Thanks for posting this article - it really is something to think about!
Every time I hear of the death of someone I knew, or even that he or she got cancer or something like that, it's always a reminder to me of how valuable life is and how each moment of it is precious, as no moment equals the other and death can always reach us at any instant...
Let me try and translate for you a poem Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: "Death is great. We are His of the Laughing Mouth. When we believe ourselves in the height of life, He dares to weep in our middle."
With many condolences for those you mentioned above who tragically lost their lives,
Thanks for the comments. I wrote this soon after I returned from Pakistan. It really affected me. I had always looked at death rates for mountains as an important statistic. After being there it really opened up my eyes. I tried Broad Peak. No one summitted and one person died. A person that had four 8000 meter peaks under her belt. A 0% summit rate and perhaps 2% death rate for people that made it to 7000 meters.
I realized that the risk in mountaineering does not decrease as you become more experienced. Just because someone is very experienced doesn't mean he or she won't make a deadly mistake.
EricChu - Mar 23, 2010 4:08 pm - Voted 10/10
I'm touched.Thanks for posting this article - it really is something to think about!
Every time I hear of the death of someone I knew, or even that he or she got cancer or something like that, it's always a reminder to me of how valuable life is and how each moment of it is precious, as no moment equals the other and death can always reach us at any instant...
Let me try and translate for you a poem Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: "Death is great. We are His of the Laughing Mouth. When we believe ourselves in the height of life, He dares to weep in our middle."
With many condolences for those you mentioned above who tragically lost their lives,
Eric
Marmaduke - Mar 24, 2010 3:03 am - Voted 10/10
Hearts with those.Your writings touch those like me, and I haven't tested myself yet. Thank you.
Isaiah - Mar 24, 2010 11:22 am - Hasn't voted
ThanksThanks for the comments. I wrote this soon after I returned from Pakistan. It really affected me. I had always looked at death rates for mountains as an important statistic. After being there it really opened up my eyes. I tried Broad Peak. No one summitted and one person died. A person that had four 8000 meter peaks under her belt. A 0% summit rate and perhaps 2% death rate for people that made it to 7000 meters.
I realized that the risk in mountaineering does not decrease as you become more experienced. Just because someone is very experienced doesn't mean he or she won't make a deadly mistake.