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Mountaineering Is Still Dangerous: K-2 Claims at Least Nine Climbers

August 3, 2008 at 12:15 PM | 0 Comments

When it comes to mountaineering safety, famed climber Ed Viesturs has a saying: "Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory." This weekend, at least nine climbers on Pakistan's K-2 will, sadly, not be coming down alive. Details are still sketchy, but officials are reporting that an expedition of 22 climbers was hit by an ice avalanche shortly after summiting the world's second highest peak, killing seven and leaving three unaccounted for. In addition, there are reports of three other climber fatalities on the mountain in unrelated incidents.

The gist of Viesturs's advice is to turn back if conditions get too dangerous - even if the summit is just minutes away - but I'm not sure these climbers had any prior indication of the impending slide. It sounds more like simple bad luck, an unfortunate reminder that no matter how controlled a modern climbing expedition might seem, a significant risk always remains for those who take the challenge.

In the seat-belted, air-bagged, sanitized-for-your-protectioned, guard-railed, helmeted, over-insured world many of us live in, it's no surprise that people are drawn to pursuits that take them to the edge. Something inside us all needs to feel the energy that can only be found at the edge, if only to help us appreciate our cozy lives even more. The trick is finding a way to get close enough to the edge to take a good look at the vast beyond, and then safely take a step back with your new perspective now a permanent part of your life.

Related Stories:
· Officials: At Least Nine Die Scaling K-2 [USA Today]
· Factbox: World's Deadliest Mountaineering Disasters [Reuters]
· Mountain Climbing Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Pakistan Tourism Office via Reuters]