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Death or the summit?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 4:59 am
by bergs
Obviously, most of us are too prudent and too cautious to even consider this question. But, is there a part of you that admires mountaineers who would rather die than give up, turn back or surrender to a mountain? I certainly admire the fearless and the crazy brave.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:42 am
by billisfree
Not me, I admire climbers who come back alive.

Remember that guy who wrote "Doctor on Everest"? He made it to 300 ft short of the summit. Because it was PAST his turn around time, he turned around. He got back down with few problems... and wondered ever since if he should have kept going.

I admire him even more for turning around with a good safety margin. Smart!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:00 am
by drjohnso1182
Uh, death please. No, cake! Cake! Cake, sorry.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:01 am
by Apex
I agree that I admire climbers more who turn around, rather than go for the top and risk it. Like Ed Viesturs always says, "Getting to the top is optional, getting back down is mandatory". If you are smart enough and have enough self control to turn around, I think that takes alot more than to go for the summit and risk your life and possibly others. And, if you live, you can always try it again under most circumstances.

Re: Death or the summit?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:30 am
by Marmaduke
bergs wrote:Obviously, most of us are too prudent and too cautious to even consider this question. But, is there a part of you that admires mountaineers who would rather die than give up, turn back or surrender to a mountain? I certainly admire the fearless and the crazy brave.


Are you married with a large life insurance policy?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:14 am
by cb294
drjohnso1182 wrote:Uh, death please. No, cake! Cake! Cake, sorry.


Great comment, nothing to add but the link!

Christian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZVjKlBCvhg

Re: Death or the summit?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:41 am
by scottmiller
Neophiteat48 wrote:Are you married with a large life insurance policy?


Thought A: Salience of the word married, or for that matter, dependents or someone you would like to see once you get back down etc?

Thought B: Conversely, you would need to be in the company of someone that also has the same ambitions, surely! Then again, anyone see the Mt St Elias movie where the Yank is talking to the European guy about leaving the Yank behind if he thought the going was getting too dangerous.. guess that comes down to Thought A again eh?

Re: Death or the summit?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:23 pm
by Buz Groshong
bergs wrote:Obviously, most of us are too prudent and too cautious to even consider this question. But, is there a part of you that admires mountaineers who would rather die than give up, turn back or surrender to a mountain? I certainly admire the fearless and the crazy brave.


They are obviously stubborn and stupid. Nothing to admire.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:39 pm
by ExploreABitMore
I think its all misconception in the original post. I'd say probably 99.999% of climbers, if they could, somehow know for sure beforehand, they would die attaining a summit, they would turn around. They only continued on because they thought they could probably get away with it and live.

It's one thing taking a calculated risk to achieve a summit, but knowingly going to your death, that's a whole 'nother ballgame.

There are tons of stories in history where people knowingly gave their lives for a greater cause - now, that's admirable.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:01 pm
by ExploreABitMore
Dingus Milktoast wrote:
granite4brains wrote:I think its all misconception in the original post. I'd say probably 99.999% of climbers, if they could, somehow know for sure beforehand, they would die attaining a summit, they would turn around. They only continued on because they thought they could probably get away with it and live.

It's one thing taking a calculated risk to achieve a summit, but knowingly going to your death, that's a whole 'nother ballgame.

There are tons of stories in history where people knowingly gave their lives for a greater cause - now, that's admirable.


"Forward!" he cried, from the rear, and the front line died.

DMT


huh? If you're appying that to what I said, I think you may have misunderstood what I was saying?

Re: Death or the summit?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:22 am
by Sierra Ledge Rat
bergs wrote:Obviously, most of us are too prudent and too cautious to even consider this question....


SUMMIT OR DEATH

HA! Speak for yourself!

Years ago a climbing partner of mine (who shall remain un-named) and I decided SUMMIT OR DEATH. We were going to attempt a very difficult route on a major mountain and it was SUMMIT OR DEATH.

It was all very silly. When we finally got up on the mountain we were scared out of our minds and we went from SUMMIT OR DEATH to something more like RETREAT BEFORE I SHIT MYSELF.

Re: Death or the summit?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:32 am
by Luciano136
bergs wrote:Obviously, most of us are too prudent and too cautious to even consider this question. But, is there a part of you that admires mountaineers who would rather die than give up, turn back or surrender to a mountain? I certainly admire the fearless and the crazy brave.


I can admire perseverance in difficult circumstances but not making stupid decisions. Knowing that you will most likely die trying, is a bit of a selfish act IMO.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:36 am
by lcarreau
I can see "going for it" if you're completely "cut off" from everybody else in your life.

If you have "dependents," that's a different story. Case by case basis; but it might be

incredibly FOOLISH to "kill yourself" over something Nature has thrown at you.

Unless, of course, the Grim Reaper chooses to grab you on that particular day.

:shock:

PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:37 am
by MoapaPk
lcarreau wrote:I can see "going for it" if you're completely "cut off" from everybody else in your life.

If you have "dependents," that's a different story. Case by case basis; but it might be

incredibly FOOLISH to "kill yourself" over something Nature has thrown at you.

Unless, of course, the Grim Reaper chooses to grab you on that particular day.

:shock:


My feelings about this stuff radically changed when I got married, 33 years ago.