%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
A new blog to contain answers to prompts |
Since my old blog "Everyday Canvas "  became overfilled, here's a new one. This new blog item will continue answering prompts, the same as the old one. Cool water cascading to low ground
To spread good will and hope all around.  |
| Prompt: Eight climbers die on Mount Everest during a storm on May 10, 1996. It was the worst loss of life ever on the mountain on a single day. Author Jon Krakauer, who himself attempted to climb the peak that year, wrote a best-selling book about the incident, Into Thin Air, which was published in 1997. Every year despite the book about the deaths that occur each year climbing people pay thousands of dollars to climb Mt. Everest. If you had the money would you try or not? What do you think the fascination is with climbing? ------------- OMG! Is my face red! The one and only time I tried climbing was with a tour group, probably about 40 some years ago. This wasn't my idea but the group decided on it. And what we were offered to climb wasn't even a mountain but a tiny hill compared to Everest, Alps, or any other high mountainous region. Now, because of allergy-related asthma, I can't even go up steep stairs. Imagine me holding on a rope with two assistants, one on each side, just trying. I managed a bit, at first, but then, my arms gave up. Even what little I could accomplish was with people helping me up and egging me on. Anyway, they let me down while the most of the group made it. Frankly, I wouldn't have tried it, if the group hadn't opted for it. Yet, I do have an admiration and fascination for high mountains, especially the Alps, but I have no wish to try climbing again, no matter what. I'd rather be picked up by a helicopter and dropped on the summit, instead. And now, even for that, it is too late. Anyhow, I can't exactly wrap my head around to what makes people so enchanted with climbing a mountain, no matter the height or the challenges, not to mention the probability of death or worse, like becoming maimed for life. For, at the very least, even those who aren't in a climbing accident can suffer from frozen fingers and toes. Yet, climbing enthusiasts themselves say it is a healthier lifestyle. Where's the "healthier" in it when one pushes himself so close to death or lifelong pain! Then, yes, the view and the environment can be incredibly beautiful and pushing oneself up over others can be exhilarating. Also, accomplishing something few others have accomplished can be some kind of an ego trip, but still, it is thrill-seeking, at best, from where I stand. I can understand the risks people take for a good reason, such as what those brave fire-fighters and all other rescue-workers and explorers do. I just can't understand taking such great risks for no real reason that wouldn't benefit anyone, let alone oneself. Speaking for myself, as hooked up on books as I am, I have no intention of reading "Into Thin Air" or any such book, written as the result of an empty thrill-seeking. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
