Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Two articles on Mount Everest (Edit: NOT literally)

troutman · 05-04-2010, 02:36 PM

IMO, it is selfish for anyone with dependants to participate in high risk sports.

http://outside.away.com/peaks/features/transcript.html

How do climbers square the risk with the reward when embarking on these expeditions?

In fact, statistically the risk is closer to one in 33 [risk of dying]. And I don't square the risk. I mean, climbing is an irrational act. It makes no sense. It defies logic. It's something I'm compelled to do. I'm not sure why. I'm at a loss to explain it in any way that makes any sense.

I've written two books--Eiger Dreams and Into the Wild--that deal with this question of risk and why people do it. And I'm sure I've failed to explain it in both those books. I've devoted many months, years, in those books to try to explain this question and I haven't succeeded. I don't think I ever will. [Jon Krakauer]

05-04-2010, 02:36 PM	#13
troutman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Crowsnest Pass Exp:	IMO, it is selfish for anyone with dependants to participate in high risk sports. http://outside.away.com/peaks/features/transcript.html How do climbers square the risk with the reward when embarking on these expeditions? In fact, statistically the risk is closer to one in 33 [risk of dying]. And I don't square the risk. I mean, climbing is an irrational act. It makes no sense. It defies logic. It's something I'm compelled to do. I'm not sure why. I'm at a loss to explain it in any way that makes any sense. I've written two books--Eiger Dreams and Into the Wild--that deal with this question of risk and why people do it. And I'm sure I've failed to explain it in both those books. I've devoted many months, years, in those books to try to explain this question and I haven't succeeded. I don't think I ever will. [Jon Krakauer] Last edited by troutman; 05-04-2010 at 02:39 PM.