugs, what hasn't been mentioned so far, is the fact that there are excellent, inexpensive - or free - college 'accredited' courses on line, including Archaeology. Geology, etc. . that you can study while learning a basic trade such as our lazy friend Alasky mentioned hehehe. In other words you can have your cake while eating it. You can access these courses anywhere in the world.

As for being free, no one can truly explain the feeling, especially the later generations that have been deliberately taught otherwise
by our benevolent gov't . It is not in the interest of modern societies for their members to feel this way.

How can I explain the feeling when in the days past I could just mount my mule, or head off into the Yucatan jungles, and just go off exploring or just living without a schedule or even a 'purpose', except curiosity?

I have no idea how any times I have been greeted with "Sheesh Don Jose, we had given you for lost, it has been so long that we thought that the Indians or bandidos had killed you.


Alasky can tell you of this, and cubber will be on the list soon.

Don Jose de La Mancha

Well said, Don. Being down in Ecuador for me feels like I went back in time 100 years compared to the US. It is an entirely different world down there, and I love it.

 

[Alaskan Adventurer]

Pmuggs, you sound amazingly wise for your years. Keep at it, and you will succeed.

AA

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

.Muggs we will start your education off with a suggestion. Go to a "search" engine and type in whatever you wish to know about - from the intimate sex life of an aardvark, to tuning up a Zither - You will be fascinated with what will turn up. Effectively you have the 'worlds' knowledge at your fingertips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Example -->

About Alaskan_Adventurer

• Biography Hey guys! I am an Alaskan living in Ecuador in South America. Location Ecuador Previous locations Anchorage, Alaska. Nampa, Idaho. San Antonio, Texas Interests Outdoor lover, adventure enthusiast and gold prospector.
• Occupation Gold prospector Sex Male Marital/Relationship status Single Favorite Books Bag of Bones by Stephen King, The Treasure Hunter by Robin Moore, Wheel of Time series by R. Jordan Favorite Movies Lord of the Rings, Troy, The Rundown Favorite TV Shows What is a TV?
• Name Jason Ethnicity Caucasion Children Nada Height 5'9 Weight 150 Body type Athletic Hair color Brown Eye color Brown
• Heroes Percy Faucet, an explorer. ( Not Don jose de La Mancha ?? sniffff he is 'mine', but then I am a bit predjudiced. snicker )
• Sexual orientation Straight Religion/Worldview Spiritual Pets A german shephard puppy named Quest.

Any additonal information I am a treasure hunter, gold prospector in Ecuador. I lead a somewhat crazy and dangerous life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Apol to Jason, if this isn't to be posted, but it is intended to show Muggs that he can find anything that he wishes on 'Search", including all about college courses on line, many of which are acredited courses, and even find 'Don Jose de La Mancha' and his usual boring, but true stories.

So get to cracking muggs, mi buddy,

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[pmuggs]

Thanks for all the information, and while I may not be searching up aardvark porn anytime soon, I will search up some of the college courses as you recommended. If you've any more suggestions, recommendations, or if theres any more information in regards to education or good career options, feel free to share. And thanks Alaskan, I like to fashion myself a pretty smart guy, ahaha. Much appreciated as always!

 

[pmuggs]

If I could ask another thing, what would you recommend in regards to my post-secondary education? Do you recommend that I go through to get a master's degree in archaeology, or a Phd? And if so, would you recommend a bachelor's degree in anthropology, or is there a better field of undergraduate study? Oh, and if going through for a master's isn't necessary, please inform me, I don't want to spend money where it isn't needed. I was pretty sure that a doctorate or masters would be required for good work after I get to old for adventuring and freelance work, but I'm not so naive as to not ask experienced individuals. Post when you have the time, and I look forward to hearing from you. Much thanks as always.

 

[cactusjumper]

pmuggs,

Degrees are wonderful to have, but I'm not sure they beat experience in the field. That is, unless you want to work at it professionally......such as teach.

Just one man's uninformed opinion.

Good luck,

Joe Ribaudo

 

[pmuggs]

I plan to work in the field for most of my life, then retire as a teacher, maybe publish a book or two. I just need to figure out how much education would be realistic to pursue.

 

[Alaskan Adventurer]

Pmuggs, if I could go back in time and possibly change things, I honestly don't think I would. Higher education is for certain people, but I feel I made the right decision by pulling out of college and learning the family trade as a flooring installer. I wasn't tied down and my profession allowed me to work almost anywhere. It also has the added benefit of keeping me thin and in shape. The problem for me was the minimum of 6 years and up to 9 years of college that I would be in debt with for many years. I would absolutely freak out with a desk job. Please realize I am not trying to discourage you from getting a degree, just giving you my point of view.
Whatever you decide on doing, I am sure you will do it well.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a side note. I recently made a contact from this site who might be very promising. If our meeting goes well, and my intuition tells me all is wonderful and the guy seems solid, the website will hopefully be up and running in a few months with some amazing photos. If it happens, I will be sure to share the link as soon as possible.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Muggs, if you really want to be a TRUE explorer / treasure hunter, then you need a well rounded list of skills to help you out when nobody is around. Here is a list or courses I recommend you take:

small engine repair
automotive engine repair
diesel mechanic
emergency medical technician (at least through the basic level)
orienteering
welding
close quarters combat pistol

When you are in the boonies, stuff always breaks. If you have the know-how to fix stuff, keep injured people alive, get to where you need to go, and be able to defend yourself / crew you will be THE invaluable asset. Eventually, people will begin seeking you out to head their projects.
Anyone can run out and hope it all works. Put in a few years of your youth to learn those skills and you can find work anywhere you find yourself for the rest of your life.

 

[Cubfan64]

Pmuggs, if I could go back in time and possibly change things, I honestly don't think I would. Higher education is for certain people, but I feel I made the right decision by pulling out of college and learning the family trade as a flooring installer. I wasn't tied down and my profession allowed me to work almost anywhere. It also has the added benefit of keeping me thin and in shape. The problem for me was the minimum of 6 years and up to 9 years of college that I would be in debt with for many years. I would absolutely freak out with a desk job. Please realize I am not trying to discourage you from getting a degree, just giving you my point of view.
Whatever you decide on doing, I am sure you will do it well.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a side note. I recently made a contact from this site who might be very promising. If our meeting goes well, and my intuition tells me all is wonderful and the guy seems solid, the website will hopefully be up and running in a few months with some amazing photos. If it happens, I will be sure to share the link as soon as possible.

Please do keep us updated. Don't assume that the lack of posts here means there aren't some of us eagerly watching for updates and stories.

 

[truckinbutch]

Muggs, if you really want to be a TRUE explorer / treasure hunter, then you need a well rounded list of skills to help you out when nobody is around. Here is a list or courses I recommend you take:

small engine repair
automotive engine repair
diesel mechanic
emergency medical technician (at least through the basic level)
orienteering
welding
close quarters combat pistol

When you are in the boonies, stuff always breaks. If you have the know-how to fix stuff, keep injured people alive, get to where you need to go, and be able to defend yourself / crew you will be THE invaluable asset. Eventually, people will begin seeking you out to head their projects.
Anyone can run out and hope it all works. Put in a few years of your youth to learn those skills and you can find work anywhere you find yourself for the rest of your life.

I would add :
Farrier?blacksmithing skills
Knowlege of pack saddles/draft animal packing .
Supply requirements for a fixed number group on an extended trip .
A good logistics planner is invaluable if he can also handle the boots on ground aspect of an exploration .

 

[Alaskan Adventurer]

As much as I agree that having multiple skills would be useful, having a solid group of people with mixed skills is more practical. What happens if the one guy with most of the knowledge in your group has a serious injury? This is also why having 2 or more people in your group with first aid skills is also vitally important.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Never tried to imply that only one person should have all the skills, only that having those skills will keep you going when things don't go as planned. Not every outing is giant affair with large group of people. Maybe just 2 or 3, so more skill equals better preppared.

Understanding logistics is VERY valuable, but that is something that comes from experience.

 

[frogbottom]

I would like to know more. How is the website coming? I also know Stan Grist. I may be interested I have allot of experience as a prospector and in dredging.

 

[Alaskan Adventurer]

Jason, I agree. The more skills the better. Field experience
Being in great physical shape is also very important.

The group I have going seems to be pretty solid, and I don't see myself bringing in anyone else at the moment. Your best bet is to come to Ecuador and check things out and network with other prospectors. If we decide on bringing others in, it will most likely been mentioned on our future site.

 

[Connecticut Sam]

I would more information on the snakes in this state. [email protected]

 

[Alaskan Adventurer]

There are many species of snakes throughout Ecuador. The most dangerous are the vipers called the bushmaster and the fer-de-lance. The other venomous though less dangerous, is the coral snake due to their solitary nature and their rear fangs.

Respect snakes, do not fear them.

 

[rioblanco]

Well...............
I think I have to put on my rubber boots around here

PMUGGs
It aint rocket science
Ecuador is NOT third world, is not back a hundered years is not more dangerous than any other place you might go on a vacation to.
Just google the number of tourists that go to that country a year, butterfly watching, bird watching surfing ect........... man it aint the end of the world.
I laugh at the thoughts of needing arms, teams,special skills, survival, ANY farm boy will do just fine here.
From my house near calgary alberta canada, I can leave my door step and be dredging (wow somebody actually does dredge there) in 24 hours . Been there done it. I can tell you where you can freedive,snorkel and pick pickers off clean trailing bedrock, ya really
I have hundreds of photos and footage already of that real remote impossible must have helicopter to access river, and you dont have to heli in
I proved it.
I aint nothin special.............. but
I dont wait for the next big thing, connection, contact nor have piles of excuses while looking for other peoples money.
I have brought in two dredges to ecuador a five and a four
You may have heard the dredges there loose 50-90% of the gold run through, crap!!! thoes guys can mine and dredge and im ean annywhere,any place under all difficult circumstances, dont think cause we are english speaking white man you have an advantage, wrong.its called disadvantage in ecuador, name me one person from usa who DREDGED consecutiveley 5 years sucessfully. I know 4 men and they aint on this site cowboy.
Ill never bring in another dredge, you can buy one on most any street corner
Ecuador aint perfect, aint pounds of gold sitting there for the picking,
it is hard work, there are major hurdles as with any venture you will accomplish in life

 

[Alaskan Adventurer]

Rio, I will have to agree to disagree with you. From the stories you have told me, you have been insanely lucky in a lot of ways. Telling people life here is cake and any farmboy can handle Ecuador is misleading.

I will say from chatting with you over the last couple of years that you seem fearless and take some serious risks. I was that way until my attack last year.

Anyways, whatever works for you.